Annual Bird Surveys in Augusta County:
Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch (RGHW) – RGHW is one of over 200 hawk watch sites in North America that is monitored by the Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA). The primary mission of RGHW is to collect raptor count data during each fall migration (August 15 – November 30) in a consistent fashion. The hawk watch is a popular watch among visitors and researchers because of the large volume of raptors that migrate down the Blue Ridge Mountains each fall (averaging 28,500 raptors total). Identifying and counting these raptors enables systematic monitoring of raptor populations in North America.
The hawk watch is conducted each fall on the grounds of the old Inn at Afton (elevation 2,000 ft), just off Interstate 64, exit 99 east of Waynesboro, VA. The site is easily accessible, and one can literally drive up, park and hawk watch. There is a 180 degree panoramic view: north over Rockfish Gap, west over the Shenandoah Valley, and east over Rockfish Valley. Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch is coordinated by Vic Laubach and conducted by a small group of volunteer counters. Visitors are welcome, and anyone insterested in helping with the hawk watch can contact Vic on the website.
Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) – Started in the year 1900, the CBC is the nation’s longest-running community science bird project. The Christmas Bird Count occurs between December 14 to January 5 every winter. Each year, tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas brave snow, wind, or rain, and take part in the effort. Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this long-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations, and to help guide conservation action.
The CBC is a single-day census of bird populations repeated every year in the same location. Each local count occurs within a designated15-mile diameter circle. Participants (usually multiple people assembled in teams who cover specific territories within the CBC circle) count all the birds they can find within a 24- hour period. Past results for any CBC circle can be found here.
Our Bird Club hosts two CBCs: The Augusta County CBC is centered on Verona, VA and is coordinated by Allen Larner. The Waynesboro CBC is centered on Sherando, VA and is coordinated by Crista Cabe.
Big Spring Day – An annual Big Spring Day, coordinated by Allen Larner, is usually held in late April or early May, at the peak of spring migration when the maximum number of bird species are present in Augusta County. Participating individuals or teams are cover non-overlapping territories within the county. Big Spring Day lasts 24 hours (midnight to midnight), and teams scour their territories to record as many birds and species as possible within Augusta County. Many folks also get out before dawn or after sunset in search of owls, Whip-poor-wills, and Chuck-will’s-widow.
Winter Raptor Survey (WRS) – The WRS is a national effort, coordinated by Hawk Migration of North America, aimed at collecting information on wintering diurnal raptors. The Survey aims to collect valuable information about wintering raptors utilizing a uniform method and then make these data available to researchers, land management and planning agencies, and regional birding organizations. The goal of the program is also to have an enjoyable community science experience. The WRS protocol describes methods to conduct motor vehicle-based observations to be recorded in a standardized format that is scalable to the observer’s skill, length of survey route, and detail orientation and capability of the surveying party. All Birders are invited to participate in this citizen science effort. Anyone interested in getting involved can contact the bird club.
There are currently two Winter Raptor Surveys in Augusta County. One is conducted by Rich Wood & Vic Laubach and covers a 47 mile circular route in the Swoope/Middleburg area. The other is conducted by Lynne Parks, Marilyn Nash & Antonio Martinez and covers a 48 mile circular route around the Mt. Solon/Moscow area.
Each winter, surveyors drive their preplanned route three times: once in December, once in January, and once in February. The participants record every raptor they see, whether perched, flying, or soaring. They also collect each bird’s age (adult or immature) and sex if known, habitat (using a code) where observed, and time and location with GPS coordinates. After completing each monthly survey, the collected data is uploaded into HMANA’s website.
