Bird of Prey Days 2025
2025 Bird of Prey Days
Braddock Bay is home to one of the most spectacular spring raptor migrations in the country! Join Braddock Bay Raptor Research in this annual event to learn about hawks, eagles, falcons, owls and others, and support our conservation efforts.
There will be activities for ALL ages at BOP Days, both indoors and out—so come rain or shine!
This year’s theme is Raptors Along Our Flyway. Every year birds, including many raptor species, make incredible journeys across the various landscapes that we share with them. Our Bird of Prey Days events aim to enlighten and educate visitors about the ways we interact with raptors, and how we can work towards protecting them not only during migration seasons, but all year round.
The schedule is listed below. Some programs will require registration due to limited seating. Registration links will be live shortly. Check the schedule below or visit our Events Page. We cannot wait to have you visit this year!
BOP Days 2025 Online Auction
STARTING 4/23 AT 9:00 AM!!
Take part in BBRR’s Bird of Prey Days Online Auction and get a chance to win some awesome prizes while helping support the raptors and our programming. Prizes include artwork, bird houses, gift baskets, raptor programs, and more! The auction will start on April 23 and close on April 29 at 9 pm.
BOP Days Auction Ends
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Friday, April 25, 2025
7:00pm - The Complete Language of Birds, featuring BBRR's education raptors
Learn the folklore and mythology about birds here in our own community in this combined storytelling and live birds program. Randi Minetor, author of The Complete Language of Birds (Wellfleet Press, 2024) will share ancient tales of birds of prey that make upstate New York their home, while Daena Ford, president of Braddock Bay Raptor Research, introduces you to the live birds and their life histories. See Red-tailed Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Great Horned Owl and Merlin up close!
Presented by Randi Minetor, author and Daena Ford, president of BBRR
Seating is limited. Walk-ins are welcome but seating cannot be guaranteed. REGISTRATION AVAILABLE HERE
8:00 Sunset Walk and Owl Prowl
Join BBRR’s Jill Heimrich as she leads you through Braddock Bay Park as the sun sets, looking for critters that are active in the early evening, including owls!
No registration required. Meet at the lodge at Braddock Bay Park.
Saturday, April 26, 2025
8:30 am - Nature Walk on the East Spit of Braddock Bay - GVAS
Join leaders from the Genesee Valley Audubon Society for a pre-Bird of Prey Days morning walk along the east spit at Braddock Bay as we watch for waterfowl, overwintering residents, and possible early migrants. We will gather on the north end of the parking lot at Westpoint Marina at Braddock Bay, 105 E Manitou Road before 8:30am. Dress for the weather. We will be walking between the bay and the lake on a natural surface of sand and clay with scattered rocks and roots. Register with GVAS at https://tinyurl.com/9taxb4ez by Friday, April 25.
9:00 am - Owl Woods Nature Walk
Join an experienced guide for this morning walk through the Owl Woods, and learn why this special place gets its name. Meet at the entrance to the trail of the Owl Woods on Manitou Beach Road. Directions HERE
10:00 am - Raptor Banding Station Tour at the Owl Woods
Join a guided tour of the Mather raptor banding station, and see banding in action! Meet at the trail at the Owl Woods on Manitou Beach Road.
Directions HERE
11:00am-3:00pm Hawkwatch!
Visit the hawkwatch platform to see what’s flying and learn about the migration and other birds at Braddock Bay. Bring your own binoculars, or borrow from BBRR.
11:00am - Raptors of NY State
Presenter: Elena Greco, NY DEC Wildlife Technician
12:00 pm - Raptor Banding Station Tour at the Owl Woods
Join a guided tour of the Mather raptor banding station, and see banding in action! Meet at the trail at the Owl Woods on Manitou Beach Road.
Directions HERE
12:00 pm - Hawkwatch BINGO!
A great way for kids and families to learn about what’s spotted at the Braddock Bay hawkwatch! Win some great prizes!
12:30m - Man-made Threats to Raptors
Raptors face numerous man-made threats, including from power/waste/transportation infrastructure, secondary poisoning, and habitat disruption. By exploring these threats, highlighting mitigation techniques, and providing information on treatment options for injured birds, we aim to inspire attendees to take action to protect raptors.
Presenter: Bob Williams is dedicated to protecting and preserving the lives of birds of all shapes and sizes, but especially raptors. He has volunteered with Braddock Bay Raptor Research’s summer raptor count since 2021 and presented research related to weather impacts on red-tailed hawk natal dispersal at Birds of Prey Days 2024. He is also a founding member of the Bird Friendly City team in Kitchener, Ontario, working to mitigate local threats to all birds, protect natural habitats, and educate the community.
1:30 pm - WNY Raptor & Wildlife Care Presentation and Meet & Greet with Live Raptors
WNY Raptor is a nonprofit organization dedicated to wildlife rehabilitation, education, and research. During WNY Raptor’s presentation, Bernie Clabeaux will share the mission of the nonprofit as well as successful rehabilitation stories, including those of orphaned barn owls, turkey vultures, hawks, and others. She will also discuss the current research projects of WNY Raptor. More information about WNY Raptor can be found on the organization’s website www.wnyraptor.com and Facebook page @wnyraptor and Instagram @wny_raptor.
3:00 - Smash the Crash! An Interdisciplinary Initiative to Stop Bird Collisions at the University of Rochester
Fatal collisions with glass windows claim the lives of up to 2 billion birds every year in the United States. This talk will cover the history, biology, and politics of collisions to understand why they occur and what is being done about them. It will also describe an interdisciplinary community research initiative to study this local conservation crisis at the University of Rochester’s River Campus.
Sunday, April 27, 2025
10:00am - Raptor Banding Station Tour at the Owl Woods
Join a guided tour of the Mather raptor banding station, and see banding in action! Meet at the trail at the Owl Woods on Manitou Beach Road.
Directions HERE
11:00 am - Owl Woods Nature Walk
Join an experienced guide for this morning walk through the Owl Woods, and learn why this special place gets its name. Meet at the entrance to the trail of the Owl Woods on Manitou Beach Road. Directions HERE
11:00am-3:00 pm Hawkwatch!
Visit the hawkwatch platform to see what’s flying and learn about the migration and other birds at Braddock Bay. Bring your own binoculars, or borrow from BBRR.
11:00am - Falconry, A Hobby and Lifestyle
12:00pm - Bird Safe Homes
Presented by June Summers, president of Genesee Valley Audubon Society
1:00pm - Understanding Sharp-shinned Hawk Migration Patterns Through Motus Data
Presented by Grace Dowdall, BBRR raptor bander and SUNY Brockport graduate student
2:30 pm - What's that Hawk? Raptor ID Workshop
Come get some identification pointers and visit the hawkwatch to put them to the test. Great for beginners, also fun for intermediately skilled watchers. This will take place outside. Bring binoculars or borrow from BBRR. Meet at the entrance to the lodge for Bird of Prey Days.
Presenter: Daena Ford, BBRR President
2:00-4:00 pm - Meet and Greet Live Raptors from Messinger Woods
No registration required. Come visit the birds and chat with the volunteers from Messinger Woods Wildlife Care and Education Center.