Northerly winds=hawk migration

Look up folks. Especially if you're near a place migrating hawks funnel through.

The broad winged hawks will be leaving the north in droves today and tomorrow on the east coast as the winds are favorable.

They migrate in groups called 'kettles' in the hundreds...entering a thermal at the bottom, riding it up like an elevator, then peeling off at the top to drop down to the next thermal.

In NJ area...Chimney Rock, Upper Montclair, Sandy Hook, Raccoon Ridge, Hawk Mountain...all funneling points...and all have established hawk watches. If you're looking for something random to do today...get out your binoculars and have a look.

If you get to one of these sights today, you're guaranteed to see easily a thousand birds...among them Bald Eagles, Ospreys, Peregrines, Merlins, Kestrels, Sharp shinned hawk, Coopers Hawk. Guaranteed...like 99%!

i've seen this once in of all places middletown ny, was pretty cool as i was young and didn't know what it was

I'm not on the east coast

When I look up, I see steel hawks in the shape of 747's, 767's and 787's headed in every direction, not just north.
That is what happens when you live in the path of the busiest airport in the world.

Hawks will have a western route too...and one in the central US. If you have northerly winds where you are, google 'hawk migration' and your state. There would undoubtedly be a place close to you on the coast.

Cool

I assume dmax is going to collect the droppings on his tongue like a child with snow?

Yea, no, I'm not really into that sort of thing. Also, from the altitude they're flying, any droppings would be vaporized by the time it reaches the ground. Good thinking, though, Billy Ray. Thanks for the bump!

Originally Posted by B_Cyrus

I assume dmax is going to collect the droppings on his tongue like a child with snow?

he's not griffin

http://www.hmana.org/sitesel.php?PHP...d28461d44b4bee

find your state, then chose a sight and click migration timing, they have week counts for each species, pretty cool

When I was in Nebraska, Canadian geese would migrate through my area in the Fall and there would be thousands of them.
Farmers would have private lakes and sometimes there would be 20k,30k sitting in someone's back yard.
It was amazing to see them fly. I saw some flocks of geese that blocked out the sun behind them.

It beats looking at pigeons and crows all day.

Definitely some strong northerly winds right now, I had a solid 40 knot tailwind going to Portland yesterday. The hawks are cruising all around.

i like when the birds migrate from the yoga studio to the pilates studio

Originally Posted by Fisch330ciTopasBlau

i like when the birds migrate from the yoga studio to the pilates studio

Originally Posted by Fisch330ciTopasBlau

i like when the birds migrate from the yoga studio to the pilates studio

chickenheads migrate from car to car

It's really something to see...they'll follow many north/south ridges to pick thermals up off of them and updrafts...but just a few days ago, I had a Bald Eagle fly maybe 100' over my head. I've seen many fights in the sky too...Merlins in particular are nasty...will dive bomb any bird flying anywhere nearby.

The season for Broad Winged Hawks will end very soon...then the daily numbers will drop off...but you'll still see birds migrating practically every day from now until Mid-November. Get out if you can...and thanks, Wasp, for posting humana's site. They collect data across all the country. The site I'm at is the longest running volunteer hawkwatch in the country...going on over 22 years I think. I've been there for 20...just getting decent at identifying the suckers when they're a mile or two away.

do you go to high point?

Originally Posted by wasp9166

do you go to high point?

I've been there, but Chimney Rock in 10 mins. away and gets great birds. Was up there this a.m. and had maybe 10 Bald Eagles, about 2,000 Broadwinged...Osprey, Merlins, Sharpies, Harriers...a nice variety.

Today's a big day for the birds. Look up!

chimney rock? that's near high point? never heard of it

there is a big congregation of bald eagles in mongaup valley, they breed there, i forget which month, maybe february? there are tons there,so i've been told haven't made it yet

think i'm gonna do the hawk thing next weekend

Chimney Rock isn't near high point. Chimney Rock is in Bridgewater...about an hour or more southwest of High Point. the birds follow the eastern watchung ridge down and get uplift from them.