Harris Center - New Hampshire Audubon’s PACK MONADNOCK RAPTOR OBSERVATORY

The fall migration Pack Monadnock is one of the great wonders of the natural world, and we’re fortunate to have one of New England’s Raptor premier locations for watching this spectacle right here in our backyard: the Pack Monadnock Raptor Observatory Observatory, celebrating more than a decade of hawk migration data collection near the summit of Pack Monadnock in Miller State Park in

Peterborough. Harris Center teacher-naturalists introduce The Observatory not only provides valuable, students to the excitement of hawkwatching. Wildlife rehabilitator Maria Colby releases a long-term data on migrating raptors, but photo: Katrina Fenton Broad-winged Hawk back to the wild at a it also reaches thousands of people annually as Pack Monadnock Raptor Release Day. Why Study Raptors? the Monadnock Region’s most vibrant outdoor photo: Andre Moraes @ravendotdigital Raptors are particularly good indicators of classroom. We welcome you during the fall environmental health because they inhabit migration season (September 1 to November About the Harris Center for most ecosystem types, occupy large home 15), when Harris Center biologists and volun- Conservation Education ranges, feed at the top of the food web, and teers staff the observatory daily to count raptors The Harris Center connects people to the natural are highly sensitive to chemical contamination and talk to visitors about the project. You’re also world through land protection, education of all and other human disturbance. Spring and invited to join us for special events, including our ages, conservation research, and programs that fall are ideal times to collect data on raptors annual Raptor Release Day, when we return a encourage active participation in the great because they congregate during migration rehabilitated to the wild. outdoors. Learn more at harriscenter.org. along coastlines, prominent mountain ridges, and river valleys, making it easy to tally them. HARRIS CENTER What Are Migratory Raptors? FOR CONSERVATION EDUCATION Diurnal (or day-active) raptors are sometimes Conducting standardized long-term counts referred to simply as “.” However, in of migrating raptors About New Hampshire Audubon addition to hawks, this group also includes can provide important Protecting New Hampshire’s natural environment eagles, falcons, ospreys, vultures, kites, and information on their for wildlife and for people through education, harriers. Of the 32 raptor species that occur migration patterns conservation research, land stewardship, and in North America, at least 20 are migratory – and behaviors, as well environmental policy. Learn moving seasonally in search of food. We as changes to their more at nhaudubon.org. regularly observe up to 15 of these species at populations. the Pack Monadnock Raptor Observtory.

This brochure was made possible in part through HMANA’s Hawk Watch Miller State Park HARRIS CENTER FOR CONSERVATION EDUCATION Fund. Learn more at hmana.org. Peterborough, New Hampshire cover photo: © Lillian Stokes Hawk counter updates the daily tally. photo: Brett Amy Thelen The Raptors of Pack Monadnock Fall Migration Patterns

SEPTEMBER 1 OCTOBER NOVEMBER 20 but reliable information is lacking for many raptor species. Counts of migrating raptors may be the key to filling these gaps. The Pack Monadnock Raptor Observatory’s long-term data set provides vital information on Osprey migratory raptors, as well as other bird species and even monarch butterflies and dragonflies. Bald Eagle On average, more than 11,000 raptors are tallied from Pack each fall. The vast majority of these Northern Harrier

are Broad-winged Hawks, which migrate in large Hawkwatching photo: Brett Amy Thelen photo: Andre Moraes @ravendotdigital groups known as “kettles” during mid- and late Visiting the Pack Monadnock September. Sharp-shinned Hawk Why Pack Monadnock? Our data have demonstrated healthy rebounds Raptor Observatory Many raptors migrate long distances to their Cooper’s Hawk in Bald Eagle and populations, Dates The Observatory is staffed every day from wintering grounds in South and Central which were once in decline due to the use of DDT. September 1 through mid-November. Peak hawk America. In order to conserve energy for the We have also recorded population declines in migration runs from mid-September through journey, they soar on updrafts created by the and the Northern Harrier, mid-October, but raptors move through early and Red-shouldered Hawk favorable winds and thermals produced by signaling the need for local and regional late in the season, as well. heat rising from the landscape below. (With conservation actions on behalf of these species. the wind at their backs, many raptors can Location The Observatory is located at Miller travel distances of 250-300 miles in a single Follow the Migration on HawkCount! State Park, near the summit of Pack Monadnock Migratory flyway for day!) It is this combination of geography During the migration season, Mountain in Peterborough, NH. Broad-winged Hawks and weather patterns that brings raptors to detailed daily reports are posted heading past the Pack Reservations The Observatory operates in Monadnock Observatory Pack Monadnock. on hawkcount.org, an online partnership with NH State Parks and the to wintering grounds in South America. Because of its high elevation, location along database managed by the Hawk Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. a north-south ridgeline, and prominent views Migration Association of North It’s open to the public, America (HMANA). to the north and west, Pack Monadnock has but reservations are Broad-winged Hawk long been known as an excellent vantage point You Can Help required for large for observing raptor migration. The formal The Observatory relies on donations from individu- groups. If you’d like to Red-tailed Hawk Observatory was founded by Iain MacLeod bring a group to the als and community partners, as well as the support and NH Audubon in 2005, and has been of many volunteers who help with everything from Observatory, please staffed each fall since then. contact Miller State tallying raptors to teaching visiting school groups. American Kestrel What Have We Learned? To volunteer or donate to the Pack Monadnock Park in advance at Merlin Accurate knowledge of population status and Observatory, visit harriscenter.org. (603) 924-3672. A Kettle of Broad-winged Hawks trends is fundamental to wildlife conservation, Peregrine Falcon photo: © Lillian Stokes map illustration and chart: Dyanna Smith, NH Audubon