Waggoner's Gap Hawk Watch averages about 19,000 migrating raptors a year. The record number of hawks counted in any one season, however, is 30,120 birds in 1987.

Audubon Hawk Watch at Waggoner’s Gap

Species Statistics – 1952 through 2008

Black Vulture

Earliest date recorded - Oct 3     

Latest date recorded - Dec 31

Bulk of migration occurs Oct 15 – Nov 15        

Previous 5-year average count - 119

Record single day high count – 34 on Nov 13, 2002   

2008 count - 91

Record seasonal high count – 144  in 2007          

Latest 5-year average count - 113

Turkey Vulture

Earliest date recorded –Oct 1       

Latest date recorded –Dec 31

Bulk of migration occurs - Oct 10 – Nov 10             

Previous 5-year average count – 1,490

Record single day high count – 341 on Oct 16, 2005      

2008 count – 1,345

Record seasonal high count – 1,814 in 2005             

Latest 5-year average count – 1,461

Osprey

Earliest date recorded – Aug 1       

Latest date recorded – Nov 24

Bulk of migration occurs  - Sep 10 to Oct 15                

Previous 5-year average count - 556

Record single day high count – 92 on Sep 18, 1993          

2008 count - 367

Record seasonal high count – 682 in 2006                

Latest 5-year average count - 525

Bald Eagle

Earliest date recorded – Aug 1  

Latest date recorded – Dec 31

Bulk of migration occurs - Sep 10 to Dec 15 

Previous 5-year average count - 260

Record single day high count – 30 on Sep 12, 2007         

2008 count - 308

Record seasonal high count – 332 in 2006  

Latest 5-year average count - 292

Northern Harrier

Earliest date recorded – Aug 1                                               

Latest date recorded – Dec 31

Bulk of migration occurs - Sep 15 to Nov 15                        

Previous 5-year average count - 368

Record single day high count – 42 on Oct 27, 1975           

2008 count - 188

Record seasonal high count – 457 in 2003                         

Latest 5-year average count - 314

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Earliest date recorded – Aug 1                                              

Latest date recorded - Dec 31

Bulk of migration occurs  - Aug 15 to Oct 20                        

Previous 5-year average count – 7,091

Record single day high count – 1,981 on Oct 2, 1986      

2008 count – 6,085

Record seasonal high count – 9,726 in 2007                    

Latest 5-year average count – 7,089

Cooper’s Hawk

Earliest date recorded – Aug 1                                             

Latest date recorded – Dec 31

Bulk of migration occurs - Sep 25 to Oct 30                       

Previous 5-year average count - 957

Record single day high count – 207 on Oct 10, 1998       

2008 count - 690

Record seasonal high count – 1,113 in 2007                   

Latest 5-year average count - 910

Northern Goshawk

Earliest date recorded – Sep 7                                           

Latest date recorded – Dec 31

Bulk of migration occurs - Oct 20 to Dec 20                     

Previous 5-year average count - 78

Record single day high count – 29 on Nov 7, 1999         

2008 count - 33

Record seasonal high count – 218 in 1999                       

Latest 5-year average count - 72

Red-shouldered Hawk

Earliest date recorded – Aug 4                                           

Latest date recorded – Dec 31

Bulk of migration occurs - Oct 15 to Nov 10                        

Previous 5-year average count - 300

Record single day high count – 105 on Oct 29, 2001         

2008 count - 237

Record seasonal high count – 441 in 1996                         

Latest 5-year average count - 267

Broad-winged Hawk

Earliest date recorded – Aug 1                                                  

Latest date recorded – Nov 13

Bulk of migration occurs - Aug 25 to Sep 30                               

Previous 5-year average count – 5,178

Record single day high count – 5,305 on Sep 20, 2002             

2008 count – 7,205

Record seasonal high count – 14, 527 in 1987                          

Latest 5-year average count – 5,956

 Red-tailed Hawk

Earliest date recorded – Aug 3                                                  

Latest date recorded – Dec 31

Bulk of migration occurs Oct 15 to Nov 30                               

Previous 5-year average count – 4,380

Record single day high count – 748 on Nov 1, 1987                 

2008 count – 2,693

Record seasonal high count – 5,731 in 1999                             

Latest 5-year average count – 4,002

Rough-legged Hawk

Earliest date recorded – Oct 13                                               

Latest date recorded – Dec 30

Bulk of migration occurs –  Oct 15 to Dec 25                              

Previous 5-year average count - 8

Record single day high count – 7 on Dec 21, 1995                  

2008 count - 8

Record seasonal high count – 30 in 1995                                

Latest 5-year average count - 8

Golden Eagle

Earliest date recorded – Aug 20                                              

Latest date recorded – Dec 31

Bulk of migration occurs - Oct 15 to Dec 10                             

Previous 5-year average count - 233

Record single day high count – 29 on Nov 2, 2006                 

2008 count - 244

Record seasonal high count – 275 in 2006                             

Latest 5-year average count - 235

American Kestrel

Earliest date recorded – Aug 1                                                

Latest date recorded – Dec 14

Bulk of migration occurs -  Aug 15 to Oct 10                             

Previous 5-year average count - 356

Record single day high count – 65 on Aug 29, 1999               

2008 count - 276

Record seasonal high count – 474 in 1999                             

Latest 5-year average count - 338

Merlin

Earliest date recorded – Aug 30                                            

Latest date recorded – Dec 20

Bulk of migration occurs -  Sep 20 to Oct 15                            

Previous 5-year average count - 94

Record single day high count – 27 on Oct 15, 2005               

2008 count - 130

Record seasonal high count – 147 in 2005                            

Latest 5-year average count - 109

Peregrine Falcon

Earliest date recorded – Aug 11                                              

Latest date recorded – Dec 22

Bulk of migration occurs - Sep 25 to Oct 15                              

Previous 5-year average count - 65

Record single day high count – 18 on Oct 4, 2000                  

2008 count - 40

Record seasonal high count – 82 in 2006                                

Latest 5-year average count - 60

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