Snickers Gap Hawkwatch History and Description Snickers Gap Hawkwatch was established in 1990 by Jesse Fulton of Falls Church, VA, and Kerrie Kirkpatrick currently of Hereford, AZ. In the succeeding years, many observers have joined in the effort to document the fall migration of raptors passing over the site. Most are from Northern Virginia near the Washington, DC, area about 50 miles to the east. While others come from nearer counties, such as, Fauquier, Loudoun and Clarke. Snickers is manned solely by volunteers and is one of several official watch sites in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. It is affiliated with the Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA) which compiles the migration data of over 200 such sites located in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Typically, about 12,000 birds are counted each season. The highest seasonal count was over 23,000 in 1998. The birds are generally observed traveling in a southwesterly direction either directly over the ridge line, or just off to either side, at varying heights and distances usually depending on weather conditions. They can be seen with the naked eye, but often require binoculars or a spotting scope for identification, and when possible, aging and sex determination. Snickers Gap is located where VA Rte. 7 crosses the Loudoun-Clarke County line and the Appalachian Trail at the summit of the gap near Bluemont (formerly Snickersville), VA.  The watch is adjacent to the highway and is conducted from a parking lot serving both commuters and users of the trail. The site offers a 180-degree view facing north as the migrating birds make their approach along the ridge line. At 1070 ft., the gap is some 300-600 feet below the adjacent ridge line and 400-500 feet above the surrounding countryside. The Shenandoah Valley is to the west of the gap and the Virginia Piedmont is to the east. The Shenandoah River runs along the west side of the ridge only 2-4 mi. away while the Potomac River is situated 10 mi. to the north. Snickers Gap provides access to a mix of hardwood and non-hardwood tree habitats that support a variety of plant and animal life. Migratory and non-migratory birds such as geese, ducks, vultures, cormorants, gulls, loons, swans, woodpeckers, waxwings, swifts, swallows, crows, ravens, starlings, hummingbirds, jays, robins, finches, warblers, etc., are often seen and reported flying overhead. Even occasional ruffed grouse and wild turkeys can be seen or heard in the forest edge behind the site. The abundant wildflowers around the parking area attract a number of butterflies including cabbage whites, monarchs, common buckeyes, spice bushes, black swallowtails, great spangles, eastern tiger swallowtails, commas, red-spotted purples, orange sulphurs, shachems, pearl crescents, and silver-spotted skippers.   Joseph Gantt