Millions of hawks, vultures, and other raptors migrate between North and South America every year. Because they avoid flying over large bodies of water, Panama acts as a bottleneck for these migratory birds, concentrating huge numbers of these birds in certain areas and creating a unique research opportunity.
While monitoring migratory songbirds as part of another project, ADOPTA's field team noted exceptionally large concentrations of raptors migrating above Bocas del Toro. This inspired us to start looking for an ideal location to establish a long-term monitoring project for raptor migration in the area. In early October 2021, Karl Bardon, an experienced hawk counter from the United States, accepted an invitation to start monitoring the raptor migration in Bocas Ridge.
Almost 2 million raptors were observed in the first Hawkwatch of fall 2021, confirming the importance of this area.
After the success of the first HawkWatch, we have expanded the monitoring to include three counting sites: Bocas Ridge, Valle de Agua, and Gavilán hill. Together with our research team, we have been training local interns – including young indigenous women – how to help with the monitoring. The income paid to the interns participating in the HawkWatch directly support the local economy, many members of which do not have electricity or running water, and provides individuals the agency to take an active role in the protection of their local environment.
About Raptors
What exactly is it that makes birds of prey different from other birds? Click here to find out!
About Raptors
What exactly is it that makes birds of prey different from other birds? Click here to find out!
Volunteer Counters
You can help monitor at one of the world's most prolific raptor migration sites, where more than two million birds of prey are observed each migration season!

Raptor Migration
Some birds travel thousands of miles in a matter of weeks! But why do they travel so far and how do they know where they're going?
Raptor Migration
Some birds travel thousands of miles in a matter of weeks! But why do they travel so far and how do they know where they're going?

Community Outreach & Education
Most of our volunteer hawk counters are women from the indigenous Ngäbe-Buglé people. By assisting in this project, they are both being empowered to contribute valuable scientific insights and helping to support their families with the humble stipend we are able to give them.
Additionally, many members of the local community – including one of the families who hosts our team – have no electricity or running water. The income from this project directly helps support the local economy; helping the people living here and increasing support for conservation at the same time.
Results
Millions of raptors have been observed at our three count sites in Bocas del Toro! All of the the data is entered into the HawkCount database:
Results
Millions of raptors have been observed at our three count sites in Bocas del Toro! All of the the data is entered into the HawkCount database:
Acknowledgements
Thanks to the kind support of Ing. César Romero of Bocas Ridge Hotel & Residences, Environment for the Americas, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, and the Partnership for International Birding (PIB), our main sponsors for the Bocas del Toro Hawkwatch.
A special thank you to Karl Bardon, a hawkwatching specialist, for helping us begin and continue this monitoring program.
Additionally, we must recognize the hard work of every staff member, volunteer, student, and intern who has worked with this project.
¡Muchísimas Gracias!