(Part 1 of this article — Songbird Banding — may be viewed here)
Our Wildlife Watchers and Nature Photographers group trip to the Braddock Bay Raptor Research center [BBRR] was primarily about the annual springtime phenomenon of mass migration involving birds of prey. By happy coincidence, many of our friends from the Buffalo Ornithological Society were there at the same time.
A few of the many people on the viewing platform at Braddock Bay. Photo copyright, 2014, Eddie Wren. All rights reserved.
Like many hawk-watch locations, success at Braddock Bay is very dependent on the weather, with the optimum opportunities coming on days when the wind is from the south west. On the day of our visit, it seemed as though the wind, at various times, came from every direction except the south west! Such is life.
A small part of a ‘kettle’ of over 200 broad-winged hawks, together with a few accipiters. Photo copyright, 2014, Eddie Wren. All rights reserved.
Even so, for those with the patience to wait on the viewing platform, there was still plenty to see. Sightings while we were there included:
- Bald Eagle
- Golden Eagle
- Broad-winged Hawk (in ‘kettles’ of 30-200)
- Rough-legged Hawk
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Northern Harrier
- Turkey Vulture
The lakeside location plus the nearby bushes and woodland also provided plenty of interest with relevant species.
Eddie Wren
Other sections of this topic:
Part 2: Raptor Watching — you are currently on this page
Part 3: Captive (i.e. Injured) Raptors
Part 4: Photo Gallery (submitted images)