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	Fall Hawk Migration

Fall Hawk Migration and Hawk Watch Sites

Fall hawk migration takes place over an extended period from mid-August into November. When conditions are right, birds of prey take advantage of existing air currents in order to conserve energy.

"Thermals" are rising pockets of warm air created by heat reflected from the earth's surface. Thermals form over areas that absorb, rather than reflect, the sun's energy, such as the slopes of mountains, plowed fields with their dark soil, and large expanses of pavement. Broad-winged Hawks make the most use of thermals, and are often seen in large groups (called "kettles") within pockets of rising air.

When wind strikes a hill, mountain, or ridge, the deflected air currents can provide so much lift that migrating hawks gain speed and altitude by following them.

When weather conditions are right, usually with northwest winds following a cold front, hawks can be seen migrating in large numbers. Because hawks migrate during the day, they often follow major landforms such as rivers, mountain chains, and the seacoast. Morning is usually best for watching, but it all depends on the weather.

The best locations for watching hawk migration are up high with an open view to the north-northwest.

The following sites are popular for hawk watching:

• In southwestern New Hampshire:
  • Gap Mountain in Bristol
  • Miller State Park on Pack Monadnock in Peterborough*
  • Pisgah State Park in Winchester
  • Crotched Mountain in Francestown
• In southeastern New Hampshire:
  • Stratham Hill in Stratham
  • Great Island Common in Newcastle
  • Odiorne Point State Park in Rye from the Battery Seaman bunker
• In central New Hampshire:
  • Oak Hill in Loudon
  • Blue Job Mountain in Strafford*
  • Little Round Top in Bristol*

• In Southern Maine:
  • Mount Agamenticus in York
• In Massachusetts:
  • Mount Wachusett
  • Parker River National Wildlife Refuge at Plum Island in Newburyport, from the dune top by Hellcat Swamp.

For more information on hawk migration, please visit the Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA) web site at www.hmana.org. Once there, it is possible to learn more about regional watch efforts through NorthEast Hawk Watch which is found by clicking on "Chapters."

In addition, the Chapters of the Audubon Society of New Hampshire frequently organize hawk watching trips in the fall. Check the Chapter Programs section of the Newsletter for any upcoming trips.

* Directions to the major hawk watching sites in New Hampshire are also available on the HMANA web site.