HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Dear Friends of Hawk Ridge,
.jpg "Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve")
Thank you for helping make 2025 another wonderful year at Hawk Ridge! With your support and the efforts of our amazing team of staff and helpful volunteers, we were able to continue both our spring and fall bird migration counts (including new fall season records for Merlins & Blue Jays), year-round bird education programs connecting with thousands of people of all ages, summer-fall bird banding (passerines, raptors, owls), and further stewardship of the Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve with the successful nomination of the Lester-Amity-Hawk Ridge Duluth Natural Area & additional grant funding for the first phase of our Hawk Ridge facilities improvement plan (kicking off in 2026!)! Thank YOU for continuing to help make all this possible!
Help us soar into the New Year and reach our year-end fundraising goal of $25K for 2026 to continue our important bird conservation efforts.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation by clicking HERE today (note: if you've already made an annual contribution - thank you so much!!)
We invite you to read the latest e-news below, which includes November monthly summaries from our fall count and banding, as well as other events. From all of us at Hawk Ridge to all of you - we wish you a healthy, happy holiday season and hope to connect with you in 2026!
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.
November 2025 Bird Migration Count Summary
The final month of the count at Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory was an exceptional one! In November, we tallied 4,304 migrant raptors and 12,226 migrant non-raptors! The count was conducted for 30 days, totaling 234.5 observation hours. Temperatures oscillated between above and below average, with one record high set on Nov 24. Precipitation was mostly absent until the end of the month, when the Ridge received 10-12 inches of snow.
November Raptor Highlights
Turkey Vulture (1): Above Average The last Turkey Vulture was counted on November 1. We will see them again in March!
Bald Eagle (1,769): Above Average The November Bald Eagle flight was highlighted by 4 days with 100+ eagles! Bald Eagle migration is often spurred by blasts of cold air that freeze northern lakes, and we enjoyed some of that weather in the final three days of the month.
Northern Harrier (34): Above Average This count ties the month-high for harriers, and brought the season total to over 500.
Sharp-shinned Hawk (72): Above Average One of the biggest surprises of the month was a fair number of Sharpies that persisted until the very end of the season. 72 is the second highest November total in count history!
Cooper’s Hawk (1): Above Average A bird that is only infrequently observed at the count in November, although a small number will typically winter in the neighborhoods of Duluth.
American Goshawk (21): Below Average Another low month for Goshawks, bringing the season total to 55.
Red-tailed Hawk (1,859): Above Average A truly excellent month for buteo migration on the North Shore, championed by the Red-tailed Hawk. Warmer falls are shifting Red-tailed migration later into the season. We also identified 18 dark morphs this month.
Rough-legged Hawk (337): Above Average A good month for Rough-legged Hawk, a continuation of last month. Approximately 80% light types, 14% dark types and 6% unknown.
Golden Eagle (203): Above Average A record breaking month, topping last November by a single bird! Golden Eagle flights are one of the most exhilarating experiences at Hawk Ridge. Powering through strong winds and snow squalls, Goldens can do it all!
American Kestrel (1): Above Average A species only recorded in November six times before, this was an unusually late Kestrel!
Merlin (3): Above Average, Record Season! We rounded out the year with 402 Merlin, setting a new season high for Hawk Ridge!
Peregrine Falcon (1): Above Average Typically uncommon in November, a single adult passed high over the ridge on November 12.
Unknown (2)
November Non-raptor Highlights
12,226 migrant non-raptors of 56 species were counted this month! The most numerous migrant non-raptors were Redpoll (4,736), Pine Grosbeaks (1,427) and American Crow (1,117). Finches were seen in lower numbers this year, with the exception of Pine Grosbeaks! There were several days when more than 100 of these plump finches could be seen heading down the Ridge. There was a continued movement of Bohemian Waxwing (279), representing one of the best years ever at the ridge!
On many of the big hawk days, raptors mixed with kettles of Common Ravens (356). The waterbird flight was mediocre, led by Canada Geese (674) and Mallard (208). Some late Cackling Geese (3) joined in goose flocks, and several skeins of Tundra Swans (96) are typically a November exclusive. One late American White Pelican was counted on November 10.
Thank you all for a fantastic season, and keep an eye out for the fall season report coming soon! We hope to see you at the West Skyline Spring Count, starting March 1!
Sean McLaughlin
Lead Counter
November 2025 Raptor Banding Summary
Frank Nicoletti covered the Hawk Ridge station for the month of November with assistance from Miranda Durbin and David Alexander. David Alexander ran Moose Valley for 13 days with assistance from Tim Baerwald, Sarah Needles, and Grace Glick. Maya Vernick covered owl banding for 6 nights in November with the season ending a few days early due to unsafe banding conditions with high winds.
The month of November started out strong for diurnal raptors with a short stretch of northwest winds bringing Rough-legged and Red-tailed Hawks to the banding station. Captures petered out toward the end of November, however, two beautiful adult Red-tailed Hawks were banded on the last two days of the season. What a treat! Overall, the total raptors banded during November was higher than 2024.
Total raptors banded in November were as follows:
Diurnal Raptors
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 9
American Goshawk - 7
Rough-legged Hawk - 6
Red-tailed Hawk - 29 N
Northern Harrier - 1
TOTAL: 52
Owls
Northern Saw-whet Owl - 9
Long-eared Owl - 8
Barred Owl - 2
TOTAL: 19
We also were able to collect samples from 25 more individuals for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza surveillance (collaboration with The Raptor Center) during the month of November and deploy 4 more transmitters including one on an adult male goshawk! Transmitter work is provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).
A huge thank you to all involved in banding this November: Frank Nicoletti (and Kate!), David Alexander, Miranda Durbin, Tim Baerwald, Sarah Needles, June Yost, Kaia Hilgendorf-Roost, Tim Berdahl, Grace Glick, and Ralph Larsen. Without this incredible team of staff and volunteers this work would not be possible! Stay tuned for the end of season report coming in the new year.
Emily Pavlovic
Research Director
Ulvang Memorial Fund for Count and Banding Research
Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory is happy to announce the Ulvang Memorial Fund to help support count and banding research at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve. The Ulvang Memorial Fund is named for two boys who were inspired by the original Duluth hawk count. Bill and Bob were affected by the kindness, encouragement and enthusiasm of teachers and mentors who taught them about birds in general and hawks in particular. The story begins about 75 years ago in the very early years of the hawk count at what would later be formed as Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve, which you can read more about by clicking HERE.
Please consider donating to the Ulvang Memorial Fund. Your gift will help continue the important long-term monitoring efforts at Hawk Ridge that contribute to bird conservation research and continue to inspire others about birds for generations now and in the future! DONATE HERE TODAY!
Central Flyway Broad-winged Hawk Project
We are collaborating with Hawk Mountain Association in Pennsylvania to study Broad-winged Hawks in the Central Flyway. To learn more about the goals of the project click HERE. To support the project through donating any amount or sponsoring a transmitter click HERE. Thank you for your support!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Winter Speaker Series 2026
Select Tuesday Evenings | January–February 2026
6:00–7:00 PM CST Registration Required (Register HERE!)
Join us this winter for HRBO’s Virtual Winter Speaker Series, an
online program showcasing the diverse research projects we
support throughout the year. Each session features a different
speaker sharing new findings, ongoing studies, and insights into
the science and conservation work in our region and beyond.
Whether you’re a student, researcher, conservation professional, or simply curious about the natural world, these hour-long sessions offer an
engaging opportunity to learn, ask questions, and connect with
others who share an interest in HRBO’s mission.
Jan 6: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Surveillance at
The Raptor Center and Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory with Dr. Dana
Franzen-Klein, The Raptor Center
Jan 20: Conserving the Broad-winged Hawk from Canada to
Colombia: Understanding the Migration Ecology and Conservation
Threats of a Long-distance Migrant with Dr. Laurie Goodrich, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association
Feb 10: Kara Snow NRRI TBD
Feb 24: Emily Pavlovic HRBO Research Director TBD
SAVE THE DATES!
International Birding Tours
Birding in the Colombian Amazon and Llanos
August 6-16th, 2026
Venture into the contrasting wet
and drier wildlife rich ecosystems
of the Colombian Llanos
(Sometimes called the Serengeti
of South America) and Amazon
on this 11-day journey to
discover the hundreds of bird
species that call the Gateway to
South America home. Marvel at the complex topography
surrounding Villavicencio, where the Andes meet the vast Llanos,
and cruise through the Amazonian wetlands around Inírida, with its
low forests, rivers and white sand. Learn about the abundant
endemic wildlife from local Indigenous communities who are
especially enthusiastic about birds and see emblematic species like
the Capuchinbird, the Orinoco Softail, and even pink river dolphins
and giant otters.
Highlights: Meet the Indigenous communities of Sabanitas and
spot the Capuchinbirds and Bare-
necked Fruitcrows that inhabit
their trails. Visit the best
birdwatching spot in Inírida, the
Matraca Trail, and see endemic
species like the Rose-breasted
Chat and the Orinoco Softail. ail Sail up the Inírida River and
witness the biodiversity along its shores, with potential sightings of
the Tropical Royal Flycatcher, the Wire-tailed Manakin, and many
more. Explore the Halcón Colorado Natural Reserve from
Fundación Proaves, located at the top of the Bavaria Forest, and
enjoy stunning views of the Colombian Llanos and rich avifauna.
Enjoy the chance to see more than 400 bird species around
Villavicencio, including the Cundinamarca Antpitta, as this area has
become an excellent spot for birdwatching due to the nature of the
transitional foothills between the Andes and the savannas of
Colombia.
*Please note space is limited: This trip requires a minimum of 8 participants. Make a trip deposit to reserve a spot on the trip by
April 8, 2026, but wait to make airline reservations and pay the full
trip amount until you receive notice that the trip has reached its
minimum enrollment. Final payment deadline is May 3, 2026.
For more information or questions, please contact Debbie Jordan at debbie@holbrooktravel.com or 866-748- 6146. Watch the Hawk
Ridge Website for more information coming soon.
Panama Raptor Migration Tour 2026
October 29th-November 7th (with optional
"Harpy Eagle at Canopy Camp" pre-trip
extension Oct. 24th-29th)
Join Hawk Ridge Senior Research Associate,
Frank Nicoletti, for the birding adventure of a
lifetime to experience the excitement of tropical
birding in Panama and witness one of the world’s
greatest raptor migrations. Your participation
will benefit Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory!
In late autumn, hundreds of thousands of raptors funnel
through the narrow isthmus
of Panama toward their
wintering grounds in South
America. This amazing hawk
migration spectacle will be
the centerpiece of our tour
with the Observation Deck of
the World-famous Canopy
Tower- the perfect vantage
point to witness this raptor bonanza! This tour begins with four
nights at the world-famous Canopy Tower, located atop Semaphore
Hill in the rainforests of Soberanía National Park near Panama City.
From this base, you can witness the raptor migration over the
tower from “Semaphore Hill Hawkwatch” an official count site for
the Hawk Migration Association (HMA), as well as Metropolitan
Nature Park and Ancon Hill, where millions of migrating raptors
pass over every fall.
Our itinerary includes Panama’s premier
birding sites including Pipeline Road,
Summit Ponds and Old Gamboa Road,
the marshy Ammo Ponds, Old Gamboa
Road and the Chagras River. We then
move west to explore the foothills and
cloud forests of El Valle de Anton — the
home of motmots, tanagers, hummingbirds, antpittas and the mythical Rufous-vented
Ground-Cuckoo. Our stay here is at the
award-winning Canopy Lodge for five
luxurious nights. Each day will feature
exciting bird-filled trips to the best birding
sites all designed to find as many of the area’s specialties as
possible!
For full tour itinerary, info on the “Harpy Eagle at
Canopy Camp” pre-extension trip, and
registration, please click HERE.
Contact Gina Nichol at gina@sunrisebirding.com
to confirm availability and hold your place.
Hawk Weekend Festival
September 18-20, 2026
We invite you to join us to celebrate the
amazing fall bird migration with us! Hawk Weekend is the annual festival held by
Hawk Ridge in Duluth, MN. Bird migration
research and education programs have
been shared with visitors throughout the world each fall at Hawk Ridge 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! More info and registration details will be coming out in
late spring/early summer!
Raptor Research Foundation Conference
October 26-30, 2026
Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory is excited to announce we are hosting the international
Raptor Research Foundation 60th
Anniversary Conference next year! The
conference will be held October 26-30,
2026 at the Holiday Inn Downtown Duluth.
We look forward to sharing more
information with you later this winter!
Find out more about the Raptor Research Foundation go to:
raptorresearchfoundation.org.
Other News
In Memoriam of Tim Bates & Henry Roberts
Hawk Ridge lost 2 instrumental people with the recent passing of
Henry Roberts and Tim Bates. In the early 1970's, Henry Roberts
was one of the key members of the working group of the Duluth
Audubon Society (nka the Northeastern MN Bird Alliance) that led fundraising and negotiations for land purchase to establish the
Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve. You can learn about the history of
Hawk Ridge that Henry shared in our 50th Anniversary video HERE.
In 2003, Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory was
established as a new nonprofit. Tim Bates
helped lead and grow the organization in
those early years serving as both the board
chair and board member for 10+years. From fundraising events like the Hawk Weekend
Festival and the Birdathon to establishing a
strong foundation with strategic planning, programming, and staffing, and even his
carpentry skills with helping build the banding
station observation blind. Tim received the
Hawk Ridge Lifetime Achievement Award in
2016 for his efforts.
Both Henry and Tim created a legacy by helping establish both the
Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve and Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory to
continue the important bird conservation research and education
programs today. We are immensely grateful to both and we'll
greatly miss them. Thank you Henry & Tim. Henry's obituary can
be found HERE and we will share more info on Tim when available
at a later date.
Thank You for Your Support!
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
some of the ways you can help us keep
sharing the magic of the bird migration!
Thank you for Giving to the Max in November!
We truly appreciate all those that gave during the
special Minnesota Give to the Max event in
November. Nearly $14,000 was raised between
online & mailed donations! Thank you so much
for your support! You can still help us meet our
year-end goal of $25K by making a year-end
tax-deductible donation HERE today!
Support Hawk Ridge by Shopping!
Thanks to those that shopped our
Amazon Wish List this fall for needed supplies!
You can check out our list HERE. If you're looking
to purchase holiday gifts with 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)
2025 shirt designs featured artists- Golden Eagle
by Kiley Busko and Blue Jay by Marie Hosch
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
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 at Hawk Ridge or
feel free to reach out by email or
phone!
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season & Happy New Year!
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
