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Have you visited Hawk Ridge this September? If you have, you’ve likely seen Blue Jays in migration. Back at our passerine banding station, we look closely at each individual we band and gather interesting data in the process. One of the most important pieces of data we record is the age of each bird. So, how do we tell apart young and old Blue Jays? The answer lies in specific wing feathers called coverts. This time of year, young “Hatch-Year” Blue Jays replace some of their covert feathers with shiny new adult feathers, but leave behind some of their juvenile feathers as a clue. This contrast between shiny adult feathers and worn juvenile feathers tells us when a bird is a hatch-year. Adult Blue Jay wings only have shiny blue adult feathers. #moltmonday
Count Update! It has been an incredible month thus far, with close to 50,000 raptors counted. One of the best days arrived last week, with over 19,000 Broad-winged Hawks!!American Kestrels have also been having an incredible year. On back to back days, 294 and 377 Kestrels were counted! September 18th (377) was the fifth highest single day Kestrel flight in Hawk Ridge history! Flights of these small falcons often coincide with dragonfly migration, and we usually see Kestrels eating large species like Common Green Darners on the wing! Still plenty of time to get out and enjoy migration along the North Shore of Lake Superior, and we hope to see you at the Ridge soon.Photo: American Kestrel with Common Green Darner, by Sean McLaughlin
Happy Hawk Weekend Festival 2026! Come enjoy the migration with us 9am-4pm today & Sunday. If you can’t make it this weekend, we’re here every day 9am-4pm through November 1st!
See the number, speed, direction, and altitude of the birds cruising through the darkness on spring and fall nights by visiting BirdCast.
