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WPBO Spring 2017 Hawk Count

Season Summary

Species Count
171
Total Count
60,816

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
March 15th to May 31st

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
508
Osprey
57
Golden Eagle
72
Northern Harrier
510
Sharp-shinned Hawk
11926
Cooper's Hawk
18
Northern Goshawk
87
Bald Eagle
545
Show More Species

WPBO Spring 2017 Hawk Count

Whitefish Point is one of the most important spring flight corridors for raptors in North America. The hawk count documents the migration of hawks, eagles and falcons and provides reliable comparative data for long-term monitoring of raptor populations. The goal of this long-term census is to determine the migration chronology of raptors at the Point and to quantify the volume of migrants. All observations are made from the “Hawk Dune” about 200 meters west of the Whitefish Lighthouse and about 20 meters above Lake Superior. For purposes of the count, migrating raptors are divided into two categories: passing species that actively migrate through the Point area; and kettling species that congregate and linger at the Point. The WPBO hawk count has been actively gathering migration data for over 20 years. WPBO is partnered with the Hawk Migration Assoc. of America website (HMANA) where you can view the numbers of hawks seen each day during migration.

Directions

The Observatory is located at Whitefish Point, 11 miles north of Paradise, Michigan.

Whitefish Point Bird Observatory

Whitefish Point Bird Observatory (WPBO) is the premier migration hot-spot in Michigan. The Observatory is located at Whitefish Point, 11 miles north of Paradise, Michigan. The Point itself juts out in Lake Superior and acts as a natural migration corridor that brings thousands of birds through this migratory flyway every Spring and Fall. With its wooded dune and swale complex, distinctive to the Great Lakes region, Whitefish Point sees a great diversity of migrants and is home to rare breeding birds, and has been designated as an Important Bird Area. Over 340 bird species have been spotted here, and the research conducted at WPBO, including regular migration counts and owl banding, contribute to an ongoing effort to increase knowledge of bird migration, to encourage public awareness of birds and the environment, and to further bird conservation.

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.

Support

WPBO is a program of Michigan Audubon, a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting birds and people for the benefit of both through conservation, education, and research efforts in the state of Michigan. The Observatory depends on your support to help fund migration counts, owl banding, and avian research.