Broad-winged Hawk Kettle Migration — Hawk Ridge

About this spectacle

Each autumn, Hawk Ridge in Duluth, Minnesota becomes one of North America's premier raptor-watching destinations as broad-winged hawks funnel along the Lake Superior shoreline. Thermal columns lift hundreds — sometimes thousands — of birds into spiraling kettles that fill the sky before the hawks peel off and continue their journey south. Visitors stand on the exposed ridge and scan wide skies as the kettles build and dissolve in waves, the sound of excited observers mixing with the distant calls of raptors overhead. The geography is the mechanism: the lake acts as a leading line, compressing the migration corridor and concentrating birds into breathtaking, countable streams. Binoculars, spotting scopes, and resident volunteer counters make the experience both accessible and deeply educational. Cool September mornings with northwest winds following a cold front produce the most spectacular flights.

When to go

Aug — Nov, peak Sep

Getting there

Nearest airport: DLH. Nearest city: Duluth.

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