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LINKS: RESEARCH RESOURCES

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Bird Observatories / Research or Field Stations / Viewing Stations / Nature Centers

• USA Alaska Bird Observatory Founded in 1991 to promote the conservation and monitoring of Alaska's birds through research and education. Specializes in long term studies of migrant and resident birds of the arctic, subarctic and temperate regions of northwestern North America. Website includes info on education, research, and training programs, volunteer opps, jobs, bird quiz, and visiting.
• USA Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory Arizona. "Dedicated to the conservation of the birds of southeastern Arizona, their habitats and the diversity of species which share those habitats through research, monitoring and public education." Website has wide variety of info including online birding guide featuring hotspots, birding and travel tips, list of birder-friendly businesses, and links. 
• USA Point Reyes Bird Observatory California. Palomarin Field Station, located on the Point Reyes National Seashore, is the headquarters of PRBO's Terrestrial Program, which conducts research on landbirds throughout California and the western US. Website includes info on research, projects, internship and career opportunities, ringing scheme and results, education programs, visiting.
• USA San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory California. Located at the south end of San Francisco Bay in Alviso, conducts research on nesting success and population trends of a variety of SF Bay birds and collaborates with local agencies to answer questions involving the impacts of urban development on local wildlife. Website describes research programs, birding activities, and volunteer opportunities.
• USA Golden Gate Raptor Observatory California. The GGRO is dedicated to the conservation of raptors and to community involvement in wildlife research. A group of more than 240 volunteers help to track and monitor the autumn flight of 19 species of birds of prey over the Marin Headlands.
• USA Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory Colorado. Founded in 1988 for the conservation of Rocky Mountain and Great Plains birds through numerous research and public education programs. Headquartered in Barr Lake State Park, Brighton. Website includes info about projects, membership, volunteering, events, and the Partners in Flight database.
• USA Irvine Natural Science Center Maryland, Stevenson. Educates Marylanders about environmental issues, conducts bird walks, hosts birding excursions, and operates a banding station. Website includes info about events, volunteer opportunities, eco-tips.
• USA Whitefish Point Bird Observatory Michigan. Located adjacent to Whitefish Point National Wildlife Refuge. Being the northeastern tip of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Whitefish Point is a concentration spot for migrating raptors, waterbirds, and song birds. The surrounding land and water features create a natural corridor, funneling thousands of birds directly to The Point each spring and fall as they travel through the Great Lakes region, providing spectacular bird-watching and tremendous opportunities to study bird populations.
• USA Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve Minnesota, east Duluth. Standardized count of migrating hawks is conducted annually from August into November. Website includes info on getting there, programs, some count data.
• USA Bridger Mountains Birds of Prey Montana. 17 species of birds of prey can be seen each autumn, concentrating along the Bridgers during their migration south. Web page provides site guide with maps.
• USA Cape May Bird Observatory New Jersey. Founded in 1975 by the New Jersey Audubon Society. Cape May Peninsula funnels millions of birds as they move south during autumn and is invaluable to migrants seeking safe foraging and resting sites. Web page includes info on research and education programs, and birding activities.
• USA Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Pennsylvania. 2,380-acre nature preserve straddling the Kittatinny Ridge. Established in 1934 as the world's first refuge devoted to the protection of birds of prey. Website includes info about visiting, events, programs, kids' page.
• USA Austin Ornithological Research Station Texas. Founded in 1929/1930 on 600 acres bordering on Cape Cod Bay. Large-scale, nearly continuous bird-banding operation from 1927 until 1957. Bird Banding Data Computerization Project underway since 1994.
• USA Gulf Coast Bird Observatory Texas. Mission is "the conservation of birds and their habitats along the Gulf of Mexico." Plans to build an Interpretive Center at High Island, internationally known for its diversity and abundance of springtime migrants.
• USA Rio Grande Valley Bird Observatory Texas. Conducts research and education programs, bird-banding, works with other organizations in the preservation of bird habitats. Website includes info on programs, acitivities, field trips, birding hotspots, online newsletter, links.
• USA Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory Migratory bird and insect observation station located at the tip of the Delmarva peninsula on Virginia's Eastern Shore. Conducts banding operations for songbirds and raptors are each fall. Visitors welcome. Website with info on location, research, birds, events.
• USA Washington Monument State Park Hawk Watch Just outside Washington, DC. Watch, identify, count migrating raptors in spring and fall. Data sent to Hawk Migration Association of North America. Web page includes some count data and directions to get there.
• USA Hanging Rock Raptor Migration Observatory Located on Peter's Mountain in Monroe County, West Virginia. Monitors hawk, eagle, falcon, and osprey migration on the bird's eastern route. The site contains photos, history, count data and a learning section.
• Canada Delta Marsh Bird Banding Station Manitoba. Established in 1994, it is one of five working banding stations in Canada and part of the Canadian Wildlife Service's "Canadian Landbird Monitoring.
• Canada Holiday Beach Migration Observatory Ontario, Southwestern Essex County. Conducts long-term migration monitoring program. World class hawk migration site. Need volunteers. Web page contains postings from Observatory President, Bob Pettit.
• Canada Last Mountain Bird Observatory Near Govan, Saskatchewan. Part of a nation-wide network of observatories that have been established to keep track of Canada's forest birds. Information from a banding program is forwarded to the Bird Banding Office in Ottawa.
• Canada Redberry Pelican Project Research Station Near Hafford, Saskatchewan. More than 1000 American White Pelicans nest on New Tern Island at Redberry Lake, one of the 14 colonies in Saskatchewan.
• Denmark Copenhagen Bird Ringing Centre Bird Ringing Data Collection of the Zoological Museum with data from Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, for c 2.5 million birds. Website gives last annual ringing report, list of publications, and list of European ringing centres.
• Italy La Vela Marsh Near Taranto in the south. A WWF Italy "oasis". Website gives lists of resident, migratory, breeding and wintering birds, and inludes a photo gallery with some 60 bird pics. The Italian version includes a Guide to Apulia for nature lovers, covering woods, canyons, heaths, and damp environments, with maps, bird, mammal, and plant (trees) lists with scientific names.
• Finland Hanko Bird Observatory Run by Tringa RY, a bird society in Helsinki. Situated at the tip of Hanko penisula in the extreme south west point of Finland. Website gives information on ringing activity, migratory bird observations, and a publications list.
• Sweden Latnjajaure Field Station Bird banding program re-started in 1990. Website describes the bird life in Latnjajaure valley - typical of middle and high alpine zones.
• Sweden Ottenby Bird Observatory At southern point of Öland. Research and ringing conducted here since 1946. Annually about 20000 birds are ringed. Website gives information about the observatory, species accounts, migration.
• UK Dungeness Bird Observatory Kent. Near the Old Lighthouse in Dungeness. Has two sea-watching hides. Hostel-type accommodation available.
• UK Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Kent. On east coast, between River Stour estuary and Deal. Main work is to watch, record and ring the birds of Sandwich Bay. Hostel accommodation available.
• UK Fair Isle Bird Observatory Scotland, Shetland Islands. Established in 1948. Dense and diverse seabird populations found here. Lodge and bird observatory open to visitors from late April to the end of October. Accommodation available.
• UK North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory Scotland, on a small island at the northernmost end of the Orkney islands. Warden and staff are trained bird-ringers.
• UK Skokholm Island Nature Reserve Wales, off the south west coast of Pembrokeshire. Along with neighbouring Skomer and Grassholm islands, it forms one of the most important seabird breeding sites in Europe.

The inclusion of a group/resource on these pages does not imply endorsement by the ABA and the ABA is not responsible for the content of a listed site.