This is the 25th consecutive season that the Montana Audubon has counted raptors migrating through the state. Executive director Steve Hoffman says so far, they’ve seen a 30-50 percent increase in the numbers of birds of prey they track.
“We’re seeing, actually, a very strong flight of birds," Hoffman says, "and our counts are well ahead of what we’ve seen over the last few years”
Species like the red-tailed hawk and American kestrel are doing well, but Audubon has counted fewer golden eagles over the last 20 years. Hoffman says that the counts are important for measuring the long-term population changes in the birds.
Audubon invites the public to help them count at the annual Bridger Raptor Festival in Bozeman, October 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. For more informationclick here.