by Chris Parr

While the view of the landscape is mesmerizing, what flies in the foreground is what attracts a devoted group of bird watchers and visitors.

From all around the world, bird watchers come to one of the highest points in Duluth, MN, a commonly used route for migratory birds. Each fall, an average of 79,000 migratory raptors are observed and logged. Hawk’s Ridge is responsible for many records in the bird watching community. (Source: hawkridge.org)

In order to enforce a prohibition against hawk hunting, the first hawk watch was organized in 1951. Over the next few years, this evolved into a hawk count which would take place from August to November. (Source: midwestweekends.com)

The hawks, which travel from as far North as the arctic in the summer to as far as South America in the winter, pass over the Western tip of Lake Superior. Many of the migratory birds hesitate to fly over large bodies of water, such as Lake Superior, which allows Hawk’s Ridge to act as a funnel for migration. With a Northwest wind, thousands of birds can be seen in a single day migrating at or below eye level. (Source: birdwatchingdaily.com)

(Photog: Jerry Jourdan) — *(Photog:* *Jerry Jourdan*)

Hawk’s Ridge also hosts an array of other outdoor activities. Seven Bridges road winds down Amity creek all the way to Lake Superior, which allows for walking and biking, and easy access to “The Deeps” for some chilled swimming. There are many mountain bike and hiking trails, most notably, the Traverse Trail, which rides the ridge for 85 miles. (Source: COGGS)

CHRIS’S EXPERIENCE

I had been to Hawk’s Ridge countless times before I knew what it really was, whether that be blowing by on a road bike, skis, or when on a run. One thing is for sure, it made for the best spot to catch my breath, grab a drink and take in the beautiful view. From here, Lake Superior appears seemingly carved into the land like a pool. The city of Duluth, built on a massive hillside adjacent to the lake, takes the place of the staircase coming out of the water, and Hawk’s Ridge is the top step. The views are so vast and breathtaking, Harris and I actually filmed a mountain bike video here once.

Harris setting up Jake’s bike for a shot along Hawk’s Ridge. (photog: Chris Parr) — Harris setting up Jake’s bike for a shot along Hawk’s Ridge. *(photog: Chris Parr)*

What I often overlooked was the large congregation of people with binoculars, meticulously counting hawks. That is, until I took a trip here for class.

I soon learned is that a large population of migratory birds pass through this area. Many of the birds utilize their aerial view to follow roadways, rivers and lake shores North for the summer and South for the winter. This means that the heavy hawk traffic lasts through the spring and fall every year.

Our class waltzed right up to the lookout and tried to observe for ourselves. But it proved difficult. Fortunately, there were a few bird experts in the area that would call out birds as they sight them. Locating the bird in the sky after they are sighted and called made for enough of a challenge for me. But once I spotted one, it was fascinating watching the birds ride the thermal air currents.

We were then escorted to a mysterious area behind the lookout on the other side of the road via a single track path. Here, there is a well established trapping facility. This consists of about ten massive, 15 foot tall, 20 feet wide nets that are scattered around the clearing in the dense forest.

In the middle of the nets was a dove in a harness that was leashed to a pole. The dove would flap around a bit here and there. This was a controversial practice at the time, as opposed to a fake dove or pigeon. Although the bird was wearing a protective jacket. This would attract migratory hawks that would come from far in the sky. They would assemble into attack position by beginning a free-fall dive. Just before they could get to the dove, the nets would snag them and halt each one in their tracks. The net would loop around a central pole and lock the hawk in the net. A member of the bird observatory would quickly run to the net, grab the hawk and shove it in a pringles can. (no joke)

They would then examine the bird, place a tag on it’s foot, log it, and set it free. This whole system was established to track the number of migratory hawks in the area. It was a rudimentary but efficient process. And wow was it exciting to see a hawk come crashing into the net at full attack speed.

So, if you ever find yourself in Duluth, head to Hawk’s Ridge for the best view of the city. And make sure to keep an eye out for the specks. Better yet, ask an expert, they’ll be happy to tell you all about the birds.