Hawk Ridge News - August 2018

               

Dear Friends of Hawk Ridge,

The fall bird migration count and banding research starts tomorrow, Wednesday, August 15th! You can view our LIVE Bird Migration Count HERE! Education staff will begin public programming at the Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve main overlook starting September 1st through October 31st (daily 9am-4pm). We invite you to join us at the Ridge and/or at one of our upcoming events! Read on to find out about volunteering, festival, programs, planning your visit, and then come celebrate the magnificent migration at Hawk Ridge with us!    

Wednesday, September 5th, 2018

Hawk Ridge Volunteer Potluck & Information Session
6-8:30pm at Hartley Nature Center

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory is looking for volunteers during the fall bird migration from September 1st – October 31st. This is your opportunity be a part of our bird education and research team, learn from experts in the field, and share the magic of the fall bird migration with visitors! We need people to help in many areas, including: · Visitor services · Bird identification · Public Education · Trail maintenance · Kid’s activity cart · Merchandise sales · Office help, and more! Sound exciting? For more information – please join us on September 5th (meet staff & return volunteers)! No RSVP is needed & potluck dish is optional. Questions? Contact us at: mail@hawkridge.or, (218) 428-6209

September 21-23, 2018

HAWK WEEKEND FESTIVAL

• Natural History & Birding Train Trip Fri. 9/21
• Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory Annual Member Meeting Sat. 9/22 at 2pm
• Guided morning birding field trips to local hotspots Sat 9/22 & Sun. 9/23
• Naturalist programs, hikes, & workshops at Hawk Ridge Fri. 9/21-Sun. 9/23
• NEW! Vista Birding & Boat Dinner Cruise Sat. 9/22
• Evening presentation by Dr. Francesca Cuthbert: "There and Back Again: Studying Piping Plover Migration the "Old Fashioned" Way" Sat. 9/22
• Post-Festival "Best of Hawk Ridge" Workshop Sun. 9/23-Mon 9/24

REGISTER HERE TODAY!!

Come and celebrate the fall bird migration with us! Hawk Weekend is the annual festival held by the Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth, MN.  It is a wonderful opportunity to showcase one of North America’s best places to experience the fall bird migration at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve! There will be a variety of field trips, hikes, programs, and activities for all ages!

Plan on staying longer and join us for our post-festival “Best of Hawk Ridge” 2-day workshop on Sun. 9/23 & Mon. 9/24!

For more information about the festival (program schedule, field trip details), please click HERE. We hope you can join us!

Weekend Public Programs Beginning September 1st!
Please join us Sat. & Sun. in Sept. & Oct. for these great programs!

Check out our calendar HERE for our program schedule! Daily Sat. & Sun. programs, special events, workshops, evening programs, and more!

Saturday Evening Speaker Series: 9/8, 9/15, 9/22 (see festival info above), 10/6, 10/27; most programs are 7-8pm at UMD Bagley Outdoor Classroom (FREE for members, $5 non-member - pay at door)

Saturday Evening Owl Programs:  9/29, 10/13, 10/20; 8pm at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve ($5/person - limited tickets for sale beginning 9/1 at Hawk Ridge merchandise trailer and online by clicking HERE)

There are several ways to find out news and highlights of the fall bird migration at Hawk Ridge:

Volunteer with us! Sign up is Wed. 9/6 (more info above)!
Join us on Facebook to follow the daily action!
Follow us on Twitter
Subscribe to our Blog

Visit our website at: www.hawkridge.org

Read our e-news (like you're currently doing)! ;)

SAVE THE DATE!

Friday October 12, 2018
TAKE FLIGHT WITH HAWK RIDGE!
5-9 pm at the new Pier B Resort
Please join us for an inspirational & important evening in celebration and support for Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory. Enjoy delicious drinks & food, live music, live birds, nature & artwork fundraiser, & engaging speakers. Tickets and more info will be available soon HERE! 

OTHER HAWK RIDGE NEWS:

HAWK RIDGE 32^ND ANNUAL BIRDATHON RESULTS

188 bird species were counted by teams that participated in several different categories in this friendly competition throughout the 10-day period beginning on Saturday May 19th and ending Memorial Day May 28th. Team Grousing Twitchers (Dave Benson & John Ellis pictured) won the Big Day category for a 2nd year with 150 species counted, including 2 new additions with Rusty Blackbird & Eurasian Tree Sparrow! We truly thank those that participated and pledged. Team Captain, Steve Wilson with Team Whip-poor-wheels, not only biked 15 miles & hiked 9 miles, but also took the fundraising prize in getting pledges to support the bird research and education programs of Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory! Thank you! Click HERE to read summary and for species list!

SPRING COUNT HIGHLIGHTS

The 2018 season was conducted from March 1 through May 29. A total of 32,603 raptors were counted of 17 species. This season count was the second highest total in the history of the West Skyline Hawk Count with 33,228 in 2004. Most species were recorded in higher then normal numbers with the exception of  Cooper’s Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Red-tailed Hawk and American Kestrel. It’s unclear at this point why the numbers were well below the 2000-2005 averages which is currently the most useful set of data we can use (Nicoletti, 2009). Certainly species which has shown steady increases in fall counts such as Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle and Peregrine we recorded in record numbers this spring. Surprisingly we had only one daily record, Merlin with 13 on 20 April.

 

Some of the highlights this spring were the following: Record Bald Eagle season total of 5,480 which comes close to Hawk Ridge’s best flight posted last year of 6,099. Likely continuing into June may have eclipsed that fall total. The third spring record of Mississippi Kite, this one a sub-adult seen on 26 May. The two other records are in 1997 and 2001. A grand total of 7 Swainson’s hawk, 7 dark morph Broad-winged Hawks among the almost nearly 18,000 that migrated pass, and an adult light morph Harlan’s were special for sure.

We also recorded non-raptor species and numbers observed or heard from the lookouts. A total of 172 species were recorded, including some unusual sightings: Greater White-fronted Geese, Mute Swan, Ruddy Duck, Red-throated Loon, Great Egret, Whimbrel, Marbled Godwit, Parasitic Jaeger, Little Gull, Iceland Gull, Snowy Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Red-headed Woodpecker, and Yellow-headed Blackbird.

The West Skyline Spring Count was made possible this year thanks to funding from a generous donor and is hoped to continue for years to come. Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory is excited about gaining knowledge about the spring migration through Duluth and to continue the education of raptor and bird conservation in the western Great Lakes region.Thanks to the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union for grant funding for a Count Interpreter to provide public education. We appreciate all that visited, volunteered, and especially thank Frank Nicoletti, John Richardson, Steve Kolbe, and Margie Menzies for doing an amazing job at conducting the research and education this spring!

WISH LIST

Help keep our bird feeders filled throughout the fall season! They not only provide food for our bird friends, but also a great opportunity to see birds up close and for photography too!

Need: Black Oil Sunflower Seed (any size bags would be appreciated!)

*If they can be delivered to one of our staff at either the hawkwatch platform or at the main overlook at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve, that would be wonderful. If not, please call 218-428-6209 and we're happy to pick up too!

VISIT US AT HAWK RIDGE NATURE RESERVE

9AM-4PM DAILY SEPT 1 - OCT. 31ST!

Visitors Guide

Directions

Lodging

                                                                         

BECOME A HAWK RIDGE MEMBER TODAY!

If you're already a member of Hawk Ridge - THANK YOU!!! If you aren't, we hope you've enjoyed your experience with us and at Hawk Ridge and ask that you renew or join as a Hawk Ridge member today! This support is especially important this time of year, as we conduct our bird conservation research (47th fall season of bird count & banding!) and education programs. You can check out our exciting membership benefits (like 10% off merchandise) by clicking HERE or sign up when you visit this fall at Hawk Ridge! Thank you!

RAISE $ FOR HAWK RIDGE BY SHOPPING ONLINE!

Two simple ways to raise money for Hawk Ridge are by using 1) GoodSearch for your internet search engine: http://www.goodsearch.com/nonprofit/hawk-ridge-bird-observatory.aspx and for your online shopping, and 2) Amazon Smile http://smile.amazon.com/ for your online shopping in support of Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory to receive proceeds.

                     

THANK YOU again for your support and hope to see you at the Ridge!

Sincerely,

Janelle Long

Executive Director

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory

Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve BioBlitz #2

Lake Superior Vista from Yellow Trail Overlook (Photo by Clinton Nienhaus)

It was mentioned last year and I will say it this year: A BioBlitz is an incredible thing! Even the most familiar places can hold new secrets. For me, the trails at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve, are, in part, familiar territory. A trail, however, is an ever changing landscape. Last year, almost to the day, a massive wind storm toppled many large, mature trees in the Duluth area and Hawk Ridge was no exception to losses. Many of these trees were great trail markers and "old friends" to observe as you made your way to Summit Ledges or toward Amity Creek. Since the wind storm, much of the forest has been impacted. How will this influence the plant and animal communities within Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve? Perhaps, a BioBlitz may be the best way to investigate this question!

Education Director Clinton preparing the group for the day
(Photo by Sparky Stensaas)

Sunday July 23, saw the second a BioBlitz that has run at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve in conjunction with the Bog to Ridge BioBlitz supported by Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory and the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog. For those unfamiliar with a bioblitz, the even takes place at one location during a general time frame to find as many species as possible! Now, this may be limited by the expertise of the trip leaders or the participants, but it is a great way to catalog species that can be found in an area. The Hawk Ridge Master Species List (soon to be available online!) is still growing and changing. Lots of information has been gained on birds that migrate through and breed at the Nature Reserve, however, there is very little information on moths, beetles, fungi, bumble bees, spiders, and insects in general. Last year, the BioBlitz added 75 new species including new information on 26 species of lichen! Lichens had not been surveyed from this location, so even the most common species were new to the list. In total, 11 total participants were able to find 159 different species including Ragged-fringed Orchid, Black Bear, and Diamond Spider!

The group looking at the Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve trail map (Photo by Sparky Stensaas)

This year, we were able to find 156 different species, including 49 new species for the species list, with 12 total participants: Nearly a mirror image of last year! Just like last year, cloudy and inconsistent weather tried to slow down participation. However, those who did participate were able to add a huge number of species to the master list. Nearly 1/3 of the species observed on Sunday were new to the Master Species List! Big surprises include adding 27(!) new species of plant and 20(!) new species of invertebrate! Exciting invertebrates include Giant Cranefly (Tipula abdominalis), a beautiful species of Orbweaver (Enoplangtha ovata), and a species of bumble bee mimicing Robber Fly (Laphyria sp.)! Another fun surprise for the day included a few neat bird observations like an early flyover by Evening Grosbeaks, Red Crossbills, and tons of Cedar Waxwings! Also noted by the bird group were many of the breeding warbler species at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve including American Redstart, Ovenbird, Black-throated Green, Mourning, Chestnut-sided, and Nashville Warblers.

A beautiful and tiny Orbweaver (Enoplognatha ovata)
found near the Pine Plantation (Photo by Sparky Stensaas)

Though you can't tell from the photo, the Giant Cranefly (Tipula abdominalis) has a leg span of nearly 4 inches! (Photo by Sparky Stensaas)

You might need to look twice at this bug to see that it is not a bee!
This is one of the bee mimicing Robber Flies (Laphyria sp.)
(Photo by Sparky Stensaas)

A BioBlitz is great event to show folks the diversity of even the most familiar landscapes. Each year, interest in finding and documenting species grows within the general public. Citizen science is as popular as ever and is easier than ever for those interested in reporting sightings. This year, Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve has added a new way for visitors to record the diversity they encounter: iNaturalist!

iNaturalist is a site for the citizen scientist with interest in every piece of the natural world! On iNaturalist, you can document species found in an area with a quick photo and submit these observations to the website for confirmation of ID and is a great way to record any species. Within iNaturalist, you can submit observations on your own, or to projects. Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve BioDiversity is the project where you all can submit your observations of species on your adventures through Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve! This project is looking to record documentations and add to the knowledge of the species diversity at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve. All you have to do to submit data is make an account on iNaturalist and snap a few photos! You can then upload those photos to the project and share in the understanding of the biodiversity of Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve!

Participants at species compilation, looking over some final species IDs
 (Photo by Janelle Long)

All in all, when we see and observe and document the biodiversity around us, we getting a better understanding of the places and species around us. Hopefully, the interest in the diversity at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve will extend to your yard and beyond!

-- Clinton Nienhaus, Education Director

Fall 2016 Migration Recap

The Vista from the Ridge

Fall 2016 Migration Recap

Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, our nation’s emblem

since 1782. Its numbers continue to increase thanks to

 comprehensive conservation efforts. Photo by Karl Bardon. 

February 2017

Dear Friend of Hawk Ridge,

The 2016 fall migration was another record-breaking, thought-provoking season at Hawk Ridge. A total of 415,604 migrants were counted, slightly below 2015’s half-a-million.

Here are some highlights—and some questions. But first, thank you for your membership and support. You’re keeping our eyes on the skies and helping researchers around the world unlock the mysteries of migration—so we can better protect our global natural treasure of hawks and songbirds.

Raptor Highlights

66,369 raptors counted, slightly below the long-term average.

Totals for Sharp-shinned Hawk, Bald Eagle, Merlin, and Peregrine Falcon were greater than any other season since counting began in 1972.

Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons continue to rebound from historic lows, demonstrating the effectiveness of targeted conservation efforts.

Merlins are increasing as they adapt to nesting in more urban areas.

The Sharp-shinned Hawk count is especially good news, since this species has been in long-term decline. Typically Hawk Ridge has only one day each season with over 1,000 Sharpies. This fall there were six such days with a peak of 1,454 on September 20.

Finally a respectable Red-tail total! The season total of 8,867 Red-tailed Hawks is the best season since 2006. Is the long period of low Red-tail numbers over?

Of continued concern, counts of Northern Goshawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, and American Kestrel were all below average.

What are the reasons for these declines? In the case of Northern Goshawks, it is now well established that invasions no longer happen. As for Broad-winged Hawks, it may be nothing more than weather variables during their peak migration season. Researchers believe the lower numbers of American Kestrels indicate a real decline in population.

Non-raptor Highlights

349,235 non-raptors counted

132 Greater White-fronted Geese, an unprecedented number.

Flocks of American White Pelicans impressively large with a season total of 699.

2016’s non-raptor big surprise—the amazing number of Empidonax flycatchers!  The season total of 394 empids is more than all previous seasons combined.

Crazy numbers again this season for Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets (more than 3,600) and Brown Creeper (173).

Although the number of migrating thrushes heard at night always dwarfs the number actually counted during the day, a record number of more than 1,200 thrushes in the genus Catharus were seen in morning flight fall of 2016.

And the prize goes to the warblers—with a total of 78,297 counted, another season record! October 6, 2016 was the peak day for warblers, when 19,465 were counted. A season total of 27,688 Yellow-rumped Warblers compares to the previous average of only about 3,500!

In the case of all these non-raptor groups of birds, the numbers in recent years are ten times higher than in previous years. These numbers represent very real and recent changes in the migration at Hawk Ridge. What are the reasons for these changes and how long will they last?

Eyes on the Skies

Count Director Karl Bardon has been tirelessly tracking raptors and non-raptors at Hawk Ridge for a decade. In addition, he submits data to the Hawk Migration Association North American and other research groups, files extensive reports for HRBO and its members, and continues to inspire new generations of hawk and songbird counters. Many skilled observers helped him in 2017, including HRBO Counter Alex Lamoreaux, Count Trainee Amy West, Count Interpreter John Richardson, Steve Kolbe, Jan and Larry Kraemer, Kathleen MacAulay, Dave Carman, Stephen Nelson, Russ Edmonds, Allie Pesano, Ian Gardner, Andrew Longtin, Josh Lefever, Joe Beck, Tom Reed, Brian Sullivan, and Jerry Liguori. A round of applause and thanks to all.

As the snow flies this winter season, we hope this Vista from the Ridge is providing happy memories of beautiful fall days on the Ridge in 2016. Stay tuned for new things for our members, like Snapshot from the Ridge, more updates on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HawkRidgeDuluth), and exciting plans for Hawk Weekend Festival and upcoming gala in September 2017.

Again, thank you for your support. We simply cannot do this important work without you.

Janelle Long

HRBO Executive Director

Andrew Streitz

HRBO Board Chair

Count summary through September 12th, 2016

Hawk Ridge migration has been very busy the last week. We have now counted over 10,000 raptors and over 100,000 non-raptors for the season so far- but this is just the beginning! Peak numbers of both raptors and non-raptors are still to come. Some of the highlights from the last week are shown below with photographs I took this season.

Osprey in flight- we had a great two day run of 41 and 42 Ospreys on 8 and 9 September 2016

Juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk in flight. We had some high numbers of Sharpies at the Ridge recently including 1066 on 8 September and 1353 on 10 September. Peak Sharpie flights are usually a 1,000 ore more individuals, so its great to already have two such days this season, with many more Sharpies to come.

Although distant, this photo shows a leucistic Cliff Swallow which was seen during a large flight of  2603 Cliff Swallows on 25 August 2016

Here's a Black-and-white Warbler in flight. We are still getting a good variety of warblers, with over 7,000 individuals and 25 species counted this season. The main push of Yellow-rumps is still coming.

Flock of Cedar Waxwings in flight. The bulk of waxwings have probably already moved through. We have counted 28,866 migrating Cedar Waxwings including a peak of 6651 on 9 September 2016

Common Green Darner in flight. This has been an amazing season for dragonflies, with day after day of big flights, often thousands of individuals. Although green darners are usually the most common species, we often have many other species mixed in as well, and a very large flight estimated at 100,000 individuals on 30 August 2016 was surprisingly not mostly green darners, but meadowhawks and blue darners

My thanks to fellow counters Alex Lamoreaux, Steve Kolbe and Amy West, as well as the very helpful group of volunteers that come so often, including Stephen Nelson, Dave Carman, Jan and Larry Kraemer, Russ Edmonds, John Richardson, Karen Stubenvoll, Kathleen MacAuley, Tom Reed, and Peder Svingen

Karl Bardon

Count Director

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory