Each year, the Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory counts, bands and records important information regarding the annual raptor migration.

On this particular day, 16,815 broad-winged hawks were counted, along with 276 bald eagles, 459 sharp-shinned hawks and numerous other raptors. The unique air currents over the Duluth Minnesota cliffs above Lake Superior draw the birds to this ideal migratory spot. This photo shows the behavior of kettling, where hawks utilize the updraft of air currents to reach soaring heights without expending energy before migration. Kettling also serves as a communication behavior to announce to other hawks that migration has begun.