Sports

By Tom Venesky tvenesky@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter
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It looked like a kite.

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Hawks, such as this red-tail, will be migrating to warmer areas before winter hits.

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Red-tail hawks such as this one can be seen migrating through the skies of the region.

Pete G. Wilcox photo/the Times LEader

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As the sharp-shinned hawk glided by Council Cup, it almost seemed as if there should be a string attached to its feet. Without effort, the hawk held its wings steady and swayed on the rising currents past the mountainous lookout.

It was a good way to conserve energy, and considering the sharp-shinned hawk migrates to the southern U.S. or Central America, such a tactic could be a life-saver.

With nighttime temperatures getting cool and the days becoming short, many of Pennsylvania’s raptors and songbirds are on their way to warmer locales. The migration through the sky will last until December, and the annual ritual presents bird watchers with an opportunity to see a wide variety of species from a single location.

Topping the list is Hawk Mountain in Kempton. The site was a favorite spot of legendary naturalist Ned Smith, who spent many afternoons counting and sketching the raptors that coasted by the mountain ridge.

The 2,600-acre sanctuary attracts approximately 60,000 visitors annually, many of whom flock to the lookout to watch an average of 20,000 hawks, eagles and other migrating birds pass by the ridges from August to December.

But while hawks and other large-winged raptors rely on the updrafts created when the wind hits the mountain face, other raptors take a different migration route where drafts aren’t a necessity.

Dr. Arthur McMorris, Peregrine Falcon Coordinator with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, said the diminutive falcon tends to follow coasts during its fall migration.

“Buteos (hawks) have larger wings and rely more on updrafts to coast. Peregrines have smaller wings and flap, so they don’t coast as much,” McMorris said.

Another advantage to the peregrines’ choice of a coastal migration route is that it allows them to prey on shorebirds along the way. McMorris said some peregrines in Pennsylvania don’t migrate, but those that do usually travel only a couple hundred miles to the Chesapeake Bay.

Closer to home, Council Cup in Wapwallopen is unmatched in the region when it comes to watching migrating raptors. The stone face of Council Cup rises more than 700 feet above the Susquehanna River, creating a perfect travel corridor for migrating raptors. Naturalist Rick Koval, who has conducted counts of migrating raptors at Council Cup in the past, said most of the broad-winged hawks have passed through but watchers can see sharp-shinned hawks, bald eagles, Northern harriers, merlins and turkey vultures.

Koval said the northwest exposure of Council Cup creates an updraft with the prevailing winds, attracting migrating birds. In past seasons, Koval has counted more than 1,000 birds passing by Council Cup in a day, including 600 redtail hawks, 23 Northern harriers and 25 bald eagles.

“The best time to be there is when there’s a blustery northwest wind and cloud cover so you can see their silhouette’s contrast against the sky,” he said. “If it’s a day you want to sit indoors because of the cold, it’s usually a good day to go watch hawks.”

Migration routes can change

Although migration is an annual occurrence that has existed throughout history, the routes taken by certain species have changed over time.

Dr. Arthur McMorris said climate conditions have induced changes in migratory patterns.

One example can be found with songbirds that call North America home but migrate each year to South America.

“During the Ice Ages, North America was covered with ice. As it warmed up, songbirds spread farther north to breed and take advantage of the new resources found in the new territory,” he said. “Their young did as their parents did – going farther north, but they still went back to South America.”