Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania

Located northwest of Philadelphia, this site is composed of twelve separate lookouts along the Kittatinny Ridge. It's possibly the oldest hawk observatory in the United States, having been consistently monitored since 1934. The site is managed by the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association, which charges an admission fee for non-members. The Appalachian contingent of the Broad-winged Hawk migration passes this point each year in mid-September. This is one of the best eastern sites for seeing Northern Harriers and Red-tailed Hawks. The diversity of species peaks in late September and early October when both accipiters and falcons are most common.

For more information, visit the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Web site.

Northern Harrier, immature
© Ron Austing