Hawkwatch International and Cibola National Forest Announce the 18th Season of Raptor Migration Monitoring at the Sandia Mountains Raptor Project Site

HawkWatch International (HWI), a non-profit organization based in Salt Lake City, Utah, is working to learn more about raptors and their migrations. This ongoing effort monitors long-term trends in populations of raptors using a portion of the Rocky Mountain Flyway. It is one of 16 locations in the HWI network of migration study sites. The information gathered in these studies helps us understand the ecology, status, and conservation needs of North American raptor populations.

HawkWatch International (PRWEB) February 14, 2002 -profit organization based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the Cibola National Forest in New Mexico are working to learn more about raptors and their migrations. The 2002 raptor migration study runs from February 24 to May 5, marking the 18th consecutive count and the 12th year of hawk, eagle, and falcon banding in the Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque. This ongoing effort monitors long-term trends in populations of raptors using this portion of the Rocky Mountain Flyway. It is one of 16 locations in the HWI network of migration study sites. The information gathered in these studies enables us to better understand the life histories, ecology, status, and conservation needs of raptor populations in North America. Because raptors occupy large home ranges, inhabit most ecosystems, and are sensitive to environmental contamination and other human disturbances, they serve as important biological indicators of ecosystem health. By monitoring their populations, harmful environmental changes can be identified and addressed early. Ultimately, by protecting raptors, we protect ourselves.

In 1985, a standardized migration count was begun by HWI in the Sandia Mountains, followed by a banding project in 1990. Considering previous years' numbers, observers expect to tally between 3,500-6,000 migrants of up to 18 species (observers in 2001 tallied 3,721 birds representing 17 species) during the spring migration count. Almost any day this spring, visitors to the Sandia Mountains site can see a number of birds of prey as they travel north from their wintering areas. Zone-tailed Hawks, Northern Goshawks, Merlins, Peregrine Falcons, and Swainson's Hawks (the latter wintering in Argentina) are some of the less common birds seen at this ridge top observation lookout.

HWIs banding operations provide additional valuable information about migratory routes, breeding and wintering distribution, and the variation and health of individual raptors. Since 1990, more than 2,900 raptors have been banded at this site.

In addition to gathering important scientific data, the Sandia project provides opportunities for the public to learn about the ecology and conservation needs of raptors through on-site environmental education and interpretation conducted by full-time volunteer educators. This educational effort is the key to long-term success in securing public understanding and action on behalf of raptors and the ecosystems upon which they (and we) rely. Located in the Sandia Wilderness Area of the Cibola National Forest, the joint project is good news for hawks, which still face challenges for survival, as well as for nature enthusiasts who like to see animals in the wild doing what comes naturally.

For more information and a map to the Sandia Mountains project site, call HawkWatch International in New Mexico at (505) 255-7622, in Salt Lake City at (800) 726-4295, or visit www.hawkwatch.org.

Funding for this work is provided by Cibola National Forest; New Mexico Department of Game and Fish-Share With Wildlife; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Region 2; New Belgium Brewing Co.; Kerr Foundation; and Intel Corporation.
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