Ridgway's Hawk Project | The Peregrine Fund

Once found throughout much of the island of Hispaniola, the endemic Ridgway's Hawk (Buteo ridgwayi) experienced sharp population declines in the mid-1900s. When The Peregrine Fund began studying the Ridgway’s Hawk in 2000, only about 300 remained. This remnant population was restricted to the small Los Haitises National Park on the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic. Habitat loss was just one of the many threats impacting Ridgway’s Hawks. They were also being shot by people. To make matters worse, botfly infestations frequently killed nestlings, resulting in reproductive rates that could barely sustain this fragile population.

Our Solutions

Two biologists taking measurements of nestling Ridgway's Hawk

Conserving Birds of Prey in Hispaniola

Our Impacts

Near doubling of Ridgway's Hawk population across Hispaniola
Two burgeoning populations formed as a result of assisted dispersal efforts
33 local biologists and educators trained and working on our project
35,959 reached through direct environmental education
261 Ridgway's Hawks released through assisted dispersal
234 graduated from training workshops

A Ridgway's Hawk Nestling being held in a person's hand during biological examinatinos

Nico Lormand

Conserving Birds of Prey in the Caribbean

You can help

Donate Today. Even a small donation can make a big difference.
Adopt a raptor. You'll help provide food, enrichment, travel, and medical care for one of our raptor ambassadors at the World Center for Birds of Prey. These hard-working members of our staff inspire thousands of people to engage in conserving birds of prey.
Celebrate Ridgway's Hawk Day - twice! Every year, on May 25th, we celebrate Ridgway's Hawks in Dominican Republic - as this was the day the first nestling hatched in Punta Cana as a result of our Assisted Dispersal Program. In Haiti, Ridgway's Hawk day is celebrated on August 19th to commemorate the day this species was rediscovered there.
Shop sustainably. When buying bags, shoes, souvenirs or other articles, be sure they are not made of wildlife products and that, if made of natural products, they are sustainably harvested.
Travel Sustainably. Traveling with local companies that support conservation, visiting countries that most need tourism money, and using your travel as an opportunity to meet and get to know locals are great ways to support conservation.
Learn and Teach. Learn as much as you can about vultures and other birds of prey then share what you have learned with friends and family.