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The Raptor Population Index (RPI) has just released its first continental report, a book entitled "The State of North America's Birds of Prey", on the population status of North America's migratory birds of prey.

This book represents what hawk watching and migration counting is all about, using hawk migration data from 22 selected sites across the continent along with Breeding Bird and Christmas Count data, and covering up to thirty years, to document population trends for our migratory diurnal raptors.

Written by 22 of the hemisphere's best-known raptor migration specialists, the book includes a brief history of raptor conservation in North America, the principles and methods for the use of migration counts to determine population trends, regional overviews of trends in migration counts, a report on the conservation status of 20 species of birds of prey, a description of the data management system, and recommendations for the operation of raptor migration monitoring sites.

The book is scientifically rigorous and quite technical. Most serious students of raptor and bird populations will likely want this ground-breaking report, which may have limited appeal for the casual hawk watcher.

The State of North America's Birds of Prey is published by Nuttall Ornithological Club and the American Ornithologists’ Union and can be ordered only through Buteo Books by calling 434-263-8671, visiting www.buteobooks.com, or e-mailing customerservice@buteobooks.com. Hardcover copies are $99.50. The softcover edition is $42.50. People wanting the limited softcover version should order soon.

To read a more extensive news release on this book, visit www.enn.com/press_releases/2528.