Kiptopeke History     In 1977, the hawkwatch began annual surveys adjacent to the songbird banding station there which began in 1963. Some hawk trapping was also conducted there. In 1994, Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory was founded and it began paying hawkwatchers in 1995. CVWO also operates the songbird station and a hawk trapping station adjacent to the hawkwatch. In 1992 the Kiptopeke property became Kiptopeke State Park and an observation platform was built for the hawkwatch in 1994, through a partnership with the Park and the Virginia Society of Ornothology. The hawkwatch runs from September 1st through November.   Brian Taber