Swainson’s Hawk is in many ways one of the most interesting members of the genus Buteo, and is a highly desired treat for hawk watchers in eastern North America. They travel up to 14,000 miles each spring and again each fall, making them the longest-distance migrant among western hemisphere raptors. Virtually the entire world’s population passes through the isthmus of Panama on their way northward from their Argentinian wintering grounds each spring. Here they begin to join kettles with their close relatives, the Broad-winged Hawk. As they press on toward the breeding ground, some Swainson’s inevitably make a wrong turn and wind up far from their intended destination.
As a result they are well known for wandering throughout much of the east, and the Whitefish Point hawk count has been a fantastic place to see them for a select few lucky and patient observers over the years. The highest tally of Swainson’s ever recorded in a spring season at WPBO was 12 in 1990, and in the 40-year history of the hawk count the average has been 2.0 counted per year. So far the 2018 season is at least an average one, with two already being tallied, on May 1st and again on the 7th. If you’re hoping to see one at the Point, your best chance is on a warm day in early- or mid-May when the wind is blowing from the southwest. Swainson’s tend to pop up at Whitefish on days with a TON of Broad-wingeds — this year’s birds came on days with counts of 1,792 and 625 Broad-wings, our two highest totals for the season so far.
Be sure to follow our progress on Dunkadoo to know when Broad-wingeds are around as soon as I do, and to catch up on the full season’s data! And as always, the entirety of the hawk count data collected over the years here at WPBO can be found on our page at HawkCount, with raptor totals updated daily.
