CENTERS OF LEARNING

HawkMountain Sanctuary Association, Pennsylvania

Stanley E. Senner

The annual budget that year was un- der $14,000. Today thereare 10 full- time staff members,a volunteercorps of about 175 people,and an operating budgetof about $500,000. What has not really changed over the last 55 years is the experienceof sitting on the North Lookout with one's friends--a thousand feet above the Little Schuylkill River and a patchwork of farms and forests-- watching the passingparade of birds of prey. The effects of shooting, pes- ticides, and habitat losses notwith- standing, raptors are still passingin numbers, and birdwatchingat Mountain can still be an extraordi- nary experience.Consider this journal entry from Maurice Broun, dated Oc- tober 19, 1942: Crystal clear, cool weather, with brisk northwest winds; 32*-68*. The best hawk flight of the sea- son (precededby four days of northeast rain and winds) also A Hawk Mountain intern holds a Red- brought a heavy flight of tailed Hawk, just banded and readyfor was establishedin 1934, to stop crows--more than 2,150 passed release. Photograph/Hawk Mountain 'AWK.the slaughterMOUNTAIN of SANCTUARY migrating the Lookout duringthe day. The SanctuaryAssociation. hawksas they passeda rockypromon- sharp-shinflight at its peak, and tory on the Kittatinny Ridge in Penn- red-tails stagingtheir first con- sylvania.Some things at Hawk Moun- spicuous movement. Today's taM have changeda great deal since count of 907 of ten spe- the Santuary was created; others, not cies included 627 sharp-shins at all. (495 until noon), 44 Cooper's, In Autumn 1934, after conservation 210 red-tails, 10 red-shoulders, pioneer Rosalie Edge (e.g., Fox 1981) 4 golden eagles,2 bald eagles,3 leasedthe original property of 1393 marsh, 1 osprey, 1 pigeon, 2 acres and hired Maurice and Irma sparrow and 3 unidentified Broun to keep gunners off the new hawks. sanctuary,about 500 people followed the winding path to the top to watch-- This passagecould just as well have not shoot--hawks. Today annual vis- been written last year. itation runs about 48,000 people. Since 1955, more than 1.1 million Mission peoplehave climbedthe lookout trail. The Brouns were the first staff mem- The Hawk Mountain of today is bersat Hawk Mountain, but even they both a place to watch and enjoy rap- were not there full-time until 1948. tors and nature and an organization

248 American Birds, Summer 1989 900 - shinnedsbeg•n to outnumberBroad- wlngeds,and dunng the first half of Octoberone can seethe greatestvari- ety of raptors,and the best foliage,at Hawk Mountain. On October 1, 1988, WH Sanctuary curator Jim Brett saw all 16 speciesof regularly-seenmigrants 5OO - from the North Lookout in a single 700- day--the first time that phenomenon was ever officially recorded. Later in October Red-tailed Hawks 300- (Buteo jamaicensis ) replaceaccipiters as the most abundant migrants, and GoldenEagles (Aquila chrysaetos) be- 100- gin to appear.November to early De- cember is the time for the northern-

I I I I most migrants--Red-taileds, Golden 11••1/15 •a%'SSH15 15 15 Eagles,Rough-leggeds, and Northern AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Goshawks (Accipiter gentills). Mi- grant Bald Eaglesat this seasonap- Figure1. Timingand abundance ofmigrant Broad-winged Hawks (B WH), Sharp-shinned parently represent northern breeders Hawks (SSH), and Red-tailedHawks (RTH) observedat Hawk MountainSanctuary, Pennsylvania,based on 5-dayrunning averages from 50 yearsof daily counts. en route to southernwintering areas. In the spring,raptor migration over dedicated to their conservation. For- cold front from the Great Lakes, or the Sanctuary proceedson a much mally stated,the missionof the Hawk two to three consecutive days of broader front than it does in the fall, Mountain Sanctuary Association "is northerly winds produce the best and, although many migrants can be to foster the conservation of birds of hawkwatching.Balmy, windlessdays seen at Hawk Mountain, large con- prey and other wildlife and to create in Septemberand Octoberoften mean centrations are rare. Total numbers of better understandingof the environ- that migrantsare very high or cease spring migrants are in the hundreds ment." This mission is pursued by following the ridge entirely, instead or low thousands (Goodrich 1985), maintaining the Sanctuaryas a high- moving south along a broad front. and we currentlydo not keep a formal quality natural area open to the pub- When conditionsare optimal, how- count. hc, and by supportinga program in ever, migrant raptors may be seen Birding opportunities at Hawk education,research, and conservation overhead and at or below eye.level Mountainare not limited to migrating pohcy. from the North Lookout. The 1O-year raptors.The 2200-acreSanctuary and As the world's first refugeto protect average for the total number of mi- surrounding state-owned lands en- b•rds of prey and an organizationat grant raptors at Hawk Mountain's compasshabitats typical of the north- the forefront of battles to outlaw the North Lookout is 22,708 (Goodrich em Appalachiansand have a predict- shootingof raptørs,the Sanctuary 1989). Including Black (Coragypsat- qmckly achievedan internationalrep- tratus) and Turkey (Cathartes aura) utation in wildlife conservation. In a vultures, 16 speciesof migrant raptors Table 1. Ten-year mean of migration specialreport on the public benefits are routinely recordedat the Sanctu- counts, by species, at Hawk Mountain of private conservation, the Presi- ary (Table 1). Broad-wingedHawks Sanctuary,Kempton, PA, 1979-1988. dent's Council on Environmental (Buteo platypterus) and Sharp- Cathartidae • Quality (1984:392)concluded that the shinnedHawks (Accipiterstriatus) are Black Vulture 27 h•storyof most numerous; the Rough-legged 46 offered"a strikingexample of the role Hawk (Buteo lagopus)and Peregrine Accipitridae of private initiative in achievingmajor Falcon (Falco peregrinus)are usually Osprey 529 accomplishmentsin wildlife conser- least numerous. Occasional Swain- 38 vation." son's Hawks (Buteo swainsonii) and Northern Harder 325 Gyrfalcons( Falco rusticolus)are seen Sharp-shinnedHawk 7144 as well. Cooper's Hawk 414 The mountainand the migration 88 The fall raptor migrationbegins in Red-shouldered Hawk 290 For birdwatchers,Hawk Mountain early-to-mid-August with American Broad-wingedHawk 8943 is first and foremosta place to watch Kestrels (Falco sparverius)and Bald Red-tailed Hawk 4109 raptors.Because it is the easternmost Eagles( Haliaeetusleucocephalus), the Rough-leggedHawk 15 55 ridge of the northern Appalachian latter apparently being southern- Falconidae Mountains, raptors follow it taking breeding birds returning from their 502 advantage of deflected air currents nonbreeding season in the north. 40 and thermal updrafts as they travel Broad-wingeds(Fig. 1), especially,and PeregrineFalcon 15 from the northeast to the southwest Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) are 1mean basedonly on years 1985-1988 each autumn. Passageof a low pres- abundant in September. By the last when consistentcounting of vultures be- suresystem to the north, an advancing week in September,however, Sharp- gan.

Volume 43, Number 2 249 able mixture of year-round residents check additional sites and habitats. birds of prey and Sanctuaryhistory is (e.g., Pileated Woodpecker [Dryoco- Several impoundments and wetland open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. pus pileatus]; Barred Owl [Strix areas (e.g., Leaset Lake, Green Lane daily, except Thanksgiving, Christ- varia]),summer breeders (e.g., Wood Reservoir,Ontelaunee Reservoir) pro- mas, and New Year's days.Other pub- Thrush [Hylocichla rnustelina]; vide goodhabitat for migratingwater- lic facilitiesinclude: an amphitheater, Ovenbird[Seiurus aurocapillus]), and fowl and shorebirds and wintering Common Room Education Center, a spring and fall migrants, of which raptors, and species such as the small campgroundand three Adiron- there can be good numbersand vari- Golden-winged Warbler (Verrnivora dack trail shelters,and a newly-devel- ety. Many hawkwatchers,frustrated chrysoptera),Worm-eating Warbler oped habitat demonstration area ad- by fog and rain, through which few ( Helrnitherosverrnivorus ), and Vesper jacent to the Visitor Center. The hab- raptorsmigrate, have enjoyedspectac- Sparrow (Pooecetesgrarnineus) are itat area, developed in part with ular birding among the warblersand amonglocal breedersof interest. support from Carl Zeiss Optical, Inc., othersongbirds feeding and restingin includessmall ponds, plantingsof na- the treesfringing the North Lookout. Access and facilities tive azaleas, other shrubs and wild- The ridgetoplookouts also afford fine flowers,bird feeders,and a photogra- opportunities for viewing migrating Located 11 kilometers west of phy blind. The Sanctuaryalso main- waterfowl, loons, swallows, and spe- Kempton, Pennsylvania(8 kilometers tains a residence where it houses cies such as Ruby-throated Hum- north of Interstate 78 on Route 143) participantsin its Internship Program, mingbird (Archilochuscolubris, Wil- on the Berks-Schuylkillcounties fine, two staff residences, including limont et aL 1988), Red-headed the Sanctuaryis open to the public, Schaumboch's, which is on the Na- Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythroce- dawn to dusk, year-round.An admis- tional Registerof Historic Sites,and a phalus), Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cris- sion fee is chargedto visitorswho are maintenance shed and raptor-care fa- rata), Common Raven (Comus not members of the Association. Puly cility. corax), American Robin (Turdus fishedby the Association,The Moun- There are about 13 kilometers of rnigratorius), and Scarlet Tanager tain and The Migration (Brett 1986) hiking trails on the Sanctuary, and (Piranga olivacea). is an excellent source of information they provide accessto Hawk Moun- Birdersspending several days in the in advance of a visit. tain's major habitats, including the vicinity of Hawk Mountain often A Visitor Center with exhibits about River of Rocks, a large,exposed boul-

Visitorssearch the skiesfiom theNorth Lookoutfor earlyfall migrants.Photograph/William R. Fink, Jr.

250 American Birds, Summer 1989 fall lecture series will be the thirtieth at Hawk Mountain. Thousands of school children and adults visit the Sanctuary to attend presentationsor participate in exer- cises designedto meet their educa- tional needs. Dozens of teachers and advanced students enroll in natural history-related courses that offer in- servicetraining or collegecredits, the latter through an affiliation with Ce- dar Crest College, Allentown, Penn- sylvania. A 10-day short course on "The Ecology and Conservation of Birds of Prey" has been especially popular with upper-levelcollege and graduate students. This course will next be offered in January 1990. Annually about a dozen collegestu- dents or recent graduates participate in an Internship Program and receive hands-ontraining in the areas of ed- ucation,research, and sanctuaryman- agement. Since 1976, more than 75 young people, representing20 of the United States and six foreign coun- tries, have come to the Sanctuary as interns. The interns' energy and spe- cial talentsare important supplements to the capabilities of our small staff, and, as "alumni," they carry Hawk Mountain's message around the world. Research:Research began at Hawk Mountain before the Sanctuary was established.George M. Sutton, then with the Pennsylvania Game Com- mission,published two papersin the Wilson Bulletin (Sutton 1928, 1931) based on data from raptor carcasses he gatheredat Hawk Mountain. These papersattracted the attention of Rich- JamesC. Bednarz,Director of Higher Educationand Research.takes wing measurements from a Red-tailedHawk trappedon the KtttatinnyRidge. Photograph/Scott Weidensaul. ard H. Pough, who then visited and photographedthe site and initiated the chain of eventsleading to preser- der field, and the pristine Kettle Hawk Mountain's curator, James J. vation (Broun 1948). Creek. There are opportunities for ex- Brett, and carriedout by an education By 1935, Broun had published the tended hikes and birdwatchingon the specialist,Trica Oshant. first paper on the raptor migration at Appalachian Trail and thousandsof In addition to interpretive displays Hawk Mountain (Broun 1935). Later acresof Pennsylvaniastate forest and in the Visitors Center and elsewhere, he publisheda 5-year summary of the game lands abuttingthe Sanctuary. visitorscan learn about birds of prey raptor migration and a pioneering and natural history through interpre- study on the flight speedsof raptors tive talks given in the amphitheater (Broun 1939, Broun and Goodwin (typically featuring live birds of prey) 1942). All of these appeared in The Program and alongthe trails and lookouts.Vis- Auk. Since Broun's early days, and Education: In its broadest sense,ed- itors and membersmay participatein until recently, research at Hawk ucation is the most important aspect variousscheduled activities, including Mountain was carried out sporadic- of the Association'sprogram. We seek workshopsand courses,which are an- ally (e.g., Nagy 1963). to provide a memorable experienceto nounced in an annual Calendar of Historically the primary research all visitors, and we stressthe education Events. Each fall there is a series of activity hasbeen the systematiccount- of teachersand young peopletraining eight Saturday Night Lectures, pre- ing of raptorsduring the fall season. for careers in the natural sciences. The senled by regional, national, and in- Begunby Broun in 1934, thesecounts education program is directed by ternational guest speakers.The 1989 have been continuedannually, except

Volume 43, Number 2 251 To encourage greater uses of the Sanctuaryfor graduate or faculty re- search, we now have an efficiency apartment for investigatorsconduct- ing projectsbased at Hawk Mountain. The Association has also initiated an annual award of $1000 for natural scienceresearch of any type basedat the Sanctuary.Contact the director of higher education and researchabout use of the apartment or the research awards offered through the Associa- tion. ConservationPolicy: In 1950 Rosa- lie Edge wrote that sincethe member- ship of the Associationwas national, "so must its interests be national." Thus, the Associationhas always been involved in conservation issues far be- yond the Sanctuaryboundaries. From the very start, Rosalie Edge and Maurice Broun were advocates for legislationto end the shootingof raptors across Pennsylvania and in other states,and in 1971 Chandler S. Robbins and James L. Ruos (1971) used Hawk Mountain count data to help make a casefor bringing all rap- tors under the protection of the federal The view J?om the North Lookout. Migrating raptors come J?om northeast,along Migratory Bird Treaty Act. In the the Kittatinny Ridge, toward this lookout. Photograph/HawkMountain Sanctuary 1960s and 1970s, Hawk Mountain Association. helped sound the alarm about the in- discriminateshooting of Golden Ea- for a 3-year hiatus during World War more research at Hawk Mountain and glesin the westernUnited Statesand II. The count techniques have re- about raptors. In cooperation with about the dangers of pesticidesfor mained virtually unchangedover the Carl ZeissOptical, Inc., Hawk Moun- raptor populations.In Silent Spring, years,and a small number of excep- tain offers an annual award of $1000- Rachel Carson (1962) cited Hawk tionally qualified observershave re- $2000 for studentresearch on raptors; Mountain data on migrant Bald Ea- corded most of the data. For a time, the award is now in its 13th year. Two gles to help make her case against count data from more than one look- study plots have been establishedat DDT. out were combined in the annual the Sanctuary and, since 1982, have More recently the Associationhas summaries published by Hawk been used for annual Breeding Bird been an active participant in policy Mountain (e.g., in the 1960s), but, Censuses(e.g., Goodrich 1989). Win- and managementdecisions in regard fortunately, we have been able to sep- ter Bird-Population Studieswere car- to the California Condor (Gymnogyps arate the ancillary data from those ried out from 1982 through 1987 and californianus)and, throughits Intern- recorded at the North Lookout. The will be carried out at 5-year intervals ship Program,supported an interpre- result is a clean, remarkably consist- hereafter. tive naturalist at a condor lookout in ent data set spanning55 yearsof rap- In 1987, James C. Bednarz joined California's Los Padres National For- tor migration. the staff as our Ph.D.-level Director of est in 1983. Today Hawk Mountain There have been severalattempts to Higher Education and Research,and is monitoring the plans and activities usemigration count data from Hawk his skills and efforts have supple- of the Idaho National Guard in the Mountain to evaluatetrends in raptor mented thoseof staff biologistLaurie Snake River Birdsof Prey Area and is populations (e.?., Spofford 1969, J. Goodrich. Current projectsinclude working to maintain the integrity of Nagy 1977). Most attempts were de- a radiotelemetrystudy of the pattern that unique refuge. Through the In- scriptiveand did not attempt to stand- and processof raptor migration, an ternational Council for Bird Preser- ardize the data for effort. Although a assessmentof the effectsof forestfrag- vation-United StatesSection, Inc., of more thorough and technicalanalysis mentation on nestingOvenbirds, and which the author servesas Chairman, of the counts, 1934-1986, is now in an on-goingstudy of raptors at a po- Hawk Mountain has been a strong press(Bednarz et al., ms), we are only tential nuclear waste storage site in advocatefor fundingfor and improve- beginningto tap the enormouspoten- New Mexico. The ecologyof migrant ments to the United States Fish and tial of this unique data set. raptors on neotropic wintering Wildlife Service'smigratory nongame Sincethe late 1970s,the Association grounds is an emerging interest in bird program. has made a concertedeffort to carry both researchand conservation(Sen- At the international level, Hawk out, sponsor,and otherwiseencourage her and Fuller, in press). Mountain was a co-sponsor of the

252 American Birds, Summer 1989 World Conference on B•rds of Prey law, and pubhshing. Our full-t•me Quality The 15th Annual Report of III •n Eftat, Israel. Through partlc•pa- staff of 10 includesseven people with the Councfion EnwronmentalQuality t•on •n the World Worlong Group on advanced degrees•n biology or re- Executive Office of the President, Washington, DC. B•rds of Prey, tours for its members, source conservation; five of the staff FOX, S. 1981. John Muir and His Legacy and the Internship Program, the staff membershave direct programrespon- Little, Brown and Company.Boston has cultivated strong ties to raptor sibilities in education, research, or GOODRICH, L. J. 1985. The 1985 spring biologistsand educators around the conservation. The author is the exec- migration.Hawk Mountain News,No world (e.g., the raptor information utive director and has held that posi- 64:23-25. 1989. Oak-maple slope forest. Pp centers in Israel and South Africa)ß tion since 1982. 9-10in Engstrom, R.T.(ed.). Resident An emerging interest is to identify bird counts.Suppl. to the Journ. Field Conclusion s•tes,worldwide, where large concen- Ornithology,vol. 60. traUons of raptors may be observed The original purpose for which the ß 1989. The fall season:migration re- (Senner and Brett, in press), and to Sanctuarywas established (to stopthe port. Hawk Mountain News, No 70:26-33. explorethe potential of these sitesto shootingof migratinghawks at Hawk serveas bases for raptorand bird ed- NAGY, A.C. 1963. Population densityof Mountain) was effectively achieved Sparrow Hawks in eastern Pennsyl- ucationand researchprograms along when the property was leased and vania. Wilson Bull. 75:93. the lines of Hawk Mountain Sanctu- posted. The Sanctuary and its foun- --. 1977. Population trend indicesbased ary. In all of theseinternational activ- ders, however, quickly embraced a on 40 yearsof autumn countsat Hawk roes,our approachis to usethe Hawk largeragenda that includededucation Mountain Sanctuary in north-eastern Mountain experience to encourage of the public and action on conserva- Pennsylvania.Pp. 243-253 in Chancel- lor, R. D. (ed.). Proceedingsof the conservation awareness and action tion issuesas they affected birds of abroad and, at the same time, educate World Conference on Birds of Prey, prey. This is still our program today, Vienna, 1975. International Council ourselves and our members about the albeit with increased recognition of on Bird Preservation,Hampshire, Eng- •nternational dimensions of conser- the many contributions that research land. vation problems. can make to education and conserva- ROBBINS, C. S. and J. L. RUOS. 1971 tion. Although Hawk Mountain's pro- Trends in populationsof raptors •n North America. Pp. 97-109 in Com- Organizationand support gram and support is focused at the mittee on Merchant Marine and Fish- Sanctuary, the organization's reach The Associationis a private, inde- eries (ed.). Hearings on Hawks, Owls, extends far beyond the Sanctuary, and Eagles, September 20, 24, 1971 pendent,nonprofit, educationalorga- consistentwith the spirit and visions U.S. House of Representatives,Serial mzation incorporated in 1938. It is of its founders. No. 92-14. supportedby nearly 8000 members; SENNER, S. E. and J. J. BRETT. A pro- annual duesrange from $15 to $300. posal to create a registry of sites of ACKNOWLEDGMENTS About 60 percent of Hawk Mountain internationalimportance to raptors,es- pecially in migration. (in press) tn memberslive in Pennsylvania,and 90 Thanks are due to James C. Bed- Chancellor,R. D. (ed). III World Con- percent live in the northeastern narz, JamesJ. Brett, and Michael Har- ferenceon Birds of Prey, Israel, 1987 Urnted States. In addition to free ad- wood for reviewingan earlier draft of World Working Group on Birds of mission to the Sanctuary, members this manuscript. Prey, London, England. receive the semi-annual Hawk Moun- --. and M. R. FULLER. Status and tarn News and various other benefits. LITERATURE CITED conservationof North American rap- We do not rely on government tors migrating to the Neotropics. 0n BEDNARZ, J. C., D. KLEM, JR., L. J. press) in Chancellor, R. D. (ed.). III fundsto supportday-to-day operation GOODRICH, and S. E. SENNER. Mi- World Conferenceon Birds of Prey, of the Sanctuaryand our program.In gration counts at Hawk Mountain, Israel, 1987. World Working Group on fact, the combination of dues,contri- Pennsylvaniaas indicators of popula- Birdsof Prey, London, England. butions, and admission fees for non- tion trends, 1934-1986. (ms. submitted SPOFFORD, W. R. 1969. Hawk Moun- membersaccounts for nearly 70 per- and in review). tain counts as population indices in cent of our annual operatingbudget. BRETT, J. J. 1986. The Mountain and northeasternAmerica. Pp. 323-332 tn Additional support comes from the Migration. Hawk Mountain Sanc- Hickey, J. J. (ed.). PeregrineFalcon tuary Association,Kempton, Pennsyl- populations:their biology and decline bookstoresales, special events, grants, vania. Univer. WisconsinPress, Madison. bequests, and investment income BROUN, M. 1935. The hawk migration SUTTON, G. M. 1928. Notes on a collec- from a small endowment. About 75 during the fall of 1934, along the Kit- tion of hawksfrom SchuylkillCounty, percent of our operating budget di- tatinny Ridge in Pennsylvania.Auk Pennsylvania.Wilson Bull. 40:84-95 rectly supports maintenance of the 52:233-248. 1931. Status of the Goshawk in Sanctuary and our program in edu- --. 1939. Fall migrationsof hawks at Pennsylvania.Wilson Bull. 43:108- Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania,1934- 113. cation, conservation,and research. 1938. Auk 56:429-441. WILLIMONT, L. A., S. E. SENNER, and The Association is governed by a --. and B. V. Goodwin. 1943. Flight- L. J. GOODRICH. 1988. Fail migra- board of directors,currently with 18 speeds of hawks and crows. Auk tion of Ruby-throatedHummingbirds members coming from seven states 60:487-492. in the northeastern United States. Wtl- and the District of Columbia. Joseph --. 1948.Hawks Aloft: the storyof Hark son Bull. 100:482-488. W. Taylor servesas presidentand has Mountain. Dodd, Mead and Co., New York. doneso since 1967. Amongthe board CARSON, R. 1962.Silent Spring. Hough- members are individuals with back- ton Mifflin Co. Boston. --Hawk Mountain Sanctuary groundsor active careersin business, COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL Association, Route 2, journalism, ornithology, banking, QUALITY. 1984. Environmental Kempton, PA 19529

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