Despite challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pack Monadnock Raptor Observatory was able to complete its annual tracking project in 2020 and reported strong numbers for a few different species.
During the tracking period, which runs Sept. 1 through Nov. 20, participants counted nearly 12,000 birds migrating south from New Hampshire, according to the final tally on the Harris Center for Conservation Education s website. The Hancock-based nonprofit organizes the count as part of a collaboration with N.H. Audubon and N.H. State Parks.Â
Though public participation in the process was a bit different than in a typical year, the team of volunteers, which is headed up by a raptor biologist, counted 15 different raptor species, and some in record numbers. Raptor refers to any bird of prey, defined as a bird that pursues other animals for food, including eagles, falcons and hawks.Â