Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory
37° 30.268' north                080° 27.184' west
Monroe County, West Virginia
Elevation 3812 feet

 
Since 1952, Hanging Rock has been a monitoring point for hawk, eagle, falcon, and osprey migration along the birds' eastern route.

Look for us on Facebook	2012 Count Data posted through 11-30
Rick Steelhammer's article on Hanging Rock from the Charleston Gazette.	The results of the 2013 eagle survey for southern West Virginia are posted. 98 volunteers located 27 bald and 5 golden eagles.

The Locals With information gathered by volunteers on Jim Phillips' annual eagle surveys, and numerous other reported sightings, it is evident we have a thriving eagle population in southern West Virginia. Photo submissions by Brian Hirt, Shawn & Bobbi McClung, Nancy Ford, and Jeff Hajenga. Updated 3/18/2012

Panoramic photo taken by Sharyn Ogden

Raptor photos taken at Hanging Rock.

Jim Phillips has set the dates for the 2013 eagle surveys in the New River gorge / Bluestone area. They are January 12 and March 9 from 10 am till 2 pm. Contact Jim or this site if you wish to participate. This is a fixed point survey and there will be an experienced observer at each location, so even if you are new to the eagle watching business, you can still participate by being a spotter. Check out past surveys for locations.

Welcome to Hanging Rock

History ... Brief history of Hanging Rock with articles written by George Hurley and Doug Wood

Learning Section / Raptor Identification ... This section now contains over 400 photos of the 17 species listed. Now with calls for 14 species. Main Photo Page      Sunrise at Hanging Rock taken by Brian Hirt Photos of the original tower structure as it was in 1952 submitted by Jack Flouer have been added to the Main Photo Page Photos from: 2000  2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006   2007 2008  2009 2010 2011 2012             Updated 1 / 11 / 2013 Photos from 2013   2013 submission by Brian Hirt    2012 Submissions by Charles Aliff jr. and Sharyn Ogden

Counts ... Migration count data from 1959 to present. 2011 Migration count Record counts ... Daily and yearly record totals Complete yearly totals Count data comparison ... Gives peak of migration dates, earliest and latest sightings for each species and compares count data from 1974 through 2003 Results from the 2006 through 2013 local eagle surveys, conducted by Jim Phillips, in an attempt to determine the population in southeastern West Virginia. Track the New River Gorge peregrines

What is a raptor?

Peters Mountain Roar by George Flouer

What is a kettle?

Learn how hawks use air currents when they migrate

 

Comments ... Read comments left by visitors, or, submit your own Updated 01-08-2010 Latest comment by Chuck Shumway
e-mail ... Questions, suggestions, submissions
Links ... Links to sites of interest. Most recent link added: All Best Binoculars   a non-profit website dedicated to helping people determine the best binoculars to meet their needs.
Directions to  the Tower ... How to find us. Directions from Gap Mills, Waiteville and Rock Camp, West Virginia and from Paintbank and Blacksburg, Virginia Note: Due to 911 name changes, Waiteville Road is now Limestone Hill Road and Zenith Road at Rock Camp has been changed to Willow Bend Road. Also, the forest service has erected new signs marking the trail parking for the tower.
Miscellaneous Looking for something that used to be on the home page? It may have been moved here.

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