Raptors in our Backyard: Benefits, Challenges, and Opportunities for Citizen Science

The human “built” environment is the fastest-growing habitat on the planet. A wide variety of species, including those considered pests, neutral, or beneficial, find human environments attractive due to increased food resources, safety from predators, changes in thermal regimes, and more. Raptors primarily respond to the abundance of pest species, such as rodents and pigeons, but not all raptors are viewed as welcome guests due to interactions with people, pets, or backyard birds.

HawkWatch International coordinates citizen science research to understand how raptors respond to varying human-created landscapes and how we might best co-exist with them. Raptors can provide valuable “ecosystem services” to humans through pest control and can also provide insights into environmental health, including water quality and contaminants exposure.  Join us to learn more about these amazing predators and how you can help them.