Batumi Raptor Count
@batumiraptorcount.org
BRC is devoted to study and help protect the migration of over 1 million raptors along the Georgian Black Sea coast | batumiraptorcount.org
CRESTED HONEY BUZZARD!!!
This year, we have been lucky to observe 56 CHBs so far, double our average of 28!
Photos by Thijmen Stolk, Valentin Cordes, and Yang Li
This year, we have been lucky to observe 56 CHBs so far, double our average of 28!
Photos by Thijmen Stolk, Valentin Cordes, and Yang Li
September 20, 2026 at 5:30 PM
CRESTED HONEY BUZZARD!!!
This year, we have been lucky to observe 56 CHBs so far, double our average of 28!
Photos by Thijmen Stolk, Valentin Cordes, and Yang Li
This year, we have been lucky to observe 56 CHBs so far, double our average of 28!
Photos by Thijmen Stolk, Valentin Cordes, and Yang Li
We are halfway through BRC’s 18th autumn count and in the midst of our Black Kite peak! With all this exciting kite chaos, it feels like an appropriate time to shout out our sponsor, Kite Optics! Enjoy a 10% discount with the following promo code: BRC2500KT
Photos: Valentin Cordes
Photos: Valentin Cordes
September 16, 2026 at 5:47 PM
We are halfway through BRC’s 18th autumn count and in the midst of our Black Kite peak! With all this exciting kite chaos, it feels like an appropriate time to shout out our sponsor, Kite Optics! Enjoy a 10% discount with the following promo code: BRC2500KT
Photos: Valentin Cordes
Photos: Valentin Cordes
500.000 birds counted!!!
The past three days, the skies have exploded with Honey Buzzards, resulting in daily(!) totals of more than 90.000.
Photos by Thijmen Stolk, Jess Cosentino, Yang Li, Mansour Elkerdany, Toka Eldakamawy, Olaf Gwiazdowski, and Sofia Meskhidze
The past three days, the skies have exploded with Honey Buzzards, resulting in daily(!) totals of more than 90.000.
Photos by Thijmen Stolk, Jess Cosentino, Yang Li, Mansour Elkerdany, Toka Eldakamawy, Olaf Gwiazdowski, and Sofia Meskhidze
September 3, 2026 at 6:05 PM
500.000 birds counted!!!
The past three days, the skies have exploded with Honey Buzzards, resulting in daily(!) totals of more than 90.000.
Photos by Thijmen Stolk, Jess Cosentino, Yang Li, Mansour Elkerdany, Toka Eldakamawy, Olaf Gwiazdowski, and Sofia Meskhidze
The past three days, the skies have exploded with Honey Buzzards, resulting in daily(!) totals of more than 90.000.
Photos by Thijmen Stolk, Jess Cosentino, Yang Li, Mansour Elkerdany, Toka Eldakamawy, Olaf Gwiazdowski, and Sofia Meskhidze
We reached 250,000 birds! This sets us ahead of the average counted by this date. Undoubtedly, the star of the show for the past week has been European Honey-Buzzards, which comprise 98% of our current totals.
Photos by Valentin Cordes and Tanja Schachner.
Photos by Valentin Cordes and Tanja Schachner.
September 1, 2026 at 4:34 AM
We reached 250,000 birds! This sets us ahead of the average counted by this date. Undoubtedly, the star of the show for the past week has been European Honey-Buzzards, which comprise 98% of our current totals.
Photos by Valentin Cordes and Tanja Schachner.
Photos by Valentin Cordes and Tanja Schachner.
After a few drizzly days on station, the clouds finally parted and streams of Honey-Buzzards began to flow through the bottleneck - today’s raptor total was 903!
Photo credits: Valentin Cordes, Lauren Evans, Oscar Hazell, Toka Eldakamawy
Photo credits: Valentin Cordes, Lauren Evans, Oscar Hazell, Toka Eldakamawy
August 18, 2026 at 5:48 PM
After a few drizzly days on station, the clouds finally parted and streams of Honey-Buzzards began to flow through the bottleneck - today’s raptor total was 903!
Photo credits: Valentin Cordes, Lauren Evans, Oscar Hazell, Toka Eldakamawy
Photo credits: Valentin Cordes, Lauren Evans, Oscar Hazell, Toka Eldakamawy
Today was the first day of BRC’s 18th autumn raptor count!
While raptor migration isn’t yet in full swing, our first Honey-Buzzards, Booted Eagles, White Storks, and Black Storks rewarded our efforts scanning today’s sunny skies. Photos by Lauren Evans, Valentin Cordes, and Jess Cosentino.
While raptor migration isn’t yet in full swing, our first Honey-Buzzards, Booted Eagles, White Storks, and Black Storks rewarded our efforts scanning today’s sunny skies. Photos by Lauren Evans, Valentin Cordes, and Jess Cosentino.
August 12, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Today was the first day of BRC’s 18th autumn raptor count!
While raptor migration isn’t yet in full swing, our first Honey-Buzzards, Booted Eagles, White Storks, and Black Storks rewarded our efforts scanning today’s sunny skies. Photos by Lauren Evans, Valentin Cordes, and Jess Cosentino.
While raptor migration isn’t yet in full swing, our first Honey-Buzzards, Booted Eagles, White Storks, and Black Storks rewarded our efforts scanning today’s sunny skies. Photos by Lauren Evans, Valentin Cordes, and Jess Cosentino.
The 2026 BRC coordinators have arrived in Batumi and eagerly await this season's outstanding team!
We are very grateful to our sponsor, Kite Optics, for providing stellar optics and financial support to make this year's count possible!
We are very grateful to our sponsor, Kite Optics, for providing stellar optics and financial support to make this year's count possible!
August 10, 2026 at 6:38 PM
The 2026 BRC coordinators have arrived in Batumi and eagerly await this season's outstanding team!
We are very grateful to our sponsor, Kite Optics, for providing stellar optics and financial support to make this year's count possible!
We are very grateful to our sponsor, Kite Optics, for providing stellar optics and financial support to make this year's count possible!
Meet our trainees! Toka from Egypt, Arda from Türkiye, and Redha from Lebanon will join us as the 2026 cohort of the Flyway Monitoring Traineeship.
We set up this traineeship program with OSME last year. Read more about the program and trainees: www.batumiraptorcount.org/news/2026/8/...
We set up this traineeship program with OSME last year. Read more about the program and trainees: www.batumiraptorcount.org/news/2026/8/...
August 9, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Meet our trainees! Toka from Egypt, Arda from Türkiye, and Redha from Lebanon will join us as the 2026 cohort of the Flyway Monitoring Traineeship.
We set up this traineeship program with OSME last year. Read more about the program and trainees: www.batumiraptorcount.org/news/2026/8/...
We set up this traineeship program with OSME last year. Read more about the program and trainees: www.batumiraptorcount.org/news/2026/8/...
⏳ Just 7 days to apply for the Flyway Monitoring Traineeship
Spend a month at Batumi Raptor Count, learning hands-on migration monitoring in one of the world’s largest raptor flyways.
Fully funded travel + acco. Open to conservationists in OSME region.
www.batumiraptorcount.org/flyway-monit... 🪶🦅
Spend a month at Batumi Raptor Count, learning hands-on migration monitoring in one of the world’s largest raptor flyways.
Fully funded travel + acco. Open to conservationists in OSME region.
www.batumiraptorcount.org/flyway-monit... 🪶🦅
BRC Flyway Monitoring Traineeship — Batumi Raptor Count
We are raising \u20AC30,000 to continue our monitoring, conservation and education work in 2026.
www.batumiraptorcount.org
April 18, 2026 at 10:31 AM
⏳ Just 7 days to apply for the Flyway Monitoring Traineeship
Spend a month at Batumi Raptor Count, learning hands-on migration monitoring in one of the world’s largest raptor flyways.
Fully funded travel + acco. Open to conservationists in OSME region.
www.batumiraptorcount.org/flyway-monit... 🪶🦅
Spend a month at Batumi Raptor Count, learning hands-on migration monitoring in one of the world’s largest raptor flyways.
Fully funded travel + acco. Open to conservationists in OSME region.
www.batumiraptorcount.org/flyway-monit... 🪶🦅
Our 2026 Flyway Monitoring Traineeship is open for applications from raptor enthusiasts living in the OSME region.
Learn all about raptor migration, identification and what it takes to run a count like the BRC, and receive up to €1300 to cover costs.
www.batumiraptorcount.org/flyway-monit... 🪶
Learn all about raptor migration, identification and what it takes to run a count like the BRC, and receive up to €1300 to cover costs.
www.batumiraptorcount.org/flyway-monit... 🪶
April 4, 2026 at 6:08 AM
Our 2026 Flyway Monitoring Traineeship is open for applications from raptor enthusiasts living in the OSME region.
Learn all about raptor migration, identification and what it takes to run a count like the BRC, and receive up to €1300 to cover costs.
www.batumiraptorcount.org/flyway-monit... 🪶
Learn all about raptor migration, identification and what it takes to run a count like the BRC, and receive up to €1300 to cover costs.
www.batumiraptorcount.org/flyway-monit... 🪶
Call for Counters!
Join BRC in Autumn 2026 to witness the magnificent migration of >1 million raptors, improve your ID skills, and contribute to population monitoring! Fees: €10-24/day with discounts available!
Read more & apply here: www.batumiraptorcount.org/volunteer-as-raptor-migration-counter
Join BRC in Autumn 2026 to witness the magnificent migration of >1 million raptors, improve your ID skills, and contribute to population monitoring! Fees: €10-24/day with discounts available!
Read more & apply here: www.batumiraptorcount.org/volunteer-as-raptor-migration-counter
April 1, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Call for Counters!
Join BRC in Autumn 2026 to witness the magnificent migration of >1 million raptors, improve your ID skills, and contribute to population monitoring! Fees: €10-24/day with discounts available!
Read more & apply here: www.batumiraptorcount.org/volunteer-as-raptor-migration-counter
Join BRC in Autumn 2026 to witness the magnificent migration of >1 million raptors, improve your ID skills, and contribute to population monitoring! Fees: €10-24/day with discounts available!
Read more & apply here: www.batumiraptorcount.org/volunteer-as-raptor-migration-counter
Reposted by Batumi Raptor Count
NEW PUBLICATION!
Long time coming — now out: the results of our pilot spring raptor counts in Batumi! Read about seasonal contrasts in raptor migration, the eastern Black Sea coast as a principal spring flyway, and much more. 🦅
Paper: doi.org/10.5253/arde...
#ornithology @batumiraptorcount.org
Long time coming — now out: the results of our pilot spring raptor counts in Batumi! Read about seasonal contrasts in raptor migration, the eastern Black Sea coast as a principal spring flyway, and much more. 🦅
Paper: doi.org/10.5253/arde...
#ornithology @batumiraptorcount.org
March 16, 2026 at 1:21 PM
NEW PUBLICATION!
Long time coming — now out: the results of our pilot spring raptor counts in Batumi! Read about seasonal contrasts in raptor migration, the eastern Black Sea coast as a principal spring flyway, and much more. 🦅
Paper: doi.org/10.5253/arde...
#ornithology @batumiraptorcount.org
Long time coming — now out: the results of our pilot spring raptor counts in Batumi! Read about seasonal contrasts in raptor migration, the eastern Black Sea coast as a principal spring flyway, and much more. 🦅
Paper: doi.org/10.5253/arde...
#ornithology @batumiraptorcount.org
Recommended read: our 2025 Autumn Report is out!
As part of our tradition and commitment, we’ve compiled a comprehensive overview of the season’s highlights and phenological peculiarities — complemented by many beautiful photos of both birds and people!
👉 batumiraptorcount.org/autumn-report-2025
As part of our tradition and commitment, we’ve compiled a comprehensive overview of the season’s highlights and phenological peculiarities — complemented by many beautiful photos of both birds and people!
👉 batumiraptorcount.org/autumn-report-2025
December 24, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Recommended read: our 2025 Autumn Report is out!
As part of our tradition and commitment, we’ve compiled a comprehensive overview of the season’s highlights and phenological peculiarities — complemented by many beautiful photos of both birds and people!
👉 batumiraptorcount.org/autumn-report-2025
As part of our tradition and commitment, we’ve compiled a comprehensive overview of the season’s highlights and phenological peculiarities — complemented by many beautiful photos of both birds and people!
👉 batumiraptorcount.org/autumn-report-2025
A typical Batumi migration scene, illustrating the idea of an ‘aerial niche’. For Steppe Buzzards in our bottleneck, that niche is often somewhere between the clouds: great to watch, tricky to count.
Fascinating paper by @cnilsson.science et al: doi.org/10.1016/j.tr...
📸 @barthoekstra.bsky.social
Fascinating paper by @cnilsson.science et al: doi.org/10.1016/j.tr...
📸 @barthoekstra.bsky.social
November issue out online now
www.cell.com/ecology-evol...
We hope you enjoy it!
The cover article is by Cecilia Nilsson and colleagues, photo by Bart Hoekstra
The penultimate interviews in our Disability series feature John Dennehy and Tara Cronin
www.cell.com/ecology-evol...
We hope you enjoy it!
The cover article is by Cecilia Nilsson and colleagues, photo by Bart Hoekstra
The penultimate interviews in our Disability series feature John Dennehy and Tara Cronin
November 18, 2025 at 8:41 PM
A typical Batumi migration scene, illustrating the idea of an ‘aerial niche’. For Steppe Buzzards in our bottleneck, that niche is often somewhere between the clouds: great to watch, tricky to count.
Fascinating paper by @cnilsson.science et al: doi.org/10.1016/j.tr...
📸 @barthoekstra.bsky.social
Fascinating paper by @cnilsson.science et al: doi.org/10.1016/j.tr...
📸 @barthoekstra.bsky.social
It’s a wrap! 🎉
Today marked the final day of #BRC17! What an unforgettable season it’s been: records broken with countless surprises and memories made. All the details will be included in our upcoming autumn report, which will be released soon.
Keep an eye on our social media to stay up-to-date.
Today marked the final day of #BRC17! What an unforgettable season it’s been: records broken with countless surprises and memories made. All the details will be included in our upcoming autumn report, which will be released soon.
Keep an eye on our social media to stay up-to-date.
October 21, 2025 at 1:51 PM
It’s a wrap! 🎉
Today marked the final day of #BRC17! What an unforgettable season it’s been: records broken with countless surprises and memories made. All the details will be included in our upcoming autumn report, which will be released soon.
Keep an eye on our social media to stay up-to-date.
Today marked the final day of #BRC17! What an unforgettable season it’s been: records broken with countless surprises and memories made. All the details will be included in our upcoming autumn report, which will be released soon.
Keep an eye on our social media to stay up-to-date.
1.5 MILLION RAPTORS! 🦅🤯
For the first time in BRC history, we have recorded a staggering 1.5 million raptors in a single autumn season — a true milestone after 17 years of counting!
Read more here: www.batumiraptorcount.org/brc17/2025/10/15-million-raptors
#ornithology #RaptorResearch
For the first time in BRC history, we have recorded a staggering 1.5 million raptors in a single autumn season — a true milestone after 17 years of counting!
Read more here: www.batumiraptorcount.org/brc17/2025/10/15-million-raptors
#ornithology #RaptorResearch
October 20, 2025 at 2:43 PM
1.5 MILLION RAPTORS! 🦅🤯
For the first time in BRC history, we have recorded a staggering 1.5 million raptors in a single autumn season — a true milestone after 17 years of counting!
Read more here: www.batumiraptorcount.org/brc17/2025/10/15-million-raptors
#ornithology #RaptorResearch
For the first time in BRC history, we have recorded a staggering 1.5 million raptors in a single autumn season — a true milestone after 17 years of counting!
Read more here: www.batumiraptorcount.org/brc17/2025/10/15-million-raptors
#ornithology #RaptorResearch
Live from the field!
The 1,422,172nd bird — a juvenile Black Kite flying through the misty clouds — crossed our transect line this afternoon, making 2025 the BIGGEST year in BRC history!!
Stay tuned for more!
The 1,422,172nd bird — a juvenile Black Kite flying through the misty clouds — crossed our transect line this afternoon, making 2025 the BIGGEST year in BRC history!!
Stay tuned for more!
October 5, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Live from the field!
The 1,422,172nd bird — a juvenile Black Kite flying through the misty clouds — crossed our transect line this afternoon, making 2025 the BIGGEST year in BRC history!!
Stay tuned for more!
The 1,422,172nd bird — a juvenile Black Kite flying through the misty clouds — crossed our transect line this afternoon, making 2025 the BIGGEST year in BRC history!!
Stay tuned for more!
Reposted by Batumi Raptor Count
170K raptors! 🤯
8 yrs in the making, but I’ve finally witnessed a 100k+ raptors day while on the station actually counting the bulk of it. Incredible experience. Still feeling cross-eyed from staring through the scope non-stop for almost 10hrs.
📸: the Shuamta team at the end of this incredible day
8 yrs in the making, but I’ve finally witnessed a 100k+ raptors day while on the station actually counting the bulk of it. Incredible experience. Still feeling cross-eyed from staring through the scope non-stop for almost 10hrs.
📸: the Shuamta team at the end of this incredible day
October 2, 2025 at 5:42 AM
170K raptors! 🤯
8 yrs in the making, but I’ve finally witnessed a 100k+ raptors day while on the station actually counting the bulk of it. Incredible experience. Still feeling cross-eyed from staring through the scope non-stop for almost 10hrs.
📸: the Shuamta team at the end of this incredible day
8 yrs in the making, but I’ve finally witnessed a 100k+ raptors day while on the station actually counting the bulk of it. Incredible experience. Still feeling cross-eyed from staring through the scope non-stop for almost 10hrs.
📸: the Shuamta team at the end of this incredible day
Reposted by Batumi Raptor Count
Topteam!!!
170.000 RAPTORS IN ONE DAY!
After yesterday’s heavy rain and a quiet morning, today the sky exploded with Steppe Buzzards and large eagles! Continuing from 10 am until almost the end of the count.
At some point, we counted over 14.000 raptors in less than 20 minutes. THAT'S BATUMI!
#ornithology
After yesterday’s heavy rain and a quiet morning, today the sky exploded with Steppe Buzzards and large eagles! Continuing from 10 am until almost the end of the count.
At some point, we counted over 14.000 raptors in less than 20 minutes. THAT'S BATUMI!
#ornithology
October 2, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Topteam!!!
170.000 RAPTORS IN ONE DAY!
After yesterday’s heavy rain and a quiet morning, today the sky exploded with Steppe Buzzards and large eagles! Continuing from 10 am until almost the end of the count.
At some point, we counted over 14.000 raptors in less than 20 minutes. THAT'S BATUMI!
#ornithology
After yesterday’s heavy rain and a quiet morning, today the sky exploded with Steppe Buzzards and large eagles! Continuing from 10 am until almost the end of the count.
At some point, we counted over 14.000 raptors in less than 20 minutes. THAT'S BATUMI!
#ornithology
October 1, 2025 at 6:17 PM
170.000 RAPTORS IN ONE DAY!
After yesterday’s heavy rain and a quiet morning, today the sky exploded with Steppe Buzzards and large eagles! Continuing from 10 am until almost the end of the count.
At some point, we counted over 14.000 raptors in less than 20 minutes. THAT'S BATUMI!
#ornithology
After yesterday’s heavy rain and a quiet morning, today the sky exploded with Steppe Buzzards and large eagles! Continuing from 10 am until almost the end of the count.
At some point, we counted over 14.000 raptors in less than 20 minutes. THAT'S BATUMI!
#ornithology
After the thrill of reaching the million, we went straight to the peak of diversity. The challenge of counting high numbers of birds slowly shifted into identifying the (relatively) fewer but more difficult ones: the large eagle species!
But they also brought a special guest along...👇
1/2
But they also brought a special guest along...👇
1/2
September 29, 2025 at 3:17 PM
After the thrill of reaching the million, we went straight to the peak of diversity. The challenge of counting high numbers of birds slowly shifted into identifying the (relatively) fewer but more difficult ones: the large eagle species!
But they also brought a special guest along...👇
1/2
But they also brought a special guest along...👇
1/2
A true Bluesky — filled with raptors!
After days of rain, we were greeted by a bright, blue, cloudless sky this morning! The result? Thousands of birds and a high species diversity.
With the main message: the eagles are coming!
Stay tuned for more! For daily totals: www.batumiraptorcount.org/data
After days of rain, we were greeted by a bright, blue, cloudless sky this morning! The result? Thousands of birds and a high species diversity.
With the main message: the eagles are coming!
Stay tuned for more! For daily totals: www.batumiraptorcount.org/data
September 22, 2025 at 6:35 PM
A true Bluesky — filled with raptors!
After days of rain, we were greeted by a bright, blue, cloudless sky this morning! The result? Thousands of birds and a high species diversity.
With the main message: the eagles are coming!
Stay tuned for more! For daily totals: www.batumiraptorcount.org/data
After days of rain, we were greeted by a bright, blue, cloudless sky this morning! The result? Thousands of birds and a high species diversity.
With the main message: the eagles are coming!
Stay tuned for more! For daily totals: www.batumiraptorcount.org/data
Reposted by Batumi Raptor Count
Astounding for the @batumiraptorcount.org crew to reach the 1 million milestone so early in the season. 😳 Congrats to all volunteers and flyway trainees, expertly led by the first ever all-women coordinating team: Eva Drukker, Elien Hoekstra and Mitra Daneshvar. Celebrations are in order! 🤩
September 17, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Astounding for the @batumiraptorcount.org crew to reach the 1 million milestone so early in the season. 😳 Congrats to all volunteers and flyway trainees, expertly led by the first ever all-women coordinating team: Eva Drukker, Elien Hoekstra and Mitra Daneshvar. Celebrations are in order! 🤩
ONE MILLION RAPTORS!
The wait is over... Today #BRC17 hit the earliest 1-million mark in BRC history! Usually, this happens around end-September, but this year the raptors clearly had other plans.
And with still over a month to go, we expect plenty more to come!
1/2
#ornithology #RaptorResearch
The wait is over... Today #BRC17 hit the earliest 1-million mark in BRC history! Usually, this happens around end-September, but this year the raptors clearly had other plans.
And with still over a month to go, we expect plenty more to come!
1/2
#ornithology #RaptorResearch
September 17, 2025 at 3:18 PM
ONE MILLION RAPTORS!
The wait is over... Today #BRC17 hit the earliest 1-million mark in BRC history! Usually, this happens around end-September, but this year the raptors clearly had other plans.
And with still over a month to go, we expect plenty more to come!
1/2
#ornithology #RaptorResearch
The wait is over... Today #BRC17 hit the earliest 1-million mark in BRC history! Usually, this happens around end-September, but this year the raptors clearly had other plans.
And with still over a month to go, we expect plenty more to come!
1/2
#ornithology #RaptorResearch