This September, one of the most breathtaking displays of hawk migration can be glimpsed on the Highlands–Cashiers Plateau.
On high cliff faces such as Whiteside Mountain, flocks of thousands of Broad‑Winged Hawks will form a spiraling kettle hundreds of feet high as the birds find a place to roost for the night. The hawks can migrate up to 70 miles a day while traveling to their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central America, and South America.
As summer winds to a close, many of the birds we enjoy viewing all summer begin their migrations to their wintering grounds in Central and South America. However, on the Plateau we are also uniquely positioned to view birds from further north migrate south, making September an ideal time to view birds that we don’t see during the summer months.
This year’s 13th Annual Hawk Migration Week runs from September 12 through 20, and avid birders can stake out with their binoculars in the hopes of catching this marvelous spectacle. Other hawks that can be seen migrating during this time include the Sharp‑Shinned Hawk, the Cooper’s Hawk, ospreys, northern harriers, and a variety of falcons.
Songbirds that migrate to North America in the spring to nest will return to their wintering grounds as well.
Some of these birds include the Bay‑breasted Warbler, which nests in the boreal forests of Canada but will pass through the region on its way to Colombia and Venezuela. Similarly, the striking orange face of the Blackburnian Warbler is only able to be spotted during the brief moment it passes through the area. Some species, like the Yellow‑Rumped Warbler, return to the area in winter, their migratory path leading to the area.
Observing migratory birds can seem daunting, like trying to catch a train without knowing its schedule or where it will stop. Yet there are some powerful tools at the disposal of modern birders. BirdCast, a program run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, uses technology like weather radar to both forecast and depict bird migratory patterns. Using this program allows birders to check in daily with news of which birds have been migrating through their area.
In addition to BirdCast, the Headwaters Bird Alliance will be hosting several outings to spot migratory birds on their journey through the area. On September 1, an outing will be held in Tallulah Gorge State Park. On September 25 there will be a Fall Migration Walk as part of the Spotfin Festival in Franklin.
For more information, visit headwatersbirdalliance.org.
Favorites Count: 0