Migration is just around the corner, and we want to help you plan your trip to our hawkwatches! We asked our team to share their firsthand experiences at our sites to help you pick the best location for you and some insider perspective on what you can expect from your visit.
Bonney Butte HawkWatch, OR
Favorite raptor to see at the site
Favorite wildlife spotting
- Lewis’s Woodpecker (Jesse Watson)
- Gray Jays (Kate Sweet)
Favorite thing to do in the area when you aren’t hawkwatching
- Get some pizza at the Ratskeller and go for a hike near Mount Hood, or head over to explore Hood River. (Kate Sweet)
Favorite memory at the site
- So many – I can’t choose one! Meeting my now husband, trapping a golden eagle, and getting to release it, the day Jerry Liguori visited, and counting so many birds that day (Kate Sweet)
One piece of gear you don’t want to forget at this site
- A vehicle sturdy enough to make it up the bumpy road, but trust me, it’s worth it. (Kirsten Elliott)
Why should someone visit this site
- Even if you aren’t a hardcore hawkwatcher, the views of Mt. Hood are incredible! (Kirsten Elliott)
- Where else can you watch hawks migrate past a volcano? (Jesse Watson)
Commissary Ridge HawkWatch, WY
Favorite raptor to see at the site
- Golden Eagles cruising low past observation. (Frankie Vierela)
- Massive female American Goshawks! (Jordan Herman)
- Broad-winged Hawks (Jesse Watson)
Favorite wildlife spotting
- Moose (Frankie Vierela)
- A recently released goshawk hunting two grouse in the forest. (Jordan Herman)
- Pronghorn. (Jesse Watson)
Favorite thing to do in the area when you aren’t hawkwatching
- I hear the fossil digs around Kemmerer are fun, and breakfast at Place on Pine is a must! (Frankie Vierela)
- Sage Lanes Bowling Alley and Bar! RIP. (Jordan Herman)
Favorite memory at the site
- Too many to choose from, but fun crews and great birds every year. (Frankie Vierela)
- Watching Eurovision with the crew. (Jordan Herman)
- Watching raptors migrate by in sub-zero temperatures with 50+ kph wind gusts. (Jesse Watson)
One piece of gear you don’t want to forget at this site
- LOTS of layers, it can be hot early season in the full sun, but gets VERY cold quickly. Don’t underestimate the wind chill. (Frankie Vierela)
- Insulated boots and a sense of adventure. (Jordan Herman)
- A thermos with hot tea, coffee, or broth. (Jesse Watson)
Why should someone visit this site
- Amazing views (especially when the aspens are changing), a variety of raptor species, and beautiful options for camping nearby. (Frankie Vierela)
- Beautiful, wide-open views from the count site! (Jordan Herman)
- This is the site to visit if you want to avoid crowds. The crew is always so knowledgeable and friendly, and their attention isn’t being pulled a dozen different ways by large numbers of visitors. (Melissa Halvorsen)
- Beautiful setting and is relatively easy to access. (Jesse Watson)
Goshute Mountains HawkWatch, NV
Favorite raptor to see at the site
- Red-tailed Hawks (Jesse Watson)
Favorite wildlife spotting
- Gopher snakes and lizards. (Chris Butler)
- Short-eared Owl (Jesse Watson)
Favorite thing to do in the area when you aren’t hawkwatching
- Swimming at Blue Lake or dinner at the Salt Flats Cafe. (Jesse Watson)
- Visiting the Salt Flats. (Sammy Riccio)
Favorite memory at the site
- Trying to sleep in my hammock while a Great Horned Owl sat in the tree above me contact calling all night long. (Melissa Halvorsen)
- Experiencing a rush of 100+ kestrels come through near sunset, with many setting down to roost. (Jesse Watson)
- Getting to release a Cooper’s Hawk back on its migration after it was banded by our crew. (Sammy Riccio)
One piece of gear you don’t want to forget at this site
- Trekking poles–especially if you have bad knees or hips. (Melissa Halvorsen)
- Two liters of water for the hike up. (Jesse Watson)
Why should someone visit this site
- It is close to Salt Lake City, and while the hike can be a lot, it adds a feeling of accomplishment. And you get to rest at observation with an amazing view and tons of raptors! (Chris Butler)
- Amazing scenery with a big sky and often an opportunity to see raptors migrating by relatively ‘close.’ (Jesse Watson)
Grand Canyon HawkWatch, AZ
Favorite raptor to see at the site
- Zone-tailed hawk or California Condor. (Chris Butler)
- Local Peregrine Falcons and California Condors. (Jesse Watson)
Favorite wildlife spotting
- It’s always a treat to see Elk while headed to the site. (Jesse Watson)
Favorite thing to do in the area when you aren’t hawkwatching
- Explore the rest of the Grand Canyon National Park! (Sammy Riccio)
Favorite memory at the site
- Watching the resident peregrine falcons swoop around. (Renata Vazquez)
- Watching two Zone-tailed Hawks lock talons and cartwheel through the air for 100+ feet. (Jesse Watson)
One piece of gear you don’t want to forget at this site
- A camp chair. (Chris Butler)
- A hat with straps, winds pick up and will take it away! (Renata Vazquez)
- sunscreen and sunglasses. (Jesse Watson)
Why should someone visit this site
- The views are completely different from any other site, and the local Turkey Vultures, Zone-tails, and condors are top-notch. Also, no hiking is needed to get to the site! (Chris Butler)
- You can’t beat the topside views of raptors rising up from below you against the red rock. (Jesse Watson)
Manzano Mountains HawkWatch, NM
Favorite raptor to see at the site
- Zone-tailed Hawk (uncommon) and Swainson’s Hawk. (Jessica Taylor)
- Sharp-shinned Hawk (Jesse Watson)
Favorite wildlife spotting
- Road Runner on the way to the site. (Jessica Taylor)
- Bears and horned lizards. I saw three or four bears there in two years and several horned lizards during set up and on the trail. (Tori Thrope)
Favorite thing to do in the area when you aren’t hawkwatching
- Take a day trip to Albuquerque. (Jesse Watson)
Favorite memory at the site
- Spending time with the wonderful regulars (people) that visit the site. (Jessica Taylor)
One piece of gear you don’t want to forget at this site
- Sunscreen or sun layers. (Jessica Taylor)
Why should someone visit this site
- The weather is mostly very nice, the ~¾ mile hike to observation is lovely, the people are great, and there is usually some good bird diversity. (Jessica Taylor)
- It is a relatively easy hike with beautiful scenery, especially as the leaves change. (Jesse Watson)
Corpus Christi HawkWatch, TX
Favorite raptor to see at the site
- Crested Caracara (Melissa Halvorsen)
- Mississippi Kite (Jesse Watson)
Favorite wildlife spotting
- Javelinas, Green Jays, and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers (Melissa Halvorsen)
- All the hummingbirds at the feeder by the platform (Sammy Riccio)
Favorite thing to do in the area when you aren’t hawkwatching
- Hit the beach! (Melissa Halvorsen)
Favorite memory at the site
- A sudden rainstorm appeared almost instantly and soaked everyone and everything in seconds. It was actually a welcome event on a very hot day (Melissa Halvorsen)
- Seeing several late Swallow-tailed Kites! (Jesse Watson)
One piece of gear you don’t want to forget at this site
- Neck-cooling wrap–it’s hot! (Melissa Halvorsen)
- Enough cold water for the day (Jesse Watson)
- A compress for your eyes to use after a day of squinting and looking through binoculars (Sammy Riccio)
Why should someone visit this site
- You will see birds you just can’t find anywhere else, along with the largest flights of raptors at any of our sites. The birds are distant, but their numbers are mind-boggling. (Melissa Halvorsen)
- High diversity and large volumes of raptors and birds in general, and it is the easiest site to access in the HWI Migration Network. (Jesse Watson)
- The Celebration of Flight festival in late September is a great opportunity to see incredible numbers of birds, but also meet birders from around the country and learn from our staff and crew. (Sammy Riccio)
Do you like the art highlighted in this blog? We sell stickers featuring these watercolors on our store. Click here to purchase: https://hawkwatch-international.myshopify.com/products/migration-site-stickers
This blog was written by the HWI staff. To learn more about our team, click here
