Dear Hawk Ridge Friends,
Wow! What an AMAZING week of migration! We've already counted over 22,000 raptors (as of 9/11/21) and 50,000+ other birds of over 130 different species. We’ve also been busy banding raptors (close to 1000 already!) & passerines (approx. 400 of over 30 species), as well as connecting with all the wonderful visitors through our public education at Hawk Ridge. We invite you to visit, view, and learn about the migration with us at Hawk Ridge every day between September 1-October 31 from 9am-4pm (weather pending). We also invite you to REGISTER TODAY (last chance!) for our annual Hawk Weekend Festival taking place next weekend (Fri. 9/17- Sun. 9/19)! Please read below for other exciting upcoming events and news. Happy Fall Bird Migration and hope to see you at the Ridge!
HAWK WEEKEND FESTIVAL
September 17-19, 2021
LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER! (Many events full or close to FULL!)
- Welcome social & evening program by Dr. Jerry Niemi “Future of Boreal Birds in Minnesota” at Great Lakes Aquarium Fri. 9/17 6:30pm
- Friday afternoon presentation by Dr. Matt Etterson “Raptors and contaminants – a tragedy of circumstance in 5 acts” Fri. 9/17 at UMD 3pm
- Guided morning birding field trips to local hotspots Sat 9/18 & Sun. 9/19
- Naturalist programs, hikes, & workshops at Hawk Ridge Fri. 9/17-Sun. 9/19
- Live Falcons program with Jackie Fallon Sat. 9/18 10am and Sun. 9/19 11am
- Advanced Hawkwatching Workshop Sat. 9/18 1pm and Sun. 9/19 12pm
- Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory Annual Member Meeting at UMD Sat. 9/18 7pm
- Evening presentation by UMD graduate students Emily, Hannah, & Allie “Flap-Flap-Glide into the Future: Ongoing Migration Research at Hawk Ridge” at UMD Sat. 9/18 7:30pm
- Evening Owl Programs Fri. 9/17-Sun. 9/19 (limited tickets and varied times)
- Post-Festival "Science and Wonder of Migration" Workshop Sun. 9/19-Mon 9/20
%202.jpg "Broad-winged Hawk (K Bardon) 2")
Come and celebrate the fall bird migration with us! Hawk Weekend is the annual festival held by the Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth, MN. It is a wonderful opportunity to showcase one of North America’s best places to experience the fall bird migration at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve! There will be a variety of field trips, hikes, programs, and activities for all ages! Space is limited and pre-registration is required for many of our festival weekend special events and programs.
We’re also excited to announce our Friday & Saturday evening events and speakers. Our Friday welcome social & speaker event will be held at the Great Lakes Aquarium. Starting at 6:30pm, a cash bar will be available and the aquarium will be open to tour, including the featured Raptor Ridge exhibit and featured art exhibit Life of Birds II by Karl Bardon. Following the social at 7:30pm, Dr. Gerald Niemi will present his research “The Future of Boreal Birds in Minnesota”, which is included as part of the new book “Art on the Edge of the Boreal Forest” (books available for sale/signing).
On Saturday, following our Hawk Ridge Annual Meeting at 7pm, our Saturday evening presentation will be “Flap-flap-glide into the Future: Ongoing Migration Research at Hawk Ridge” presented by University of Minnesota Duluth Graduate Students, Emily Pavlovic, Allie Pesano, and Hannah Toutonghi. Since 1972, banding and counting of raptors at Hawk Ridge has occurred consistently throughout the fall migration season. This compilation of nearly 50 years of annual data is extremely valuable for understanding species variability and population dynamics unique to fall migration at Hawk Ridge. Migratory connectivity, plumage variations, and irruptive species are three areas of research that we are currently exploring. University of Minnesota Duluth graduate students Emily Pavlovic, Allie Pesano, and Hannah Toutonghi will discuss these topics in relation to their own graduate research projects.
Plan on staying after the weekend and join us for our post-festival “Science and Wonder of Migration” workshop!
For more information about the festival (program schedule, field trip details), please CLICK HERE hope you can join us!
Fall 2021 Hawk Ridge Education Programs
Check out our calendar HERE for our program schedule! Daily Sat. & Sun. programs, special events, workshops, evening programs, and more!
NEW Private Guided Morning Bird Walks and Evening Owl Programs!
If you’re interested in a smaller, private program, Hawk Ridge can make that happen for you! During the fall season, we are offering both Private Guided Morning Bird Walks and Private Owl Programs. More information can be found below!
Private Guided Morning Bird Walks at Park Point
Join one of our expert birders for a private guided morning bird walk at Park Point. A great diversity of shorebirds, warblers, waterfowl, and other exciting bird species are frequently observed at the birding hotspot. Click HERE for more info on how to register!
Cost: $35/person or $25/member or student (minimum of 2 people; max of 12)
Private Owl Programs
Beginning September 20 through October 31, we will hold private owl programs scheduled in advance for small group sizes up to 8. Depending on the night, the program will last roughly 1.5-2 hours and could involve watching the banding of owls captured, their release back to the wild, and certainly the opportunity to learn much more about the owls found in our area, as well as those migrating through.
Cost: is $50/person or $40/member or student (minimum of 4 or minimum cost of 4 for less than 4; max of 10)
Click HERE for more info on how to register.
*NOTE: we also offer private programs for school field trips, Scouts, and other small groups, which can be found HERE or under our Education tab on our home page.
Saturday Evening October Owl Programs:
Saturdays 10/2, 10/9, 10/23; 8pm at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve
The evening Owl Program will shine a light onto the mysterious nature of the nocturnal migrants flying over Hawk Ridge. Participants will learn about the research methods being used to study owl activity in the area as well as how to identify many of the species that can be observed in Northern Minnesota by sight and sound. This outdoor evening program takes place at the education program area at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve, so be sure to dress for the weather!
Cost: $10/person or $5/member or student (limited tickets available by clicking HERE).
Advanced Raptor Identification Weekend
Virtual Class with Bill Clark and Field Portion with Hawk Ridge Staff
Friday, October 15th – Sunday, October 17th
Have you ever wondered how our counters can identify raptors from far distances or in large numbers? Well now's your chance to learn some tricks and tips from the comfort of your home with raptor expert, Bill Clark (co-author of Peterson Guide to Hawks & Photographic Guide to North American Raptors), for the virtual portion and then follow-up with our Hawk Ridge experts in the field on Saturday & Sunday during the fall bird migration at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve.
This workshop is sure to help bring you up a notch in your hawkwatching skills. During the virtual portion, Bill Clark will provide an ID skill review and then go into details on challenging raptor ID in groups (accipiters, buteos, eagles, vagrants, and unusual plumages). You can choose the virtual course ONLY or join us for the full workshop (virtual course and field portion). The 3-part virtual course will run Friday 7-9pm, Saturday & Sunday 8-10am. The in-person field portion will be held on Saturday and Sunday following the virtual course on both Saturday and Sunday starting approximately 10:30am (4-6 hours, max. 15 participants)
Cost: $200/person ($175 member/student) or Virtual Class ONLY $110/person ($100 member/student).
Raptor expert, Bill Clark, is a photographer, author, researcher, and lecturer and has over 5 decades experience working with birds of prey, including 5 years as Director of NWF's Raptor Information Center. He has published numerous articles on raptor subjects; has traveled extensively world-wide studying, observing, and photographing raptors; and regularly leads raptor and birding tours and workshops, both home and abroad. He is the co-author of the Peterson Guide to Hawks and Photographic Guide to North American Raptors, as well as author of field guides for Europe, Africa, and Central America.
VISIT US AT HAWK RIDGE NATURE RESERVE 9AM-4PM DAILY SEPT 1 - OCT. 31ST!
Visitor Info for Viewing the Fall Bird Migration
We are excited for another fall bird migration season at Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory! We are in operation under new safety guidelines and limited staff. Visitors are still welcome to come out and enjoy the migration. Just as last fall, we have continued safety measures in place for the health of staff, volunteers, and visitors. This will be especially important with our programs and at our main overlook, which is our primary visitor viewing area. Guidelines may also change pending regulations mandated by local, state, federal authorities. If you are planning to visit, please read our guidelines on our Plan Your Visit page and they will also be posted at the Hawk Ridge main overlook.
Meet Our Fall 2021 Hawk Ridge Team
We have a wonderful crew for fall of 2021 of both return and new! You can find out who's who HERE on our staff page. We are all excited to share the magnificent migration of birds with you!
August 2021 Bird Migration Count & Banding Summaries
August Raptor Count Summary
The fall count on Hawk Ridge began on the 15th of August as the warm summer sun, coupled with southerly winds, appeared to keep the early daily raptor migrant totals relatively sparse. The occasional juvenile BROAD-WINGED HAWK observed passing over the platform heading southward on their inaugural migration since hatching and fledging from the nest just a few months ago to overwinter in the dense jungles of Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador.
Following the first week, a steady trickle of BALD EAGLES of several age classes continued to pour in from the north with each passing day. Migrant AMERICAN KESTRELS made daily appearances on their early southward movements as they spilled out of the meadows and grasslands of northern latitudes. Possibly following on the heels of the rich dragonfly migrations that congruently traced the sinuous Lake Superior shoreline by the tens of thousands, providing ample prey during their journeys toward southern non-breeding regions throughout the Americas, as far south as the Caribbean! A large low-pressure system with heavy precipitation moved its way northward through the area in the final days of the month and, in the wake of its passage, brought an abundance of early season migrants.
The final two days of August saw the highest (259) and second highest (229) BALD EAGLE daily totals for the month ever, coupled with the third highest BROAD-WINGED HAWK daily August total (224; 30 August 2021) ever since 1972 (639; 23 Aug 1977 and 306; 17 Aug 2020). The final count day of the month also saw the first triple-digit daily SHARP-SHINNED HAWK count of the season (160). In many ways, our human species views August as the remnants of summer while many, often young, raptors have clearly begun to cue in on the need to begin their exploratory journeys south for autumn migration in preparation for the boreal winter.
You can follow along daily with the fall raptor count and summaries HERE!
-Jess Cosentino, Fall Counter
August Non-Raptor Count Summary
The month of August from the 15th-31st brought many interesting days of morning flight, with the count beginning at sunrise on the ridge nearly every day. In tandem with morning counts along the shore by experienced observers, and the evening Common Nighthawks counts led by Steve Kolbe, our migration count helps to paint a good picture of all migration occurring along the north shore of Lake Superior.
Beginning the season amidst a heat wave in the now hottest summer on record for Duluth, the first few days of the count were dominated by south winds and relatively few migrants on the ridge. Many species of local of regional breeding species were present and singing or calling frequently during this early part of the season, including Mourning Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Least Flycatcher, Baltimore Oriole, Red-eyed Vireo, Veery, Brown Thrasher, and Chestnut-sided Warbler.
During August, a few migrant shorebirds were spotted, including Least Sandpiper, Lesser-Yellowlegs, Sanderling, Greater Yellowlegs, Baird’s Sandpiper, Wilson’s Snipe, and Solitary Sandpiper. Also recorded on several mornings were Common Loons crossing the ridge and heading to the lake.
One of the first big pushes of migrants occurred on the night of the 18th and following morning of the 19th, resulting in over 140 warblers of 12 species, including Tennessee, Blackburnian, Black-throated Green, Canada, and Wilsons. Also present were migrant Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Bobolink, Pine Siskin, and Red-breasted Nuthatch. Common nighthawk numbers were also increasing with a count of 123 in the morning. The following morning of the 20th brought similar numbers of passerine migrants, but also a notable count of 1635 Common Nighthawk beginning at Dawn, suggesting movement throughout the previous night.
August 21st further ramped up the numbers and diversity of migrants with over 230 warblers and an interesting flight of Olive-sided Flycatchers (7) that was mirrored by counts on the shore. Also, 240 Cliff Swallows were moving past the ridge, the first of several 200+ days. The following week through August 28th produced consistent morning flight and arrival of new migrant passerines including some apparent movement of Purple Finches, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Canada Goose, and Belted Kingfisher. The first American White Pelicans of the season (62) passed over the platform on the 24th.
August 29th – 31st clearly ushered in the first big movements of the season, coinciding with our first big raptor flights. The morning of the 30th in particular saw a big morning flight with over 1250 warblers of 11 species, including an early flight of Palm Warblers (53), and a surprise of 2 Evening Grosbeak. A total of 37 Red-breasted Nuthatches for the morning was the first notable movement for the species this year, also recorded in larger numbers along the shore. Also notable was an early American Pipit on the morning of the 29th.
Overall, August brought an interesting and diverse variety of migrants, with the end of month bringing the highest numbers all around. Also, the evening Common Nighthawk flights were impressive as always, with several good flights recorded by Steve Kolbe and crew on the shore (5895), (5027), and (4877).
You can follow the count live HERE!
-Julian Grudens, Fall Counter
August Raptor Banding Summary
The raptor banding season started off on the 15th. We had 29 banding days between the Hawk Ridge and Moose Valley Stations. It was slow start to the season with temperatures in the high 80’s and humid. Moose Valley was run by banders Abbie Valine and Miranda Durbin. I ran the main station at Hawk Ridge. We welcomed the new banding trainees, Emma Regnier, Maggie Brown, and Eliana Heiser on the 20th to witness the nighthawk migration and get an early start to their banding season. Andy Witchger is also returning this season, but in a new position as the Owl Bander.
We are continuing two of our research projects again this fall in studying exposure to two contaminants, Polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) and methylmercury (Hg). These are bioaccumulative toxins, which cause reproductive failure in birds.
We are also happy to continue to with graduate students at UMD on their raptor research: Emily Pavlovic, Allie Pesano, Hannah Toutonghi, and Halle Lambeau (with Allie, Hannah, & Halle all being former Hawk Ridge Banding Trainees)!
Projects include:
· -Red-tailed Hawk genetics
· -Migration patterns of Sharp-shinned Hawks, Northern Saw-whet Owls, and Red-tailed Hawks using stable isotopes
· -A study on Northern Hawk Owls *NOTE: Be sure to check out Hannah’s fundraiser for her project and purchase one of the amazing limited edition Northern Hawk Owl shirts designed by artist, Karl Bardon: Click HERE to get yours today!
bonfire.com/store/northern-hawk-owl-limited-edition-merchandise/
The banding crew is excited for the season!
August Raptor Banding Totals
Bald Eagle: 1
Northern Harrier: 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 40
Cooper’s Hawk: 5
Broad-winged Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 6
American Kestrel: 4
Merlin: 10
TOTAL RAPTORS: 71
-Frank Nicoletti, Banding Director
Passerine Banding Summary
The 8th summer of the MAPS project (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) was completed at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve by our dedicated group of passerine volunteers led by David Alexander and Margie Menzies. During one of their July sessions, they had an amazing day with a total of 127 birds. Highlights included Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, Least Flycatchers, Northern Waterthrush, Veery, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, recaptured Hairy Woodpecker, and a family of Golden-winged Warblers. The full MAPS summary will be included in our next newsletter.
Beginning in August, the Fall Passerine Banding Project then begins at Hawk Ridge. As of early September, 400+ passerines of over 30 species were banded, including highlights of Black-throated Blue Warbler, Savannah Sparrow, Northern Parula, and Blackpoll Warblers.
WAYS OF GIVING
Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory thanks all of our supporters. As a nonprofit organization, we are primarily funded by individual gifts to put our bird migration research and education programs in action. Below are ways you can help us keep sharing the magic of the bird migration!
Support Hawk Ridge by Shopping!
Be sure to stop by our gift shop (merchandise trailer) at Hawk Ridge September 1 – October 31 for a variety of Hawk Ridge and other bird/nature-related merchandise. Our featured artist this year is Emma Regnier, who was one of our Bird Migration Count Trainees in 2020 and has returned as one of our Banding Research Trainees for this fall. She created 2 new beautiful designs for our limited-edition shirts for 2021!
Purchase one of our unique artist-designed Hawk Ridge shirts or tote bags online. If you like to shop on Amazon, you can add Hawk Ridge as your charity you support via Amazon Smile and Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory receives a donation of 0.5% of eligible purchases!.
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!
Books with Portion of Proceeds coming to Hawk Ridge!
Art on the Edge of the Boreal Forest: Alternative Futures for the trees, birds and insects
Original art by ten Minnesota artists
Text by Lee Frelich, Ph.D. and Gerald Niemi, Ph.D.
A group of Minnesota botanical artists applied their skills and knowledge to create a visual archival record of Minnesota's threatened boreal forest. Dr. Frelich, director for the Center for Forest Ecology, and Dr. Niemi, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Biology, University of Minnesota Duluth (and former Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory Board Member & Research Chair), as well as Jane Albers, DNR Forest Health Specialist, contributed research on threatened boreal trees, plants, birds, and insects. This collection is important because the ecology of the boreal forest is undergoing slow and silent but significant change due to disturbances caused by fire, invasive insects and stressful climate conditions. Books for sale online from various sellers, like Amazon. Books for sale and signing, as part of our Friday, September 17 Hawk Weekend Festival evening welcome social event, in which Dr. Niemi will be presenting (registration details at beginning of newsletter).
Hawks on High - Everyday Miracles in a Hawk Ridge Season
By Phil Fitzpatrick with drawings by Penny Perry
Phil Fitzpatrick captures the magic of migration at Hawk Ridge and interesting bird bits beyond through his beautiful collection of poetry. Poems are brought to life through the artwork of Penny Perry. Books for sale online and at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve during the fall season September 1 - October 31.
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.
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
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