About Us

It all started with a few treks up the trail-less slopes of steep western mountains in search of the migrating raptors. And then, in 1986, nearly a decade after HWI founder Steve Hoffman first began his pioneering effort to learn more about raptor migration in the U.S. west, HawkWatch International (HWI) was born. Since then, we have counted, banded, gawked at, and gauged, and gathered data on millions of birds heading south for the winter.

Over the years, our efforts to sustain and protect these remarkable creatures have led us to study and learn from them during all aspects of their lives, from spring nesting to fall migration to winter survival. What we have learned has informed land managers, other scientists, and people like you about what raptors need to survive among a rapidly changing landscape.

Read about HWI's 25 Years of Successes 

Why Raptors?

Holding a wild bird of prey in your hand, you can't help but notice a profound contradiction. It feels remarkably light for its size; fragile even. You realize that, despite the fierceness in its eyes, the power of its talons, and the supreme strength of its wings, this bird is vulnerable.

For millennia, countless cultures have revered birds of prey as representatives of strength, freedom, and the power of nature. Today, however, their ability to survive is being threatened ever more. As top predators, these hawks, eagles, falcons, and other raptors play an essential indicator role in their communities: if they go, we all go. We at HawkWatch International work to ensure birds of prey are able to survive and thrive in the natural world, in order to maintain an environment that sustains human and wild animals alike.