Mid-September’s raptor migration can be spectacular, especially when combined with fresh fall weather and the changing colors of fall (soaring Red-tailed Hawk photo by Paul Konrad). Broad-winged Hawk migration peaks during International Hawk Migration Week, with thousands of hawks winging south to Latin America (photo by Josh Haas).

Experience the excitement of raptor migration by visiting one of the more than 100 hawk watch sites across North America as birders celebrate International Hawk Migration Week (IHMW) from September 13 to 21. Enjoy the annual spectacle of fall raptor migration during this annual week-long event to raise the awareness of hawks, hawk migration, and the Hawk Migration Association network of Hawk Count sites that are an invaluable resource in raptor conservation and education. Last year 113 Hawk Count sites tallied more than 700,000 migrating raptors during International Hawk Migration Week.

This mid-September week is especially exciting for anyone to appreciate the variety and sheer number of birds of prey that are counted across the Americas. This year more than 50 Hawk Count sites will be displaying International Hawk Migration Week banners and celebrating with festivals, workshops and special raptor events. You can join the activities at the hawk watch site of your choice, one near or one you have wanted to visit during this prime migration period. It’s also a great time to introduce a friend or young person to raptors and bird migration.

Even if you can’t make it to a Hawk Count site during the peak week, count sites continue their work into early November, and you can always check the Hawk Count website (HawkCount) to see how the raptor migration is progressing at individual locations during this peak period of the fall flights. It’s always interesting to see the pulses of migration with periodic visits to this impressive information source.

The official IHMW sponsor is Opticron Optics, who also provided free banners for Hawk Count sites in the raptor monitoring network! For more information about International Hawk Migration Week, refer to the Hawk Migration Association’s webpage at International Hawk Migration Week – Hawk Migration Association