Raptor Migration and Conservation

Monitoring migratory raptors takes collaboration, time, a network of prime survey locations, and especially in the fall, good luck with the weather. Fortunately for Montana, the north-south mountainous ridgelines that make up the Rocky Mountains, also make for ideal migratory conditions, where prevailing winds assist raptors with their long-distance travels.

During the past decade, Montana Audubon has helped support education about migratory raptors and raptor migration surveys in 4 Western Montana locations, including the Bridger Mountains near Bozeman, the Big Belt Mountains south of Helena, Jewel Basin near Bigfork and Mt. Brown in Glacier National Park. These sites are part of a network of ten, long-term, fall migration count sites between Alberta and southern Montana.

Using these sites to track migratory raptors is so important because during the breeding season birds are too widely dispersed and secretive to monitor at a population level. And, as apex predators, raptors are a great indicator of ecosystem health.

Please contact MT Audubon for more information about our raptor conservation and research projects.