Description
Birds of prey are different species of birds that are apex predators. Also known as raptors, they are migratory birds with distinguishing features such as sharp talons and strong beaks. This study focused on the migratory patterns of different raptor species in Islip, New York in order to determine if certain species had a higher migratory frequency between late August and early December. It was hypothesized that certain species would have a higher migratory frequency than others. Migration counts of different birds of prey species were collected from HawkWatch.org for the months of August, September, October, November, and December during the years 2023 and 2024. This data was then analyzed using descriptive statistics to examine each species’ migration pattern and ultimately their migratory frequency. Results showed that specific species were observed in higher abundance than others during the time period. Species such as Osprey, Merlin, and Sharp-shinned Hawk were recorded migrating at higher frequencies compared to other species that were observed rarely or not at all in Islip, New York.