Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve

A Guide to One of Minnesota's Premier Birding Locations

A Note About This Page

These pages are intended to be a brief overview of Hawk Ridge. Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve itself has its own more complete and up to date web site as well.

Introduction

Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve, located in east Duluth, provides some of North America's best autumn hawk watching. From early August until early December, counters are at the ridge from morning 'til night recording every raptor that passes by.

During the fall, migrating hawks concentrate in impressive numbers at the western tip of Lake Superior. Reluctant to cross a large body of water, the hawks, migrating from as far away as the Arctic towards wintering areas as distant as South America, funnel down the North Shore along the bluffs at Duluth. Here the hawks ride the updrafts which form along the ridges parallel to the lake shore.

Directions

The Ridge is located in east Duluth, a city in the northeastern part of Minnesota. From downtown Duluth, drive east on Superior Street to 43rd Avenue. Turn left on 43rd Avenue and drive about one mile. Turn left on Glenwood Street and drive about 1/2 mile to the top of the hill. Turn right on Skyline Drive and drive an additional half a mile beyond the end of the pavement to the Main Overlook.

You can also look at a map.

The Migration

Beginning in mid-August with American Kestrels, Sharp-shinned Hawks and Broad-winged Hawks, migration continues into December with the last of the Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks, Northern Goshawks and eagles. Peak migration occurs from mid-September to late October. Of the 20 species of hawks that have been seen at Hawk Ridge, the Peregrine Falcon and the Gyrfalcon are among the rarest.

There is a page devoted to Statistics of Common Raptors recorded every year from 1972 through 1995, showing earliest and latest recorded dates, single day and season record counts, and approximate migraion dates for 14 species. Information on an additional six species in also included.

The Hawk Count

A standardized count of migrating hawks is conducted annually from August into November (and later, if possible). The results of the count, one of the two or three highest in the continent, are published by the Hawk Migration Association of North America and in the Hawk Ridge Annual Report, and are filed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The vast majority of raptors passing over the ridge are Broad-winged Hawks, as illustrated in the graphic below. The graph shows the composite total count of raptors for each season since 1972 in blue, with the totals for Broad-winged Hawks overlayed in a darker shade and separated by a black line.

Note, however, that by far most of the Broad-wingeds have moved through by the end of September, while the peak migration for many other species occurs in October and even November. Therefore, an impressive number and variety of raptors can be seen from August right into December.

There is a table of the Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve's Annual Hawk Totals from 1972 through 1996. The seasonal total for every species recorded during this period is listed. There is also a page with this data displayed in separate graphs.

Naturalist Program

From late August through mid-October a naturalist is available to serve the many needs of visitors. Available at most times are slide presentations and demonstrations involving banded raptors for school and other groups, a display case providing information for visitors, scheduled visits to an observation blind at the banding station, an October Weekend featuring identification workshops and field trips, and informal hawk identification classes on some weekends.

The Banding Research Station

The most valuable research at the Ridge is through the banding program. Staffed 24 hours a day from mid-August to late November, this station is one of the top few on the continent in terms of of total numbers of banded hawks and owls with an average of nearly 3,000 each season. Because of the possibility of interference with raptor banding, visitors are not permitted here unless accompanied by the naturalist. There is a table of the Hawk Ridge Banding Station Totals from 1972 through 1995. The seasonal total for every species banded since 1972 is listed.

Minnesota Ornithologists' Union Weekend

About 300 people are hosted annually on the second weekend after Labor Day in cooperation with the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. Several field trips and two evening programs, featuring a presentation by a renowned raptor expert, are offered.

Other Raptor Sites

Here is a list of Links to other pertinent raptor web sites.

Hawk Ridge Support

Our programs, research and staff are funded entirely by contributions from individuals and organizations. We receive no funding from the city of Duluth, the University of Minnesota, the Department of Natural Resources or other state agencies. These contributions come in the form of Friends of Hawk Ridge memberships, Adopt-A-Banded-Raptor sponsorships, purchases of display case items, and participation fees for Hawk Ridge sponsored weekend activities.

Without the generosity of people who either participate directly in our weekends or become a Friends of Hawk Ridge member, the official hawk count, banding research and naturalist services could not exist as they do today.

Please join us. For more information, see the Naturalist at the Main Overlook, write us at:


Friends of Hawk Ridge
c/o U.M.D. Biology Department
Duluth MN 55804.

of you can e-mail the Hawk Ridge Naturalist for more information.