Hawk Ridge News - October 2025 Part 2

 

 

Dear Hawk Ridge Friends,

October is winding down, but the birds are still moving! Our count and banding research will continue at Hawk Ridge through the end of November. Our education and visitor services staff and volunteers will be at the Ridge until October 31st! Join us on October 31st for our 1pm raffle drawing and staff costumes (always fun bird themes)! There are still spots left in the remaining small group evening owl programs offered (Tues, Thurs-Sat) - send an email to owls@hawkridge.org for availability!   

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

September 2025 Education Summary

The fall season moves fast, when you're enjoying the amazing bird migration! We are down to the last few education programs for the fall season at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve. It has been amazing to see the variety of ages and audience types participating in programming at Hawk Ridge. During the month of September, we had participants ranging from college groups, multiple homeschool groups with preschool through adult participants, afterschool programs, Scout groups, many high school and middle school groups, preschool groups, elementary schools, and a number of adult centered program groups. And that does not include weekend general public programming which happens every weekend at Hawk Ridge. 

Here's a glimpse of our groups in September - thanks for visiting! Scout Troop 221, Urban Bird Collective, UMD Outdoor Education, Many Rivers Montessori, Duluth East High School, Lake Superior College, Carlton Middle School, UMD Ecology, private owl programs, College of St Scholastica Field Biology, Bryant Elementary School, South Ridge Elementary School, VENT tour group, Minnesota Zoo, Ambleside Ashland Elementary, multiple homeschool groups and more!

We love sharing the joy of birds with all of our visitors, so no matter what type of audience you might bring to the Ridge there are plenty of ways we can find to engage and enrich our visitors. If you are interested in bird education programs, we would be happy to get your participants out exploring the birds or happy to bring programming to you with outreach opportunities. The birds have ever so much to teach us - come join us before October 31st! Sign-up for a Small Group Owl program, come for weekend Hawk Ridge Programming, or decide to stretch beyond the fall and explore the world of birds internationally with the Bird the Mayan Ruins of the Yucatan in Mexico scheduled for February 11-21, 2026, with an optional extension to see the Monarchs wintering grounds and higher elevation birds in Central Mexico (Feb. 21-25, 2026). So many ways to learn about birds! Stay tuned for the final fall programming update in November!

Broad-winged Hawk Project - DONATE TODAY! 

We are collaborating with Hawk Mountain Association in Pennsylvania to study Broad-winged Hawks in the Central Flyway. To learn more about the goals of the project click HERE. To support the project through donating any amount or sponsoring a transmitter click HERE. Thank you for your support! 

Hawk Weekend Festival 2025 Summary

Our annual Hawk Weekend Festival held September 19th-21st. Despite the rain and fog, we were able to still find time each day to enjoy the migration filled great birds and people. Nearly 160 people pre-registered for a variety of guided birding field trips, workshops, and programs at Hawk Ridge and around Duluth. Hundreds of other visitors also joined us at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve to view the migration and learn from our education naturalist staff and volunteers. We had nice views of low flying Sharp-shinned Hawks, Bald Eagles, and Peregrine Falcons. A total of over 400 raptors (of 10 species) and approx. 1200 other birds (approx. 40 species) were counted. 

Here are some comments sharing the excitement the counters wrote about on Saturday, September 20th: A foggy Hawk Weekend Saturday. Slightly late start as the rain receded, and it took several hours for any kind of flight to develop. It was wonderful to see the roadside still busy with people despite the weather, including having the legend Frank Nicoletti calling us birds from the overlook! It seemed that if only the weather would open up a little bit, there was a potential for excellent movement. The opening finally arrived around 4:30, long after the crowds had dispersed. We enjoyed a pleasant flight of Sharp-shinned Hawks bubbling up from the lakeshore, small groups of Bald Eagles and one really excellent kettle of late day Turkey Vultures. 2 Peregrines entertained us, moving gracefully against the holes of blue sky, blue that we haven't seen in days. It was a special joy to share the platform with several visitors amidst this flurry, including 2 young hawkwatchers from the Twin Cities. Our new 7- and 9 year-old friends helped us out by dutifully clicking the vulture kettle, and even spotted the sharpies mixed in! Our next generation of hawkwatchers will be just fine! 

Our kick-off evening event was held at the Great Lakes Aquarium with a fun social gathering, informative annual meeting with highlights of Hawk Ridge, and engaging presentation by the keynote speaker, Dr. Neil Paprocki on Raptor Movement Ecology: Strengthening Our Understanding of Migration Count Data. A Hawk Ridge Volunteer Appreciation Award was presented Mary Gabrys, as a long-time volunteer helping with many efforts, such as songbird banding, education, and behind-the-scenes. Thank you to Dr. Neil Paprocki, Mary Gabrys, Jim & Pat Sanders for refreshments, volunteers at the evening event, and the wonderful Great Lakes Aquarium staff! 

It was an overall wonderful weekend with many new and return visitors from around the state, throughout the US, and beyond including a group of wonderful bird banders from Guatemala hosted by Zumbro Valley Audubon and our annual visitor friends from Japan bringing us yummy treats! We enjoyed the camaraderie and stories shared, as we watched the beautiful migration above and birds around us. Thank you to the wonderful field trip and workshop leaders: Dave Carman, Erik Bruhnke, Laura Erickson, Jackie Fallon, Margie Menzies, Clinton Dexter-Nienhaus, Bill Tefft, and Peter Mundale. Thank you to the optics vendors: Land Sea & Sky, Vortex Optics, Swarovski, & art vendor Gail Johnejack. We couldn’t do what we do without all of our amazing Hawk Ridge staff and volunteers, so a big thanks to all for sharing your passion with others! 

Finally, thank you to all of the festival participants and visitors for joining us and supporting the bird conservation work of Hawk Ridge! 

P.S. Save the date for the Hawk Weekend Festival 2026 – September 18-20th! 

Give to the Max for Hawk Ridge! November 1st-20th 

The annual MN Nonprofit Giving Day kicks off on November 1st with early giving! As we're enjoying the beauty of Golden Eagles at Hawk Ridge, you can also help us win a $500 Early Giving Golden Ticket (one gift each day Nov 1-19th) or Golden Tickets ranging from $500-$10,000 on Give to the Max Day on November 20th! Any gift is eligible and much appreciated, as we work towards our goal of $20,000 during this special giving opportunity! This funding is important to help continue our bird migration count, bird banding research, and education programs for all ages and abilities. Thank you for your support! 

You can make your gift online by visiting GiveMN.org and searching for "Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory" or by simply clicking HERE to Give to the Max in support of Hawk Ridge! We truly appreciate your support and invite you to enjoy the Golden Eagles and other raptors at Hawk Ridge now through November 30th!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Plan Your Fall Visit to Hawk Ridge

September 1st - October 31st, 2025

Daily 9am-4pm

Join us for the fall bird migration at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve in Duluth, MN - one of the premier fall bird migration sites in North America! We look forward to connecting with visitors of all ages from around the world! Here are some helpful links with information on visiting this fall: 

PLAN YOUR VISIT
DIRECTIONS

MEET THE STAFF
LODGING

SCHEDULE YOUR PROGRAM

PROGRAMS

Evening Owl Programs

Whoo doesn’t like owls? From large to small, seasonal travelers, and hardy residents, Minnesota hosts a fascinating diversity of owls, with some crazy habits, and some hauntingly beautiful sounds in the night. Join us this fall to learn about the Hawk Ridge owl banding research and schedule a small group owl program. Click HERE for more info.

Small group owl programs (up to 8): offered Sept. 23-Oct. 31 (Tues. or Thurs-Sat. evenings) with date/time to be arranged by sending an email to owls@hawkridge.org. $40 member/student or $50 nonmember.

International Birding Tours 2026

LAST CHANCE!! Birding the Ruins of the Yucatan 

February 11-21, 2026  (must register by Nov. 8th!)

Join Hawk Ridge Education Director, Margie Menzies to explore a fun mix of birding and historical Mayan Ruins. These jungle archeological reserves in addition to having been critical to the Mayans are also great locations for the rainbow array of birds that inhabit the Yucatan. We will hunt for endemic species on the peninsula's North Coast, take boat rides on Bacalar Lagoon and Celestun River, and keep our eyes on the skies for fantastic soaring raptors, and much more. 

Optional Extension- Birds and Monarchs February 21-25, 2026 Travel on from the Yucatan to the higher elevations of the Central Mexico and Mexico City region. We'll travel to the Angangueo area, and visit El Rosario, the largest Monarch butterfly overwintering site, and enjoying the birds along with the butterflies at the mountain top, and all the way up and back down the mountain! We will also enjoy Agua Blanca, and other birding hotspots in the area.

Click on this link for an Overview, Itinerary, Pricing, Travel Information, How to Enroll and Resources. *Please note space is limited and deadline to register in full is November 8, 2025. This trip requires a minimum of 10 participants. Make a trip deposit to reserve a spot on the trip, but wait to make airline reservations and pay the full trip amount until you receive notice that the trip has reached its minimum enrollment. For more information or questions, please contact Debbie Jordan at debbie@holbrooktravel.com or 866-748-6146 or Hawk Ridge Education Director, Margie Menzies at mmenzies@hawkridge.org.

Panama Raptor Migration 2026

October 29-November 7 (optional pre-trip Oct. 24-29)

*SAVE THE DATE! Panama Raptor Migration

 with Frank Nicoletti (with optional pre-trip extension Harpy Eagle and Darien Canopy)

More info coming soon - click HERE for details!  or contact ginanichol@sunrisebirding.com

SAVE THE DATE!

Raptor Research Foundation Conference

October 26-30, 2026

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory is excited to announce we are hosting the international Raptor Research Foundation Conference next year! The conference will be held October 26-30, 2026 at the Holiday Inn Downtown Duluth. This year's 2025 conference is being held this fall in Costa Rica. We look forward to sharing more information with you later this winter! Find out more about the Raptor Research Foundation go to: raptorresearchfoundation.org.

OTHER NEWS

Hawk Ridge is Seeking Board Members!

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory (HRBO) is seeking motivated and creative volunteers to join our Board of Directors. Qualified individuals will serve as ambassadors of our mission to promote conservation of raptors and other birds in the Western Lake Superior Region through research, education, and stewardship. We are looking for mission-aligned individuals, particularly those with interest or experience in fundraising, public relations, event planning, and/or marketing activities. 

To apply please click HERE. You can also find more info about the board position HERE at hawkridge.org or under About Us-Board. Applications accepted until filled.

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! 

Be sure to check out our merchandise trailer at Hawk Ridge daily Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 9am-4pm (weather pending). We have 2 new Hawk Ridge shirts this fall with featured artists! New this year is the beautiful Golden Eagle by Kiley Busko! Kiley is a watercolor artist focusing on painting birds and other wildlife. She is from Minnesota and has her art at multiple galleries and shops throughout the Midwest. You can check out more of her artwork at paintedwing.com

Back by popular demand, Marie Chappell, Hawk Ridge Bird Migration Counter, created a beautiful Blue Jay design to highlight our record numbers of Blue Jays counted at the Ridge. What's your guess for this season? 

Thanks to those that have been shopping our Amazon Wish List for needed supplies! You can check out our list HERE. We also have some items available through our online shopping options:  

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

Bonfire (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 this fall at Hawk Ridge or feel free to reach out by email or phone!  

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 - October 2025

 

 

Dear Hawk Ridge Friends,

October is here and we are excited to welcome many of our larger raptor migrants, such as Red-tailed Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks, American Goshawks, Bald & Golden Eagles. With the fall colors and nice temperature, it's a wonderful time to come out and visit! Join us for one of our upcoming evening owl programs, weekend public programs, or stop by anytime 9am-4pm to learn about the migration from our staff and volunteers. Check out the September count & banding summaries below and info on upcoming events.  

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

September 2025 Bird Migration Count Summary

The Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory began its second month of the fall count on September 1, and tallied 24,321 migrant raptors and 169,547 migrant non-raptors (birds and insects)! The count was conducted every day from the 1st until the end of the month, totaling 272.42 observation hours. Weather was, as usual, temperamental. We began the month with several strong cold fronts and below average temperatures, and ended with high temperatures reaching into the 70s and 80s, well above average for late September. The week surrounding Hawk Weekend ushered in several days of dense fog and easterly winds, creating suboptimal conditions for Broad-winged Hawk migration. Let's dive into the stats!

September Raptor Highlights: 

Turkey Vulture (441): Below Average–The vulture flight has been decent thus far, and falls 90 birds shy of the long term average. Peak day was 78 on 9/24. 

Osprey (149): Below Average–Osprey counts in September continue to trend downwards since the 1990s. The 10 year average of 171.5 contrasts strongly with the long term average of 207.5. 

Bald Eagle (2,076): Above Average–The fourth best September tally of Bald Eagles at Hawk Ridge! We counted 100+ on seven days, with a high count of 284 on 9/6. 

Northern Harrier (322): Above Average–Our harrier count sits comfortably above the long term average of 299. Harriers finished strongly this month; 182 were counted in the last week of the month. 

Sharp-shinned Hawk (11,117): Above Average–Highlighted by the fourth highest count of Sharp-shinned Hawks in Hawk Ridge history (1,969 on 9/23), it is a treat to see so many sharpies on the ridge. Hawk Ridge continues as one of the few count sites in North America with stable Sharp-shinned Hawk counts in the 21st century. 

Cooper’s Hawk (43): Below Average–The second most common accipitrine fell just shy of the average this month. 

American Goshawk (5): Below Average–The least common accipitrine this month. A glimmer of hope exists in the sighting of an adult Goshawk near the end of the month, a brief but tantalizing callback to the irruptions of yesteryear. 

Broad-winged Hawk (8,313): Below Average–Several days of dense fog shrouded the ridge like a nasty cold that we just couldn’t shake in the peak window of flight. Our best day for Broad-winged Hawks delivered 6,110 on 9/17. Forever an unpredictable goddess, the winds of the northwest failed to arrive just when the Broad-winged Hawks needed them, likely allowing many to pass away from the shore. 

Red-tailed Hawk (302): Below Average–Red-tailed Hawks are a classic late season raptor that can occasionally show well in September. Our most significant Red-tailed Hawk flight (83 on 9/26) were actually more numerous than Broad-winged Hawk on that given day. 

Swainson’s Hawk (3): Below Average–With a long term average of 4, our 3 Swainson’s Hawks is a solid output. There were at least 4 Swainson’s in the area this month, with the fourth being an individual banded at Moose Valley, NE of the main overlook. 

American Kestrel (1142): Above Average–100+ Kestrels were counted on three days this month, with a particularly good flight of 192 on 9/25. It was a good month for falcons across the board, with most large flights attributed to SW winds. 

Peregrine Falcon (101): Above Average–Back to back days of 17 Peregrines on 9/25 and 9/26 helped to blast our count over the 3-digit barrier, a feat only accomplished five times previously! 

Merlin (302): Above Average–This year's count is the highest September Merlin total in the 53-year history of Hawk Ridge! Amazingly, migrant Merlin were counted every day except for 9/22, when no migrating raptors were counted. 

Unknown (5)

Non-raptor Highlights: 

This month, we counted 169,547 migrant non-raptors of 107 species! We started off the month with a major Common Green Darner flight. While keeping tally of birds as our primary focus, we count dragonflies when possible. 57,000 Green Darners on 9/1 was surely an unforgettable experience. Also on the invertebrate side of the coin was an incredible movement of Mourning Cloak butterflies, a species typically thought of as non-migratory. We obviously are challenging that understanding, as we have recorded 354 Cloaks this month, and a high count of 94 on 9/21!! 

The excitement continues in the world of birds. 7,732 Canada Geese flew past the ridge, with 3,073 in a single day, a new county high count. Hummingbirds wrapped up mid-month, and we counted 75 on their way south. A Great Egret (9/1), a Red-shafted Flicker and Dickcissel (both 9/29) were some of the more unusual migrants. Corvid migration was excellent this month. Blue Jays (70,638) were omnipresent, and we have had consistent flights of Common Raven (376). American Crows (279) are just beginning to pick up. While Cedar Waxwings (4,487) were one of the more numerous species in morning flight, these counts are quite a bit lower than average. There was another notable sighting of early Bohemian waxwing (5) on 9/9. 

There is a whisper of a chickadee irruption shaping up, and we have noted a few Black-capped migrants and one Boreal Chickadee at the Ridge! It seems that Red-breasted Nuthatches (273) are slowing down, but not after migrating in above average numbers for several weeks. It seems to be too early to tell what winter finches may irrupt this winter, but the early season species, Purple Finch (3,141) and American Goldfinch (1,143) are counted daily in good numbers. Common Grackle (2,665) were the only blackbird to reach the 1,000+ monthly total. In the warbler world, we experienced excellent diversity, but numbers were somewhat reduced in active migration. 

In order of abundance: Yellow-rumped Warbler (7,830), Unidentified warbler (3,515), Palm Warbler (468), Tennessee Warbler (263), American Redstart (214), Nashville Warbler (158), Cape May Warbler (137), Magnolia Warbler (35), Bay-breasted/Blackpoll Warbler (30), Northern Parula (28), Blackpoll Warbler (26), Bay-breasted Warbler (23), Chestnut-sided Warbler (14), Black-and-white Warbler (14), Black-throated Green Warbler (8), Northern Waterthrush (6), Wilson’s Warbler (3), Blackburnian Warbler (2), Connecticut Warbler (1). 

A huge thanks to Counters Marie Hosch and Peter Mundale for your dedication to the count, our newest batch of trainees hard at work on the platform, our roadside Mourning Cloak alert team, and all who chose to visit Hawk Ridge this past month! You all make this place a treasure, and there is nowhere else I would rather spend a fall day. Counts at Hawk Ridge continue every day until the end of November. See you at the watch soon! Be sure to follow along with the live count on Trektellen HERE and raptor count on HawkCount HERE. 

Sean McLaughlin

Lead Counter

September 2025 Banding Summary

September Raptor Banding Totals:

In what seems to be the new norm, September featured unseasonably high temperatures and long stretches of light easterly winds, along with multiple days of fog that severely limited banding. Though the birds were still moving, the days that should have been our busiest were instead marked by flightlines either incredibly high or far to the lakeside. While we logged the hours, we banded only 708 raptors in September, well below last season’s 825 raptors and continuing a now 4-year trend of well-below-average September capture numbers. 

The Hawk Ridge station was covered all 30 days of the month, with 485 raptors banded. The Moose Valley station was covered 29 days, with 193 raptors banded. The Paine Farm station was covered 11 days, but with only 30 raptors banded due to the exceptionally poor winds and flightlines. Most species are below average for this point in the season, particularly Sharp-shinned and Red-tailed Hawks. It is likely that these low numbers are a reflection of the poor banding conditions throughout most of September, rather than any great decline in actual populations. 

However, all was not lost with Merlins on their way to be at or above average this year. While a hatch year Swainson's Hawk is only the fourth banded here since 2011. Three Bald Eagles are even more noteworthy as this is the most banded in a season since 2018, and first time three adults have ever been banded in a season at Hawk Ridge.

Total raptors banded in September were as follows: 

Sharp-shinned Hawk – 550 

Cooper’s Hawk – 13 

Northern Harrier – 17 

Broad-winged Hawk – 3 

Swainson's Hawk - 1 

Red-tailed Hawk – 9 

American Kestrel – 31 

Merlin – 83 

Bald Eagle – 3 

Total: 708

Follow along here for raptor banding numbers throughout the season on Trektellen Hawk Ridge Raptor Banding. 

Tim Baerwald

Lead Bander

September Owl Banding Totals:

The 2025 fall owl banding season began on September 15th. Despite a few windy nights we have had a solid start to the season, banding 354 Northern saw-whet owls, including hatch year, second year, after hatch year, and after second year individuals. Excitingly, we also captured 9 previously banded owls. We recaptured two owls previously banded in Washington County, MN, one banded in Mackinac County, MI, one banded in Portage County, MI, and one banded this spring in Keweenaw County, MI by Hawk Ridge’s lead raptor bander Tim! 

Other unexpected visitors to our owl nets include a hatch year male Eastern Whip-poor-will which we banded and aged by the shape and amount of white at the end of his tail, and two bats (an Eastern red bat, and likely a Hoary bat). We also were lucky enough to see incredible Northern lights two nights - the benefits of nocturnal work! We are looking forward to more owls in October - maybe we’ll get our first long-eared? Special thanks to the owls and the wonderful apprentices, trainees, and volunteers for their hard work.

Follow along here for raptor banding numbers throughout the season on Trektellen Hawk Ridge Owl Banding.  

Maya Vernick

Fall Owl Bander

September Passerine Banding Highlights:

September was a good month for passerine banding. We were able to band for 25 of the 30 days in the month. The weather was very cool for the first part of the month but it warmed up dramatically towards the end when morning temperatures were often around 60 degrees which is at least 10 degrees above average. We banded 928 birds of 47 species. Year to date, our top birds banded are American Redstart (238), Swainson’s Thrush (219), White-throated Sparrow (170), Magnolia Warbler (125), and Nashville (75) and Tennessee Warblers (75). Highlights for September were multiple Blue-headed Vireos (7), higher than average Blackpoll Warbler at 13 birds and Northern Parula at 14 birds. Ovenbirds (66) and Purple Finch (24) were also above average. 

Pictured is the only Yellow Warbler we have banded this season, a comparatively unusual warbler at our station and the only warbler here with yellow tail feathers including the vanes of the tail feathers, so it easily stands out from the crowd. We have also noticed a much larger than normal number of Black-capped Chickadees this year, with more than 65 banded so far this season, the largest number of Chickadees banded in the last 13 years of passerine banding is 49 for the entire season in 2012, it feels like perhaps we may have a Chickadee eruption happening! So stay tuned for more Chickadee updates. 

As we move into October, the transition to late season is happening. We are catching more Hermit than Swainson’s Thrushes. The kinglets both Ruby-crowned, and Golden-crowned are moving through now as the nights get colder. The temperatures are forecasted to drop soon to more seasonal nights around 40 and days in the 50’s . We expect the sparrows to start moving through in bigger numbers and soon will be seeing more juncos, Fox Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, and finally American Tree Sparrows which are usually the last of the fall migrants to pass through on their way south.

Just like all our banding numbers, you can keep track of what we’ve been banding by visiting Trektellen - Hawk Ridge Passerine Banding. Thanks for your support! 

David Alexander & Margie Menzies

Passerine Banders

Research Highlights

Linking Breeding and Migratory Bird Populations in Minnesota

In September, we had some incredible flights of Sharp-shinned Hawks. According to the Raptor Population Index, these small, feisty hawks have been experiencing declines in some parts of their North American range. For the past two falls we have been studying Sharp-shinned Hawk migration and landscape usage through funding provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). 

Two Sharp-shinned Hawks that were outfitted with GPS/cellular transmitters (from Cellular Tracking Technologies) last fall, just migrated back through Minnesota this past week (unfortunately neither flew past Hawk Ridge!). Both individuals spent the breeding season in Ontario after spending the non-breeding season in Central America (male in Mexico and female in El Salvador). Here at Hawk Ridge, many of the migrants we see are only spending a tiny fraction of their lives in Minnesota, so it’s essential to conservation to understand where they spend the rest of their lives and what may be affecting their populations in those locations. Wishing all the birds a safe journey! 

Broad-winged Hawk Project - DONATE TODAY! 

We are collaborating with Hawk Mountain Association in Pennsylvania to study Broad-winged Hawks in the Central Flyway. To learn more about the goals of the project click HERE. To support the project through donating any amount or sponsoring a transmitter click HERE. Thank you for your support! 

Hawk Weekend - Guatemalan Avian Researchers

A group of avian researchers from Guatemala visited Hawk Ridge during Hawk Weekend Festival and spent time at the banding station. This group is led by Marcial Cordova who runs a MoSI station in Guatemala to monitor winter survival. The group was hosted by the Zumbro Valley Audubon Society (Eric Matteson). Despite the foggy, rainy weather the group was able to experience bird banding at Hawk Ridge and discuss opportunities for collaborations in the future. Thank you for visiting and we look forward to working with you on avian conservation! 

Emily Pavlovic

Research Director

UPCOMING EVENTS

Everyone Can Bird: Accessible Birding Series

October 11th, 2025 @ Hawk Ridge!

Join us for a free, bird-focused morning! Birds will be migrating to their winter homes. Come join us on fall World Migratory Bird Day to celebrate this movement and an indicator of changing seasons! We welcome people of all ages and ability levels to attend this accessible bird observation event at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve (approx. address 3980 East Skyline Parkway Duluth, MN 55804). 

A mix of moving and stationary activities will be offered. See more details about Hawk Ridge here on the Duluth Parks & Rec website. American Sign Language interpretation is provided. We have binoculars for people to use, a spotting scope, a wheelchair mount for binoculars, and portable seating. A track chair — an all-terrain, electric-powered chair that can be used on hiking trails — will be available, courtesy of Duluth Parks & Recreation. Free transportation will also be available. 

This event is planned in partnership with the Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve, Duluth Parks and Recreation, Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, Wisconsin Sea Grant, Embark Supported Employment, Minnesota Land Trust, and the Lake Superior Reserve. These activities are designed with access in mind. People who would like to request additional accommodations should email Luciana.Ranelli@wisc.edu or call Luciana at 715-399-4085. For more information and registration is encouraged HERE. 

Plan Your Fall Visit to Hawk Ridge

September 1st - October 31st, 2025

Daily 9am-4pm

Join us for the fall bird migration at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve in Duluth, MN - one of the premier fall bird migration sites in North America! We look forward to connecting with visitors of all ages from around the world! Here are some helpful links with information on visiting this fall: 

PLAN YOUR VISIT
DIRECTIONS

MEET THE STAFF
LODGING

SCHEDULE YOUR PROGRAM

PROGRAMS

Evening Owl Programs

Whoo doesn’t like owls? From large to small, seasonal travelers, and hardy residents, Minnesota hosts a fascinating diversity of owls, with some crazy habits, and some hauntingly beautiful sounds in the night. Join us this fall to learn about the Hawk Ridge owl banding research through one of our public evening owl programs or schedule a small group owl program. Click HERE for more info.

Saturday evening public program:

Oct. 18th at 8pm

Tickets limited; $10 member/student or $15 nonmember

Small group owl programs (up to 8): offered Sept. 23-Oct. 31 (Tues. or Thurs-Sat. evenings) with date/time to be arranged by sending an email to owls@hawkridge.org. $40 member/student or $50 nonmember.

International Birding Tours 2026

Birding the Ruins of the Yucatan

February 11-21, 2026  (must register by Nov. 8th!)

Join Hawk Ridge Education Director, Margie Menzies to explore a fun mix of birding and historical Mayan Ruins. These jungle archeological reserves in addition to having been critical to the Mayans are also great locations for the rainbow array of birds that inhabit the Yucatan. We will hunt for endemic species on the peninsula's North Coast, take boat rides on Bacalar Lagoon and Celestun River, and keep our eyes on the skies for fantastic soaring raptors, and much more. 

Optional Extension- Birds and Monarchs February 21-25, 2026 Travel on from the Yucatan to the higher elevations of the Central Mexico and Mexico City region. We'll travel to the Angangueo area, and visit El Rosario, the largest Monarch butterfly overwintering site, and enjoying the birds along with the butterflies at the mountain top, and all the way up and back down the mountain! We will also enjoy Agua Blanca, and other birding hotspots in the area.

Click on this link for an Overview, Itinerary, Pricing, Travel Information, How to Enroll and Resources. *Please note space is limited and deadline to register in full is November 8, 2025. This trip requires a minimum of 10 participants. Make a trip deposit to reserve a spot on the trip, but wait to make airline reservations and pay the full trip amount until you receive notice that the trip has reached its minimum enrollment. For more information or questions, please contact Debbie Jordan at debbie@holbrooktravel.com or 866-748-6146 or Hawk Ridge Education Director, Margie Menzies at mmenzies@hawkridge.org.

Panama Raptor Migration 2026

October 29-November 7 (optional pre-trip Oct. 24-29)

*SAVE THE DATE! Panama Raptor Migration

 with Frank Nicoletti (with optional pre-trip extension Harpy Eagle and Darien Canopy)

More info coming soon - click HERE for details!  or contact ginanichol@sunrisebirding.com

SAVE THE DATE!

Raptor Research Foundation Conference

October 26-30, 2026

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory is excited to announce we are hosting the international Raptor Research Foundation Conference next year! The conference will be held October 26-30, 2026 at the Holiday Inn Downtown Duluth. This year's 2025 conference is being held this fall in Costa Rica. We look forward to sharing more information with you later this winter! Find out more about the Raptor Research Foundation go to: raptorresearchfoundation.org.

OTHER NEWS

Hawk Ridge is Seeking Board Members!

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory (HRBO) is seeking motivated and creative volunteers to join our Board of Directors. Qualified individuals will serve as ambassadors of our mission to promote conservation of raptors and other birds in the Western Lake Superior Region through research, education, and stewardship. We are looking for mission-aligned individuals, particularly those with interest or experience in fundraising, public relations, event planning, and/or marketing activities. 

To apply please click HERE. You can also find more info about the board position HERE at hawkridge.org or under About Us-Board. Applications accepted until filled.

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! 

Be sure to check out our merchandise trailer at Hawk Ridge daily Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 9am-4pm (weather pending). We have 2 new Hawk Ridge shirts this fall with featured artists! New this year is the beautiful Golden Eagle by Kiley Busko! Kiley is a watercolor artist focusing on painting birds and other wildlife. She is from Minnesota and has her art at multiple galleries and shops throughout the Midwest. You can check out more of her artwork at paintedwing.com

Back by popular demand, Marie Chappell, Hawk Ridge Bird Migration Counter, created a beautiful Blue Jay design to highlight our record numbers of Blue Jays counted at the Ridge. What's your guess for this season? 

Thanks to those that have been shopping our Amazon Wish List for needed supplies! You can check out our list HERE. We also have some items available through our online shopping options:  

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

Bonfire (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 this fall at Hawk Ridge or feel free to reach out by email or phone!  

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