OUR HISTORY & JOURNEY
From a small group of raptor observers to a community of conservation, science, and education.
West County HawkWatch began in 1996, founded by Larry Broderick and Jessie House with a simple but important goal: to better understand, document, and share the remarkable birds of prey that live in and migrate through the North Bay.
What began as a small group documenting overwintering hawks and eagles throughout Marin and Sonoma counties grew into a regional raptor education and research organization. Over the years, Larry expanded West County HawkWatch into a community of photographers, field observers, educators, and community scientists who shared his passion for raptors and the places they depend upon.
WCHW became known not only for identifying and documenting birds of prey, but for helping people understand their behavior, habitat, and importance to healthy ecosystems. Through hikes, field trips, raptor identification workshops, migration counts and educational programs, Larry brought thousands of people into the field to experience these remarkable birds for themselves.
Larry also believed strongly in partnerships. Over the years, West County HawkWatch developed lasting relationships with organizations including Sonoma Land Trust, Solano Land Trust, and The Wildlands Conservancy. These partnerships helped bring raptor education and conservation together, allowing people to experience birds of prey on protected lands throughout the North Bay.
In 2009, Larry established the Jenner Headlands HawkWatch, creating a long-term effort to document raptor migration along the Sonoma Coast. The data being collected added to the Hawk Migration Association's global database. The site became another important part of WCHW's commitment to citizen science and understanding raptor migration.
Carrying the Work Forward
For many years, I had the privilege of working alongside Larry as his photographer and co-leader on hikes, programs, and fieldwork. More importantly, Larry was a friend, mentor, and teacher. He taught me not only how to identify raptors, but how to share their stories with others and help people develop their own connection with the natural world.
Larry passed away unexpectedly on December 31, 2024.
His passing left a tremendous void in the North Bay raptor community. But it also created a responsibility to make sure the work he had spent decades building did not end with him.
With the blessing of Larry's family, Adrian Johnson accepted the responsibility of carrying West County HawkWatch forward. The conservation organizations that had worked alongside Larry also asked Adrian to continue the Bird of Prey hikes and educational programs that Larry had helped establish.
But continuing Larry's work has never been about doing it alone.
Today, West County HawkWatch is supported by a dedicated team of volunteers and field leaders who share the same passion for raptors and the natural world. At Jenner Headlands, three day leaders support our migration monitoring program by coordinating and conducting twice-weekly counts throughout the migration season. Together with our volunteers, photographers, community scientists, and conservation partners, they help ensure that the work Larry began continues year after year.
Continuing the Legacy
Larry built West County HawkWatch around a simple idea: people protect what they come to know and love.
Today, we are carrying that idea forward.
Through raptor migration counts, field observations, photography and documentation, Bird of Prey hikes, educational programs, and partnerships with conservation organizations, WCHW continues to connect people with birds of prey and the landscapes they depend upon.
The organization has grown and evolved, but the heart of the mission remains the same.
See the birds.
Learn their stories.
Understand the places they depend upon.
And become inspired to protect them.
That is the legacy Larry left us—and it is a responsibility we are proud to carry forward.
Keep Looking Up!