DREHERSVILLE — Even before last year’s annual Autumn Hawk Watch got underway it was already a special season as Hawk Mountain Sanctuary celebrated its 80th anniversary.
The number of season records set made it even better.
Those records include sightings of 88 peregrine falcons and 936 turkey vultures, as well as a single-day record of 247 turkey vultures. In all, 17,382 were recorded during the annual raptor count, with 17,379 spotted during the official count period which is underway this year through Dec. 15.
“An average of 18,000 hawks, eagles and falcons pass Hawk Mountain each autumn, and each year we tally the number and type of birds that pass,” Hawk Mountain Sanctuary director of communications Mary Linkevich said. “An official counter and interpreters are on hand to point out and identify birds, and in addition to the records, bald and golden eagles were both above normal, with bald eagles falling a few birds short of a new record.
“Black vultures and merlins were the only other species with above average counts, and we also counted two rough-legged hawks making it the first time since 2008 that we’ve counted more than one. Seven species fell below their 10-year average: osprey, northern harrier, Cooper’s hawk, northern goshawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, and American kestrel, and unfortunately for harriers and red-tails, this continues their short- and long-term decline.
“We count everything at North Lookout and last year that included 79,240 non-raptor migrants, including 887 butterflies and 411 dragonflies. Some totals included 27,415 Canada geese, 528 snow geese, 1,324 double-crested cormorants, 2,024 barn swallows, 2,414 tree swallows, 5,021 blue jays, 2,947 American crows, and 4,723 pine siskins.”
Linkevich said some of the notable single-day counts included 84 tundra swans Nov. 19, 29 common nighthawks Sept. 1, 1,153 barn swallows August 15 and 635 pine siskins Oct. 21. Some notable big-flight days included Sept. 23 when counters tallied six species of woodpeckers, four species of flycatchers, five species of vireo, 11 species of warblers that included 44 Cape May and 113 black-throated green; and Sept. 27 when 11 species of warblers were counted, including a record 72 blackpoll warblers, 90 ruby-crowned kinglets and a brown thrasher.
Prior to the kickoff of this year’s Autumn Hawk Watch on Aug. 15, the sanctuary opened its first handicapped accessible trail to the South Lookout to mark the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This pathway exceeds federal regulations with a grade that is less than 8.3 percent, has benches after every rise and uses all local stone that was excavated during trail construction.
“Our grand opening of the accessible trail was a huge success and many people were able to enjoy the incredible view for the very first time,” Linkevich said. “We’re proud to help more people enjoy all of nature’s beauty and the thrill of raptor migration.”
In addition to participating in the Autumn Hawk Watch, visitors are invited to participate in the Hawk Mountain Photo Competition that is open through Sunday, Nov. 15. There is a $5 entry fee for each photo and photos must be taken at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. All proceeds benefit education programs at the sanctuary and the contest is divided into five categories: Scenic Views and Wild Landscapes, Wild Avians, Native Wild Flora, Native Wild Fauna and Macro Photography.
Entries may be submitted online in each category, with a maximum of two entries per category. Photos must be sized to print as an 8 x 10, and the winner in each category will receive $75 and the runner-up will receive $25.
Award-winning photos and staff favorites will be printed and displayed in an exhibit in the Wings of Wonder Gallery at Hawk Mountain for six months to one year. Also as part of the awards package, selected photos will be published in the “Autumn 2017 Hawk Mountain News,” the member magazine of Hawk Mountain, and will be announced in a press release on the Sanctuary Facebook page and on its website.
In addition to the activities at the sanctuary, those with a more adventurous spirit or urge to travel have the opportunity to participate in a six-day trip to Texas to view whooping cranes and other birds from Saturday-Thursday, Dec. 5-10. Texas is one of the best birding destinations in the Lower 48, and on the itinerary is Aransas Bay on the Wharf Cat to see the endangered whooping crane and many other aquatic species.
For information on the trip, email grob@hawkmountain.org or call (610) 756-6961.