Volunteers Wanted: Spring Count 2022
In 2019 and 2020 we carried out the first and second spring pilot count in the Batumi bottleneck. These counts have already revealed a very different composition of spring raptor migration vs. autumn raptor migration at Batumi, with record numbers of Black Kites and surprisingly lower numbers of Honey Buzzard, to name just a few remarkable findings. Find more detailed information about the results of these two counts, and realize how amazing springtime is in Batumi, by reading the reports of 2019 and 2020.
Messy Black Kites. Photo by Bjorn Alards.
After the upcoming third and final spring pilot count in 2022, we will process all of our spring migration data and based on these results conclude whether we’ll continue the spring counts in future years. First things first, to complete the cycle and count all the raptors in order to gather sufficient data, we need volunteers for the upcoming spring count!
“Spring in Batumi is the time to observe endless streams of Black Kites migrating over the sea while they sporadically catch some fish, or watch them grab insects out of the air right above our heads. During the first half of the season, against snow-covered mountain peaks more inland, you can see streams of Steppe Buzzards accompanied by eagles, cranes and storks. Later on they will be replaced by Honey Buzzards and Harriers, even though their numbers haven’t been like in autumn, we don’t know what coming spring will bring us. To top it all off, during spring time you won’t be counting raptors in silence. Soon passerines, such as Ortolan Buntings and Red-breasted Flycatchers, will join the concert of birdsongs and the sound of our clickers. Hopefully we’ll see you this spring in Batumi!”
— Tohar Tal and Diego Jansen, counters of spring 2019 & 2020.
The count will run from the 1st of March until the 26th of May. The BRC will take care of the logistics, but all costs (travel and €18/day for accommodation and food) would have to be covered by counters themselves.
Please contact us via spring@batumiraptorcount.org to let us know about your interest in participating in the spring count 2022. We can then answer any questions you might have and/or get back to you with more details.
PS. The spring pilot counts are run with a small team of people, this means that each counter has more responsibilities and should preferably (though not necessarily) have previous experience with (raptor) migration counts. The counts will only be conducted from Station 1 (Sakhalvasho). Contrary to our autumn counts, there is no strict minimum or maximum number of days you can join us for.