Volunteers Preserve Local Wildlife Through Hawkwatch Programs in Delaware

Citizen scientists and nature groups track migratory patterns to protect at-risk bird species like the American kestrel.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 9:08pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A highly structured abstract painting in soft, earthy tones depicting the complex migratory patterns and population dynamics of birds, conveying the natural rhythms and structural order of avian life cycles through sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals.Citizen scientists track the seasonal ebb and flow of migratory birds to protect vulnerable species and maintain the ecological balance of the Mid-Atlantic region.Wilmington Today

Across the Mid-Atlantic region, hundreds of volunteers participate in hawkwatch programs to monitor bird migrations and populations, with a particular focus on preserving the American kestrel, a small falcon whose numbers have dropped dramatically in recent decades. These programs collect data on migratory patterns and provide nesting boxes to support at-risk species like the kestrel, while also educating the public on the importance of conservation efforts for lesser-known birds.

Why it matters

The region's hawkwatch programs play a crucial role in tracking and protecting local bird populations, especially for species like the American kestrel that have seen steep declines due to habitat loss. By engaging citizen scientists and raising awareness, these initiatives help ensure the survival of vulnerable bird species and maintain the ecological balance of the Mid-Atlantic.

The details

Delaware Nature Society and other regional groups operate hawkwatch programs that recruit volunteers to monitor and count migratory birds, with a focus on the American kestrel. These small falcons have seen their population drop over 93% in the Mid-Atlantic over the past 50 years, mainly due to habitat loss. The hawkwatch data is submitted to the Hawk Migration Association, which compiles information from over 200 raptor monitoring sites. In addition, programs like the one run by Jon Kauffman at Shaver's Creek Environmental Center in Pennsylvania provide specialized nesting boxes to help support kestrel populations.

  • Every spring, hundreds of volunteers monitor the bird migration across the Mid-Atlantic region.
  • In the fall, the hawkwatch programs focus on tracking travel patterns of migratory birds.
  • In 2013, the American kestrel was placed on the highest tier of Delaware's Species of Greatest Conservation Need list.

The players

Ian Stewart

An ornithologist at the Delaware Nature Society who has studied the dramatic decline of the American kestrel population in the region.

Jon Kauffman

A citizen science coordinator at Shaver's Creek Environmental Center in Pennsylvania who runs a 'bird box' program to provide nesting sites for kestrels and other species.

David Elbery

A volunteer with the Rose Tree Park Hawkwatch of the Birding Club of Delaware County, which submits its annual bird count data to the Hawk Migration Association.

Sally O'Byrne

A teacher and naturalist at the Delaware Nature Society who leads birding and hawkwatching programs, with a particular focus on the Ashland Hawk Watch.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“A lot of time, there's a lot of fairly obscure animals that slip away because nobody really shows any interest in them, and if you're not interested in them, then nobody's going to work to conserve them.”

— Ian Stewart, Ornithologist, Delaware Nature Society

“You have this vulnerability of approaching people that you don't know and hearing their story and being a good listener.”

— Jon Kauffman, Citizen Science Coordinator, Shaver's Creek Environmental Center

“That's what I like about hawkwatching, is that it's not fast. You get to know an area and you get to know birds.”

— Sally O'Byrne, Teacher and Naturalist, Delaware Nature Society

What’s next

The Delaware Nature Society and other regional groups plan to continue expanding their hawkwatch programs and recruiting more volunteers to monitor bird populations and submit data to help guide conservation efforts.

The takeaway

Grassroots conservation efforts like the hawkwatch programs in Delaware and surrounding states play a vital role in protecting lesser-known bird species and maintaining the ecological balance of the Mid-Atlantic region. By engaging citizen scientists and raising public awareness, these initiatives demonstrate how small actions can have a big impact on preserving local wildlife.