Bethany Hawkwatch Special Migration Event

The Bethany Hawkwatch will kick off a special week of raptor migration counting in observance of the Hawk Migration Association of North America’s (HMANA) International Hawk Migration Week (IHMW). IHMW will take place September 17-25, 2016. This is the week when peak numbers of raptors are counted across North America.

The public is invited to two special events at Bethany Lutheran College related to International Hawk Migration Week:

• Join other bird enthusiasts on the Bethany Lutheran College campus for the kick-off of IHMW. Particpants will be counting in front of the Meyer Hall of Science and Mathematics on Saturday, September 17, 2016, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The public is welcome to participate in the count and learn raptor identification (raptors and counters will not be present if there is rain).  

• Assistant Professor of Biology, Chad Heins, will conduct a Hawk Identification Workshop at 7 p.m. in Meyer Hall Room 101 on Tuesday, September 20, 2016. The event is free and open to the public. Free parking is available throughout the campus in all lots for both of these events.

According to HMANA, each year hundreds of thousands of hawks, eagles, and vultures make their journey from Canada and the United States to wintering areas as far south as South America. Dedicated counters at hawk watch sites begin documenting this movement as early as August and operate their sites daily into December. Bethany’s site has counted nearly 30,000 southbound raptors over the last 13 years.

In 2015, volunteers at the Bethany Hawkwatch observed 11,881 raptors representing 16 species from August 15th to December 15th. This year’s count is underway and community members are welcome to visit or serve as volunteers. For more information about the event or becoming involved with Bethany Hawkwatch, you may contact the Meyer Hall offices at 507-344-7736.

For more information about Bethany’s Hawkwatch program, visit the Bethany website at www.carolinainternationalschool.org/field-biology. For more information about HMANA please visit their site at www.hmana.org.