Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve

Season Statistics

Hawk Ridge averages about 55,000 migrating raptors a year. The record number of hawks counted in any one season, however, is 148,615 birds in 1993.

Statistics of Common Raptors Recorded Every Year

Turkey Vulture bulk of migration Sept. 10 to Oct. 10.
Earliest date Aug. 2
Latest date Nov 26
Record single day high of 799 on Sep. 29, 1996
Record seasonal count of 1989 in 1996

Osprey bulk of migration Sept. 10 to Sept. 25.
Earliest date Aug. 1
Latest date Oct. 29
Record single day high of 90 on Sept. 17, 1997, and Sept. 7, 1993
Record seasonal count of 511 in 1996

Bald Eagle bulk of migration Sept. 10 to Nov. 25.
Earliest date Aug. 13
Latest date Dec. 11
Record single day high of 743, Nov 22, 1994
Record seasonal count of 4368 in 1994

Northern Harrier bulk of migration Aug. 25 to Oct. 30.
Earliest date Aug. 2
Latest date Nov. 24
Record single day high of 216 on Sept 17, 1985
Record seasonal count of 1390 in 1994

Sharp-shinned Hawk bulk of migration Aug. 15 to Oct. 20.
Earliest date Aug. 5
Latest date Nov. 30
Record single day high of 1,909 on Sept. 17, 1997
Record seasonal count of 21,974 in 1976

Cooper's Hawk bulk of migration Sept. 5 to Oct. 10.
Earliest date Aug. 15
Latest date Nov. 21
Record single day high of 37 on Sept. 22, 1992
Record seasonal count of 356 in 1993

Northern Goshawk bulk of migration Sept. 20 to Nov. 20.
Earliest date Aug. 15
Latest date Dec. 11
Record single day high of 1,229 on Oct. 15, 1982
Record seasonal count of 5819 in 1982

Broad-winged Hawk bulk of migration Aug. 25 to Sept. 30.
Earliest date Aug. 1
Latest date Oct. 31
Record single day high of 47,922 on Sept. 18, 1993
Record seasonal count of 110,272 in 1993

Red-tailed Hawk bulk of migration Aug. 15 to Nov. 10.
Earliest date Aug. 1
Latest date Dec 8
Record single day high of 3,991 on Oct. 24, 1994
Record seasonal count of 15,448 in 1994

Rough-legged Hawk bulk of migration Oct. 1 to Nov. 25.
Earliest date Sept. 6
Latest date Dec. 8
Record single day high of 204 on Nov. 10, 1963
Record seasonal count of 1011 in 1994

Golden Eagle bulk of migration Oct. 10 to Oct. 30.
Earliest date Sept. 13
Latest date Dec. 10
Record single day high of 23 on Oct. 24, 1994
Record seasonal count of 133 in 1994

American Kestrel bulk of migration Aug. 15 to Oct. 10.
Earliest date Aug. 1
Latest date Nov. 7
Record single day high of 545 on Sept. 3, 1988
Record seasonal count of 2686 in 1993

Merlin bulk of migration Sept. 10 to Oct. 15.
Earliest date Aug. 13
Latest date Nov. 25
Record single day high of 57 on Sept. 16, 1991
Record seasonal count of 453 in 1994

Peregrine Falcon bulk of migration Sept. 10 to Sept. 30.
Earliest date Aug. 22
Latest date Oct. 24
Record single day high of 21 on Sept. 29, 1997
Record seasonal count of 71 in 1992

Other Raptor Species Recorded

Mississippi Kite
Three records: Aug. 30, 1991, Sept. 15, 1992, and Sept. 5, 1993.

Red-shouldered Hawk
58 individuals seen in 25 different years.

Swainson's Hawk
92 individuals recorded 1976-1995, with peak of 36 in 1988.

Ferruginous Hawk
One record, Aug. 30, 1984.

Gyrfalcon
17 individuals recorded 1971-1995; peak of three in 1982 and 1990.

Prairie Falcon
Four records: Sept. 30, 1979; Aug. 6, 1989; Aug. 30, 1991; and Nov. 6, 1993.