Millersville University, Now A New Hawk Watch Site

The Millersville University Biology Department and Meteorology Program began a joint project of a hawk watch count on the Millersville University campus in collaboration with Dr. Laurie Goodrich, Raptor Biologist with the Hawk Mountain Observatory (http://www.hawkmountain.org/).  Hawk count sites have been collecting data on migrating hawks for years.  They use long-term migration databases to monitor changes in raptor (i.e., hawks, eagles, osprey, vultures and falcons) populations.  Monitoring raptor populations is important because raptors are sensitive bioindicators at the top of food chains, and changes in the numbers of raptors reflect changes in the health of the environment. All student count data is uploaded to a national database at, www.hawkcount.org.  In addition, results are recorded on the Trektellan international bird migration count database, http://www.trektellen.nl/?language=english&.

The real exciting news is that Millersville University students can keep track of these raptors as they fly over campus in real time.  The Millersville University Hawk Count project can be found on the Dunkadoo webpage, https://dunkadoo.org/project/millersville-hawk-count .  By following the link to this project, all students can see what birds of prey have flown over campus, up to the minute, and be able to see hawk count statistics gathered on campus.  Pictures below by Kevin Faccenda.

HawkWatchSite