Thirty years ago Cooper’s Hawks began colonizing urban and suburban landscapes throughout the US, developing a tolerance for living in proximity to humans. The Seattle Cooper’s Hawk Project is one of several studies in large US cities (e.g., Milwaukee, Albuquerque) and the only all-volunteer, community science project. Since 2012 the group has monitored the local Cooper’s Hawk population nesting density and annual nest productivity. A color-ID banding program helps track fledgling dispersal, longevity, and adult breeding site and winter site fidelity. Study results show annual increases in nesting pairs, high nest success rates, high fledgling productivity, little evidence of migration, strong site fidelity and mostly short natal dispersal distances. Ed Deal, from Seattle’s Urban Raptor Conservancy, will provide insights into these common but elusive raptors.

This is an in-person  event at Bellevue Botanical Gardens. Registration is REQUIRED for entry.

Picture: Cooper's Hawk by Mick Thompson