Dear Hawk Ridge Friends,
This has been an interesting start to April, as the snow and cold returned and pushed some of the birds to migrate back south! Hopefully, we'll see some warmer temps again soon and continue to enjoy viewing the great spring migration at our West Skyline Spring Count. You can read the March migration summary below. We invite you to join us at the count and/or for some of our upcoming spring workshops/field trips! Our Spring Migration Workshop Weekend is taking place April 21st-23rd and Spring Boreal Birds Exploration Field Trip is April 29-30th (w/optional add-on Fri. 4/28). Find out more below on how to register and other upcoming events!
P.S. If you missed our last e-newsletter, you can view that and older versions by clicking HERE.
West Skyline Spring Count Update
The first month of West Skyline Hawk Count included counts on 30 days, totaling 208.3 hours of observation. These counts tallied 2,197 raptors, slightly below the 5-year average. Several snowstorms occurred throughout March, bringing accumulations to Duluth that potentially slowed raptor movement. Notably, this is the 3rd highest cumulative snowfall total in a Duluth winter with 131.7 inches recorded.
The vast majority of raptors counted in March were Bald Eagles, as expected. The 1,995 Balds is slightly below average for March, but still an impressive count compared to most other North American hawk watch eagle totals. We received no excessive single day flights, but rather consistent flights throughout the month. The largest Bald eagle flight took place on March 24, with 271. April will likely bring many of the Bald Eagles that we expect to see in Duluth. The other eagle species, Goldens, also showed slightly below average. 99 for the month arrived primarily on March 20 and 23, with 22 and 18 respectively.
Red-tailed Hawks were the third most prevalent with 94 observed in the month. More are definitely to come. First arrivals of Merlin, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk and American Kestrel were recorded, but no major flights of these species have occurred yet. Non-raptor species have included some migrant boreal finches like Pine Grosbeak (34), Common Redpoll (59), and another northern migrant Bohemian Waxwing (1764).
We continue to have great help from volunteers and Hawk Ridge staff, as well as excited visitors who are happy to see and hear about migration in Duluth. As weather warms, we hope to see many more of you at the watch! Counts continue every day through April and May.
Wanting minute to minute updates on what’s going on overhead? All count data is being reported on Trektellen this season, and the link to our page can be found HERE our via the live count button at hawkridge.org. You can also still find our daily raptor counts and summary via HawkCount HERE.
Note on viewing our live count on Trektellen: Trektellen is an international site that is used by researchers all over the world, and has several language options. For most American readers, this language will default to “English.” This will display some unfamiliar names of birds, typically used by our British friends across the pond. So, if you're confused by why you might see Mealy Redpolls or Rough-legged Buzzards listed, here's how to switch to more familiar American bird names. All you need to do is switch your language to “American English” in the upper right corner of the Trektellen page!
Thanks and hope to see you at the count!
Sean McLaughlin
Spring Counter
Upcoming Events
Spring Migration Workshop
Spring Boreal Birds Exploration Weekend Field Trip
Northern Minnesota is well known for long winters and cold ones at that. But it is also one of the best places in the US to see some amazing northern resident birds and fascinating over-wintering birds from points even further north! Even late in April it is possible to get out and look for all of these amazing birds. It will be warmer and also has the advantage of spring migration being well underway already for a number of species. We will explore the ecology of the northern landscape which is the backbone for who can be found where- each of these birds has a story! Join Hawk Ridge leaders Frank Nicoletti and Margie Menzies for a fascinating 2-day weekend exploration of this area (with an optional early bird Friday afternoon in the Duluth/Superior Area). 
Depending on conditions and where the birds are, we will spread our two day adventures over two distinct locations, the Sax-Zim Bog area to the northwest of Duluth and the Superior National Forest and North Shore of Lake Superior to the northeast. We will see what skill and luck can find us and take a closer look at patterns and conditions that contribute to the story of each of these species of birds. Possible species include Great Gray Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, Boreal Chickadee, Northern Hawk-Owl, Ruffed Grouse, Spruce Grouse, Evening Grosbeak, Northern Shrike, Black-billed Magpie, White-winged Crossbill, Canada Jay, Common Redpoll, Bohemian Waxwings, and many more!
Optional Friday 4/28 afternoon trip: If you are able to come in earlier on Friday, we will offer an afternoon exploration in the Duluth/Superior area, we will definitely have birds in the harbor including gulls and ducks, a visit to the spring raptor count site, or other highlights that might be happening in the local area. This would run from roughly 1 pm til dusk.
Register HERE today under our Events tab at hawkridge.org. Space is limited to 12 participants and registration closes once filled. Please contact Margie Menzies at mmenzies@hawkridge.org or 218-428-8722 with questions. We hope to see you there!
The 2023 Pick a Bird Brain series is focused on highlighting some of the amazing research projects with Hawk Ridge. Each month through the winter/spring we will feature a different project and you will have a front row seat to find out more about what we have been learning. Programs are free, but pre-registration is required, with a registration link provided in each presentation’s description.
Next in Series is Tues. May 23rd, 7:00 pm
Hawk Ridge Raptor Count Trends - 50 Years and Counting!
By Dr. Gerald Niemi
Cost: Free (donations are always appreciated!)
P.S. If you missed the last Pick a Bird Brain virtual events you can view recordings below:
Using DNA Metabarcoding to Study the Diet of Raptors during Migration by Lisa Brouellette (April 18th)
Periodic Invasions of Northern Goshawks by Dick Green (March 21st)
The Forever Chemicals: What Do We Need to Know About Their Effects on Birds and How Will We Learn It? by Matt Etterson (Feb. 23rd)
The Secrets that Feathers Hold: Using Feathers to Trace Migration by Emily Pavlovic (Jan. 24th)
March 1 - May 31, 2023
2023 marks the 6th consecutive, full spring season of bird migration monitoring research at the West Skyline Spring Count in Duluth, MN! This is one of the premier spring bird migration sites in North America with record numbers of Bald and Golden Eagles, as well as other raptor species. The spring migration count average from 2018-2022 is 24,000 raptors and thousands of other migrating birds. Over 130 different bird species were recorded in 2022! Spring migration highlights include an amazing diversity of 15-20 different raptor species, as outlined:
Peak for each species (high counts listed)
- Eagles: around March 25 (Bald: 100-500/day; Golden: 10/day)
- Rough-legged Hawks: April 10-20 (up to 75/day)
- Red-tailed Hawks: April 10-20 (1,000-2,000/day)
- Broad-winged Hawks: May 1-10 (3,000-4,000/day)
- Sharp-shinned Hawks: April 10-20 (up to 450/day)
Sept. 15th-17th, 2023
Come and 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!
We are happy to announce Dr. Laurie Goodrich, Hawk Mountain Sarkis Acopian Director of Conservation Science, will be joining us as our keynote speaker! Registration and more info coming soon!
Hawk Ri
dge and Holbrook Travel are off on another fascinating Costa Rica Adventure in the fall of 2023. A perfect excursion for nature lovers and avid birders- particularly those who have an interest in raptors! Venture to the Caribbean coastline and remote Tortuguero National Park, well known as one of the most important sea turtle nesting sites in the world, but also an extensive network of waterways and diverse species of birds and other wildlife.
The famed raptor hotspot of Kéköldi Indigenous Reserve is up next and there we will be witnessing not only raptors but other migratory birds streaming through on their way south during some of the heaviest traffic times in one of the busiest migration places in the world! It’s possible to see species like the Broad-winged Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Osprey, and more. The numbers of birds who use this thoroughfare are mind-bending and October is usually when the highest counts happen.
Then journey inland to discover the rainforests of Selva Verde, our private eco-reserve set on 500 protected acres that hundreds of bird species call home. Take guided hikes in the private rainforest reserve at Selva Verde Lodge, with opportunities to see birds like the Keel-billed Toucan, Sunbittern, and endangered Great Green Macaw. We will also bird the trails of the world-renowned La Selva Biological Station, where more than half of Costa Rica’s species have been recorded.
Each day provides a variety of opportunities to make the most of the birding/nature touring available, as well as options for individual exploration and leisure time. You will be traveling with other nature enthusiasts to all share an amazing spectrum of bird experiences and knowledge. All meals are included and dining is often arranged outdoors or in private group seating. Your guides will be Hawk Ridge Education Director, Margie Menzies, and Mario Cordoba. Margie will be leading a spring 2023 international birding trip in Costa Rica and has also traveled to and bird banded in Costa Rica. Mario Cordoba has been a nature guide in Costa Rica for over 2 decades.
Don’t miss this incredible experience! Space on this trip is limited to 10, and final payment for the trip is due July 21, 2023. REGISTER HERE today! Questions? Contact Debbie Sturdivant Jordan at 866-748-6146 or debbie@holbrooktravel.com, or Margie Menzies mmenzies@hawkridge.org. Hope to see you in October!
2022 Research & Education Summary Reports
Here are the links to our 2022 fall research and education summaries:
Fall 2022 Bird Migration Count Summary (raptor count totals HERE)
Fall 2022 Raptor Banding Summary
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 can help us keep sharing the magic of the bird migration!
Support Hawk Ridge by Shopping!
If you missed out on getting a limited edition 50th anniversary shirt or mug - you can still do so today! Purchase a variety of Hawk Ridge merchandise at the links below:
Big Frog (direct ship or pick up at Duluth store)
The Mug Experience - 50th mug (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.
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
.jpg "Eagles Spring Count 2021 F Nicoletti (2)")