Our Work

Coyote Brush
Park E-Ventures Article
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...
On the lookout for hawks passing by
Our Work
The Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO) uses long-term volunteer-powered research programs to track the fall migration of raptors through the Marin Headlands.
GGRO intern Kris Vanesky examines blood cells
Our Work
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.
Tracking raptors
Our Work
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
Our Work
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
Our Work
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.
person with binoculars
Our Work
Visit this page during the fall migration season (mid-August to early-December) for daily count totals.
Following a hawk with radiotelemetry
Our Work
Volunteer radiotrackers fit a banded hawk with a radio transmitter weighing less than 3 percent of body weight, and follow the hawk constantly as it moves through California.
GGRO bander Ari La Porte examines a Sharp-shinned Hawk
Our Work
Specially trained volunteers sit in small blinds in the hills of the Headlands, trapping and banding raptors and taking measurements and health data.
Our Work
The Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO) uses long-term volunteer-powered research programs to track the fall migration of raptors through the Marin Headlands.