Hawk Ridge News - May 2024

 

 

Dear Hawk Ridge Friends,

May migration is in full swing! Many bird species are moving through and returning to their breeding grounds. It's always a fun time of year to follow along with the migration and see the new arrivals at feeders and from great migration view points, like our West Skyline Spring Count. There's still time to come out for a visit now-May 31st. You can read the April summary highlights below and how to sign up for our Spring Birding Adventure Day on May 25th!  

P.S. If you missed our last e-newsletter, you can view that and older versions by clicking HERE. 

West Skyline Spring Count - April 2024 Summary

The second month of the spring count is like stepping into Oz; as the world returns to color, birds fill the sky! April is the peak month for several species of migrant raptors in the western Great Lakes, including Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks, Turkey Vultures and Northern Harriers. The West Skyline Hawk Count was conducted on 27 days and for 206 hours, totaling 13,338 raptors over that time span. 

The first half of April produced the largest Red-tailed Hawk flights; 269 on 4/5 and 653 on 4/11. The second week of April was Turkey Vulture mayhem, and 1,766 vultures were tallied between 4/9 and 4/15. These raptor flights would often occur on a wide front, and lines of birds could be seen along the lakeshore, overhead and inland. In the second half of April, we observed significantly fewer Red-taileds and Turkey Vultures, but there was a dramatic increase of Broad-winged Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks. Both of these species are some of the latest to return to the northwoods, as many have traveled thousands of miles from Central and South America. 

The early arrival of some species this spring has stirred discussion on if Broad-wingeds would arrive early. However, the first bird arrived on 4/15, near the median arrival date. The earliest ever recorded Broad-winged was 4/12/2011. April 23-25 all had Broad-winged counts over 1,000 birds, totalling 4,050 BW in just 3 days. Unusual, but expected, raptors this month were 2 Red-shouldered Hawk and 1 Swainson’s Hawk! 

The totals for all species are listed below: Turkey Vulture: 2763 Osprey: 84 Bald Eagle: 1541 Northern Harrier: 68 Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1372 Cooper’s Hawk: 20 Red-shouldered Hawk: 2 Red-tailed Hawk: 1875 Broad-winged Hawk: 5337 Rough-legged Hawk: 121 Swainson’s Hawk: 1 Golden Eagle: 21 American Kestrel: 64 Merlin: 927 Peregrine Falcon: 19 Unknown Raptor: 25 TOTAL: 13338 

64 species of non-raptors were recorded this April. The most numerous non-raptors were Bohemian Waxwing (3,768), and their ringing trill could be heard almost daily. The return of waterbirds was noticeable as scaup filled the harbor and Lake Superior, and American White Pelicans always made their arrival with great fanfare. Nearly 1,000 Pelicans were counted headed north in April, and many more staged in the St. Louis River estuary. 

The bird that adds a splash of gold into daily April counts is the Northern Flicker (165), and is a most welcome harbinger of warmer days. As minutes of daylight seep back onto the clocks, winter finches petered out and were replaced by flocks of American Robin (580), Blue Jays (110) and hundreds of blackbirds. The first warblers made an appearance towards the end of the month, notably Yellow-rumped Warblers (112) and Palm Warblers (2). 

Thanks once again to Frank Nicoletti, Janelle Long, Margie Menzies and Sara DePew for their support of the Spring Count at Hawk Ridge, as well as the many volunteers and visitors who stop by to watch and enjoy migration. We hope to see many of you at the watch before the final day of the season on May 31! Live updates will continue to be posted online via Trektellen (click HERE or via the live count button at hawkridge.org) and daily raptor counts and summary via HawkCount HERE. Thanks and hope to see you at the watch! 

Sean McLaughlin

Spring Counter

UPCOMING EVENTS

Spring Birding Adventure Day

Saturday, May 25th

REGISTER HERE!

This field-oriented program will explore different locations based on what is happening with the weather and the birds! Late May can be a mix of late arriving birds, residents that are determining territories and building nests, along with a few travelers still headed north. We will take advantage of a variety of locations including time at the West Skyline Spring Count site(s) to learn what raptors are flying and how to identify who is who. 

We will go where the birds are, so beyond the spring count sites, other locations might include Park Point, portions of Waabizheshikana: The Marten Trail (The Western Waterfront Trail), Mud Lake, Stony Point, and others. Come ready for adventure we will see who’s who by sight and sound. Field trips and sessions will be lead by Margie Menzies, Hawk Ridge Education Director, and assisted by other Hawk Ridge Staff/Volunteers, and other potential experts present through the day.

Register HERE today or 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! 

West Skyline Spring Count

March 1 - May 31, 2024

2024 marks the 7^th 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. Approximately 24,000 raptors and thousands of other birds are counted at the West Skyline Spring Count. Over 100 different bird species were recorded in 2023! 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)

Plan Your Visit! 

We invite you to visit the Spring Count! CLICK HERE to find out more info on visiting this spring! You can also view the count live HERE and follow our raptor count numbers via HawkCount HERE. 

Everyone Can Bird: Accessible Birding Series

Upcoming: August 14th, & October 12th, 2024

All are invited to attend any/all of these free "Everyone Can Bird" events designed for birders of all skills and abilities. The first event was held on May 5, 2024. Education Director, Margie Menzies, reported a a great day at Chamber’s Grove Park on Sunday, May 5th with nearly 50 birders in attendance! The American White Pelicans put on a show all morning long, both perched and especially in the air! A nice variety of other spring migrants were seen as well including Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Black-and-white Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Sandhill Cranes, Double-crested Cormorants, and many more. The event is designed to engage people of all ages and abilities to share that birding is an accessible and fun activity that EVERYONE can get involved with. Join us for our next events in August and October to start learning some of the fascinating things that birds do including migration!

The Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve, Duluth Parks and Recreation, Embark Supported Employment, Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, Lake Superior Reserve, Minnesota Land Trust and Wisconsin Sea Grant are hosting this series. The next “Everyone Can Bird” opportunities will be held Aug. 14 at the Millennium Trail in Superior, and Oct. 12 at Hawk Ridge in Duluth. Registration is encouraged but not required. 

More registration info coming this summer. These activities are designed with access in mind. People who would like to request additional accommodations should email Luciana.Ranelli@wisc.edu or call Luciana at 715-399-4085 at least 10 days before the event.

Hawk Weekend Festival

Save the Dates! 

Sept. 20th-22nd, 2024

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! Registration and more info coming in late Spring HERE!

International Birding Trip

Birding Guatamala's Highlands & Lake Atitlan 

October 20th-30th, 2024

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory and Holbrook Travel are off on another fascinating international birding adventure in the fall of 2024. 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. Join Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory’s Margie Menzies and an expert local guide to explore a variety of low and high altitude habitats and see firsthand many of the rare and endemic species that inhabit this biodiverse area. Learn about local conservation efforts, including the Panajachel-based Asociación Vivamos Mejor, which seeks to train nearby residents to become birding and nature guides.

Highlights include birding the lower and upper trails at Los Tarrales, a natural reserve with diverse forest types and a 340-species bird list that includes regional endemics like the Horned Guan, Highland Guan, Azure-rumped Tanager, and Blue-tailed Hummingbird. Explore Santiago Atitlán, a town on a bay of Lake Atitlán known for its many women’s cooperatives, traditional textile weaving, and rich Maya culture. Visit Corazón del Bosque Reserve for a chance to see Mountain Trogon, White-naped Brushfinch, and with luck, the uncommon Pink-headed Warbler. Navigate across Lake Atitlán to visit the archaeological site of San Andrés Semetabaj to look for species like the Inca Dove, Great-tailed Grackle, Bronzed Cowbird, Vaux’s Swift, and more. Meet representatives of Asociación Vivamos Mejor, a private nonprofit organization committed to improving the quality of life in communities surrounding Lake Atitlán.

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 an expert local guide. 

Don’t miss this incredible experience! Space on this trip is limited to 10, and final payment for the trip is due July 17, 2024. Click HERE for registration, pricing, itinerary, and more! 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!

Hawk Migration Association of North America 

50th Anniversary Conference in Duluth, MN 

SAVE THE DATE! November 7-10, 2024 

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory is happy to announce that the Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA) is holding their 50th anniversary conference here in Duluth, MN in Nov. 2024! Hawk Ridge is helping host and details are coming together! The conference will be held at the Holiday Inn & Suites Duluth-Downtown with field trips to Hawk Ridge and other birding hotspots in the area. You can check out the conference link HERE! 

Hawk Ridge is Hiring! 

Hawk Ridge is hiring for the fall 2024 bird migration season for research (counters & banders) and education (naturalists & count interpreter), as well as for traineeships & bird banding apprenticeships. We are also happy to share the exciting news that we'll be posting the job announcement next week for a full-time Research Director position! The fall research and education staff of HRBO are key representatives in HRBO’s mission of promoting conservation of raptors and other birds in the Western Lake Superior Region through research, education, and stewardship. For job announcements & to apply to join our awesome team, please go to https://www.hawkridge.org/about-us/employment-internships/ 

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! 

Thank you for the wonderful support by shopping at our gift shop last fall. If there was an item you were hoping for, please check out our online shopping options below with some of our merchandise or contact jlong@hawkridge.org. 

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

Bonfire (direct ship) 

The Mug Experience (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 wonderful gift of support! Hope to connect with you again soon!  

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