Dear Hawk Ridge Friends,
We hope you're having a wonderful winter season and start to 2026! Even though snow is still on the ground here, spring migration is just around the corner. The West Skyline Spring Count kicks off on March 1st. We invite you to come out and visit us (click HERE for directions & to plan your visit). We are planning some fun new events at our spring count, so be sure to check out the article below about it! Starting March 1st, you can also follow the count online live via HawkCount HERE for raptors and for our full bird count via Trektellen HERE. Be sure to also check out the fall 2025 bird migration count final report HERE. We hope to see you in the upcoming months and appreciate your support!
P.S. If you missed our last e-newsletter, you can view that and older versions by clicking HERE.
UPCOMING EVENTS
March 1-May 31, 2026
2026 marks the 9th 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 2018-2025 is 24,000 raptors and thousands of other migrating birds. Over 120 different bird species were recorded in 2025! Spring migration highlights include an amazing diversity of 15-20 different raptor species, as outlined:
Peak for each species (high counts listed)
- Eagles: March 10-25
- Rough-legged Hawks: April 10-20
- Red-tailed Hawks: April 10-20
- Broad-winged Hawks: May 1-10
- Sharp-shinned Hawks: April 10-20
CLICK HERE to find out more info on visiting this spring! We have a live count feature on our home page at hawkridge.org, so you can follow along. You will also be able to view our raptor count numbers via HawkCount HERE and live full bird count via Trektellen HERE.
NEW Spring Public Programs!
Wings over West Skyline (every Sunday @1pm)
Join us at the West Skyline Spring Count every Sunday March-May for a short 15-30 min intro program to learn about the count and the amazing diversity of birds coming back in the spring! Find our why our two spring count sites are on the west side of Skyline Pkwy vs the east side at Hawk Ridge, what makes the spring count different from the fall count, and which species do we see in greater numbers during spring than the fall. All sorts of fascinating variations to explore between the seasons!
Spring Migration Saturday Series (every Saturday @1pm)
Join us at the West Skyline Spring Count every Saturday at 1pm from March 21-May 30 for a 30-45 minute program about the spring migration. Learn who is migrating through Duluth and learn skills like how to use Merlin and eBird to identify and record your observations. Stick around before or after the program to enjoy the migration! March program dates:
March 21: Bald Eagle Basics - Duluth holds the uncontested record during spring migration for counting more Bald Eagles than anywhere else in North America, and we typically see more in spring than fall migration! The peak flight is usually somewhere in mid-March so it's definitely the perfect time to celebrate Bald Eagles. Join us to see who's flying today and talk all things Eagles! - March 28: Topic TBD - Join for a fun afternoon with Erik Bruhnke!
April 11th, April 25th, May 9th, & May 23rd
Come to the count and connect with others all while watching the spring migration at the West Skyline Spring Count! Borrow a pair of binoculars, look through a naturalist’s spotting scope, and learn about the wonders of migration. Coffee and treats will be available until they’re gone!
All spring programs will take place at the spring count site for the day – either the West Skyline Parkway pull off below Enger Tower or on West Skyline Parkway below the Minnesota Welcome Center (Thompson Hill). Check the Hawk Ridge website main page for a link to Trektellen to learn where the count is for the day (location will be in the comments). All programming is free and open to the public. No registration required. Suggested $5 donation to help support our programming. See you at the spring count!
SAVE THE DATE - Spring Migration Celebration
April 25-26th, 2026
Join us for an exciting weekend exploring the Spring 2026 bird migration! Late April is a great time to view a wide variety and ages of raptors traveling through on their way north, as well as plenty of other species of birds. Daily programs will be held at the Spring Count site each day and are open to the public of all ages. In these drop-in programs, you will learn about the exciting science of spring migration, raptor identification techniques, natural history of key species, current Hawk Ridge Research, and more! During the weekend, Hawk Ridge educators will also lead daily field trips to local birding hotspots to learn about the migration (ex. Duluth Harbor and St. Louis River area). Pre-registration will be required for field trips.
Calling Spring Volunteers!
Want to get involved with the Spring Count? We will be hosting a virtual volunteer orientation during the week of March 16 and an on-site volunteer training on Saturday, March 21. Specific details TBD. Volunteer roles include: Helping to spot migrating birds Interacting with visitors to the count Assisting with merchandise sales Showing bird artifacts to visitors Lending binoculars to visitors If you are interested and are not a current HRBO volunteer, please fill out the volunteer form HERE and email Valerie at volunteer@hawkridge.org.
NEW Spring Merchandise
Stock up on your Hawk Ridge gear while at the count this year. We will have a limited selection of merchandise for sale during the spring count including a NEW spring design (reveal coming soon!)!
Winter Speaker Series 2026
February 24th, 2026
6:00–7:00 PM CST Registration Required (Register HERE!)
Join us on Zoom for our last virtual presentation this winter for HRBO’s Virtual Winter Speaker Series, an online program showcasing the diverse research projects we support throughout the year. The final presentation will be by our HRBO Research Director, Emily Pavlovic. She will be updating us on the project “Linking Breeding and Migratory Bird Populations in MN” by showing data from transmitters deployed on Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern Harrier, and American Goshawk. She’ll also be giving a Spring Count promo to get us all excited for spring migration. Don’t forget to pre-register and we hope to see you there!
Northwoods, Great Lakes Master Naturalist Courses!
Course 1: 5 Saturdays (Feb 28, Mar 14, Mar 28, April 11, May 2)
Course 2: May 27th-31st (@North House Folk School)
Join Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory for a Northwoods, Great Lakes Master Naturalist Course right on the shores of Lake Superior at the historic University of Minnesota Limnology Lab in Duluth, MN! Travel through the transition from the ice and snow of winter into the greening spring in the Northwoods! Explore 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. The course will run from 9 am to 5 pm over 5 Saturdays beginning February 28 and ending May 2, 2026. This course offers guest speakers and unique experiences in a beautiful location, so many amazing places to explore nearby! Field trips will be incorporated into the scheduled class days, so regardless of the weather, expect that there will be outdoor discovery in every class session! All participants will complete a small group capstone project. This course cost is $295 and includes course manuals and supplies. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TODAY!
The second course is hosted in Grand Marais by North House Folk School, and will be a 5 day in a row intensive from May 27-31, 2026. North House Folk School is excited to partner with Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory to host the North Woods, Great Lakes MN Master Naturalist Course on the spectacular North Shore of Lake Superior. Dig into northern ecology in this five-day immersion course that offers a wide variety of field experiences to explore a variety of area plant and animal communities, amazing geology, and Lake Superior, while also investigating human interactions in these ecosystems. Situated on the Grand Marais Harbor, North House offers an exceptional launching place for learning about the Northwoods and Lake Superior. This session will be offered during the Northern Landscapes Festival, a week when some of Minnesota's finest naturalists converge at North House to take in the emerging spring season through birding, phenology and geology field experiences as well as evening lectures—no doubt we’ll encounter a few of these experts through the course, an added bonus to the lead instructor Margie Menzies, who will be joined by Joe Walewski from Wolf Ridge for the first three days and other guests through the other two days. Join us for a tightly packed whirlwind of adventures and learning! This course qualifies participants to become Master Naturalists and a small group capstone project will be completed by participants during the course. This course cost is $395 and includes course manuals and supplies. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TODAY!
HOW TO SIGN UP: More information about both courses and registration is available on the Minnesota Master Naturalist Website: https://minnesotamasternaturalist.org/login/ under Courses. Send questions to Margie Menzies at mmenzies@hawkridge.org Scholarships are available for both classes! If the course cost is a hardship, please fill out the online scholarship application on the Minnesota Master Naturalist registration page. After the scholarship is fully processed, you will receive a code to be entered in the on-line registration process. Please wait until you receive that code to complete registration.
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, Turquoise Tanager, 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 of North America (HMANA), 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. Final payment deadline is June 29th, but registration must be confirmed before then. Registrations are held with a deposit on a first come, first serve basis. Contact Gina Nichol at gina@sunrisebirding.com to confirm availability and hold your place.
SAVE THE DATES!
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 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! 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 this fall! The conference will be held October 26-30, 2026 at the Holiday Inn Downtown Duluth. We look forward to sharing more information with you this spring. Find out more about the Raptor Research Foundation go to: raptorresearchfoundation.org.
P.S. We're happy to share the sneak peak at the newly designed conference logo here by amazing artist Emma Regnier (@falcofous). We love seeing those beautiful Rough-legged Hawks with the fall Hawk Ridge Lake Superior landscape and hope you can enjoy them with us too!
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 help us keep sharing the magic of the bird migration!
Central Flyway Broad-winged Hawk Project
DONATE TODAY or PURCHASE A SHIRT
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.
In January, we launched a T-shirt fundraiser for the project with a beautiful design created by local avian researcher and UMD graduate student, Abby Odegard. To get your T-shirt and support Broad-winged Hawk research and conservation click HERE.
Thank you for your support!
Seasonal Hosts Needed for Hawk Ridge Staff
We are currently seeking staff hosts for the 2026 spring-fall seasons. 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 (*highest need in fall mid-August-early Nov, but we are also currently seeking a space for 1 from mid-April through July). 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. If you have a spare room, rental space, or even full house that you'd consider for hosting, please contact Janelle Long, jlong@hawkridge.org or call 218-428-6209.
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!
End of 2025 Season Count Report
Thanks to all who made the fall season a success! Between August 15th and November 30th, 41,886 total raptors were recorded in active migration past Hawk Ridge. This season was the highest season total for Merlin, and Bald Eagles were near record high. Some non-raptor highlights included 17,870 Nighthawks streaming down the shore on August 22 and a new state high count for Blue Jay (15,280) on September 10. To view the whole fall season count report click HERE.
Education Scholarship Funding Needed!
Contribute to the Hawk Ridge Education Scholarship Fund today! Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory offers environmental education program opportunities for schools Pre-K through college from all across the region. We have continued to keep our program costs low and affordable for schools to have the amazing opportunity to experience and learn about both spring and fall migration through educational programming.
Each year the need for assistance with programming fees continues to grow with an average of 65% of schools visiting requesting scholarship assistance. The Hawk Ridge Education Scholarship Fund allows us to provide these types of scholarships to schools. In the past 5 years, Hawk Ridge has awarded nearly $8,000 dollars in scholarship funds! Help us help students and schools come to experience Hawk Ridge! We are hoping to raise at least $2,000 in 2026 to award scholarships. To make a donation to the Education Scholarship Fund, please click HERE. We truly appreciate your support!
Support Hawk Ridge by Shopping!
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 appreciated gift of support! Hope to connect with you soon - feel free to reach out by email at jlong@hawkridge.org with any questions.
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
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