Hawk Ridge News - March 2023

 

 

Dear Hawk Ridge Friends,

 

It definitely still feels and looks like winter here in Duluth, but our West Skyline Spring Count is on and spring is almost officially here! The count started March 1st and runs through May 31st. You can read highlights from the first 2 weeks below. We are excited to share more bird education and research with you with several events coming up soon! Join us for our Spring Migration Workshop Weekend April 21st-23rd, monthly virtual programs featuring Hawk Ridge research (next is Tues. 3/21 @7pm), Hawk Weekend Festival Sept. 15-17th, a second trip to Costa Rica for this fall, and more! Find out more below! 

P.S. If you missed our last e-newsletter, you can view that and older versions by clicking HERE. 

West Skyline Spring Count Update

Happy Spring Migration! Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory’s spring coverage at the West Skyline Hawk Count (WSHC) has begun! Early March can be a wild time, with high diversity in weather. The first two weeks of the count brought a blizzard, and then a few mild days, followed by a 10 day run of north-east winds and another blizzard! Thus far, counts have been conducted on 15 days for 95.75 hours of observation. Despite the variability and fresh snow, raptors have begun heading north once again. As expected, the vast majority of early migrants are Bald Eagles (555), which began moving in force right off the bat. Most Balds seen migrating in March are adults, but there are a few sub-adults that join the mix. Golden Eagles (31) are another early season migrant that are typically peppered in on days with a consistent Bald Eagle flight. 

A few other raptor species have been seen, including Merlin, Rough-legged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk and Cooper’s Hawk. As conditions improve, expect more sightings of these other raptors. Non-raptors have been few, but of great quality. Situated just south of the boreal forest, WSHC gets to enjoy some boreal species not seen at many other hawk watches! Counts have included northbound Trumpeter Swans (20), Common Ravens (81), Bohemian Waxwing (20), Pine Grosbeak (34) and Common Redpoll (59). By the end of the month, expect more finches, some waterfowl and blackbirds. Complete bird lists are posted to eBird for both count sites (WSHC--Enger and WSHC--Thompson Hill). 

The best conditions for flight at the spring watch are warm, mostly sunny days with a southwest wind; however, big eagle flights can occur at almost any time. As we enter the peak window for eagles, keep an eye up and you could see kettles of eagles overhead! Last spring brought the single highest day of migratory Bald Eagles in the world, with 1,206 observed. Could this year break the record again? We are currently watching the weather for this weekend and beyond for promising conditions. 

Wanting minute to minute updates on what’s going on overhead? All count data is being reported on Trektellen this season, and the link to our page can be found HERE our via the live count button at hawkridge.org. Trektellen is an international site that is used by researchers all over the world, and has several language options. For most American readers, this language will default to “English.” This will display some unfamiliar names of birds, typically used by our British friends across the pond. So, if you're confused by why you might see Mealy Redpolls or Rough-legged Buzzards listed, here's how to switch to more familiar American bird names. All you need to do is switch your language to “American English” in the upper right corner of the Trektellen page! You can also still find our daily raptor counts and summary via HawkCount HERE. 

Thanks and hope to see you at the count! 

Sean McLaughlin

Spring Counter

Upcoming Events

Pick a Bird Brain Virtual Program Series 

The 2023 Pick a Bird Brain series is focused on highlighting some of the amazing research projects with Hawk Ridge. Each month through the winter/spring we will feature a different project and you will have a front row seat to find out more about what we have been learning. Programs are free, but pre-registration is required, with a registration link provided in each presentation’s description.

Tues. March 21st, 7:00 pm

Periodic Invasions of Northern Goshawks

Ordinarily, hawk count sites do not see large numbers of Northern Goshawks during fall counts because migration is unnecessary with prey species available year round in their home ranges. Juvenile males make up the majority of the goshawks annually seen at hawk watches in most years. However, about every ten years, the normal patterns change in significant ways, and there is over one hundred years of data demonstrating this obvious change which is called an invasion. What does an invasion entail, and what might be responsible for this dramatic change? There is a story here, but even that predictable story is changing as there has not been an invasion observed since the early 2000’s. 

Dr. Dick Green, Professor Emeritus at University of Minnesota Duluth, will look at historical observations made at three hawk watch sites: Hawk Ridge in Duluth, Minnesota, Cedar Grove in Wisconsin, and Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania. He will puzzle out the pieces of the story that we know, and also attempt to understand the invasions by looking at the boreal forest community where Northern Goshawks live. Join us to take a look at this fascinating bird history and mystery!

Registration is required for this presentation. Register Here

Cost: Free (donations are always appreciated!)

P.S. If you missed the last Pick a Bird Brain virtual events you can view recordings below: 

The Forever Chemicals: What Do We Need to Know About Their Effects on Birds and How Will We Learn It? by Matt Etterson (Feb. 23rd)

The Secrets that Feathers Hold: Using Feathers to Trace Migration by Emily Pavlovic (Jan. 24th)

Spring Migration Workshop

Fri. April 21st - Sun. April 23rd

REGISTER HERE!

Hawk Ridge has been monitoring the fall bird migration since the 1950’s, but did you know that the West Skyline Spring Count ranks as one of the top sites in the US for numbers and diversity of raptors during the spring migration? Late April is likely to provide a wide variety and ages of raptors traveling through on their way north, as well as plenty of other species of birds. Join us for an exciting workshop exploring the Spring 2023 bird migration! 

We will enjoy fun field days learning first hand at the Hawk Ridge West Skyline Spring Count in Duluth, MN (world record site for numbers of Bald Eagles counted in one day!), as well as other local hotspots (ex. Duluth Harbor and St. Louis River area). Hawk Ridge Education Director, Margie Menzies, and other key staff (as well as the beautiful migrating birds!) will teach you about the exciting science of spring migration, raptor identification techniques, natural history of key species, current Hawk Ridge Research, and more! 

Register HERE today under our Events tab at hawkridge.org. Space is limited to 15 participants and registration closes once filled. Please contact Margie Menzies at mmenzies@hawkridge.org or 218-428-8722 with questions. We hope to see you there! 

West Skyline Spring Count

March 1 - May 31, 2023

2023 marks the 6^th 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 2018-2022 is 24,000 raptors and thousands of other migrating birds. Over 130 different bird species were recorded in 2022! Spring migration highlights include an amazing diversity of 15-20 different raptor species, as outlined:

 

Peak for each species (high counts listed)

• Eagles: around March 25 (Bald: 100-500/day; Golden: 10/day)
• Rough-legged Hawks: April 10-20 (up to 75/day)
• Red-tailed Hawks: April 10-20 (1,000-2,000/day)
• Broad-winged Hawks: May 1-10 (3,000-4,000/day)
• Sharp-shinned Hawks: April 10-20 (up to 450/day)

CLICK HERE to find out more info on visiting this spring! We will 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. 

Hawk Weekend Festival

Save the Dates! 

Sept. 15th-17th, 2023

Come and 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! 

We are happy to announce Dr. Laurie Goodrich, Hawk Mountain Sarkis Acopian Director of Conservation Science, will be joining us as our keynote speaker! Registration and more info coming soon!

International Birding Trip

Costa Rica - Hawk Watch & Birding Tour

October 24th - November 1st, 2023

Hawk Ridge and Holbrook Travel are off on another fascinating Costa Rica Adventure in the fall of 2023. A perfect excursion for nature lovers and avid birders- particularly those who have an interest in raptors! Venture to the Caribbean coastline and remote Tortuguero National Park, well known as one of the most important sea turtle nesting sites in the world, but also an extensive network of waterways and diverse species of birds and other wildlife.

The famed raptor hotspot of Kéköldi Indigenous Reserve is up next and there we will be witnessing not only raptors but other migratory birds streaming through on their way south during some of the heaviest traffic times in one of the busiest migration places in the world! It’s possible to see species like the Broad-winged Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Osprey, and more. The numbers of birds who use this thoroughfare are mind-bending and October is usually when the highest counts happen.

Then journey inland to discover the rainforests of Selva Verde, our private eco-reserve set on 500 protected acres that hundreds of bird species call home. Take guided hikes in the private rainforest reserve at Selva Verde Lodge, with opportunities to see birds like the Keel-billed Toucan, Sunbittern, and endangered Great Green Macaw. We will also bird the trails of the world-renowned La Selva Biological Station, where more than half of Costa Rica’s species have been recorded.

Each day provides a variety of opportunities to make the most of the birding/nature touring available, as well as options for individual exploration and leisure time. You will be traveling with other nature enthusiasts to all share an amazing spectrum of bird experiences and knowledge. All meals are included and dining is often arranged outdoors or in private group seating. Your guides will be Hawk Ridge Education Director, Margie Menzies, and Mario Cordoba. Margie will be leading a spring 2023 international birding trip in Costa Rica and has also traveled to and bird banded in Costa Rica. Mario Cordoba has been a nature guide in Costa Rica for over 2 decades. 

Don’t miss this incredible experience! Space on this trip is limited to 10, and final payment for the trip is due July 21, 2023. REGISTER HERE today! Questions? Contact Debbie Sturdivant Jordan at 866-748-6146 or debbie@holbrooktravel.com, or Margie Menzies mmenzies@hawkridge.org. Hope to see you in October!

2022 Research & Education Summary Reports

Here are the links to our 2022 fall research and education summaries:

Fall 2022 Bird Migration Count Summary (raptor count totals HERE)

Fall 2022 Raptor Banding Summary 

2022 Education Summary

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!

Support Hawk Ridge by Shopping!

 

If you missed out on getting a limited edition 50th anniversary shirt or mug - you can still do so today! Purchase a variety of Hawk Ridge merchandise at the links below:

Big Frog (direct ship or pick up at Duluth store)

Bonfire (direct ship)

The Mug Experience - 50th mug (direct ship)

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! Hope to connect with you again soon!  

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

Hawk Ridge News - February 2023

 

 

Dear Hawk Ridge Friends,

 

Happy 2023! We hope it's been a great start to the year for you! A special thanks to all those that helped support Hawk Ridge in 2022 - you can read our highlights HERE. We are excited to share more bird education and research with you with several events coming up soon! Join us for our Boreal Birds Exploration Weekend March 10-12th, monthly virtual programs featuring Hawk Ridge research (next is Thurs. 2/23 @7pm), the West Skyline Spring Count running March 1-May 31st, a second trip to Costa Rica for this fall, and more! Find out more on how to sign up by reading below! 

P.S. If you missed our last e-newsletter, you can view that and older versions by clicking HERE. 

2022 Research & Education Summary Reports

Here are the links to our 2022 fall research and education summaries:

Fall 2022 Bird Migration Count Summary (raptor count totals HERE)

Fall 2022 Raptor Banding Summary 

2022 Education Summary

Upcoming Events

Boreal Birds Exploration Weekend

March 11-12, 2023 (w/optional add-on March 10)

Northern Minnesota is well known as one of the best places in the US to see beautiful boreal birds! Mid-March is a great time to look for some of these amazing resident winter birds and those that over-winter here from points further north. It also has the advantage of being a bit warmer than earlier in winter, as well as having spring migration underway for a number of species, such as Bald & Golden Eagles. We will learn about the ecology of the northern landscape, which is the backbone for who can be found where - each of these birds has a story! Join leaders Frank Nicoletti and Margie Menzies for a fascinating 2-day weekend exploration of this area (with optional Fri. afternoon trip in Duluth/Superior area).  

Depending on conditions and where the birds are, we will spread our weekend adventure over two distinct locations, the Sax-Zim Bog area to the northwest of Duluth and the Superior National Forest and North Shore of Lake Superior to the northeast. We will see what skill and luck can find us and take a closer look at patterns and conditions that contribute to the story of each of these species of birds. Possible species include Great Gray Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, Boreal Chickadee, Northern Hawk-Owl, Ruffed Grouse, Spruce Grouse, Evening Grosbeak, Northern Shrike, Black-billed Magpie, White-winged Crossbill, Pine Grosbeak, Canada Jay, Common Redpoll, Bohemian Waxwings, and many more!

Optional Friday March 10th afternoon trip:  If you are able to come in earlier on Friday, we will offer an afternoon exploration in the Duluth/Superior area, which could include depending on harbor ice conditions, birds in the harbor including gulls and ducks, searching for Snowy Owls in the harbor area, a visit to the Hawk Ridge West Skyline Spring Count site, or other bird highlights that might be happening in the local area. This would run from roughly 1 pm til dusk. Add-on cost: $50 members/$75 non

COST: $200 Members/ Master Naturalists ($50 add-on for Friday), $250 Non-members ($75 add-on for Friday)

REGISTER HERE TODAY or go to hawkridge.org and find more info under our Events tab! Space is limited to 12 (min. 8). Registration must be complete by no later than Fri. 3/3 or will close once full. 

Pick a Bird Brain Virtual Program Series 

The 2023 Pick a Bird Brain series is focused on highlighting some of the amazing research projects with Hawk Ridge. Each month through the winter/spring we will feature a different project and you will have a front row seat to find out more about what we have been learning. Programs are free, but pre-registration is required, with a registration link provided in each presentation’s description.

Thurs. February 23rd, 7:00 pm

The Forever Chemicals: What Do We Need to Know About Their Effects on Birds and How Will We Learn It?

The last two decades have seen a marked increase in concern over the effects of PFAS on humans and wildlife.  PFAS, or polyfluoralkyl substances, often called “the forever chemicals,” are persistent contaminants that enter the environment from a variety of sources, including manufacturing, landfills, and fire suppression. Among vertebrates, birds appear to be of particular concern for both exposure and effects. Reported effects on birds include early embryo mortality, failure to hatch, and high post hatching mortality. The specific mechanisms causing these effects are still poorly understood but may include disruptions of thyroid hormone signaling and fatty acid metabolism.

Dr. Matt Etterson, Hawk Ridge Research Chair, will present findings from a recently completed study that surveyed birds of prey trapped during migration at Hawk Ridge or admitted as patients to The Raptor Center. For the study, up to 33 PFAS chemicals were investigated in blood samples from 11 species of diurnal and nocturnal raptors. Patterns of contamination were investigated in relation to the biology and life history of the species including size, diet, and taxonomy. Dr. Etterson will also provide a general background on avian PFAS work being done in Duluth and nationally as concern increases over this very large class of chemicals.

Registration is required for this presentation. Register Here

Cost: Free (donations are always appreciated!)

P.S. If you missed the January Pick a Bird Brain virtual event by Emily Pavlovic, you can view it here: 

The Secrets that Feathers Hold: Using Feathers to Trace Migration (YouTube recording from Jan. 24th, 2023)

West Skyline Spring Count

March 1 - May 31, 2023

2023 marks the 6^th 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 2018-2022 is 24,000 raptors and thousands of other migrating birds. Over 130 different bird species were recorded in 2022! Spring migration highlights include an amazing diversity of 15-20 different raptor species, as outlined:

 

Peak for each species (high counts listed)

• Eagles: around March 25 (Bald: 100-500/day; Golden: 10/day)
• Rough-legged Hawks: April 10-20 (up to 75/day)
• Red-tailed Hawks: April 10-20 (1,000-2,000/day)
• Broad-winged Hawks: May 1-10 (3,000-4,000/day)
• Sharp-shinned Hawks: April 10-20 (up to 450/day)

CLICK HERE to find out more info on visiting this spring! We will 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. 

Spring Migration Workshop

Save the Dates!

Fri. April 21st - Sun. April 23rd

Hawk Ridge has been monitoring the fall bird migration since the 1950’s, but did you know that the West Skyline Spring Count ranks as one of the top sites in the US for numbers and diversity of raptors during the spring migration? Late April is likely to provide a wide variety and ages of raptors traveling through on their way north, as well as plenty of other species of birds. Join us for an exciting workshop exploring the Spring 2023 bird migration! 

We will enjoy fun field days learning first hand at the Hawk Ridge West Skyline Spring Count in Duluth, MN (world record site for numbers of Bald Eagles counted in one day!), as well as other local hotspots (ex. Duluth Harbor and St. Louis River area). Hawk Ridge Education Director, Margie Menzies, and other key staff (as well as the beautiful migrating birds!) will teach you about the exciting science of spring migration, raptor identification techniques, natural history of key species, current Hawk Ridge Research, and more! 

Registration will open soon under our Events tab at hawkridge.org. Contact Margie Menzies at mmenzies@hawkridge.org or 218-428-8722 with questions. 

Hawk Weekend Festival

Save the Dates! 

Sept. 15th-17th, 2023

Come and 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! Registration and more info coming soon!

International Birding Trip

Costa Rica - Hawk Watch & Birding Tour

October 24th - November 1st, 2023

Hawk Ridge and Holbrook Travel are off on another fascinating Costa Rica Adventure in the fall of 2023. A perfect excursion for nature lovers and avid birders- particularly those who have an interest in raptors! Venture to the Caribbean coastline and remote Tortuguero National Park, well known as one of the most important sea turtle nesting sites in the world, but also an extensive network of waterways and diverse species of birds and other wildlife.

The famed raptor hotspot of Kéköldi Indigenous Reserve is up next and there we will be witnessing not only raptors but other migratory birds streaming through on their way south during some of the heaviest traffic times in one of the busiest migration places in the world! It’s possible to see species like the Broad-winged Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Osprey, and more. The numbers of birds who use this thoroughfare are mind-bending and October is usually when the highest counts happen.

Then journey inland to discover the rainforests of Selva Verde, our private eco-reserve set on 500 protected acres that hundreds of bird species call home. Take guided hikes in the private rainforest reserve at Selva Verde Lodge, with opportunities to see birds like the Keel-billed Toucan, Sunbittern, and endangered Great Green Macaw. We will also bird the trails of the world-renowned La Selva Biological Station, where more than half of Costa Rica’s species have been recorded.

Each day provides a variety of opportunities to make the most of the birding/nature touring available, as well as options for individual exploration and leisure time. You will be traveling with other nature enthusiasts to all share an amazing spectrum of bird experiences and knowledge. All meals are included and dining is often arranged outdoors or in private group seating. Your guides will be Hawk Ridge Education Director, Margie Menzies, and Mario Cordoba. Margie will be leading a spring 2023 international birding trip in Costa Rica and has also traveled to and bird banded in Costa Rica. Mario Cordoba has been a nature guide in Costa Rica for over 2 decades. 

Don’t miss this incredible experience! Space on this trip is limited to 10, and final payment for the trip is due July 21, 2023. REGISTER HERE today! Questions? Contact Debbie Sturdivant Jordan at 866-748-6146 or debbie@holbrooktravel.com, or Margie Menzies mmenzies@hawkridge.org. Hope to see you in October!

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!

Support Hawk Ridge by Shopping!

 

If you missed out on getting a limited edition 50th anniversary shirt or mug - you can still do so today! Purchase a variety of Hawk Ridge merchandise at the links below:

Big Frog (direct ship or pick up at Duluth store)

Bonfire (direct ship)

The Mug Experience - 50th mug (direct ship)

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! Hope to connect with you again soon!  

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

Hawk Ridge News - December 2022

 Dear Friends of Hawk Ridge,

Happy Holidays and thank you for being a supporter of Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory! 2022 was an extra special year for the Hawk Ridge community, as we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve. We also celebrated 50 amazing years of continued raptor research and education, as well as wonderful connections with visitors, members, donors, staff, volunteers and beautiful birds! THANKS to your support, we had another successful year! We invite you to read the November reports below, as well as our highlights from 2022. Wishing you all the best in the New Year and we look forward to connecting with you in 2023!  

November Research & Education Summaries

November 2022 Raptor Banding Summary

The month of November was low in numbers for banding with only 36 raptors banded plus a Northern Shrike - an honorary raptor. The major cause of the low numbers was warmer temperatures, which likely shut down late season migrants at the end of October into early November. The only significant front was after the 15th when conditions were favorable, but raptors had likely settled into territories. 

The 30th, last day of the banding season, was extra special as I captured and banded a second-year male Golden Eagle. I had anticipated a good flight of raptors with the forecast of NW winds 20-30mph with higher gust. Temperatures were around 20 degrees with windchill below zero and partly sunny skies. I got to the station at 8:15 to clear the trapping area of the fresh 3” of snow from the previous day and night. A great flight indeed with good numbers of Bald Eagles (41) moving by the station along with 7 Golden and a scattering of a few other non eagles. I was fortunate enough to catch a second year male golden around 2:30 in the afternoon. The last raptor of the 2022 season and certainly the highlight of my season. I was able to share this remarkable bird with several HRBO folks and grad students.

I’m so blessed to be able to work at an incredible place like Hawk Ridge. Thanks for all who support HRBO in so many ways. The end of season results will be shared soon with more highlights and fall details. 

November Banded Raptor Totals

Northern Harrier-1 

Sharp-shinned Hawk-5 

Northern Goshawk-4 

Red-tailed Hawk-7 

Golden Eagle-1 

Northern Saw-whet Owl-7

Long-eared Owl-11 

Northern Shrike-1 

Frank Nicoletti, Banding Director

November 2022 Bird Migration Count Report

The 51st consecutive fall migration count season at Hawk Ridge wrapped up on 30 November. A total of 161 count hours over 26 non-consecutive days of counts were logged throughout the month. Inclement weather resulted in four days of no count being conducted. A total of 917 migrant raptors of 10 species were tallied from the observation platform between 01 and 30 November. The general trend was slightly lower-than-average November totals for most species. 

RED- TAILED HAWKS (606) and BALD-EAGLES (966) were among the most abundant raptor species over the month, with both accounting for 85% of the monthly total alone. ROUGH- LEGGED HAWKS, which are often also among one of the most abundant late season raptor migrants, experienced a low November (and overall season) total compared to the ten-year average (2012-2021) of 309 – only approximately 1/3 of that number passed this November. 

Despite GOLDEN EAGLES having a higher-than-average October total, they also experienced a lower November total compared to the ten-year average (101), with just over half of that amount passing the ridge. NORTHERN GOSHAWKS are also historically among the most abundant raptor species to make passage in November with a ten-year average of 60. However, this year marked the lowest November total since 1989, as only nine migrant birds were documented passing the ridge. A late migrating BROAD-WINGED HAWK mixed in with kettles of Red- tailed Hawks on 7 November as the groups of buteos pushed their way down the distant lakeshore – the last of this species being seen from the ridge on 14 October. 

The non-raptor flight in November is typically comprised of later migrating waterbirds coupled with the arrival of winter finches and their allies (depending on the year). CANADA GEESE (1,108) were the most abundant non-raptor species moving throughout the month, followed by AMERICAN CROWS (372) beginning to migrate south out of the northern forests and AMERICAN ROBIN (324) wrapping up their migrations south. PINE GROSBEAK (223) was also among the most abundant winter passerine making movements south, with a peak day of 69 on 17 November. 

PINE SISKIN (215), AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (204), and COMMON REDPOLL (171) numbers were the next most abundant; however, not indicative of any large irruptions along the north shore this fall for any species. While experiencing larger irruptive movements very far south throughout much of the continent this fall, EVENING GROSBEAKS (158) only passed the ridge in modest numbers this fall. Both RED (132) and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS (30) were less abundant this fall as well. A total of ten NORTHERN SHRIKES passed during the month, at times piercing the cold wintery silence with their shrill vocalizations while briefly hunting the nearby chickadee feeder flocks. One TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE passed through the ridge as well – the second on the season. 

Thank you to everybody who came up to the ridge this past fall to enjoy the migration and community. The fall count will resume in 2023 in mid-August. 

Jess Cosentino, Fall Count Director

2022 Education Summary

Christmas Bird Count Season is always a fun time of year! Big numbers of Evening Grosbeaks and Bohemian Waxwings turned up in the area counts!! Hooray for winter birds - it's so exciting to see them even in the throws of lots of snow! Like the Christmas Bird Count numbers, 2022 was a busy year for Hawk Ridge Education Programming. It seems every year keeps getting busier, and busier -which is great news when you are educating the world about the wonders of birds and their importance in the world!! 

We continue to build spring migration programming and we were happy to welcome Sara DePew as a second educator and count interpreter for the spring season! We formally started spring education programming in 2019 with our reinstated spring count. In 2022, we hosted twice as many different school groups as our first year in 2019! We are definitely growing on the spring programming side of the spectrum! Summer 2022, was also the first year that we had a full-time education director on during the summer months and it was filled with programs. New programs that happened included welcoming Viking Great Lakes cruise passengers to Hawk Ridge for programming- we enjoyed educating people from all over the country and world with 7 cruise visits May through September. We also were able to offer the first Minnesota Master Naturalist Course through Hawk Ridge with a wonderful group of participants. We also had an assortment of bird programs for partnered area day camp programs and a number of outreach presentations as well. 

Fall, as always, was a busy season, with school programming getting much closer to what we remember pre-pandemic levels, and we were lucky to have an incredibly talented team of education trainees, interns, and naturalists to provide programming! Huge thank you to: Sara DePew, Jake Behrens, Sarah Wood, Chris Schnurbusch, Daniel Goldberg, Julia Luger, Allie Quick, Caroline Urban, Jamie Tiggs, Jason Heinen, Sophie Richardson, and Drake Hacker! Whew- it takes a small army to keep education programming going through the fall season! And many thanks as well to Lisa Oakland for managing the merchandise and the visitor services front, as well as Valerie Slocum leading our incredible team of volunteers for their efforts that support every aspect of Hawk Ridge programming. We had a lot of fun, as you can see by our last day costume photo on Oct. 31st!

During the fall, we provided more than 150 educational program opportunities for K12 schools, college groups, traveling groups, general public programming, owl programs, Hawk Weekend/50th Anniversary festival programs, virtual programs and workshops. All in all, nearly 3,000 participants took part in educational programming at Hawk Ridge over the fall. We also did more than 200 live bird demonstrations and interacted with thousands of Hawk Ridge visitors! Looking at the whole picture for 2022, we provided more than 220 formal programs for more than 4,200 participants! 

To read our FULL 2022 Education Summary, please click HERE. Stay tuned to our website and watch for Facebook posts for more opportunities to enjoy Hawk Ridge Educational Programming in 2023! Lots of interesting programming ahead, including our exciting international birding trip to Costa Rica next spring! Thank you for sharing in the magic of migration with us! 

Margie Menzies, Education Director

2022 HAWK RIDGE HIGHLIGHTS 

As we look to the new year and the next 50 years, we invite you to reflect on what Hawk Ridge means to you. One of the most memorable parts of our 50th celebration event in September was hearing the inspirational and heartfelt stories from attendees through the decades - memories of a special visit, a meaningful bird release, an exciting big migration day, reuniting or being united with friends and loved ones at Hawk Ridge, or the simple magic and joy of watching birds. We appreciate all that Hawk Ridge brings to people and bird conservation and we can’t thank you enough for being part of that. 

RESEARCH AND PROGRAMS

BIRD MIGRATION COUNT RESEARCH 

During our 2022 Spring and Fall seasons, our skilled and focused counters documented over 84,000 raptors of 18 different species, as well as 163,000+ other migrating birds of 160+ species. Above 10-yr average numbers were counted this fall for Northern Harrier, Broad-winged Hawk, and American Kestrel. A surprise first record of a Swallow-tailed Kite was recorded! In total, over 3.2 million raptors have been counted at Hawk Ridge since the start in 1972.

BIRD BANDING RESEARCH 

We continue to run the largest raptor banding operation in the country. Our stellar banding team, led by Frank Nicoletti, banded over 2200 raptors (hawks, falcons, eagles, owls) in fall 2022. A few highlights included a Golden Eagle Banded on the last day of the season and the E. Screech Owl returning for the 5th year! Dedicated volunteers continued passerine banding at Hawk Ridge, including the summer MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) research project, with the leadership of David Alexander and Margie Menzies.

TRAINEESHIP PROGRAM & STUDENT RESEARCH 

Seven trainees, five research and two environmental education, received exceptional professional field experience within our count, banding, and education programs. We collaborated with students from University of MN Duluth on graduate research projects and other outdoor education classes.

EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 

Hawk Ridge Education Director, Margie Menzies, and our amazing education team taught more than 220 educational programs in 2022, reaching over 4200 participants of all ages! Thousands of visitors at Hawk Ridge shared in the magic of migration with us and learned through our live bird education demos, kid’s cart activities, school field trips and public programs. We also provided workshops, outreach events, and virtual programs throughout the year. Our volunteer program engaged nearly 70 people that contributed a total of approx. 3,000 hours in 2022. Thank you to all of our staff and volunteers!

HAWK WEEKEND FESTIVAL & 50TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT

2022 marked the 50th anniversary of Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve and 50 years of continued raptor research & education! We celebrated with a memorable festival weekend September 22nd-25th. Over 200 attended the kick-off banquet at the Greysolon Ballroom in celebration of the past, present, and future with heartfelt stories and speakers through the decades. A poster session was held Friday evening at the Great Lakes Aquarium and presentation Saturday evening at UMD both highlighting 50 years of Hawk Ridge research. Dr. Robert Rosenfield received the Hawk Ridge Lifetime Achievement award for exceptional contributions to raptor research inspired by early years at Hawk Ridge. It was a wonderful weekend! 

LAND STEWARDSHIP 

Volunteers helped lead important site stewardship management projects at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve, such as trail maintenance and invasive species control. An exciting highlight is the acceptance of our Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve Facilities Plan by the City of Duluth for educational and safety improvements for visitors. This project includes a new accessible trail, permanent restroom, additional education program spaces, observation deck, and more! We look forward to continuing progress and sharing more with you in 2023!

With your generosity and support today, we will soar into the next 50 years! Your investment in our mission will help us continue to protect birds, launch new exciting initiatives and events, and foster those special connections built between the birds, the people, and the place at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve. This incredible work happening each year is thanks to our amazing staff, volunteers, and the generosity of members and donors, like you. Thank you in advance for your consideration in a year-end gift, which can be made online HERE. 

From all of us at Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, we send our warmest wishes and sincere gratitude for you this holiday season and New Year.

Happy New Year and wishing you all the best in 2023! THANK YOU!

Sincerely,

Janelle Long

Executive Director

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory