Volunteers join up with experienced surveyors and everyone carpools to the official location. No experience is required and it is great fun! Learn how to identify various hawks in flight.
Rugged Mt. Jefferson is our beautiful backdrop as these majestic and spectacular birds migrate south along the 15 mile ridge. It is also a great area for Ponderosa species such as PYGMY OWL, WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER, and WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER. SOOTY GROUSE and NORTHERN GOSHAWK have also been seen right at the survey location!
I hope you will join us! The more eyes we have, the better.
Here is the volunteer information with ECBC Fall Raptor Migration.
WHY: Raptors help us by acting as ecological barometers. They are sensitive indicators of changes in the ecosystems, not only within our country but across political borders. As do many predators, raptors play a critical role in maintaining ecosystem health. The yearly trends in data various hawk watch sites point out rises or declines in species numbers. This information is useful to biologists and conservationists.
WHEN: Last 2 weekends of Sept. (9/17-18, 24-25); First 2 weekends of Oct. 10/1-2,8-9).
WHERE: Meeting place is at Indian Ford Campground near Sisters, Oregon. We meet at 9:00 AM. The survey site is approximately 18 miles from Indian Ford Campground. Carpooling is strongly encouraged from the entrance to Indian Ford Campground, which is only 30 yards from the highway.
DIRECTIONS TO MEETING SITE: To reach Indian Ford Campground, Take Hwy 126/20 west out of Sisters following signs to Salem. Travel on this road about 5.5 miles. Indian Ford Campground is on the north side of the highway, and the parking lot is just 100 feet off of the highway after you turn.
SURVEY SITE LOCATION: For those who want to join us at a later time and not at Indian Ford CG, here are the directions.
Take Hgwy. 20 west of Sisters 6 miles (one mile east of Black Butte Ranch) to the Forest Rd.(FR) 11 Jct. Go north on FR 11 for 10 miles to end of pavement. At the end of pavement bear left on FR 1150 for 7 miles. Follow signs to Green Ridge Lookout. Turn left on FR 1154 also follow lookout sign. Go for 1 mile to FR 1140 jct. also lookout sign Go left on FR 1140 for approx 1/4 mile to 600 road jct. ( the first jct.) Go right on 600 RD for approx 1 mile. There will be a parking spot on the right in old clear-cut marked with blue ribbon. If you go to the top of the ridge you have gone too far. The trail to the site 1/4 mile goes to the north and is well marked with blue ribbon. When the ribbon stops you are there. The migrating birds will be flying north to south on your left, your right , or straight overhead depending on the winds. Look for blue ribbon on north side of road at corner and follow ribbon north across clear-cut, through narrow leave strip and into top of next clear-cut. This is the place. It takes about 5 minutes to walk to the survey site.
Raptor species seen:
Bald Eagle; Golden Eagle; Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrin, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Coopers Hawk, Goshawk, Red Tailed hawk, Swainsons Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, Rough Legged Hawk, Northern Harrier, Osprey, (Turkey Vulture).