Hawk Weekend Festival 2023
We invite you to join us to celebrate the amazing fall bird migration with us! Hawk Weekend is the annual festival held by Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth, MN. Bird migration research and education programs have been shared with visitors throughout the world each fall at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve for over 50 years! We are happy to announce Dr. Laurie Goodrich, Sarkis Acopian Center Director of Conservation Science at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association, will be our keynote speaker sharing research on Broad-winged Hawks on Friday at the Great Lakes Aquarium! Join us for a fun weekend with a variety of birding field trips, nature hikes, programs, and activities for all ages!
Registration Information and General Schedule of Events
Registration – online registration for individual event selections a la carte. Early Bird discounted rate ends August 15th. Prices vary by field trip/event/workshop (members/students receive discounted prices on all events). All festival events require wristband ($5 pre-registered price). Note: If you are only planning to view the migration at Hawk Ridge during the festival weekend, you do not have to pre-register.
You can click HERE for detailed information on all field trips, workshops, and evening events.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE TODAY!
General Schedule of Events: For details on all field trips, workshops, and evening events, please click HERE. For schedule of festival programs at Hawk Ridge (Fri-Sun), please click HERE. Please note schedule is subject to change and registrants will be notified of any applicable changes to their pre-registered field trip/workshop/event.
If you’d like to join the waitlist for a field trip/program/workshop that is full, please send an email to jlong@hawkridge.org with what trip(s) you’re interested in and how many in your party.
Friday, September 15th
- Full day trip: Sax-Zim Bog Birding and Natural History Tour (pre-registration required) – FULL
- 9am-4pm: Bird Migration & Programs at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve (festival wristband required for programs, click HERE for program schedule)
- 6:30-9pm: Kick-off Event & at the Great Lakes Aquarium (pre-registration discount, members FREE). Social hour will include a cash bar and light refreshments and the full aquarium will be open to tour, including the Raptor Ridge Exhibit. The Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory Annual Meeting will begin at 7:30pm (approx. 15 minutes) followed by keynote: Dr. Laurie Goodrich, Sarkis Acopian Center Director of Conservation Science at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association, who will present “From Canada to Colombia: Broad-winged Hawk Migration and Ecology”. NOTE: We are holding just one evening event at the festival this year to allow for additional evening owl programs.
Saturday, September 16th
IMPORTANT TRAFFIC NOTICE FOR SATURDAY please note: Scenic Hwy 61, London Rd & portions of I-35 near east Duluth will be closed for a portion of the day on Sat. 9/16 (5am-approx. 2pm) due to the North Shore In-Line Marathon, which may require taking an alternate route and additional travel time to get to your location.
- Early morning: Birding Field Trips (click HERE for field trip schedule & details) – ALL TRIPS ARE FULL
- 7am: Songbird Banding Workshop (pre-registration required) – FULL
- 9am-4pm: Bird Migration Viewing & Programs at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve (festival wristband required for programs, click HERE for program schedule)
- 11am: Live Falcons Program (pre-registration required) – FULL
- 1pm: Advanced Hawk Watching/Raptor ID Workshop (pre-registration required) – FULL
- 7:30pm & 9pm: Evening Owl Programs (pre-registration required) – BOTH PROGRAMS ARE FULL
Sunday, September 17th
- Early morning: Birding Field Trips (click HERE for field trip schedule & details) – ALL TRIPS ARE FULL
- 7am: Songbird Banding Workshop (pre-registration required) – FULL
- 9am-4pm: Bird Migration Viewing & Programs at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve (festival wristband required for programs, click HERE for program schedule)
- 11am: Advanced Hawk Watching/Raptor ID Workshop (pre-registration required)
- 1pm: Birds Rock! Geology and Birding Trip along Duluth’s Shoreline – FULL
- 7:30pm & 9pm: Evening Owl Programs (pre-registration required) – BOTH PROGRAMS ARE FULL
Monday, September 18th (Post-Festival)
- 9am-4pm: Bird Migration Viewing at Hawk Ridge
- 7:30pm: Evening Owl Program (pre-registration required)
OTHER HELPFUL INFORMATION
Plan Your Visit: If you have not visited Hawk Ridge, we recommend you reading our Visitor’s Guide.
Directions on how to get to Hawk Ridge and other helpful information can be found in our Visitor’s Guide under the Plan Your Visit tab from our home page. Please note Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve is an outdoor facility without a building. Portable toilets are available. Accessible parking/drop-off is available near the main overlook for those in need and other parking is along the road-side. Water, soda, and light snacks are available for purchase in our merchandise trailer. There are many restaurants within a 5-10-minute drive of Hawk Ridge or feel free to bring a cooler with food/snacks/drink (please note no alcohol is permitted in park). To view the migration comfortably, you may want to bring a chair, binoculars, and dress in layers (cold, heat, rain, sunglasses/sunscreen, hat, etc.).
Refunds/Cancellations – HRBO understands unexpected circumstances may arise. Please contact us as soon as possible with any changes, so we can plan accordingly. Some field trips/workshops may not be fully refundable after 9/10, if we cannot fill the slot from waiting list.