Ulvang Memorial Fund for Count and Banding Research

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory is happy to announce the Ulvang Memorial Fund to help support count and banding research at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve. The Ulvang Memorial Fund is named for two boys who were inspired by the original Duluth hawk count. Bill and Bob were affected by the kindness, encouragement and enthusiasm of teachers and mentors who taught them about birds in general and hawks in particular. The story begins about 75 years ago in the very early years of the hawk count at what would later be formed as Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve.

Bill and Bob were from the Lakeside area of Duluth and inspired by their teacher, Catherine Lieske and founder of the hawk count at Hawk Ridge, Dr. Jack Hofslund. They were attending Lakeside School in 1951 when the Duluth Bird Club started the Duluth hawk count. The Ulvang boys started going up to the hawk count in 1952 with their cousin, Dick Green. Bill and Dick were in the sixth grade, Bob was in the third grade, in Catherine Lieske’s class. Miss Lieske was an enthusiastic birder who had been a founding member of the Duluth Bird Club. She inspired an interest in birds among her students. Jack Hofslund ran the count in the early days. At first the count was run on a few weekends, mostly in September. Jack was an enthusiastic bird watcher and he encouraged young bird watchers. In the spring he led two field trips sponsored by the Duluth Bird Club. Bill and Bob Ulvang took part in these trips. Inspired by their experiences in Lakeside School and at the Duluth hawk count, Bill and Bob Ulvang became lifelong bird watchers.

Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve was formally established in 1972, which is also the year the standardized raptor count and banding research programs started. Thanks to the annual giving support of individuals, count and banding research has continued for over 50 years. We are grateful to now have the Ulvang Memorial Fund set up and dedicated for continuing these long-term monitoring efforts that contribute to research on the health of birds, their populations, habitat, and further conservation efforts.

Please consider donating to the Ulvang Memorial Fund today to help continue the important count and banding research efforts at Hawk Ridge. Thank you in advance for ensuring we can continue to inspire others about birds for generations now and in the future at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve.