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 Jesse House to understand, document, and share the birds of prey that live in and migrate through the North Bay.
What began as a small group documenting overwintering hawks and eagles in Marin and Sonoma counties grew into a regional raptor education and research organization. Larry brought together photographers, field observers, educators, and community scientists who shared his passion for raptors and the landscapes they depend upon.
Through field trips, Bird of Prey hikes, identification workshops, migration counts, and educational programs, WCHW helped thousands of people learn about raptors, their behavior, and their importance to healthy ecosystems.
Larry also built lasting partnerships with organizations including Sonoma Land Trust, Solano Land Trust, and The Wildlands Conservancy. These relationships brought raptor education to protected lands throughout the North Bay.
In 2009, Larry established the Jenner Headlands HawkWatch to document raptor migration along the Sonoma Coast. Its ongoing counts contribute data to the Hawk Migration Association's global database and remain an important part of WCHW's community science work.
Carrying the Work Forward
For many years, Adrian Johnson worked alongside Larry as his photographer and co-leader on hikes, programs, and fieldwork. Over time, Larry became more than a colleague. He was a friend, mentor, and teacher who shared his knowledge of raptors and his ability to help others connect 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 the work he spent decades building deserved to continue.
With Larry's family's blessing, Adrian accepted the responsibility of carrying West County HawkWatch forward. Longtime conservation partners also asked him to continue the Bird of Prey hikes and educational programs Larry helped establish.
Today, WCHW's work is supported by a dedicated team of volunteers, photographers, and field leaders. At Jenner Headlands, three-day leaders coordinate and conduct twice-weekly migration counts throughout the season. Together with our volunteers and conservation partners, they help keep Larry's work moving forward.
Continuing the Legacy
Larry built West County HawkWatch around a simple idea: people protect what they come to know and love.
Today, we carry that idea forward through migration counts, field observations, photography, education, and partnerships with conservation organizations.
Our work continues to connect people with birds of prey and the landscapes they depend upon. The organization has grown and evolved, but its purpose 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!