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West Skyline Hawk Count Spring 2021

Season Summary

Species Count
126
Total Count
46,932

Species Composition

Species composition changes over time depending on weather, seasons, and many other factors. This chart displays the composition over a time period you select.

Click on pie pieces to see more detail. If there are more than seven species, click on "Other" to see a breakdown of the rest.

Display

Many sites have a protocol that is designed to maximize finding particular species. If you select "Focus Species," only these species will be shown.

Date Selector

The control box below the pie chart lets you select a date period for the chart.

You can push the buttons "1d," "1w," or "1m" to zoom the graph to 1 day, 1 week, or 1 month.

The graph shows the overall volume seen on each day. You can drag the sliders on each side of this graph to adjust the start and end dates.

Species Composition
February 12th to July 1st

Drag the Sliders Below to Change the Dates Shown

Hourly Data

The time shown in the top row is the start of the one hour period.

Select Day

Choose a date to load the hourly table for that day. Only days that have data are shown.

Daily Counts

These charts show which species are most numerous at different parts of the season. Hover your mouse over a chart to see the number for a given day. The right column shows season totals and the left side shows the maximum for a single day. Each graph is scaled so that the single-day maximum is the highest point on the chart.

Sort By
  • Focus Species: Show the highest priority species at the top of the list.
  • Taxonomic Order: Sort the species by their scientific classification.
  • Alphabetic Order: Sort the species by their common name.
  • Abundance: Sort the species with the largest number counted at the top.

Daily Counts

Turkey Vulture
2541
Osprey
146
Golden Eagle
117
Northern Harrier
62
Sharp-shinned Hawk
1526
Cooper's Hawk
55
Northern Goshawk
6
Bald Eagle
5094
Show More Species

Site Weather

West Skyline Hawk Count Spring 2021

From 1997 to 2005 the average yearly number of raptors observed at the West Skyline Hawk Count was approximately 26,000 comprised of 20 diurnal raptor species with 4 being notable as rare & 1 owl species. From 2006-2017 the spring count was run primarily on a volunteer basis, but is running full-time again March-May 2018!

Directions

The Hawk Ridge Spring Count is located at either one of two locations on West Skyline Parkway, depending on the wind direction, per directions below. NOTE: Counts in the spring are not conducted at the same location as in the fall. The spring count is located at one of two locations on West Skyline Parkway. The count location depends on the wind direction (direction winds are blowing from): Enger Tower: S, SW, SE, N, NW, and W winds Thompson Hill: NE and E winds Enger Tower directions: From Hwy 35, take the Hwy 53 North exit (255A) in Duluth and continue on Hwy 53 North / Piedmont Ave to the stoplight where Piedmont Avenue splits off. Turn LEFT onto Piedmont Avenue, drive 1 block and turn LEFT onto 24th Ave West, then drive another block and turn LEFT onto West Skyline Parkway. Continue past the Enger Golf Course on West Skyline Parkway to a pullout overlook just below Enger Tower (marked with a sign, “Rice’s Point). You’ll come to West 5th Street if you go too far. If you don’t see anyone at the overlook with binoculars, try the Thompson Hill site. Thompson Hill directions: From Hwy 35, take the Boundary Avenue exit (249) and cross to the north side of the freeway. Turn RIGHT onto West Skyline Parkway as if going to the Thompson Hill Rest Stop. Drive past the first rest stop entrance to the overlook directly below the rest stop (You’ll come to the second rest stop entrance if you go too far).

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory

The mission of the Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory is to protect birds of prey and other migratory birds in the Western Lake Superior Region through research, education, and stewardship.

About the Data

All data displayed on this site are preliminary and have not yet undergone quality control. Written permission is required to use the data.