Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory
37 degrees 30.7 north
80 degrees 27.18 west

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

The results of the eagle nesting survey conducted on the 15th of March are in. As reported by Jim Phillips:  Based on the reports I have (if you haven't sent in a report, you know who you are) we had 6 bald eagles(2 adult, 1 sub-adult, 2 2nd year birds and 1 1st year bird) and 2 golden eagles(1 adult and 1 immature). Other than having adults around when they are likely breeding no one noted any nesting type behavior. We will just have to keep watching where the adults are being seen. Rick Steelhammer of the Charleston Gazette was on hand for the count and wrote this article for his paper: http://wvgazette.com/News/200803170569 It includes a photo of one of the eagles taking a bath that was taken by Sharon Kearns.

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 397 photos of the 17 species listed. Now with calls for 14 species. Main Photo Page      Updated October of 2006 with an aerial photo taken by Jesse Boone Photos from: 2000    2001   2002   2003    2004    2005                        2006   2007 Updated 1/22/2008 Photos from 2008 Most recent submission by Chad Prunesti

Counts ... Migration count data from 1959 to present. Includes recently submitted data from 1978, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990 and general data from 1952 through 1969 2007 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 & 2007 local eagle surveys, conducted by Jim Phillips, in an attempt to determine the population in southeastern West Virginia.

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 1/31/2008 Latest comments by John Harvey of Alderson, WV and Dave Smith
e-mail ... Questions, suggestions, submissions
Links ... Links to sites of interest. Most recent link added: Virginia Area Hawk Watch Sites submitted by John Williamson
Directions to  the Tower ... How to find us. Directions from Gap Mills, Waiteville and Rock Camp, West Virginia and from Paintbank and Blacksburg, Virginia
Miscellaneous Looking for something that used to be on the home page? It may have been moved here.      Information on wind farms has been moved here.
Current Weather ... Radar images and forecast and Current Wind Conditions