About the HOOT Project   Under the guidelines and objectives of NMAP, Hawks Aloft has developed a citizen science project to help protect raptors and other large migratory birds from electrocution by utility structures in New Mexico. This is the HOOT (Hawk & Owl Observation Tracking) Project.    The goals of HOOT are to:    ·          Educate citizens in New Mexico about raptors and their nesting habitat ·         Gather data on the locations of nesting raptors throughout New Mexico ·         Encourage participation in citizen science in New Mexico ·         Use data to enable prioritization of electrocution safety measures ·         Use data to determine nesting success of raptors in New Mexico ·         Disseminate information on location maps on this web site each winter   Citizens throughout New Mexico are encouraged to submit their observations of nesting raptors (and other large birds) to the HOOT Project for the 2006 breeding season (March to July 2006). These may include:   □  Cooper’s Hawk □  American Kestrel □  American Crow □  Swainson’s Hawk □  Red-tailed Hawk □  Great Horned Owl □  Western Screech-Owl □  Burrowing Owl  □  Common Raven   Click here to submit your observations online! Fill out as much of the form as you can. If you do not know the answer to a question, simply leave that field blank.   The data gathered by the HOOT Project will help determine areas with high concentrations of nesting raptors.    This information will be used by NMAP, in collaboration with utility companies throughout New Mexico, to prioritize safety measures to reduce dangerous interactions of birds with power structures. The data collected will also increase our knowledge of nesting raptors in the state and will be combined with monitoring studies conducted by Hawks Aloft to provide a larger picture of the breeding activities of raptors in New Mexico.   In addition to providing useful data which will be used to protect native species in New Mexico, the project will also educate and stimulate citizens to be involved in the conservation of these species. In particular, this project provides a fascinating introduction to bird watching and environmental stewardship, and complements Hawks Aloft’s educational objectives.