ALBANY TWP., Pa. — Hawk Mountain's official autumn migration count is underway, with more than 100 trekking birds of prey recorded so far.
Staff and volunteers at the sanctuary have monitored the autumnal migration since 1934 as part of conservation research efforts, making it the longest-running raptor migration count in the world.
The first full week showed “solid migration with a high variety of species,” according to a Wednesday newsletter from the sanctuary.
“Tuesday took the lead with 28 migrants pushing past on a light southeast wind,” officials said. “Twelve broad-winged hawks and seven ospreys made a great early season flight as a bald eagle, Cooper’s hawk, sharpshin, red-tailed hawk and northern harrier joined them.
“This time of year, the flight is highly variable and controlled by the weather, so look for favorable conditions that will help the migrants through.”
The count, which started Aug. 15 and runs through Dec. 15, averages 18,000 raptors, with one-day peak counts of more than 3,000 birds during September.
Raptors and other migrants
As of Tuesday, 140 raptors were recorded, including 48 broad-winged hawks, 16 red-tailed hawks, 24 osprey and 27 bald eagles, counts show.
But birds of prey aren’t the only ones migrating — other migrating birds are, too.
Barn, tree and northern rough-winged swallows, as well as purple martins, have been spotted so far this season.
“Ruby-throated hummingbirds are on the move, with 25 observed throughout the day Monday,” officials said. “A great egret flapped past on Sunday.
"And flycatcher diversity is picking up with yellow-bellied and least flycatchers joining the eastern wood-pewee across the weekend.
“Fall warblers and other neotropics are beginning to push through, and the count added magnolia and Cape May warblers, joining the black-and-white and black-throated green warblers noted around the lookout.
“Expect flycatcher, warbler and vireo diversity to pick up as we move through this next week getting closer to our peak neotropical migrant flights in mid-September.”
Staff and volunteers at Hawk Mountain count migrating raptors twice a year — once in spring and again in the fall. This year’s official spring migration count ended with nearly 1,300 trekking birds recorded.
And Hawk Mountain isn’t the only local organization tracking autumn raptor migration data.
Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s annual autumn Bake Oven Knob Hawk Watch also began Aug. 15.
A decades-long tradition, the watch has center officials and volunteers count birds of prey as they migrate along the raptor "superhighway" in the Valley’s backyard.
Residents interested in volunteering can reach out to Hawk Mountain and/or the Lehigh Gap Nature Center for more information.
