Raptors - like eagles, owls, and hawks - aren’t just beautiful creatures that soar above. Did you know they don’t like to fly over large bodies of water? That makes the Straits of Mackinac one of the most important migratory crossings for raptors in the country, and Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch (MSRW) is the only organization in the region focused on the conservation of these incredible birds.

Raptors are a critical element of our ecosystem. As apex predators, they are a ‘canary in the coalmine’, alerting us to critical changes or disruptions in our environment and giving an early warning signal of serious environmental issues that need to be addressed. Yet as important as they are to our world, the data and research on these birds haven’t been easy to come by, especially in northern Michigan where more tracking is needed. MSRW aims to tackle that issue head-on, and in partnering with the Straits Area Community Foundation, are ensuring that future generations have the resources to carry on their efforts.

Established as a raptor watch group in 2004, the organization became an official nonprofit in 2013 with goals of focusing on promoting and researching raptor migration in the Straits of Mackinac region; aiding in conservation and protection of birds; and informing and inspiring people to learn about birds of prey and the importance of the Straits as a major migratory pathway. MSRW does this by using the wildlife tracking network system called “Motus” (Latin for movement), annual bird counts, and bird tagging; and weaving it all in with community events and educational opportunities.

In 2023, MSRW established the Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch Endowment Fund at SACF to save for the future and provide a permanent source of revenue for their organization. Now that the fund has been established, anyone can donate at any time, and in any amount, to support the organization and the raptors they are working to research and protect.

“We established our fund with the Straits Area Community Foundation because it literally shares part of our name. The Straits are the ‘center of our universe’, if you will,” says Scott Davis, MSRW Executive Director.

“Partnering with SACF felt like it fit more with who we are as an organization than other options out there.”

MSRW is a local, homegrown organization with a large volunteer base and almost no overhead costs. Each spring and fall, volunteers gather in Mackinaw City, St. Ignace, and Mackinac Island for migratory bird counts to track raptors like eagles and hawks as they pass through the Straits region.

“You might be surprised how many people show up to our count sites on a nice weekend, and from all over the country,” says Scott. “We also contract with seasonal contractors to do owl banding and bird counts – mainly young field biologists looking for experience.”

As part of their educational efforts, MSRW also engages local schools and nonprofit partners like Little Traverse Conservancy, and Mackinac State Historic Parks.

Davis says their fund at SACF will support the collection of data over time so that no matter what, the money needed to obtain critical information will always be available to MSRW, researchers, and others working to conserve raptors in the Straits.