Spring 2023 Migration Hawk Watch Recap

Hawk Mountain’s annual Spring Migration Hawkwatch officially runs from April 1 through May 15. This year’s count was a comfortable 25% above the 10-year average with a total of 1,189 raptors and 14 species noted.

Several raptors including turkey vulture, bald eagle, American kestrel, and red-tailed hawk were spotted in late March, but the first official bird of the spring season was a sharp-shinned hawk counted in the late morning of April 1. This season included some challenging conditions as clear skies and unfavorable wind kept many birds at a distance, but still a notable spring count was witnessed thanks to three flight champions: broad-winged hawks, turkey vultures, and bald eagles.

Wind and overcast conditions during peak broadwing passage worked to keep migrants detectable from the lookout, but still a season-high daily count of 244 migrants occurred on April 21 when 215 broadwings soared by. The counters tallied a total of 605 broadwings this season, a 41% increase above the 10-year average. Turkey vultures are typically one of the earliest migrants with many departing prior to the official count start date, but still 173 were tallied, an impressive 214% increase on the 10-year average. Local and migratory bald eagles were also a reliable view from the lookout with 63 total migrants counted, perching them 50% above their average. Most of our migrant raptors came in on par with their averages, but osprey continue to drop as the 46 individuals counted landed 28% below the 10-year average. Two red-tailed hawks were the last official birds counted, closing out the season on the morning of May 15.