Bart Hoekstra

Batumi Raptor Count

Batumi Raptor Count (BRC) is a nature conservation NGO that works to monitor and conserve the 1,000,000+ birds of prey that migrate every year through the Batumi Bottleneck in the Republic of Georgia. Our main work focuses on organising annual raptor watch points in order to accurately record the migration; however, in response to the local hunting situation, BRC now also runs conservation programmes to reduce the hunting pressure on migratory raptors. BRC does not seek to condemn those who kill the migrating raptors, but rather hopes to increase the valuation of the raptors among local communities through education and by providing alternative economic opportunities. As part of this strategy BRC organises local homestays where western tourists can visit the area and witness the incredible sight of thousands of migrating raptors. This is eco-tourism in its purest form with income from the homestays going directly to the homeowners, i.e. those who may otherwise wish to kill the migratory raptors. If you want to find out more about the migration at Batumi, the work of the BRC, how to become a volunteer counter during the migration or how to visit please visit our website: http://www.batumiraptorcount.org/