We did a quick weekend trip back to PA for Anita’s 60th
birthday. Her siblings, nieces, and nephews, all chipped in to get her a pair of
really good binoculars. For a bonus, Lise and I took her to Hawk Mountain to
catch a sample of the fall hawk migration. Yes, Anita “climbed” all the way to
the North Lookout. And contrary to local legend, I didn’t leave her behind to
die. We’ve been to hawk mountain a
number of times but haven’t been there for a couple years. It’s a great place
and this trip was no exception.
Anita, at the summit, with her new binoculars. Can you hear the National Geo music in the background? Happy 60th.
Lise and Anita, scanning for hawks.
View from the North Lookout.
Hawks migrate through along the Kittatinny ridgelines pretty
much September through November, but different species tend to come in through during
different time frames. The middle of September is the peak of the broad-winged
hawk migration. We summitted the North Lookout about 11:00. Prior to our
arrival the official counters tallied about 1,000 broad-wings coming through.
We had a lull of about an hour then the broad-wings started coming again. One
kettle that had at least a hundred hawks in it, plus several smaller kettles.
Pretty cool. Approximately 1600 broad-wings passed through the day we were there.
To date 8866 broad-wings have been tallied. Other hawks came through while we
there too, and Lise got her sharp-shinned hawk for the year. Great experience
and well worth the “climb”.
Broad-winged hawk kettle.
Hawk Mountain is one of those great stories of a single
person effecting a change for the better. Hawk Mountain was once used as a
place to shoot migrating hawks. Every migration thousands were blasted out of
the sky by the sportsmen of the time. Rosalie Edge got so disgusted with the
slaughter that she bought the mountain and hired a warden to ban hunting. Her
actions led to establishment of the first sanctuary for migrating hawks and an
internationally known research and education facility. One person can make a
difference.
Ed's and Lise's Biggish Years 