Greenlaw Mountain Hawk Watch
The Greenlaw Mountain Hawk Watch is a strategically located Hawk monitoring station in Southwestern New Brunswick. It provides important information on the migratory patterns of raptors and changes in their populations and migratory behaviour.
Photo: Melina Watson
What we do
The Greenlaw Mountain Hawk Watch (GMHW) is a long-term raptor monitoring station located on Greenlaw Mountain in southwestern New Brunswick. Each fall since 2008, our official counter and volunteers record the number and species of hawks, eagles, falcons, and vultures migrating south. The project documents migration patterns, monitors changes in population trends, and contributes valuable data to the Hawk Migration Association (HMA).
Our work includes:
- Conducting counts from late August to mid-November during peak migration.
- Training volunteers to identify and record migrating raptors.
- Maintaining a high-quality dataset used by researchers and government agencies to assess the health of raptor populations.
Why it matters
Raptors are top predators and key indicators of ecosystem health. Tracking their migration helps scientists understand how species respond to environmental changes such as habitat loss, climate shifts, and more.
By monitoring migration at Greenlaw Mountain, we can:
- Detect long-term trends in raptor populations
- Provide reliable data for conservation and management efforts
- Raise public awareness about raptors and the importance of protecting their habitats
- Inspire similar monitoring efforts throughout Atlantic Canada
How you can help
Volunteers are the backbone of Greenlaw Mountain Hawk Watch. Whether you’re an experienced birder or a beginner, your help spotting hawks makes a real difference.
You can:
Volunteer on site for a few hours, a day, or regularly throughout the season (August 25–November 15).
Learn from the experts: Official counter Todd Watts provides training and guidance to all volunteers.
Bring binoculars (7x to 10x power recommended) and enjoy the experience of raptor migration firsthand.
Support our work by spreading the word about raptor conservation and the importance of hawk watching in Atlantic Canada.
Follow the Greenlaw Mountain Hawk Watch
Acknowledgements
The Greenlaw Mountain Hawk Watch is a project of the Saint John Naturalists Club.
We are grateful to acknowledge the support of our funders: New Brunswick Wildlife Trust Fund, New Brunswick Environmental Trust Fund and Birds Canada.
We also wish to acknowledge the generosity of our donors. If you’d like to support the Greenlaw Mountain Hawk Watch, please consider making a donation to the Saint John Naturalists Club to help sustain raptor monitoring and conservation in our region.
The Greenlaw Mountain Hawk Watch is coordinated by our committee, program coordinator and led in the field by our official counter, Todd Watts.
Greenlaw Mountain Hawk Watch Committee:
Hank Scarth (Chair)
Carolyn Scarth
Don MacPhail
Jim Wilson
Joanne Savage