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2021 Spring BB Raptor Watch

Season Summary

Species Count
18
Total Count
43,971

Species Composition

Species composition changes over time depending on weather, seasons, and many other factors. This chart displays the composition over a time period you select.

Click on pie pieces to see more detail. If there are more than seven species, click on "Other" to see a breakdown of the rest.

Display

Many sites have a protocol that is designed to maximize finding particular species. If you select "Focus Species," only these species will be shown.

Date Selector

The control box below the pie chart lets you select a date period for the chart.

You can push the buttons "1d," "1w," or "1m" to zoom the graph to 1 day, 1 week, or 1 month.

The graph shows the overall volume seen on each day. You can drag the sliders on each side of this graph to adjust the start and end dates.

Species Composition
February 5th to July 1st

Drag the Sliders Below to Change the Dates Shown

Hourly Data

The time shown in the top row is the start of the one hour period.

Select Day

Choose a date to load the hourly table for that day. Only days that have data are shown.

Daily Counts

These charts show which species are most numerous at different parts of the season. Hover your mouse over a chart to see the number for a given day. The right column shows season totals and the left side shows the maximum for a single day. Each graph is scaled so that the single-day maximum is the highest point on the chart.

Sort By
  • Focus Species: Show the highest priority species at the top of the list.
  • Taxonomic Order: Sort the species by their scientific classification.
  • Alphabetic Order: Sort the species by their common name.
  • Abundance: Sort the species with the largest number counted at the top.

Daily Counts

Turkey Vulture
25778
Osprey
164
Golden Eagle
20
Northern Harrier
572
Sharp-shinned Hawk
1785
Cooper's Hawk
343
Bald Eagle
830
Red-shouldered Hawk
390
Show More Species

Site Weather

2021 Spring BB Raptor Watch

A spring hawk count has been conducted at Braddock Bay since 1977. Currently the count is conducted by an experienced hawk counter from March through May. Braddock Bay is at a point on the southern shore of Lake Ontario where the lakeshore abruptly turns southeast for 7.5 miles. This location concentrates raptors that are migrating east along the southern shore of Lake Ontario and who are attempting to go around the Great Lakes rather than pass over them. As these birds move east along the Lake Ontario shore, they suddenly find themselves with water not only to the north, but to their east as well. Their options are to fly over Lake Ontario, or to follow the shoreline to the east. The latter is the most efficient, so they tend to concentrate at a point 300 yards on shore and 2 miles after the shoreline takes the first turn south from the east. This is BBRR’s main hawkwatch site. Optimum conditions for flights at Braddock Bay occur when there are strong southerly winds, 12 miles per hour or more, accompanied by rising temperatures. These conditions occur when a low-pressure system approaches from the west and passes to the north of Lake Ontario, or when a warm air mass moves from the Gulf of Mexico.

Directions

The Braddock Bay hawkwatch is located in Braddock Bay Park, 199 East Manitou Road, Greece, NY 14612 which is right off of the Lake Ontario State Parkway. Travelling west (from 390 North) on the parkway take the 2nd exit for East Mantou Road/Braddock Bay Park. Turn right onto East Manitou Road. The entrance to Braddock Bay Park is the first left after turning onto East Manitou Road. When you come to a “T” in the road, turn right and follow the park road. The hawk watch platform is ahead on the left.

Braddock Bay Raptor Research

Braddock Bay Raptor Research (BBRR) is a 501(c)-3 non profit, volunteer based organization. Founded in 1986, BBRR has been continuously working towards preserving the area’s natural resources by focusing research and education activities on the spectacular spring raptor migration, and summer natal dispersal. Research at Braddock Bay focuses on a range of topics important to conservation efforts, including the daily and seasonal distribution of raptors according to species, age and sex, and the behavior of raptors in migration. Educational programs are offered throughout the year and aim to expose people to the wonderful world of raptors through field experiences as well as off site visits.

About the Data

All data displayed on this site are preliminary and have not yet undergone quality control. Written permission is required to use the data.