Hawk Mountain’s Autumn Migration Hawk Count is the longest running raptor migration count in the world. It began in 1934, when founder Rosalie Edge hired a curator named Maurice Broun, and he started meticulously keeping track of the passing migrants.

Today, Sanctuary staff, trainees, and volunteers are stationed at the lookouts to help visitors spot and identify raptors, including hawks, eagles, falcons, and vultures. The count runs from August 15 through December 15. For raptor enthusiasts and those who cannot make it to Hawk Mountain, daily counts are posted throughout the season here.

Annual counts for this 4 month period average 18,000 raptors total with usual one-day peak counts of more than 3000 birds seen during September, due to peak broad-winged hawk migration. Autumn hawk flights are best on days with northwest winds following a cold front.

For more visit:
https://www.hawkmountain.org/visit/events/autumn-hawk-migration