Our fundraising to support the Fall 2027 operations of the Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch kicked off in September with Mohawk Valley Gives – supported by the Community Foundation of Otsego County.
SPECIAL DONATION 3X MATCH!
We are so very grateful to our anonymous donor who provided a 3x match of all donations of $25 or more during the MV Gives Campaign up to a total of $15,000 (increased from $10k to accommodate additional donations). The Founders Legacy Fund was donated in honor of those who were instrumental in the early operations of Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society and the Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch.
We’re off to a great start!
Donations through the MVGives Program will enable to fully fund the Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch operations for the fall of 2027!
The work continues…we are continuing to ask for donations towards our Hawkwatch Sustaining Fund. This fund needs to be large enough to provide for the annual operations through the proceeds and interest.
Our Story
This Year’s Focus: Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch
Our focus for fundraising this year is to support the continuing operations of the Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch at the DOAS Sanctuary, just south of Oneonta, NY.
Research Informs Conservation
The Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch has tracked raptor migration for almost 40 years — collecting data that’s essential to understanding long-term population trends and shaping the conservation action each species needs. For nearly four decades, it’s run entirely on volunteer effort. To secure its future, we need to bring on a paid contractor to lead the count each season.
Investing in the Next Generation
The Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch is also a launchpad. It gives emerging conservationists real, hands-on research experience — the kind of opportunity that shapes careers. As the conservation field faces mounting environmental challenges, these next-generation professionals will be essential to keeping our ecosystems sustainable.
Our Goals
This fall (2026), the Hawkwatch is still run entirely by volunteers. Your gift today will go towards building our fund in order to transition to a paid counter position starting in 2027 — and helps us build toward a permanent larger fund so the position never depends on year-to-year fundraising again.
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- THIS GOAL WAS ACHIEVED ON 9/18/26 – THANK YOU! Short-term goal: $15,000 (2027 Hawkwatch Operations Fund): We are working to build a dedicated fund to hire a paid counter for the fall 2027 migration season (12 weeks, September–November) — the first year the count moves from all-volunteer to professionally staffed.
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- Long-term goal: $300,000 by September 2028 (Hawkwatch Sustaining Fund): Build an endowment-like fund to sustain this position permanently, year after year and cover general hawkwatch related costs.
Details about each of these funds can be found at the DOAS Website HERE.
Donation Levels
Donations at all levels are greatly appreciated and are going into a dedicated fund specifically for Fall 2027 Hawkwatch Operations.
Donations of $25 or more qualify for triple match from the Founders’ Legacy Fund donation.
Donate today with any amount at MVGives Here
or choose from one of the levels below.
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Bald Eagle – Your $625 donation becomes $2,500
- Supports 2 weeks of operations of the Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch.
Peregrine Falcon – Your $312.50 donation becomes $1,250
- Supports 1 week of operations of the Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch.
Barred Owl – Your $125 donation becomes $500
- Supports 2 days of operations of the Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch.
American Kestrel – Your $62.50 donation becomes $250
- Supports 1 day of operations of the Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch.
Eastern Screech Owl – Your $31.25 donation becomes $125
- Supports 1/2 day of operations of the Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch.
About Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society
Vision and Mission
We envision a healthy world where people and wildlife thrive and natural resources are protected. The mission of Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society is to protect our natural environment and connect people with nature to benefit birds and other wildlife through conservation, education, research and advocacy. We envision a healthy world where people and wildlife thrive and natural resources are protected.
DOAS History and Activities
The Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society (DOAS), established in 1968, is a chapter of the National Audubon Society (1970 Charter). The chapter region encompasses the northern Catskill Mountains and the upper Susquehanna River areas of New York State and includes Northern Delaware, Otsego, eastern Chenango, and western Schoharie Counties as well as areas in southern Herkimer and Montgomery Counties. We offer 9 free public science and natural history themed programs each year (accessible in person and on zoom) along with free public bird hikes for all levels of birders at various locations in our region. The organization also operates a 100 acre Sanctuary property just south of Oneonta, NY which is open to the public every day of the year with three trails for hiking.
The DOAS Sanctuary is home to the Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch, a premier site for viewing Golden Eagles in the fall months since 1989.
We offer many ways to be involved and support our local conservation, education, research and advocacy efforts including memberships, a fall bird seed sale, a spring native plant sale, e-News updates and our newsletter, the Belted Kingfisher. Learn more about DOAS here at our website at https://doas.us.
By Aquila (with help from DOAS Board Members).
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