Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory
37° 30.268' north                080° 27.184' west
Monroe County, West Virginia

 
Since 1952, Hanging Rock has been a monitoring point for hawk, eagle, falcon, and osprey migration along the birds' eastern route.

Look for us on Facebook	2011 Count Data posted through 12-03
The totals for the January 7 eagle survey were 19 bald eagles (5  first year, 3 second year, 2 third year, 2 fourth year and 7 adult). One adult golden was also spotted. 38 people participated in 10 different locations on the New. Bluestone and Greenbrier rivers. The March survey is set for the 10th.	New photos of raptors taken at the tower has been added to the 2011 thumbpage. Bald eagle and red-shouldered photos from Moncove Lake have been added to The Locals

The Locals With information gathered by volunteers on Jim Phillips' annual eagle surveys, and numerous other reported sightings, it is evident we have a thriving eagle population in southern West Virginia. Photo submissions by Brian Hirt, Shawn & Bobbi McClung, Nancy Ford, and Jeff Hajenga. Updated 3/18/2012	Cynthia Ellis of Red House, WV Submitted her account of a presentation by Trish Miller on her project to track golden eagle movements. She is affiliated with Powdermill Nature Reserve, and she is also collaborating with Pittsburgh's National Aviary for her study. On the aviary site you can view maps of the tracking data.
Rick Paulson submitted a bald eagle and some great photos of a  red-shouldered hawk. Thanks. Thanks also to Fred Mannocchi for submitting albino red-tail photos	New signs were erected by the forest service marking the trail parking lot for Hanging Rock. One has also been placed at the end of Limestone Hill road in Waiteville.

Welcome to Hanging Rock

History ... Brief history of Hanging Rock with articles written by George Hurley and Doug Wood

Learning Section / Raptor Identification ... This section now contains over 400 photos of the 17 species listed. Now with calls for 14 species. Main Photo Page      Sunrise at Hanging Rock taken by Brian Hirt Photos of the original tower structure as it was in 1952 submitted by Jack Flouer have been added to the Main Photo Page Photos from: 2000  2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006   2007 2008  2009 2010     Updated 03 / 18 / 2012 Photos from 2011      Latest Submissions: hawk kettle photo by David Hypes taken on September 18 & fighter jet photos taken by Brian Hirt

Counts ... Migration count data from 1959 to present. 2010 Migration count Record counts ... Daily and yearly record totals Complete yearly totals Count data comparison ... Gives peak of migration dates, earliest and latest sightings for each species and compares count data from 1974 through 2003 Results from the 2006 hrough 2011 local eagle surveys, conducted by Jim Phillips, in an attempt to determine the population in southeastern West Virginia. Track the New River Gorge peregrines

What is a raptor?

Peters Mountain Roar by George Flouer

Learn how hawks use air currents when they migrate

 

Comments ... Read comments left by visitors, or, submit your own Updated 01-08-2010 Latest comment by Chuck Shumway
e-mail ... Questions, suggestions, submissions
Links ... Links to sites of interest. Most recent link added: All Best Binoculars   a non-profit website dedicated to helping people determine the best binoculars to meet their needs.
Directions to  the Tower ... How to find us. Directions from Gap Mills, Waiteville and Rock Camp, West Virginia and from Paintbank and Blacksburg, Virginia Note: Due to 911 name changes, Waiteville Road is now Limestone Hill Road and Zenith Road at Rock Camp has been changed to Willow Bend Road. Also, the forest service has erected new signs marking the trail parking for the tower.
Miscellaneous Looking for something that used to be on the home page? It may have been moved here.

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