Logo-BRC
painted by Johanna Yourstone 2012
painted by Jenny Eikestam 2012

Migration monitoring & Research

The core of our project consists of the annual migration survey (since 2008). The high proportions of European and Central-Asian raptors migrating through the region make South-West Georgia an ideal site for the assessment of large-scale population trends. Our monitoring is supported by a large international volunteer team (about 50 people each autumn). As such, the BRC forms an excellent meeting point for people who share an interest in raptor ecology and bird migration. For more information read the texts below.

A history of research on the Eastern Black Sea migration route

In 2008, the Batumi Raptor Count project was the first initiative able to substantially describe and quantify the migration of raptors along the Eastern Black Sea route. However, several people have made an attempt to undertake this daunting task in the past, though their efforts remained insufficiently recognised by both the scientific community and the general public.

Raptor Conservation

The BRC has always been confronted with local (traditional) hunting and falconry in the coastal hills surrounding our monitoring stations. Since shooting raptors is illegal in Georgia and falconry is often practiced without license, the BRC tries to take steps in tackling this problem. However, we believe that conservation, education and socio-economic development should go hand in hand. The BRC therefore tries to increase understanding of the ecological importance of migratory birds among local people, and to create a source of income through ecotourism.

© Batumi Raptor Count  2008 - 2013