Week of March 23, 2025 – March 29, 2025
by Anna Stunkel, Environmental Educator
This past weekend on Saturday, I woke up with a familiar feeling of anticipation. It was time to head over to Derby Hill in Mexico, NY for the first busy weekend day of the spring hawkwatch season! Each spring, from March 1 to May 31, a biologist busily records the migrating birds of prey (raptors) passing Derby Hill daily. Thanks to long term data collected at Derby Hill since the 1970s, we can monitor changing trends in raptor populations. Back in 2017 and 2018, I had the opportunity to work as the hawk counter, so it’s always a special experience to return to the hill. This year’s hawk counter, David Brown, has been diligently updating birders on the forecasts and sharing daily reports filled with photos and stories (you can follow along on social media here).
While the main purpose of hawkwatching is to collect data on raptor population trends, sharing the joy of birding with visitors is arguably just as important. Along with the birds starring in the show, this kind of informal interpretation has the power to spark someone’s interest so strongly that they become a lifelong birder. Thanks to birds being so easily seen and heard just about anywhere, they provide a great avenue for communities to start. This can be in the form of bird clubs, regularly meeting bird outings, and groups of friends or family members who go birding together. These consistent outdoor experiences among like-minded people enrich our mental health and foster a connection both with nature and each other. When I go back to Derby Hill each spring, it’s always nice to catch up with old friends and to meet new visitors. Since this hawkwatch has been going on for decades, there is a big following of people who go there regularly to enjoy the birds and share their knowledge.
Last Saturday, the migration was in full swing with great diversity. The moderate southeast winds also brought birds flying low overhead, so longtime regulars were busy sharing their tips on identification and photography. This atmosphere of encouragement and shared wonder is a special aspect of Derby Hill. We saw a total of 355 raptors and 12 raptor species. At each moment, we wondered what kinds of birds might come gliding over the hill next. Would we see a graceful Northern Harrier sailing along with beautiful gray, orange, or brown coloring? Maybe a Merlin (small falcon) would zoom by, or a Red-tailed Hawk would glide purposefully into the wind.
If you’d like to join me at Derby Hill, I will be leading three trips there this spring. Our Baltimore Woods field trip will be on April 25 (click here to register!). Two Onondaga Audubon trips are planned for March 29 and May 3 (email [email protected] to RSVP). There will also be a birding program on May 9 here at Baltimore Woods, when songbird migration should be hopping. For all trips, I will provide information about what to expect, what to bring, and how to get there. Hope to see you on a future birding trip soon!