Hawk Ridge News - July 2026

 

 

Dear Hawk Ridge Friends,

Summer always feels short and packed between our spring and fall migration seasons with avian field research, summer camp programs, community service group projects, outreach events, and prep for the fall. Added to this busy summer was the exciting construction of the the new accessible trail loop at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve! We enjoyed the weekly trail meetings to see the progress through all weather conditions from rain and mud to heat and smoke. It is a great kick-off to the rest of of our facilities improvements yet to come for accessibility, safety, and education. We can't wait for you to experience it! 

If you haven't started yet, now is the time to start making plans for your visit this fall! Early bird registration ends Monday August 17th for our annual Hawk Weekend Festival (Sept 18-20) Discounted registration is also open through September 30th for the international Raptor Research Foundation 60th Anniversary Conference we are hosting (Oct 26-31). We also invite you to join us for our summer naturalist offerings and find out more of what we've been up to in the reports below. 

P.S. If you missed our last e-newsletter, you can view that and older versions by clicking HERE. Keep up with recent news by following us on Facebook and Instagram. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

SUMMER NATURALIST SERIES

Join us for our Summer Naturalist Series! We had some fun exploration hikes in June, songbird banding in July, and new events in August below! 

Weekend Songbird Banding Programs at Hawk Ridge

Various July/Aug Weekends (FINAL Sat. Aug. 1st)

Step into the exciting world of songbird banding research and join the Hawk Ridge banding team to explore MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship)! Get an up-close look at wild birds, learn why we band birds, what we learn from studying birds in hand, and so much more! Whether you're a seasoned birder or curious about the natural world, this unforgettable adventure offers an amazing opportunity to work alongside Hawk Ridge researchers, explore the nature reserve, and witness conservation science in action! Help us uncover the stories of migration, survival, and life on the wing! 

Dates: Saturdays July 4th (5th), 11th (12th), 25th (26th), & Aug 1st (2nd) (NOTE: backup weather dates in parentheses)

Time: 8-10am

Location: Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve (meeting location will be confirmed in email) 

Cost: $10 members/students, $20 general 

Register by 4pm day prior: send email to naturalist@hawkridge.org with name, number of participants, and phone contact to call/text with changes (payment link & meeting location will be sent)

What to Bring: dress in layers, water, sunscreen, insect deterrent, hiking shoes/gear

Special Notes: If you are interested in checking the bird nets with our banders, be prepared to hike over muddy (muck boots often needed!) and uneven ground. Trails are natural-surface and may be rugged with some rocky steps. *Note that bird banding can be cancelled or rescheduled at any time due to rain or high winds. Make sure to include an email and cell/text contact so that we can inform you of any changes in plans for the program.

Saturday Hawk Ridge Bird Bingo Hikes

August 1st, 8th, & 15th

Get outside and explore Hawk Ridge in a whole new way with a guided Bird Bingo adventure along our new accessible trail! As we stroll along, you’ll search for all things bird while learning about why Hawk Ridge is such a unique place! Whether you love spending time outdoors, enjoy learning something new, or are looking for a fun activity to do with friends or family, Bird Bingo is a fun way to experience the new trail while learning from a Hawk Ridge naturalist! See how many squares you can fill in and discover something new with every step! 

Dates: Saturday, August 1st, 8th & 15th 

Time: 1-2pm 

Location: Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve (Meet at the Main Overlook - click HERE for directions) 

Cost: $5 suggested donation 

What to Bring: dress in layers, water, sun protection, hiking shoes, binoculars (we have free loaner pairs!), insect deterrent (optional)

Nighthawk Nights!

August 21st & 25th

I have a large, flat head, big eyes, a small bill and a huge mouth, and long, slender wings! You guessed it, the Common Nighthawk! Did you know that for a few weeks, Duluth is the best place to watch Common Nighthawk migration? Each summer from mid-August to early September, these mystifying birds fly right over our heads and through Duluth neighborhoods, traveling several thousand miles on their journey to South America. 

Bring along the whole family and join Hawk Ridge for two evenings of Nighthawk-filled fun, discovery, and learning as we celebrate the migration of the Common Nighthawk. Fill out your Nighthawk Nights Passport for a chance to win! Attend both evenings and get a stamp at each station to be entered into a prize drawing to win Hawk Ridge merchandise! 

Dates: Fri. Aug. 21st and Tues. Aug. 25th

Time: 5:30-7:30pm (5:30-5:45 Welcome & Check-in; 5:45-7:30 Nighthawk Activities & Nighthawk Migration Viewing)

Location: 6008 London Road, Duluth, MN 55804 (UMD Limnology Building) 

Cost: $5 suggested donation per person 

What to Bring: dress in layers, water, snacks, lawn chair, insect deterrent, binoculars (we have free loaner pairs!)

Hawk Weekend Festival 

September 18-20, 2026 

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!! (early bird rates by Aug 17)

We invite you to join us to celebrate the amazing fall bird migration with us! Hawk Weekend is the annual festival held by Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth, MN. Bird migration research and education programs have been shared with visitors throughout the world each fall at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve for over 50 years! Join us for a fun weekend with a variety of birding field trips, nature hikes, programs, and activities for all ages! 

Registration is OPEN and more details can be found HERE! Early bird rates through Mon. August 17th and all registration closes on Mon. September 14th. Be sure to register early, as many events have limited space. Kick-off the festival with us on Friday, September 18th at the Great Lakes Aquarium 6-9pm. Registration opens (6-6:30pm), social hour (6:30-7:30pm) will include a cash bar and light refreshments and the full aquarium will be open to tour, including the Raptor Ridge Exhibit. The Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory Annual Meeting will begin at 7:30pm (approx. 15 minutes) followed by keynote: Dr. Kristen Ruegg, Associate Professor of Biology at Colorado State University. Her research involves using genomic tools to track migratory birds across space and time and to understand how these animals may fare with environmental change, including the Bird Genoscape Project (birdgenoscape.org).

Everyone Can Bird: Accessible Birding Series 

Sat. October 17th (NOTE: Date change to 17th vs 10th)

The Everyone Can Bird community partner series designed for accessible birding for all skills and abilities is back for 2026! The first 2 of the 3 series held in spring and summer were a success! The spring May 3rd event was held at Chambers Grove Park and the summer July 24th event was held at Barker's Island in Superior, WI. Attendees enjoyed accessible birding and learning from experts. Designed with accessibility in mind, the free events provide accessible parking, American Sign Language interpretation and binoculars with a wheelchair mount. A track chair – an all-terrain, electric-powered chair that can be used on hiking trails – is also available for use.

All are invited to attend the last event of the series on Saturday, October 17th at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve. Observe the migration from the accessible roadside at the main overlook and/or enjoy the new universally accessible trail at Hawk Ridge. Naturalists and expert bird guides will help point out birds, lead discussion, and aid observation. Free bus transportation is provided from locations in Superior and Duluth (register to reserve a seat on bus). More information will be available soon HERE. 

The Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve, Duluth Parks and Recreation, Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, Lake Superior Reserve, Minnesota Land Trust and Wisconsin Sea Grant are hosting this series. 

Raptor Research Foundation Conference 

October 26-30, 2026 

REGISTER TODAY! (discounted rates by Sept 30)

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory is excited to announce we are hosting the international Raptor Research Foundation 60th Anniversary Conference this fall! The conference will be held October 26-30, 2026 at the Holiday Inn Downtown Duluth with pre/post field trips & workshops on Oct 27 & Oct 31. There is also a post-conference technical tree climbing workshop for raptor research Nov 2-4. Registration is open with discounted rates available until Sept 30th. Find out more about the Raptor Research Foundation go to: https://raptorresearchfoundation.org/2026-conference/. 

P.S. Conference logo designed by artist Emma Regnier (@falcofous). We love seeing those beautiful Rough-legged Hawks with the fall Hawk Ridge Lake Superior landscape and hope you can enjoy them with us too!

International Birding Tour

Birding the Highlands of Guatemala

March 7-16, 2027 (with optional post trip March 16-20)

REGISTER TODAY!

Join Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory for an amazing birding adventure! Guatemala is a richly diverse cultural center and a lush and vibrant paradise for birders. Set in the heart of Central America, it sits within one of the Western Hemisphere’s prime migratory corridors and is overwinter grounds for a wide array of North American breeding birds. Join Margie Menzies, Hawk Ridge Education Director, and local guides to look for more than 20 regional endemic highland species. There will also be an optional extension March 16-20 to visit the Tikal region and spend a day at a working tropical banding station at Las Guacamayas and learn about their efforts with both resident native species as well as tracking the wintering grounds of North American Species. More information and registration info HERE with Holbrook Travel.  

RESEARCH UPDATES

Central Flyway Broad-winged Hawk Project

Update: Banded Adults and Fledging Young!

This month we had an awesome visit from Laurie and Becca of Hawk Mountain to learn their techniques for capturing, color banding, and deploying transmitters on adult Broad-winged Hawks at the nest. While they were here we successfully banded adults from three nesting pairs and deployed two transmitters–one on a male and one on a female. Since then, we have also been able to band one other individual and deploy a third transmitter. The movements of the birds with transmitters will be shared later this fall once they are on their migration. 

At this point, many of the young have either started branching (moving out of the nest to surrounding branches) or fledged and left the nest. We will finish out our season by assessing habitat characteristics (tree species, nest height, etc.) at each of the nest sites. We are thrilled with how this first season of the project has gone and are excited for the coming years! A huge thank you to Taylor Peltier for her dedicated nest searching, Tim Baerwald for constructing a mechanical owl for trapping, Laurie Goodrich and Becca McCabe for their guidance and support, Frank Nicoletti for help with trapping, Marie Hosch and Lydia Ihde for tagging along on a nest check, David Alexander for help with mist nets, and all the landowners and supporters who made this possible.

To learn more about the goals of the project click HERE. 

Support Broad-winged Hawk Research!

Community observations play an important role in the success of this project — thank you to everyone who shared sightings for this project whether it was through our survey, eBird, or iNaturalist. Thank you also to the landowners who allowed us to access their properties to search for and observe nests. Many hours of work go into this sort of project and we hope to continue into the coming years. 

To support the project through donating any amount or sponsoring a transmitter click HERE. You can also support the project by buying a Broad-winged Hawk shirt featuring artwork by local avian researcher and UMD graduate student, Abby Odegard. Short-sleeve shirts, long-sleeve shirts, and sweatshirts are available, with proceeds supporting Broad-winged Hawk research and conservation. Click HERE to order yours today. 

Thank you to the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union and all of our generous donors for making this work possible!

American Kestrel Nestbox Monitoring Project

Update: Nestling Banding and Box Cleaning! 

That’s a wrap on the American Kestrel nestling banding for the season. In total, we banded 227 nestlings between Douglas County, WI and St. Louis County, MN. Because American Kestrels are sexually dimorphic (have different plumage between males and females) we are able to sex the nestlings after they are about 14 days old. Males are smaller with slate-blue wings (top photo), while females are slightly larger and have black and brown barring (lower photo).

Next season will be here before we know it, so we got a head start by cleaning out and refreshing the boxes with new “linens” (wood shavings). A messy, but necessary task! Stay tuned for a full season summary with stats, more pictures, and highlights from the season!

Hawk Ridge 2026 Summer Songbird Banding (MAPS) 

This summer is our 12th season of MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) passerine banding. June 6, 2026 was the start of the first of 7 banding sessions. So far, we banded 356 new birds and 171 recaptures, of 32 species, with one session remaining. One exciting highlight was a Golden-winged Warbler that was originally banded at Hawk Ridge in 2020 and aged as an after second year at the time. That means that this bird is at least 8 years old! This is one example of the amazing information we can gain from birds by participating in the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) program. 

Every bird has a story to tell of course, but many of these small colorful neotropical migrants routinely make journeys that defy human imagination! Stay tuned for the final report from our 2026 MAPS season at Hawk Ridge. Thank you to all our dedicated volunteers for those incredibly early morning starts!

OTHER NEWS

NEW Accessible Trail Loop at Hawk Ridge!

We are excited to announce construction is complete and trail will be open in advance of the start of the 2026 fall bird migration soon! This is part of the first phase of the Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve’s Facilities Improvements Mini-Master Plan for Accessibility, Safety, & Education. The new accessible trail loop includes improved access to current education program area, visitor observation area below the count platform, boardwalk upgrade, and will connect to future accessible education facilities. Future improvements include additional education program areas, accessible restroom, interpretive signage, roadway safety & parking improvements, observation viewing decks, picnic shelter, amphitheater, & nature playscape. 

Please follow all trail user notices. This is a pedestrian-accessible only trail - no bikes, horses, motorized vehicles, e-scooters. Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory is appreciative of the partners working with us in collaboration with the City of Duluth, SAS+ Associates, and Zenith Trail Contracting. Stay tuned for more info on official opening and ribbon cutting ceremony soon! 

Education Scholarship Funding Needed!

Contribute to the Hawk Ridge Education Scholarship Fund today! Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory offers environmental education program opportunities for schools Pre-K through college from all across the region. We have continued to keep our program costs low and affordable for schools to have the amazing opportunity to experience and learn about both spring and fall migration through educational programming. 

Each year the need for assistance with programming fees continues to grow with an average of 65% of schools visiting requesting scholarship assistance. The Hawk Ridge Education Scholarship Fund allows us to provide these types of scholarships to schools. In the past 5 years, Hawk Ridge has awarded nearly $8,000 dollars in scholarship funds! Help us help students and schools come to experience Hawk Ridge! We are hoping to raise at least $2,000 in 2026 to award scholarships. To make a donation to the Education Scholarship Fund, please click HERE. We truly appreciate your support!

Thank You for Your Support! 

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory thanks all of our supporters. We appreciate you! As a nonprofit organization, we are primarily funded by individual gifts to put our bird migration research and education programs in action. Below are some of the ways you help us keep sharing the magic of the bird migration!

Ulvang Memorial Fund for Count and Banding Research

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory is happy to announce the Ulvang Memorial Fund to help support count and banding research at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve. The Ulvang Memorial Fund is named for two boys who were inspired by the original Duluth hawk count. Bill and Bob were affected by the kindness, encouragement and enthusiasm of teachers and mentors who taught them about birds in general and hawks in particular. The story begins about 75 years ago in the very early years of the hawk count at what would later be formed as Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve, which you can read more about by clicking HERE. 

Please consider donating to the Ulvang Memorial Fund. Your gift will help continue the important long-term monitoring efforts at Hawk Ridge that contribute to bird conservation research and continue to inspire others about birds for generations now and in the future! DONATE HERE TODAY! 

P.S. The West Skyline Hawk Count is one of the long-term monitoring efforts by Hawk Ridge - you can find the 2026 report HERE! 

Support Hawk Ridge by Shopping!

Thanks to those that have been shopping our Amazon Wish List for needed supplies! NOTE: With the fall season just around the corner, please take a look at our list for education and research supplies needed - we super appreciate your support! 

A variety of Hawk Ridge shirts are available online through links below. 

Big Frog (direct ship or pick up at Duluth store) 

Bonfire (direct ship) 

Become A Member Today! 

If you're already a member of Hawk Ridge, we sincerely appreciate your support! THANK YOU! If you're not a member and have enjoyed your experience with Hawk Ridge, we invite you to renew or join as a Hawk Ridge member today! Our memberships and donations help drive our bird conservation research and education programs. You can check out our exciting membership benefits and join or renew online HERE! 

Simply Donate 

You can always simply donate online by clicking HERE or by mailing a check made out to Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, P.O. Box 3006, Duluth, MN 55803. 

Thank you again for your appreciated gift of support! Hope to connect with you soon - feel free to reach out by email at jlong@hawkridge.org with any questions. 

Sincerely,

Janelle Long
Executive Director
Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory
P.O. Box 3006
Duluth, MN 55803-3006
Call: 218-428-6209
Contact: mail@hawkridge.org
Visit: www.hawkridge.org
501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization

Federal Tax ID 76-0746366

Hawk Ridge News - June 2026

 

 

Dear Hawk Ridge Friends,

Sweet summer is upon us filled with beautiful sights and sounds of birds, flowers in bloom, and warm sunshine. Then, in just two short months on August 15th, we'll already be kicking off the start of the fall bird migration. It's not too early to start making plans for your visit this fall! Registration is now open for our annual Hawk Weekend Festival (Sept 18-20), as well as the international Raptor Research Foundation 60th Anniversary Conference we are hosting (Oct 26-31). We also invite you to join us for our summer naturalist offerings and find out more of what we've been up to in the reports below. Happy Summer Days! 

P.S. If you missed our last e-newsletter, you can view that and older versions by clicking HERE. Keep up with recent news by following us on Facebook and Instagram. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Summer Naturalist Series

Weekend Songbird Banding Programs at Hawk Ridge

Various July/Aug Weekends

Join us for our Summer Naturalist Series! We had some fun exploration hikes in June and now you can join us in July/August for songbird banding! Step into the exciting world of songbird banding research and join the Hawk Ridge banding team to explore MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship)! Get an up-close look at wild birds, learn why we band birds, what we learn from studying birds in hand, and so much more! Whether you're a seasoned birder or curious about the natural world, this unforgettable adventure offers an amazing opportunity to work alongside Hawk Ridge researchers, explore the nature reserve, and witness conservation science in action! Help us uncover the stories of migration, survival, and life on the wing! 

Dates: Saturdays July 4th (5th), 11th (12th), 25th (26th), & Aug 1st (2nd) (NOTE: backup weather dates in parentheses)

Time: 8-10am

Location: Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve (meeting location will be confirmed in email) 

Cost: $10 members/students, $20 general 

Register by 4pm day prior: send email to naturalist@hawkridge.org with name, number of participants, and phone contact to call/text with changes (payment link & meeting location will be sent)

What to Bring: dress in layers, water, sunscreen, insect deterrent, hiking shoes/gear

Special Notes: If you are interested in checking the bird nets with our banders, be prepared to hike over muddy (muck boots often needed!) and uneven ground. Trails are natural-surface and may be rugged with some rocky steps. *Note that bird banding can be cancelled or rescheduled at any time due to rain or high winds. Make sure to include an email and cell/text contact so that we can inform you of any changes in plans for the program.

Everyone Can Bird: Accessible Birding Series 

Fri. July 24th & Sat. October 10th

The Everyone Can Bird community partner series designed for accessible birding for all skills and abilities is back! The first of 3 events was held on May 3rd at Chambers Grove Park and was a great success! We had fantastic weather and well over a hundred participants enjoyed the viewing of several hundred American White Pelicans, which never disappoint! A number of other interesting birds including a Green Heron, Double-crested Cormorants, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Yellowbellied Sapsuckers, and a flock of Bonaparte’s Gulls made their presence known as well. A nice assortment of early season migrants were seen by participants.

All are invited to attend the upcoming free events on July 24th at Barker's Island in Superior, WI and and October 10th at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve. Designed with accessibility in mind, the event will provide accessible parking, American Sign Language interpretation and binoculars with a wheelchair mount. A track chair – an all-terrain, electric-powered chair that can be used on hiking trails – is also available for use. Sit or walk along a packed gravel path throughout the park with expert bird guides to lead discussion and aid observation. Free bus transportation is provided from locations in Superior and Duluth (register to reserve a seat on bus). More information about the July & October events will be available soon HERE.  

The Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve, Duluth Parks and Recreation, Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, Lake Superior Reserve, Minnesota Land Trust and Wisconsin Sea Grant are hosting this series. 

Hawk Weekend Festival 

September 18-20, 2026 

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!! (early bird rates by Aug 17)

We invite you to join us to celebrate the amazing fall bird migration with us! Hawk Weekend is the annual festival held by Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth, MN. Bird migration research and education programs have been shared with visitors throughout the world each fall at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve for over 50 years! Join us for a fun weekend with a variety of birding field trips, nature hikes, programs, and activities for all ages! 

Registration is OPEN and more details can be found HERE! Early bird rates through Mon. August 17th and all registration closes on Mon. September 14th. Be sure to register early, as many events have limited space. Kick-off the festival with us on Friday, September 18th at the Great Lakes Aquarium 6-9pm. Registration opens (6-6:30pm), social hour (6:30-7:30pm) will include a cash bar and light refreshments and the full aquarium will be open to tour, including the Raptor Ridge Exhibit. The Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory Annual Meeting will begin at 7:30pm (approx. 15 minutes) followed by keynote: Dr. Kristen Ruegg, Associate Professor of Biology at Colorado State University. Her research involves using genomic tools to track migratory birds across space and time and to understand how these animals may fare with environmental change, including the Bird Genoscape Project (birdgenoscape.org).

Raptor Research Foundation Conference 

October 26-30, 2026 

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!! (early bird rates by July 1)

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory is excited to announce we are hosting the international Raptor Research Foundation 60th Anniversary Conference this fall! The conference will be held October 26-30, 2026 at the Holiday Inn Downtown Duluth with pre/post field trips & workshops on Oct 27 & Oct 31. There is also a post-conference technical tree climbing workshop for raptor research Nov 2-4. Registration is open with early bird rates available until July 1st. Find out more about the Raptor Research Foundation go to: https://raptorresearchfoundation.org/2026-conference/. 

P.S. Conference logo designed by artist Emma Regnier (@falcofous). We love seeing those beautiful Rough-legged Hawks with the fall Hawk Ridge Lake Superior landscape and hope you can enjoy them with us too!

International Birding Tour

Birding the Highlands of Guatemala

March 16-20, 2027

REGISTER TODAY!

Join Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory for an amazing birding adventure! Guatemala is a richly diverse cultural center and a lush and vibrant paradise for birders. Set in the heart of Central America, it sits within one of the Western Hemisphere’s prime migratory corridors and is overwinter grounds for a wide array of North American breeding birds. Join Margie Menzies, Hawk Ridge Education Director, and local guides to look for more than 20 regional endemic highland species. There will also be an optional extension to visit the Tikal region and spend a day at a working tropical banding station at Las Guacamayas and learn about their efforts with both resident native species as well as tracking the wintering grounds of North American Species. More information and registration info HERE with Holbrook Travel.  

RESEARCH UPDATES

Central Flyway Broad-winged Hawk Project

Update: More Nests & Possible Hatching!

Over the past several weeks, we have been monitoring five active Broad-winged Hawk nests in the Duluth area and have located several additional nests outside the city. Within the last week we have observed signs that some eggs may have begun hatching. One clue that hatchlings have arrived is a change in the behavior of the incubating adult. Instead of sitting low in the nest, adults often sit slightly higher and may squirm or shift as nestlings move beneath them. 

Can you spot the adult hawks hidden in these nest photos? Adult Broad-winged Hawks are remarkably quiet and well-camouflaged while on the nest. Most of the time, only a watchful eye peeking through the vegetation gives away their presence. The best opportunity to hear them is during prey exchanges. One adult will bring food near the nest and call to its mate. The adult on the nest carefully assesses whether it is safe to leave before retrieving the prey and returning to the nest. So far, we have observed adults delivering snakes, red squirrels, and voles. We will continue monitoring nests and searching for new ones through early July. At that time, researchers from Hawk Mountain will join us to deploy transmitters on nesting adults. Hawk Mountain has been conducting similar research for more than a decade and brings extensive experience and expertise to this effort. 

Help Us Find Broad-winged Hawks!

Would you like to help with this project? Community observations play an important role in the success of this project. We are currently accepting reports of Broad-winged Hawk sightings, vocalizations, and stick nests. You can submit your sightings using THIS SURVEY or email your observations to research@hawkridge.org. Thank you to everyone who has shared your sightings so far - we greatly appreciate your support!

To learn more about the goals of the project click HERE. To support the project through donating any amount or sponsoring a transmitter click HERE. We have also launched a Broad-winged Hawk shirt fundraiser featuring artwork by local avian researcher and UMD graduate student, Abby Odegard. Get your awesome shirt today (short-sleeve, long-sleeve, and sweatshirts available!) with proceeds supporting Broad-winged Hawk research and conservation click HERE to order. 

Thank you to Hawk Migration Association, Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union, and all of our generous donors for supporting this work!

American Kestrel Nestbox Monitoring Project

Update: Nestlings Have Arrived! 

Exciting news from our American Kestrel monitoring program—many of this year's eggs have hatched, and nestlings are now filling boxes across the region! In late May, we banded 28 adult American Kestrels and recaptured five previously banded birds. Two of the recaptured adults had been banded in 2025, while three others were birds originally banded as nestlings in 2022, 2023, and 2025. These recaptures provide valuable information about longevity, survival, and breeding-site fidelity (whether birds return to the same area to breed year after year). Nest box occupancy remains high, with approximately 75% of boxes occupied across our study area spanning Clover Valley, Minnesota, and Douglas County, Wisconsin. 

Kestrels are not the only species interested in the boxes, however. This season we have documented three boxes occupied by squirrels (both red and gray squirrels) and three occupied by European Starlings. With many chicks now hatched, the next milestone is fledging. About 30 days after hatching, young kestrels will leave the nest and begin preparing for their first migration south. Fall migration will be here before we know it! 

Stay tuned for our next update, when we'll share highlights from this year's kestrel nestling banding season.

West Skyline Spring Count - 2026 Summary

Note: Full Report can be found HERE (excerpts below)

What a spring to remember at the West Skyline Hawk Count (WSHC) of Duluth, MN! Per protocol the count was conducted from March 1–May 31, tallying all migrating birds; this was our 9th consecutive spring of the count! The 2026 spring count season ran for 494 count hours and spanned 85 days (we did not count on seven whole days due to snow, rain, and/or fog… certainly a showcase—or snowcase?—of temperamental Duluth weather!). We observed at least two migrating raptors every day we did count, and we had 6 days on which we counted over a thousand raptors—all of those days in April. Our highest raptor count day tallied 2,170 raptors (April 15), and the season total ended with 24,278 raptors across 15 species. 

The first month of the count (March) started strong, with both Bald and Golden Eagles observed every day for the first two weeks, and one hundred eagles (including five Goldens) tallied on only the third day of the count. The second half of March waned relative to many years, however, with consistently cold temperatures, gray skies, and high humidity seeming to discourage migration. The peak of the 2026 March eagle flight saw only 326 eagles (March 23), unlike many years’ mid- to high-hundreds—and sometimes over a thousand—peak Bald Eagle days; but March eagle migration is extremely variable and weather-dependent across the years, and this year was indeed very cold. And at any rate, slow and steady wins the race, or at least gets third place, as the full 2026 WSHC season proved about eagles! (Spoiler alert! More on this later.) 

Cold temperatures and high humidity continued into the first week of April, and unfavorable weather systems shut down the count on multiple days, which seemed foreboding for the rest of the month. Then the winds shifted southwest and the sun came out on April 7, bringing a welcome surprise: the first big breakthrough of Red-tailed Hawks, and almost 500 of them at that! This incredible flight included one adult dark Harlan’s Hawk right overhead, a rare and special treat at the WSHC. We thought this might be our biggest Red-tail flight of the spring, but April 13 proved us wrong with 566 Red-tails—and then again on April 15, when we had a whopping 909 ‘tails, over a third of them counted within the last two hours of the flight as evening light faded! April 13 and 15 also included glorious views and excellent numbers of Sharp-shinned Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks, and Turkey Vultures. April 2026 went down as the highest-ever April in WSHC history for Sharp-shinned and Rough-legged Hawk numbers! We saw a few Broad-winged Hawks at the end of April, too; our highest count of the whole season for these little forest whistlers ended up being 1,088 Broad-wings tallied on April 25. 

May brought green leaves(!), colorful warblers, a Swainson’s Hawk, around 3.5k more Broad-winged Hawks, and WSHC’s best-ever May total for Bald Eagles: cumulatively 1,875 of them, with the biggest day being 167 eagles on May 10. There were 8 total days in May with over a hundred eagles counted, hopefully a testament to a successful southern US breeding season, an essentially winter event that is followed by a late-spring push of very fresh southern juveniles and their tired parents heading up into the northland. (It’s our guess as to what they’re looking for up north, post breeding—better lakes? Less competition for food? Caribou Coffee?) Mid-May saw a number of rather cold days and minimal flight, but late May warmed up and brought the expected end-of-season push of Broad-winged Hawks, Bald Eagles, Canada Geese, and even a few more American White Pelicans and Sandhill Cranes. 

All in all, spring 2026 at the West Skyline Hawk Count was a wild ride, with an around-average total number of raptors packed into notably below-average hours spent counting, and some intense weather in between! Several raptor numbers stood out this spring: —Red-tailed Hawks (3,878 of them), certainly the star of this spring’s show, had the highest count this season out of the last 9 years; the most recent spring higher than this was in 2004 (7,398 red-tails)! —Rough-legged Hawks (361) had the second-highest count of the last 9 years; the most recent higher count was in 2018 (443 rough-legs). —Turkey Vultures (5,018), an ever-increasing presence in Northern Minnesota, were only surpassed by last year’s count (5,759), and we will not be surprised if next spring blows both out of the water! —Sharp-shinned Hawks (2,597) also held the second-highest count of the last 9 years; the highest count was in 2018 (2,637 sharpies). —Bald Eagles (6,118) were second place to last year (6,451) and, as mentioned prior, third place to the top season total from 2019 (7,727 eagles). 

The West Skyline Hawk Count does not only watch hawks (or weather!), however; we also count all other bird species, and several non-raptors sure caught the spotlight this spring! On April 18, we counted an incredible reverse migration of Northern Flickers (1,021 of them!), part of a spectacular larger flight of yellowhammers flying down the North Shore to escape an unexpected, unfavorable shift in wind and temperature encountered during their normal northward migration. A second major reverse flight happened on May 4, this time involving over 850 warblers flying over the ridge (mainly Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers, but including 6 at least other warbler species as well!), as well as dozens of sparrows, kinglets, finches, and swallows. 

For waterfowl counts this spring, Tundra and Trumpeter Swans, Double-crested Cormorants, and American White Pelicans seem to continue on an upward trend (more long-term data is needed to be sure), while Common Loons and Sandhill Cranes were in the mid to low range this year, possibly having flown around Duluth rather than over it. Overall duck numbers were lower than the previous three years and certainly moved later due to the colder temperatures. We observed one Great Egret fly over on April 8, one of the earliest records of the species for Duluth ever. 

Aaaaaand that’s a wrap! This westernmost spring hawk watch on the Great Lakes is made possible thanks to a generous donation, as well as support from our members and donors, for which we are very appreciative. All in all we had a great year, so many people deserve a special shoutout! Frank Nicoletti, Sean McLaughlin, Peter Mundale, and Ezra Hosch provided invaluable support as relief counters, and “the boys” John Edwards, Ralph Larsen, Ed Longhway, Dave Carman and others gave their precious time and effort in spotting and calling out birds (and bringing pastries!!). A HUGE thanks to naturalist Lydia Ihde, who not only provided relief and count support, but also encouragement, common sense, entertainment, and sustenance in times of need! A special thank-you is due to our volunteers who braved the cold spring to watch some hawks, and to Emily Pavlovic for her unending wisdom and logistical support. 

And as always, THANK YOU to every person who stopped by, chatted, and enjoyed the incredible avian sights of West Skyline Hawk Count! We hope to see you next year at the count, and before then be sure to stop by this fall at Hawk Ridge! 

Marie Hosch

Spring Counter

P.S. You can find our spring daily counts and totals via Trektellen HERE and via HawkCount HERE.  

Hawk Ridge 2026 Summer Songbird Banding (MAPS) 

In 2026, we will participate in our 12th season of MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) summer banding. On May 17th we conducted a well-attended training session for new and returning volunteers. Unfortunately, we were unable to band during the training because of too much wind, but we were able to share protocol updates for this year’s season and get new participants acquainted with seasoned veterans and get everyone excited for what is to come for the season. June 6, 2026 was our first of 7 banding sessions and things got off to a great start. We had 34 birds captured, which included 13 different species, 17 newly banded birds and 16 recaptures from previous banding years. We also had one unbanded Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Hummingbirds require a special permit to band because of their small leg size, and no one on the Hawk Ridge team has that permit, so we are unable to band them as of yet. 

American Redstarts and Veeries won the prize for the most birds captured with 2 new birds and 4 recaptures for Veeries and 3 new and 4 recaptures for American Redstarts. Veeries migrate to South America every winter occupying at least two different regions during their time there: northern countries and the Southern Brazil Amazon region. One returning Veery is at least 7 years old and another at least 5 years old. American Redstarts are also long distance migrants - though not quite as long as the Veery, with most wintering in Central America, and a few going further on into Colombia in South America. 

Our returning Mourning Warblers are also reflecting older birds with 2 recaptures, one at least 7 years old and the second at least 5 years old. Most Mourning Warbler will also travel all the way to South America for the winter. It’s incredible to think about these small birds making such long journeys and miraculously turning up back in the same breeding locations here at Hawk Ridge year after year. There is no GPS guiding these birds, yet they still manage to travel incredible distances to return and be caught in the same nets at Hawk Ridge. 

Every bird has a story to tell of course, but many of these small colorful neotropical migrants routinely make journeys that defy human imagination! Stay tuned for further updates as we progress through the 2026 MAPS season at Hawk Ridge. We know there are lots more stories yet to be told! And many thanks to all our dedicated volunteers for those incredibly early morning starts!

OTHER NEWS

NEW Accessible Trail Loop Construction Underway!

We are excited to announce that the new accessible trail loop construction at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve is underway! This is part of the first phase of the Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve’s Facilities Improvements Mini-Master Plan for Accessibility, Safety, & Education. The new accessible trail loop includes improved access to current education program area, boardwalk upgrades, and will connect to future accessible education facilities. Future improvements include additional education program areas, accessible restroom, interpretive signage, roadway safety & parking improvements, observation viewing decks, picnic shelter, amphitheater, & nature playscape. 

Construction is expected to take approximately six weeks and will be completed in advance of the 2026 fall bird migration. The public is advised that small sections of trail may be temporarily closed to accommodate construction and ensure public safety. Please follow all trail closure notices. Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory is working with the City of Duluth, SAS+ Associates, and Zenith Trail Contracting on this collaborative project.

Education Scholarship Funding Needed!

Contribute to the Hawk Ridge Education Scholarship Fund today! Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory offers environmental education program opportunities for schools Pre-K through college from all across the region. We have continued to keep our program costs low and affordable for schools to have the amazing opportunity to experience and learn about both spring and fall migration through educational programming. 

Each year the need for assistance with programming fees continues to grow with an average of 65% of schools visiting requesting scholarship assistance. The Hawk Ridge Education Scholarship Fund allows us to provide these types of scholarships to schools. In the past 5 years, Hawk Ridge has awarded nearly $8,000 dollars in scholarship funds! Help us help students and schools come to experience Hawk Ridge! We are hoping to raise at least $2,000 in 2026 to award scholarships. To make a donation to the Education Scholarship Fund, please click HERE. We truly appreciate your support!

Seasonal Hosts Needed for Hawk Ridge Staff

We are currently seeking hosts for Hawk Ridge staff (primarily 8/26-11/1, but a few starting mid-Aug to  mid-Nov). Hawk Ridge has amazing seasonal staff, trainees, and apprentices conducting the important bird research and education programs. Many of our staff are traveling from out of state to work for or train with Hawk Ridge for 2-3 months coinciding with the magnificent bird migration. We depend on wonderful hosts to provide lodging for our seasonal staff during that time. We are so grateful to all that have helped host through the years - thank you! We've also seen many special connections built between the host family and staff. If you have a spare room, rental space, or even full house that you'd consider for hosting, please contact Janelle Long, jlong@hawkridge.org or call 218-428-6209. 

Thank You for Your Support! 

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory thanks all of our supporters. We appreciate you! As a nonprofit organization, we are primarily funded by individual gifts to put our bird migration research and education programs in action. Below are some of the ways you help us keep sharing the magic of the bird migration!

Ulvang Memorial Fund for Count and Banding Research

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory is happy to announce the Ulvang Memorial Fund to help support count and banding research at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve. The Ulvang Memorial Fund is named for two boys who were inspired by the original Duluth hawk count. Bill and Bob were affected by the kindness, encouragement and enthusiasm of teachers and mentors who taught them about birds in general and hawks in particular. The story begins about 75 years ago in the very early years of the hawk count at what would later be formed as Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve, which you can read more about by clicking HERE. 

Please consider donating to the Ulvang Memorial Fund. Your gift will help continue the important long-term monitoring efforts at Hawk Ridge that contribute to bird conservation research and continue to inspire others about birds for generations now and in the future! DONATE HERE TODAY!

Support Hawk Ridge by Shopping!

Amazon Prime Week June 23-26th!

Thanks to those that have been shopping our Amazon Wish List for needed supplies! NOTE: Amazon Prime Week is June 23-26th for possible deals/discounts! We also have Hawk Ridge shirts available through our online shopping options. 

Big Frog (direct ship or pick up at Duluth store) 

Bonfire (direct ship) 

Become A Member Today! 

If you're already a member of Hawk Ridge, we sincerely appreciate your support! THANK YOU! If you're not a member and have enjoyed your experience with Hawk Ridge, we invite you to renew or join as a Hawk Ridge member today! Our memberships and donations help drive our bird conservation research and education programs. You can check out our exciting membership benefits and join or renew online HERE! 

Simply Donate 

You can always simply donate online by clicking HERE or by mailing a check made out to Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, P.O. Box 3006, Duluth, MN 55803. 

Thank you again for your appreciated gift of support! Hope to connect with you soon - feel free to reach out by email at jlong@hawkridge.org with any questions. 

Sincerely,

Janelle Long
Executive Director
Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory
P.O. Box 3006
Duluth, MN 55803-3006
Call: 218-428-6209
Contact: mail@hawkridge.org
Visit: www.hawkridge.org
501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization

Federal Tax ID 76-0746366