Thirteen Years of Counting Raptor Migration in Batumi: Observations and Their Importance for Raptor Conservation in Russia

Since 2008 Batumi Raptor Count (BRC) project has been monitoring autumn migration of birds prey in the eastern African-Palearctic flyway southwest Georgia on coast Black Sea. Every this is used by a significant proportion global population such raptor species as Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus), Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus), Pallid (C. macrourus) and Marsh aeruginosus). At least 1% 10 migrates through flyway. vital importance for development ecotourism region, creating an economic, political, social foundation conservation contributing to reduction widespread illegal hunting. The also works introduce ecology into local schools higher education programs. This manuscript’s aim summarise 13 years BRC. It contains detailed description typical season one most important bottlenecks globally. current manuscript loosely based publication British Birds summarising history BRC (Hoekstra et al., 2020). main difference, apart from publishing it Russian, taking account data obtained 2021 emphasising research Russian populations.