Golden Gate Raptor Observatory

Peregrine Falcon with chicks
Parks
For the first time, you can see the fledgling family of Peregrine Falcons growing up on Alcatraz! See expert tips how to spot these birds of prey while visiting the island.
A brownish Red-tailed hawk perches on green evergreen branches with a blue sky background.
Conservation
Anticoagulant rodenticides (AR) are used to control pests, but secondary exposure can affect non-target species like raptors. Researchers tested juvenile Red-tailed Hawks to learn more.
A small bird sits in the center on a branch with a white sky background and many green oak leaves and brownish twigs below.
Conservation
Data from seven fall raptor migration sites show that not only have kestrel numbers have been declining across North America, they've also been getting smaller.
A woman in a purple coat stands at the right of the photo with arm extended. A brown & cream hawk flies with wings extended on left. Background is a partly cloudy sky with the Golden Gate bridge and San Francisco Bay, and in the foreground green shrubs
Conservation
Red-tailed Hawks are common raptors in the Bay Area, yet males and females can be difficult to tell apart. Researchers used DNA and small differences in size to better understand their migration.
Close-up of a kestrel's face.
Conservation
At GGRO, we observe that female raptors typically migrate before males and juveniles typically migrate before adults. How does this compare to findings at other observation stations?
A white and brown Broad-winged Hawk soars against a blue sky.
Conservation
We don't know much about Broad-winged Hawks' migration along the Pacific Flyway, so GGRO volunteers tracked the journeys of five. Where did they go?
Red-shouldered Hawk Illustration by Siobhan Ruck
Our Work

Golden Gate Raptor Observatory

How far does a Broad-winged Hawk fly? What's on a Merlin's migration menu? See what we're learning about birds of prey.

Kettle of Raptors Over San Francisco Skyline
Our Work
After three decades of consistently and meticulously tallying the daily fall raptor migration at the Golden Gate, we have a lot of great data, and we have an amazing ability to see a kind of baseline raptor migration story for the 19 species that are seen here annually. For example,...
Sharp-shinned Hawk Illustration by Lora Roame
Our Work
Although full interpretive talks weren’t possible in 2022, we did arrange our weekend schedules so that one GGRO staff person would also be a greeter to informally talk to people about the migration on Hawk Hill, and the results were wonderful.
Red-shouldered hawk feather, illustration by Lora Roame
Our Work
It is no surprise that, as a forty-year-old Community Science program, the GGRO’s scientific publications and presentations should be steeped in collaboration and partnership.