MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, Sep. 4 Every fall tens of thousands of hawks, eagles, and falcons fly across North America, heading south to their wintering grounds -- and every year, hawk watchers gather at mountain ridges, parks, and near oceans or lakes to observe this river of raptors. Hawk watchers count as many as they can, sharing their findings with a growing group of bird lovers and scientists who use the information to monitor the status of these magnificent and important birds.
MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, Sep. 4 -/E-Wire/-- Every fall tens of thousands of hawks, eagles, and falcons fly across North America, heading south to their wintering grounds -- and every year, hawk watchers gather at mountain ridges, parks, and near oceans or lakes to observe this river of raptors. Hawk watchers count as many as they can, sharing their findings with a growing group of bird lovers and scientists who use the information to monitor the status of these magnificent and important birds.
"Hawk watching is one of the most enjoyable and significant ways bird watchers can contribute to science," says Iain MacLeod, chair of the Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA). "Only by tracking raptors as they migrate can we know how well these species are doing, so the work of these mostly volunteer observers is extremely valuable."
For example, based on more than 30 years of migration studies, it appears that the population of American Kestrels is declining in North America. The decline may signal environmental contamination, other changes in the places where these small falcons live and breed, increased predation by larger raptors, or more potent diseases. Exploring these causes will ultimately help us understand the larger ecological picture.
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"September is the best time to get out and visit a hawk watch site and be part of this marvel of nature," MacLeod said. "There's just nothing like watching the passage of hundreds of hawks overhead on a beautiful fall day."
Hawk watchers can see a dozen species or more, including Bald Eagle and Osprey, on a single day at many locations. Falcons and accipiters, like the American Kestrel and the Sharp-shinned Hawk respectively, are visible across the country, but appear in the greatest numbers along the east coast of the U.S. Hundreds may be seen, often flying low, across some of the most prominent coastal sites.
On a good day in mid-to-late September, large numbers of Broad-winged Hawks migrate across observation points in the eastern and central U.S. Counts peak near Corpus Christi, Texas, and Veracruz, Mexico, where hundreds of thousands may be seen in a single day.
Interested observers view hawks at dozens of sites throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, including a number near metropolitan areas. At most of these sites, experienced hawk watchers enjoy helping new observers learn how to spot and identify the different species as they fly by. While initial attempts are challenging, the telltale shapes and flight patterns soon become clearer, and even inexperienced hawk watchers soon feel a part of this magnificent spectacle.
Some of the better known locations for observing the autumn hawk migration include:
Lighthouse Point near New Haven, Connecticut
Hawk Mountain, near Kempton, Pennsylvania
Cape May, New Jersey
Holiday Beach, Ontario
Lake Erie Metropark, south of Detroit
Hawk Ridge in Duluth, Minnesota
Golden Gate National Parks, near San Francisco
Corpus Christi, Texas
Veracruz, Mexico
More information on these and hundreds of other sites, including sites near you, can be found at www.hmana.org, under "hawkcount.org".
The Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA) is a volunteer, membership-based scientific, educational and, conservation organization. HMANA's mission is the conservation of raptors through the scientific study, enjoyment and appreciation of raptor migration. For more information on hawk migration and HMANA, visit www.hmana.org or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Contact Info:
Paul M. Roberts
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website : the Hawk Migration Association of North America
