Great Lakes Hawk Watches

From Great Lakes Wiki

Hawk watches are permanent locations where bird watchers and scientists station themselves to observe raptor migration. Experienced volunteers meticulously count and identify all birds that pass during both the spring and fall migrations. Hawk watches generally located in areas that are consistently thorough fares for bird migration. These are areas where winds are ideal for rapid and direct migration. Unfortunately, these areas can also be ideal for wind farms. For more information about bird migration and wind farms visit Great Lakes Wind

All of the Great Lakes are part of the Central Continental Flyway, a region that in general has higher occurrences of raptor migration than other areas in the Midwest and east. States and provinces included in the flyway include: Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, northwestern New York, Pennsylvania (Erie County only), Ohio, Michigan, Indian, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma.

This map shows the locations of major hawk watches around the Great Lakes. This map shows that migration routes are likely found around all of the lakes. Special care should be taken if wind farms are to be located in these areas.

Note: all locations are approximate

For more information about hawk and raptor migration, visit Hawk Watch International

Hawk Watches in all states Directory of Hawk watches