Symphony of Fall: The Enchanting World of Loons and Hawks
The calls of loons and the flight of hawks signal the changing rhythms of the seasons in many parts of North America. This week, we feature details about International Hawk Migration Week and information from our partnerships with the Loon & Diver Stewardship Working Group and the Loon Preservation Committee.
Photo: WWing
10th Annual International Hawk Migration Week
Saturday, September 16 — Sunday September 24, 2023
Hawks are on the move! During migration, hawks utilize thermals, or rising columns of air, to soar great distances. Other species, such as monarchs, also use thermals during their migration journeys. These extraordinary migratory events happen twice a year—in the spring and in the fall. Join watch sites throughout North America during International Hawk Migration Week (IHMW) to enjoy the annual spectacle of fall raptor migration and help raise awareness of hawks, hawk migration, and the Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA) network of sites that make Hawkcount an invaluable resource.
This particular week in mid to late September was chosen due to the sheer number of raptors that are counted across North America. Last year, 113 sites throughout Canada, the United States, and Mexico tallied over 700,000 migrating raptors during IHMW.
Learn more about how to participate with the HMANA>>
Loons
As our summer visits to northern lakes wind down, we thank you again for your efforts to monitor loons with Journey North and to follow best practices for sharing lake experiences with these incredible birds. Journey North participated in the Loon & Diver Stewardship Working Group on various outreach materials to help protect loons, including this fact sheet. We encourage you to plan ahead for next spring's lake season and widely distribute this fact sheet to help others learn about ways we can protect loons and ensure our lakes remain healthy for future generations.
Instructions on how to download and fill this fact sheet here>>
And from our partners at the Loon Preservation Committee, we share the September Loon Fact of the Month about how loons sleep.
Read the September Loon Fact of the Month here>>
Track Seasonal Changes
What is your favorite sign of fall? First sugar maple leaf to turn red? The sound of birds migrating overhead? Remember to report your fall sign of the season to Journey North using the reporting category, Signs of Fall.
Enjoy all these signs of the seasons on our All Other Signs of Spring map or Signs of Fall map.
