Migration Data

Sanctuary personnel record and maintain counts of migrating raptors each autumn and each spring, and also study ovenbird breeding success, survey nesting songbirds, winter birds and butterflies. In addition, staff, volunteers, and visitors play an important role by sharing their wildlife observations, which we record as Nature Notes. All sightings are entered into a database that shows trends over time.

Below are charts detailing an overview of the Migration Counts for Autumn (1934 - present) and Spring (1998 - present) seasons. 

For data on any of our other On-site Studies, please contact Senior Biologist David Barber at 570-943-3411 ext 105 or [email protected]

Hawk Mountain Autumn Migration, 1934-2021

Species10-Year AverageLong-term Average Season Record Record Year Peak Day Peak Date 
Black Vulture1704164920219512/5/2021
Turkey Vulture640198977202030011/6/1948 
Osprey365397872 1990 187 9/18/2004 
Mississippi Kite0<0.1several several 
Swallow-tailed Kite0<0.1 2007 8/18/2007 
Bald Eagle463129605202148 9/4/1950 
Northern Harrier125213475 1980 36 several 
Northern Goshawk2161347 1972 64 11/10/1973 
Sharp-shinned Hawk3788430110612 1977 2475 10/8/1979 
Cooper's Hawk4643961122 2005 204 10/8/1981 
Unidentified Accipiter6726137 1999   
Red-tailed Hawk177030826208 1939 114410/24/1939
Red-shouldered Hawk171255468 1958 148 10/19/1958 
Broad-winged Hawk7382806429519 1978 21448 9/14/1978 
Rough-legged Hawk31 1961 11/11/1961 
Swainson's Hawk0.20.2 1978,1992 several 
Unidentified Buteo37281311990   
Golden Eagle13570173 2012 48 11/3/2012 
Unidentified Eagle0.5 1995  
Peregrine Falcon6333902014 31 10/5/2002 
Merlin16973247 2018 49 10/15/2005 
American Kestrel337393839 1989 168 9/3/1977 
Gyrfalcon0<0.1 1934 several 
Unidentified Falcon1622 2007   
Unidentified Raptor5577338 1948   
TOTAL16,29017,981 40,968 1978 21,496 9/14/1978 

Hawk Mountain Spring Migration, 1934-2021

Species 10-Year Average Long-Term Average Season Record Record Year 
 Black Vulture38251212012 
 Turkey Vulture50381392020
 Osprey7191150 2001 
 Mississippi Kite<1 <1 2004 
 Swallow-tailed Kite<1 <1 22013
 Bald Eagle422775 2017 
 Northern Harrier2425502013 
 Northern Goshawk0.4 0.52005,2013
 Sharp-shinned Hawk85102190 2001 
 Cooper's Hawk3837962013 
 Unidentified Accipter15 1438 2001 
 Red-tailed Hawk861042092005
 Red-shouldered Hawk8920 2007
 Broad-winged Hawk3953847392020
 Rough-legged Hawk0<1 2013 
 Unidentified Buteo3125862013
 Golden Eagle282017 
 Unidentified Eagle2008 
 Peregrine Falcon32013 
 Merlin65142019
 American Kestrel2528892001
 Unidentified Falcon4142011
 Unidentified Raptor29341212001 
 TOTAL95195514482013