Bird sightings: Broad-winged Hawks are migrating

Broad-winged Hawk (file photo)

Bake Oven Knob in Lehigh County is the place to see migrating raptors this time of year. In just the past week, from September 6 to September 12, more than 1,100 raptors have been reported soaring overhead on their way southward.

Broad-winged Hawks have been especially numerous, with 815 reported between during that single week. The number comes nowhere close to the other migratory bird species reported thus far. The migration of these hawks is one of the greatest spectacles you can see in our area.

In addition, viewers are almost guaranteed of the treat of seeing at least one or more Black Vultures, Turkey Vultures, Ospreys, Bald Eagles, Sharp-shinned Hawks and Red-tailed Hawks if they are patient—and they keep their eyes peeled.

A team of dedicated birders have been scanning the skies over Bake Oven Knob for eight hours or more per day as part of the annual effort to document the volume of raptor migration. This effort plays an important role in assessing the overall health of raptor populations.

The list for the week was compiled by The Bird House using individual reports supplied to the American Birding News website (birding.aba.org).

If you’d enjoy seeing the raptor migration, now is the time to visit Bake Oven Knob. Within a week or so, virtually all of the Broad-winged Hawks and Ospreys will have be gone. The Bald Eagles and Sharp-shinned Hawks will be around for a little while longer, as will the Black Vultures and the Turkey Vultures. 

How to spot Broad-winged Hawks

Broad-winged Hawk (file photo)

Broad-winged Hawks are fairly small, compact raptors with chunky bodies and large heads. In flight, their broad wings (thus the name) come to a distinct point. The tail is short and square. They have reddish-broad heads and broad black and white bands on the tail. When they are directly overhead, you can see barred underparts, bordered in dark brown. Juveniles are lighter broad with coarse streaking on the underparts, particularly on the sides of the breast. The tail is narrowly banded.

Sharp-shinned Hawks, the second most common raptor seen thus far at Bake Oven Knob, have shorter wings and very long tails that give them a shape that’s easily distinguished from Broad-winged Hawks. 

Broad-winged Hawks spend most of their time in the summer perched underneath the forest canopy hunting small mammals, frogs, toads, other amphibians, and insects. They sometimes will perch on utility poles near the edge of forests. They currently are headed 4,300 miles toward southern Mexico, the narrow isthmus of Central America and northern South America. During their winter stay, they are so numerous that Panamanians call them a “river of raptors.” Transmitters placed on hawks indicate that the birds can fly nearly 70 miles in as single day.

Species seen at Bake Oven Knob

The tallies reported at Bake Oven Knob for the week of September 6 to September 12 include: Broad-winged Hawks, 815; Sharp-shinned Hawks, 76; Turkey Vultures, 65; Ospreys, 54; Red-tailed Hawks, 36; Black Vultures, 30; Bald Eagles, also 30; American Kestrels, 13; Merlins, 12; Cooper’s Hawks, 8; Peregrine Falcons, 4; Northern Harriers, 3; Red-shouldered Hawks, 2; and Golden Eagle, 1.

Also seen at Bake Oven Knob as such birds as the Raven, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Blue Jay, Canada Goose, several species of Vireo (Philadelphia, Blue-headed and Red-eyed) and several warblers (Black-throated Green, Cape May, Black-and-white, Magnolia, Pine and Connecticut).

How do I get to Bake Oven Knob?

Bake Oven Knob is a popular site for viewing migrating birds because the birds soar above Kittatinny Ridge. 

Broad-winged Hawk (file photo)

The site is located about 2 miles north of Germansville. From Interstate 78/Route 22, take the Fogelsville exit north, then drive 8.2 miles to the “T” intersection with Route 309. Turn right onto Route 309. About 0.2 miles later, you’ll see Bake Oven Road. Keep going for about 4.5 miles, where Bake Oven Knob becomes a gravel road. You'll see the parking lot toward the crest of the ridge. 

Specific directions are available in “Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity,” a must-have guidebook for birders. (Copies are available at The Bird House.) The 180-page book is published by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

At the knob, South Lookout provides an unobstructed view of the Lehigh Valley, according to “Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity.” Walk uphill about 0.4 miles from the trailhead. North Lookout, where you’re likely to see the most raptors right now, extends off the South Lookout trail. It begins when you see an outcropping of boulders. Hiking boots are advised. The trails are rocky. There are no restrooms.

Wintertime visitors are arriving

Birders already have begun seeing familiar wintertime species, the Dark-eyed Junco and the White-throated Sparrow. It’s rare for these birds to make their appearance in the Lehigh Valley area so early.

Is this a sign of an unusually cold or snowy winter? There’s no way of telling. The birds are no better than Punxatawney Phil, the famed weather-forecasting groundhog, in predicting the timing of seasonal changes.

The first reported sighting of a White-throated Sparrow occurred in Little Gap in Carbon County; the first three Juncos were seen at Bake Oven Knob.

Other birds seen in the Lehigh Valley

Elsewhere, the following bird species were reported in the Lehigh Valley between September 6 and September 12:

Seemsville, Northampton County
Raven, 2 on September 9.

Bethlehem, Northampton County
(at the Sands Casino)
Raven, 1 on September 9.

Jacobsburg State Park, Northampton County
Philadelphia Vireo, September 8.

Moore Township, Northampton County
(along Glase Road)
Peregrine Falcon, 1 on September 7.

East Allen Township, Northampton County
(near Bath)
Swainson’s Thrush, 1 on September 7.

Little Gap, Carbon County
Wilson’s Warbler, 1 on September 7.
Nashville Warbler, 2 on September 7.
Lincoln’s Sparrow, 1 on September 7.
White-throated Sparrow, 2 on September 7.
Merlin, 1 on September 7.
American Kestrel, 1 on September 7.
Also seen: American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Warbling Vireo, Common Raven, and Black-throated Warbler, Canada and Palm warblers.