To the Editor:

Thanks to the dozens of local raptor enthusiasts who contributed their knowledge, skill, and experience to make the 15th Helderberg Escarpment Hawk Watch a thrilling educational opportunity for more than 5,000 visitors at the Thacher Park overlook during mid-September.

This year’s annual hawk migration festival, held on Saturday, Sept. 10, marked the beginning of what has historically been the two-week-long peak influx of migrating raptors through the greater Capital Region each year. While this year’s numbers were below previous levels park patrons were able to enjoy local falconer and raptor expert Richele Ford and her beautiful birds of prey during her up-close and personal educational presentations at the overlook.

Historically the fall avian migration spans August through December with broad-winged hawks (think red –tailed hawk’s smaller cousin) presenting the vast majority of the 2,000 to 3,000 birds usually passing over the escarpment at this time of year. The attraction of this site for the migrating birds is the updrafts of air, providing lift for them when winds deflect off the various cliffs comprising the escarpment.

Some species of these migrants are working their way as far as South America for the winter so any advantage they can gain without having to constantly flap their wings and expend exhausting amounts of energy helps their chances of making a successful trip.

Specific numbers this year were: osprey-15, bald eagle-12, northern harrier-2, sharp-shinned-7, Coopers hawk-4, broad-winged-654, red-tailed-5, American kestrel-8, and 39 unidentified — for a total of 743 birds. Also noted were 30 monarch butterflies, 14 hummingbirds, and a variety of migrating dragonflies. Yes, they meander south also.

Thanks again to spotter and photographer Luciano Toffolo, chief identifier Marian Sole, and members of the Hudson Mohawk Bird Club. If you want to know more about birding in the Capital Region, check out www.hmbc.net. Also thank you to John Loz of the Capital Region Audubon Society (www.capitalregionaudubon.org) and the Southern Adirondack Audubon Society (www.southernadirondackaudubon.org).

Additionally, Thacher Park’s Nancy Engel provided assistance and support to help make this event a success once again.

The statistical data from this year’s event is being forwarded to the Hawk Migration Association of North America and to North East Hawk Watch.

Next year’s hawk festival will be held at the Thacher Park Overlook on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Richele has already been asked to mark her calendar. I hope to see you there. And remember: Keep looking up!

Will Aubrey, leader and educator

Helderberg Escarpment Hawk Watch