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April & May are great months to enjoy the spring bird migration! As we move into spring, greater numbers and diversity of birds will be moving back towards their breeding grounds. You may have noticed an increase of birds singing and at your feeders, which is always a wonderful sign of spring! We invite you to join us at our West Skyline Spring Count to enjoy the bird migration and some of our upcoming weekend programs, including several this weekend (click HERE for directions) You can view our program schedule HERE. Just a few weeks left until our Spring Migration Celebration weekend (April 25-26th) - morning birding trips and programs at our spring count - be sure register HERE today (space is limited)!
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 - March Summary
March was an overall cold and cloudy month, with two days cancelled due to weather; but the very beginning of the month was strong, kicking off with some lovely days reaching 50°F and solid numbers of Golden and Bald Eagles. On March 23rd, 326 Bald eagles pushed through during the day. It was a superb flight, starting in force about an hour into the count, with multiple flight lines of eagles—some higher westside, some way out over the lake, and some right overhead, including one truly spectacular close Golden Eagle! As expected, birds got higher as afternoon came on, and by late afternoon lines of eagles could be picked out filing fairly high overhead (though never concerningly high). Despite the increased west/southwest winds, the lines seemed to shift more westside during the late afternoon, including a lone Sharp-shinned Hawk that spiraled up and out in the late afternoon sun. Thanks to everyone who came, pointed out birds, and enjoyed the spectacle that day!
The rest of the month seemed to discourage Bald Eagle flight, landing us at the end with lower-than-average Bald numbers; Goldens were only slightly below average. (Averages were calculated from the years 2018 and after.) Not all species were discouraged by the weather, however—per the trend of the last couple of years, Turkey Vulture numbers blew previous years out of the water, with this month’s total ending at 63, a whopping ~three times the previous March high total of 23 vultures in 2010! Keep those TVs coming!
We’ve also had higher-than-average March numbers of Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Merlin. Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, and American Kestrel numbers were around average, and Rough-legged Hawk was below average, though that species is highly variable year to year. Some non-raptor highlights included a local Western Meadowlark one day, and a migrating Ross’s Goose on the 30th! Here’s to a birdy April!
We also appreciate all those that were able to come out for the spring volunteer training! We look forward to seeing more visitors in April & May! Click HERE or via the live count button at hawkridge.org. You can also still find our daily raptor counts and summary via HawkCount HERE.
Thanks and hope to see you at the watch! Click HERE for more info on visiting the Spring Count!
Marie Hosch
Spring Counter
UPCOMING SPRING EVENTS
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. Click HERE for schedule. 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.
Saturday, April 25- 6:30-8:30 AM Park Point Field Trip Join us bright and early Saturday morning for birding at Park Point and discover who’s on the lake, who’s in the harbor, and who’s present on the land between. Park Point is one of the great birding destinations in Duluth during migration. A wide variety of waterfowl can be seen here- unusual loon species, shorebirds, and plenty of songbirds as well. Many birds migrate over the length of the point as they move through the area, which can be breathtaking! LOCATION: Plan to meet at Park Point Recreation Area in the main parking area across from the restroom building and community sailing dock. COST: $25 for Hawk Ridge members, students and Master Naturalists, $35 for non- members. Field trip limited to 12. Click HERE to register.
Sunday, April 26 – 6:30AM-12PM St. Louis River Field Trip at Indian Point & Waabizheshikana: The Marten Trail Indian Point will be our first destination this morning. This is a great location for exploring the arrival of early passerine species along the woody hillside that surrounds the public campground area. Wetlands and waterfowl also surround the campground area. From here depending on where the birds are we will continue on to other potential destinations which could include: Slag Point, Mud Lake, Boys Scout Landing and Chambers Grove Park. Specific directions for these locations will be provided. LOCATION: To reach the parking for Indian Point Campground take Grand Avenue from I35 and travel southwest from the highway. Watch for the Willard Munger Inn on the left side of the road and take the left turn just past the Inn. Within about half a block you’ll cross over railroad tracks and the parking area will be to your left right after the tracks. Field trip limit to 12. COST: $40 for Hawk Ridge members, students and Master Naturalists, $50 for non-members. Field trip limited to 12. Click HERE to register.
Pre-registration will be required for field trips and space is limited. Please click HERE for detailed schedule and to register!
NEW Spring Weekend Public Programs!
We are excited to introduce and invite you to join us for our new weekend spring public program offerings at the West Skyline Spring Count! You can find out more information below on dates/times or by clicking HERE. Please note spring location can vary depending on the winds that day to either below Thompson Hill rest area or below Enger Tower (directions located HERE) and to locate which site we are at for the day please click on our live count button HERE on our home page at hawkridge.org and look in the comments section.
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! April program dates:
Sat. April 11- Raptor Records- Explore Hawk Ridge Migration Counts and Trends - What birds hold the most records at Hawk Ridge? What can we learn from the data we're collecting? Join us for a quick lesson on what you can dig into on Trektellen and how to find it. Bring your cell phone- it’s all there!
Sat. April 18 Citizen Science- eBird 101 - Historically the Annual Christmas Bird Count has been the longest on-going example of citizen science. eBird recognized a good strategy and blew it up to a year round extravaganza of birding worldwide. Learn the basics on how to navigate and contribute, check out the nearest birding hotspots near wherever you are, and how to keep your life list up to date at the touch of a button! Bring your cell phone and we’ll get you started.- Saturday, April 25 - Taxonomy Soup
We are constantly learning more about birds and having to regularly adjust our ways of thinking about them and who is related to who? How come the taxonomists split the Goshawks into two species and why did they leave the Sharp-shinned Hawks all alone as the only Accipiter remaining in North America? Huh? Join us to hear about other family disturbances – some already have taken place and others still pending? And what do you think a Cooper’s Hawk should be called?
Count and Connect (select Saturdays in April & May @11am)
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 and click on LIVE COUNT 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!
Support the "Skyline Scopers" Raptorthon
April 25th, 2026
Join us in celebrating the spring bird migration by sponsoring the Hawk Ridge team “Skyline Scopers” led by spring/fall counter Marie Hosch in the 2026 Raptorthon! The Raptorthon is an annual event hosted by the Hawk Migration Association (hawkmigration.org/raptorthon/) held at hawkwatch sites during the spring. Sponsoring Team Skyline Scopers will help support both the spring migration research and education efforts at the Hawk Ridge West Skyline Hawk Count and the raptor conservation efforts of the Hawk Migration Association! The raptorthon goal is to count the maximum number of raptor (and other bird!) species within a 24-hour period of time to raise proceeds for raptor conservation. Your sponsorship/donation for team Skyline Scopers is much appreciated! To donate to Team Skyline Scopers - please click HERE or donate through Hawk Ridge HERE and note "Raptorthon" with your online donation or mailed check. Thank you!
NEW Spring Merchandise
Grab some Hawk Ridge gear while visiting the count this year. We will have a limited selection of merchandise for sale during the spring count on weekends and some weekdays. We are excited to introduce a NEW spring shirt design by artist & spring/fall counter, Marie Hosch! Marie designed a beautiful pair of Bald Eagles sharing a story of spring migration, as witnessed along West Skyline.
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.
OTHER NEWS
Seasonal Hosts Needed for Hawk Ridge Staff
We are currently seeking hosts for Hawk Ridge staff (primarily 8/26-11/1, but a few starting mid-Aug to mid-Nov). 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. 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.
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 starting this spring/summer. 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.
To help support the efforts of this project, we launched a shirt fundraiser with a beautiful design created by local avian researcher and UMD graduate student, Abby Odegard. Get your awesome shirt today (short-sleeve, long-sleeve, and sweatshirts available!) in support of Broad-winged Hawk research and conservation click HERE. We'll be posting more info about the project in the upcoming months! Thank you for your support!
American Kestrel Nestbox Monitoring Update
While we've only had a few American Kestrels counted migrating north this spring, we know that breeding season is right around the corner. At the end of March, Emily Pavlovic (Research Director), Frank Nicoletti (Senior Research Associate), and David Alexander (Volunteer) checked all the nest boxes that are in Douglas County, WI and the Clover Valley area of MN (78 nest boxes total). Old nesting material was cleared out and a new layer of pine shavings was added. Many American Kestrel pairs were already scoping out the boxes as we made our rounds, but the first eggs likely won't be laid until early May. Here's to another great kestrel breeding season!
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
REGISTRATION IS OPEN!! (early bird rates by July 1)
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. Registration is open with early bird rates available until July 1st. More information coming soon about workshops, speakers, and field trips! If you are interested in submitting an abstract to present at the conference, you can find that info HERE. Find out more about the Raptor Research Foundation go to: https://raptorresearchfoundation.org/2026-conference/.
P.S. We're happy to share the 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!
International Birding Tours
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 SoberanÃa 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.
Meet New Hawk Ridge Board Members
Erik Bruhnke
International Birding Tour Guide, VENT
Hawk Ridge has had a profound influence on my life, and I am looking forward to giving back and being part of the greater discussions, ideas, and outlook of this magical place. During my freshman year of college back in 2003, I visited Hawk Ridge for the first time with the Northland College Bird Club. My visit was a genuinely life-changing experience. I was greeted by naturalists, watched the counters, kept track of the day’s count board, and felt the camaraderie of people gathering because of this unique and important spectacle. I realized birds bringing us together can lead to conservation in many ways and forms. That experience left a mark on my developing birding obsession. Since graduation, I’ve been part of Hawk Ridge as both seasonal-staff and a volunteer. I especially relish seeing how visitors are welcomed regardless of their birding experience or abilities. Enjoying their ah-ha moments at the overlook is priceless, and seeing so many of them return time and time again reinforces my own joy and wonder. And the long-term research is profoundly important. It is such a thrill to witness the migration and count, day-by-day, where every migratory bird is noted with dedication and passion. Every migrating bird is worth counting (raptors and beyond) and I love that Hawk Ridge embraces that form of data collecting. I feel great pride to serve on the board with the team working so hard to continue Hawk Ridge’s excellence at the overlook and beyond long into the future. The hard work of the naturalists, researchers and volunteers make Hawk Ridge both welcoming for people and important for science and conservation. I am honored to be on the board of Hawk Ridge, doing my part to continue this vital mission.
Mark Clark
Biology Faculty, University of Minnesota Duluth
I look forward to serving on the Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory board because I’ve benefited so much from the Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve. As a faculty member in Biology, several classes I’ve led have visited Hawk Ridge to observe birds, learned from the staff at HRBO, and worked with the data collected through the years at HRBO. I am especially impressed by the generosity of the staff and volunteers in educating students and for providing opportunities for students to become involved and gain experience beyond the classroom. Furthermore, my family lives at the base of the Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve, and we experience its wonders every day. I’m so thankful for that, and I feel an obligation to aid and continue the contributions of HRBO.
Margie Nelson
Communications, MN Department of Transportation
I'm very excited to join the board of Hawk Ridge. I currently work for the Minnesota Department of Transportation in communications. I have extensive experience working in the nonprofit sector, especially in fundraising, and I am looking forward to helping the organization with those skills. I got into birding during the pandemic and found my way to the Ridge. The research and programming is both important and fascinating and becoming a board member is a great way to support the work.
Kelly Thorngate
Former Prospect Development Analyst
My immediate family moved to Two Harbors in summer 2025, and we've been having a blast exploring the natural spaces around Duluth and the North Shore! Some of my fondest memories from childhood visits to our family's northern Wisconsin cabin include waking up to loon calls and the sounds of their wings slapping the lake during takeoff. I'm looking forward to applying both my legal background and experience in nonprofit fundraising to support Hawk Ridge's amazing work for now and future generations, and I'm particularly excited to pick up some new bird facts and stories to regale my preschooler.
Fall 2025 Count & Banding Reports
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 full fall season count report click HERE. To view the full fall season raptor banding report click HERE. Other fall season summaries and reports can be found on our blog HERE.
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!
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!
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.
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