Dear Hawk Ridge Friends,
Welcome summer! A time to enjoy mornings filled with singing birds to start the day and hooting owls to wind down the evening. In Duluth, summer definitely feels short in terms of both weather and as we jump into the start of our fall migration season in just 2 months on August 15th! Summer songbird banding and American Kestrel nestbox monitoring is underway, which you can read more about below.

Thanks to all who visited and enjoyed the spring migration with us at the West Skyline Count! We appreciate our amazing spring staff and volunteers and your support to help make it possible. You can read the full spring count report below. We invite you to join us for the fall migration at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve August 15-November 30th.
Registration is now open for our annual Hawk Weekend Festival Event Sept. 19th-21st.
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.
West Skyline Spring Count 2025 Summary

Aaaaand it’s a wrap at the West Skyline Hawk Count (WSHC)! Per protocol the count was conducted from March 1st–May 31st, and this was our 8th consecutive spring of the count! The 2025 spring count season ran for 551 count hours and spanned 89 days (we did not count on 3 days due to weather). On the days we counted, we had 4 days during which we did not observe any migrating raptors and 4 days on which we counted over 1,000 raptors! Our highest raptor count day tallied 3,366 raptors (April 24), and the season total ended at 26,402 raptors of 15 species. Not bad for a couple of pull-offs by the side of the road!

The first month of the count (March) proved to be generally cold though mostly snow-less, with multiple weather systems causing several days straight of strong easterly winds. Despite this, we saw decent eagle movement this month, with one day of more southerly winds bringing in our highest-ever day count of Golden Eagles (58 on March 11) as well as this spring’s high count of Bald Eagles (613).
April also proved to be on the chillier end, though some days saw highs in the 60s. The middle of the month produced a few days of south winds that saw stronger raptor flights, especially of Red-tailed Hawks; unfortunately, those days also coincided with poor visibility, making counting a challenge! Broad-winged Hawks began to move more by the end of the month, taking advantage of the lighter easterly winds.
May took a sudden turn in temperature, with the first week seeing highs in the 80s! The rest of the month juxtaposed high temperatures with much chillier ones, with predominantly easterly winds (about 2/3rds of the days had east or northeast winds); this seemed to discourage raptor flight for the middle half of the month, though the very last few days of May saw an uptick in raptor movement. Warblers and swallows certainly stole the show in May, with fiery Blackburnian Warblers, brilliant lemon-Yellow Warblers, and swirling flocks of Cliff and Tree Swallows being a definite highlight for this finally-green month.

Speaking of stealing the show, this spring saw our highest-ever Turkey Vulture season count, a whopping 5,759 birds—almost 2,000 birds above the previous season high! A species well-adapted to human disturbance and warmer climates, Turkey Vultures have been increasing dramatically in numbers over the course of the WSHC. We’re excited to see what next year’s count is of these wobbly but lovable raptors!

Similarly, Peregrine Falcons have been increasing in numbers over recent years, and this season saw our all-time high of 39 birds, some of which were not-so-politely escorted north out of the area by our local nesting pair. We also counted our second-highest-ever season totals of Bald and Golden Eagles, at 6,451 and 173 birds, respectively.

Continuing with the trend of decent falcon numbers, this year’s Merlin count (59) was above average as well; this species seems to be increasing since the conception of the spring count. The last few years have seen relatively high numbers of Northern Harriers, and the spring 2025 count of 87 was overall above average.
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Several species ended up around or slightly below average: Sharp-shinned Hawk (1,975), Cooper’s Hawk (34), Red-shouldered Hawk (2), Broad-winged Hawk (9,417), and American Kestrel (64). The past 8-year average of the tiny but fierce Sharp-shinned Hawk has hung around 1,979 birds, though the early years of the spring count during 2000-2005 typically saw over 2,000 birds, potentially corroborating with the overall decreasing population of this species (IUCN Red List).

Cooper’s Hawks have similarly been decreasing overall, with the past 8-year average sitting at just below 40 birds, but past years in the early 2000s showcased higher numbers than that. Just a few Red-shouldered Hawks wander into the Duluth area every spring, with the count typically seeing fewer than 5 birds. Broad-winged Hawks are extremely variable year-to-year depending on the winds, and the last 8 years saw numbers ranging from around 6,000 to approximately 18,000 birds! Finally, the first few years of the count often saw over 100 kestrels, but the past 8 years averaged at only 66 of these colorful falcons.

A few raptors were notably below average. The last 8 years averaged at about 150 Ospreys (and the first few years of the count averaged over 200!), but during the most recent couple of years we counted only just above 100 fish hawks (123 this year). A trend consistent with the fall count, American Goshawk numbers have crashed since even 25 years ago, when over 20 birds could be seen from WSHC; now we are lucky if we get one (this year we saw one stunning powder-blue adult!).

Red-tailed Hawk numbers continue to be down from the early 2000s, when counts regularly soared above 5,000 birds; our 8-year average sits at 2,700 birds with this year tallying only 2,034 birds, the lowest count for the last 8 years; Rough-legged Hawks (169) were also below the 8-year average (245), but this species is highly variable year to year. This year we did not count any Swainson’s Hawks, which we typically see 2-6 of; they may have been affected by the overwhelmingly east winds during the peak period (late April through May) of this predominantly western species.

And yes, we did count non-raptor species as well! We tallied 20,597 individuals including 85 identified species of waterfowl, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, swallows, finches, warblers, and other non-raptor birds! This spring saw excellent numbers of both Trumpeter and Tundra swans, with a nice variety of ducks and some shorebirds including the count’s first Blue-winged Teals and Black-bellied Plovers.

We counted our highest-yet number of Sandhill Cranes and a truly spectacular number of the huge but graceful American White Pelicans (4,227 birds, over 2,000 above the previous season high!)—including St. Louis County’s all-time high count of 468 pelicans on May 3rd. Apart from waterfowl, we saw our highest-yet numbers of Northern Flickers (286), Cliff Swallows (388), Snow Buntings (23), and Pine Siskins (3,277), plus White-winged Crossbills and a singular southbound meadowlark, which were both new for the count.
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, and we want to give a special shoutout to all the people that made this count possible! Frank Nicoletti, Sean McLaughlin, Peter Mundale, and Ezra Hosch provided invaluable support as relief counters, and John Edwards, Ralph Larsen, Ed Longhway, Dave Carman and others gave their precious time and effort as volunteer counters (and pastry bringers!). A huge thanks to our education staff—Margie Menzies, Chris Schnurbusch, Lydia Ihde, Dawn Mackety, and Alder Nichols—who not only provided relief and count support, but also encouragement, entertainment, and sustenance in times of need! A special thank-you is due to Emily Pavlovic for her 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 don't forget to stop by this fall at Hawk Ridge!
Marie Hosch
Spring Counter
UPCOMING EVENTS
Come join our Hawk Ridge songbird banding team and experience the wonder of seeing wild birds up close! Whether you are an experienced birder, an avid citizen scientist, or simply curious about nature, Hawk Ridge can offer you an unforgettable opportunity to learn more about birds by going behind the scenes to see our songbird banding research station in action. Why do we band birds? What can we learn from studying birds in the hand? How can bird banding make us better birders, scientists, and stewards of nature? Learn all of this and more by visiting us during our summer MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) banding season!
Bring water, snacks, insect repellent, and come dressed for the weather! 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. This program is offered on selected Saturdays, with the Sunday date in parentheses being a weather back-up day in case there is rain or excess wind on Saturday. Dates include: June 21(22), July 5(6), July 12(13), July 26(27), and August 1(2) from 8 to 10 AM. Registration is limited to 8 people per session with no minimum number needed. 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.
Cost is $20 per member, student or Master Naturalist participant, and $30 for non-members. Register in advance via email: naturalist@hawkridge.org or via phone at 218-428-8722. Payment link will be emailed to you after registration is confirmed. Hope to see you this summer!


Sept. 19th-21st, 2025


Other News
Seasonal Hosts Needed for Hawk Ridge Staff

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 (primarily fall Sept-Oct, but also mid/late Aug & Nov at times). 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. We are currently seeking staff hosts for the 2025 fall season. If you have a spare room, rental space, or even full house that you'd consider for hosting/leasing for any timeframe, please contact Janelle Long, jlong@hawkridge.org or call 218-428-6209.
Hawk Ridge is Seeking Board Members!

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory (HRBO) is seeking motivated and creative volunteers to join our Board of Directors. Qualified individuals will serve as ambassadors of our mission to promote conservation of raptors and other birds in the Western Lake Superior Region through research, education, and stewardship. We are looking for mission-aligned individuals, particularly those with interest or experience in fundraising, public relations, event planning, and/or marketing activities.
To apply please click HERE. You can also find more info about the board position HERE at hawkridge.org or under About Us-Board. Applications preferred by June 30th, but will accept until filled.
American Kestrel Project Update

The breeding season is in full swing and the American Kestrels have been hard at work. We are monitoring 78 boxes in Douglas County, WI and St. Louis County, MN. This year, 60 of the boxes are occupied by kestrels for a total occupancy of 77%! A box is considered occupied when there is at least one egg present in the box. Most of the boxes still have eggs, but we are starting to see fluffy, white young. In the next couple weeks we will band the nestlings and then allow them to fledge from the boxes without disturbance. Last season we saw similar occupancy but very low success in hatching and fledging, likely due to colder, wetter weather in the spring. We are hoping for a more successful season this year -- stay tuned!
Welcome New Lead Naturalist!

Hawk Ridge welcomes Alder Nichols, new Lead Naturalist who joined our team at the end of May for this summer and fall! Alder grew up in Evanston, Illinois and has been obsessed with animals for as long as they’ve had a personality. After discovering the delight of birding at summer camp in the Smoky Mountains, they studied biology and anthropology at Beloit College in Wisconsin and spent two summers researching painted turtle populations in Michigan. Alder has since had the opportunity to teach environmental education, including live raptor and reptile programs, in Alabama, Minnesota, and Colorado. They are particularly excited to return to the Great Lakes with their true love, gulls! When they’re not birding, Alder is usually swimming, knitting, cooking, or hanging out with their pet snake, Daisy. You can meet the current Hawk Ridge team by checking out our staff team page HERE.
Save the Dates for fall 2026!
Raptor Research Foundation Conference
October 26-30, 2026

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory is excited to announce we are hosting the international Raptor Research Foundation Conference next year! The conference will be held October 26-30, 2026 at the Holiday Inn Downtown Duluth. This year's 2025 conference is being held this fall in Costa Rica. We look forward to sharing more information with you later this fall/winter! Find out more about the Raptor Research Foundation go to: raptorresearchfoundation.org.
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!
Volunteer with Hawk Ridge!

Hawk Ridge has amazing volunteers! Volunteers help move the bird conservation mission of Hawk Ridge forward by helping in a variety of ways - from visitor services during the fall migration at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve, assisting with the bird migration count & banding research, maintaining trails, helping teach others about birds, assisting with events, serving on committees & Board of Directors, and so much more!

In 2024, our volunteers have given an outstanding 1,715 hours to Hawk Ridge! Thank you volunteers for your time and talent - we couldn't achieve what we do without you. If you are interested in volunteering with Hawk Ridge, please click the link HERE to fill out the volunteer application and for more information. You can also email Valerie at volunteer@hawkridge.org
Support Hawk Ridge by Shopping!
Thanks to those that have been shopping our Amazon Wish List for needed supplies! You can check out our list HERE. Gas cards for our trainees/apprentices (Circle K/Holiday, Kwik Trip) can be mailed to Hawk Ridge, P.O. Box 3006, Duluth, MN 55803 or dropped off at our office by coordinating with Janelle at jlong@hawkridge.org or at our merchandise trailer Sept. 1- Oct. 31. If you're looking to purchase Hawk Ridge merchandise, you can check out some items available through our online shopping options:
Big Frog (direct ship or pick up at Duluth store)
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! Wishing you a beautiful bird-filled summer and hope to connect with you this fall at Hawk Ridge! Feel free to reach out by email or phone or find more info at hawkridge.org.
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