Dear Hawk Ridge Friends,
Well let's hope April showers (and snow!) really do bring May flowers this month. It's been nice to have sunshine, warmer temperatures, and a variety of migrating birds returning in recent weeks. We invite you to visit and enjoy viewing the spring migration with us at our West Skyline Spring Count sites through the end of May. You can read the April migration summary and find out more below about our fun Spring Birding Day Trip lined up for May 20th (registration required), partnered Accessible Birding Events, Pick a Bird Brain Virtual Series, 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 - April Summary
At the conclusion of April, two-thirds of the way through the season, the West Skyline Hawk Watch has counted 11,217 total raptors! Of this total, 9,017 arrived in April. Counts were conducted on 27 days, with three weather related cancellations. Snow is still very much a part of spring in Duluth, and in April the cumulation totals surpassed all other recorded years! Much of this snowpack dissipated by the end of the month with warming temperatures and sunny days. Total observation hours for April were 212.63.
April holds the most diverse raptor flights of the spring, sparking elation as plentiful Red-tailed hawks and Rough-legged hawks storm through, and highlights like a few Red-shouldered hawks and a Swainson’s hawk! Here are the numbers. Most numerous were Turkey Vultures, with a remarkable 2,813. Some exceptional warm days with SW wind brought some of the first big pushes, and the faucet didn’t turn off! High day was 433 on 4/12. Red-tailed hawks are the quintessential April raptor, and they showed up with 2,149! Kettles of Red-taileds are occasionally peppered with dark morphs, with up to a dozen dark birds seen on some days. High day was 616 on 4/7.
Rough-legged hawks were a surprise after a low count last fall, and the April total climbed to 298. High days for Rough-leggeds seem to happen on NE winds, potentially because they may “cut the corner,” or fly across the lake and avoid observers on W or SW wind. The high Bald Eagle day thus far for the season actually occurred on 4/3 with 308 eagles. April total is a respectable 1721, slightly above average. Osprey (51) was slightly below, but many should arrive throughout May. 65 Northern Harriers was slightly above, with some peak days happening in concurrence with NE wind, like Rough-legged hawks.
Golden Eagles are tapering off, only 14 seen in April is about average for the month. Two accipiters, Sharp-shinned (1061) and Cooper’s Hawks (23) were near average. Notably, no Northern Goshawks have been seen. A May Gos is still possible, but these bulky accipiters are much tougher to see in springtime. Falcons are above average across the board! American Kestrel (70), Merlin (41) and Peregrine Falcon (14) are always a treat to spot, and many kestrel have given close flybys in the last month. Two unique but regular raptors seen at the watch this April were Red-shouldered Hawk (3) and Swainson’s Hawk (1). 82 total species were recorded at the hawk watch this month, including all raptor species.
Some non-raptor highlights were Sandhill Cranes (134), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1), Northern Flicker (150), and a few days of notable reverse migration of American Robins and Fox Sparrows in the thousands! Thanks to our faithful volunteers and regulars for all your good spotting! Your help in invaluable and always appreciated. See you at the watch soon! Counts continue daily until May 31.
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 Birding Day Trip
Summer Master Naturalist Course
Saturdays June 10, June 24, July 8, July 22, and Aug 12
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Where better to take the North Woods, Great Lakes course than right on the shores of Lake Superior with Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory? The historic University of Minnesota Limnology Lab in Duluth, Minnesota will be our basecamp for a field-oriented class. Each session we will travel to explore new ecological community types in the Duluth region in the peak of their productive summer season. You will learn about the fascinating geology, plant and animal communities, inland lakes and bogs, ecology and human interactions of the Northwoods, as well as how Lake Superior impacts and interacts with these ecosystems. Register HERE today under our Events tab at hawkridge.org. Space is limited to 22 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 will focus 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 Mon. May 22nd, 7:00 pm (note: date correction)
Hawk Ridge Raptor Count Trends - 50 Years and Counting!
By Dr. Gerald Niemi
What have we learned from fifty years of fall raptor counts at Hawk Ridge? Over 20 raptor species have been counted migrating at Hawk Ridge, but only 14 species are considered common enough during the fall migration to detect their population trend. Results from the Raptor Population Index indicated that counts since 1974 have increased for five species that reflect their increasing populations. In contrast, over that same period, counts for five species have declined or have mixed positive and negative trends. Four species have shown no perceptible change in counts, but they have been highly variable over the past fifty years. Causes for the population increases or decreases are complex, but are likely associated with banning the use of DDT in 1972, habitat changes on both breeding and wintering ranges, climate change, reduction in human persecution, and other species-specific factors. Jerry Niemi will review the trends for each of these species and what we know or speculate are causes for the species population trends.
Gerald Niemi is a retired Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota-Duluth (UM-D). He was formerly Professor of Biology and Director of the Center for Water and the Environment at the Natural Resources Research Institute at UM-D. He received his Ph.D. in Biology at Florida State University in 1983 and was a Fulbright scholar in Finland in 1981. He has published over 160 peer-reviewed papers and over 130 technical reports and popular articles. His research has focused on birds, Great Lakes ecosystems, conservation, climate change, ecotoxicology, and the sustainability in the use of natural resources.
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)
Everyone Can Bird: Accessible Birding Series
Sat. May 6th, Wed. August 2nd, Sat. October 14th
Join the Lake Superior Reserve, Hawk Ridge, Wisconsin Sea Grant, Minnesota Land Trust, and the Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve for a free, bird-focused morning as part of an accessible birding series. We welcome people of all ages and ability levels to attend this accessible birding series!
The first event will be held Saturday, May 6th 9:30-11:30am (weather back-up date Sun. May 7th) at Boy Scout Landing in West Duluth. Observe waterfowl from the comfort of the landing with fellow bird enthusiasts and beginners alike. Light refreshments will be provided. Come and stay for the whole time, or meet up with or leave the group when you need. We have 15 pairs of binoculars for people to use, a spotting scope, and a wheelchair mount for the scope. There will be seating for up to 10 people provided, and attendees are encouraged to bring chairs to use or share. American Sign Language interpretation will be provided.
Boy Scout Landing has a paved landing, where we will be spending the morning. Optional other locations for bird viewing are a wooden dock without railings and a small beach accessible by a short path made of compacted soil with a brief but significant slope. Both optional locations are directly adjacent to the main gathering place. Two portable restrooms will be available, one of which is wheelchair accessible.
To register visit the event page here. Registration is encouraged but not required. Further events are scheduled for August 2 at Barker’s Island in Superior, and October 14 at Hawk Ridge in Duluth. These activities are designed with access in mind, but if you would like to request additional accommodations, please email Luciana.Ranelli@Wisc.Edu or call Luciana at 715-399-4085 at least 10 days before the event.
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
