Braddock Bay Raptor Research

Braddock Bay Raptor Research's mission is to protect and conserve hawks, eagles, falcons, owls and other birds of prey through a wide variety of research and education programs conducted both onsite at Braddock Bay and throughout the community. Much of this activity revolves around the spectacular spring bird migration along the southern shore of Lake Ontario, particularly at Braddock Bay Park and in the surrounding wildlife management area. Braddock Bay is known as the best spring migration site on the continent, where an average of over 50,000 raptors of up to 17 different species are counted during that season. These birds are tallied during the spring hawkwatch, which has been conducted by BBRR since 1986. The hawkwatch serves as a research tool to monitor raptor populations, and also as an educational tool to bring people of all ages out into nature to learn about the natural world. Many visitors have seen their first ever Bald Eagle or Peregrine Falcon at the hawkwatch here. BBRR's research projects also include a raptor banding program, where birds are captured and fitted with individually numbered federal identification bands. These birds are then released in order to learn more about their lives. Our banding stations are run by licensed volunteer banders, and one of our stations is open to the public so that people can learn more about the banding process and the birds themselves. Education is a major focus of BBRR, and our programs include the annual "Bird of Prey Days" event, which has been conducted every April now for over 30 years. Among other educational adventures are owl prowls, banding station tours, field trips for kids and adult groups, bird identification workshops, and our popular Raptor Connections programs featuring live birds of prey. These programs and events are funded by membership dues to the organization and other private donations. The activities we are involved in help contribute to overall awareness of the natural resources that the local Braddock Bay area possesses, and the need to protect them. Spreading the knowledge of raptors to the community helps teach people the important role these creatures play in our environment, and how monitoring raptors can alert us to potential problems in the ecosystem humans share with them. BBRR's hawkwatch and banding programs contribute information to continent wide databases, which in turn help contribute to the conservation of species around North America. BBRR has become an important component to long-term raptor monitoring across the continent, and a valuable educational resource in the local community.

We focus on: The Environment, Animals

Where we are: Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming, Yates