Our Work

Discover the (Hidden) Changes of the Fall Season in the Golden Gate National Parks

Our trees may not change even a hue and our weather may not get much chillier, but you can find hints of more “traditional” autumn phenomena in the Golden Gate National Parks. Save yourself the plane ticket to the Northeast, and find the fall in the national parks in your backyard.

GGRO intern Kris Vanesky examines blood cells

GGRO Publications

To date, the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO) has published 26 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals, contributed to Master's and PhD candidates' research, and given more than 100 presentations at national and international conferences.

GGRO Research Overview

The Golden Gate Raptor Observatory coordinates volunteer scientists to monitor and track the autumn raptor migration over the Marin Headlands.

Color bands are secondary markers on banded birds

Band Recoveries

When banded hawks subsequently encountered by humans are—hopefully—reported to the US Bird Banding Laboratory, the GGRO receives a report of where the bird was found and what the circumstances were.

Intern Laura Echavez learning to hold a Red-tailed Hawk

GGRO Internships

GGRO Raptor Migration Interns split their time evenly between the banding and hawkwatch programs, and work with a large and dedicated group of volunteer community scientists on a daily basis.

Daily Hawk Count

Visit this page during the fall migration season (mid-August to early-December) for daily count totals.

GGRO bander Ari La Porte examines a Sharp-shinned Hawk

Raptor Banding

Specially trained volunteers sit in small blinds in the hills of the Headlands, trapping and banding raptors and taking measurements and health data.

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Volunteer at GGRO

The Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO) uses long-term volunteer-powered research programs to track the fall migration of raptors through the Marin Headlands.