The 2024 Spring Raptor Watch has concluded this year! It’s been an excellent season with a grand total of 67,853 raptors counted from February to June. Although the number is down from 2023, it is well above the average of counted raptors throughout the Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch’s history (about 44,484 raptors). The count for 2024 is also higher than the average for the past 5 years of the raptor watch (65,590 birds).
Multiple records were broken this year at the Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch. Golden Eagles were sighted crossing the Straits 381 times this spring, crushing the previous 374 record of 2015! A second record was also broken during the same week as the Golden Eagles; with 7 Swainson’s Hawks being recorded by the Raptor Watch. The previous record was 4 Swainson’s Hawks in a season. Swainson’s Hawks normally breed in the western United States, making them a rare visitor to Michigan, but as noted by the Raptor Watch they do occasionally migrate through the Straits.
Near the end of May, on the 28th, the Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch recorded its fourth ever Mississippi Kite. The Mississippi Kite typically does not travel north of the southern Great Lakes, making this a fascinating sight over the Straits. Another notable occurrence was that of a partially albino Broad-winged Hawk which Calvin observed on 5/2, which he had never observed before.
During this 2024 season we also had the opportunity to observe the migration over the course of a near total solar eclipse on April 8. There was a large amount of activity before the eclipse, which mostly ceased with the eclipse and cloud cover moving in.
The most observed raptor this year was by far the Broad-winged Hawks at 39,949 total birds, accounting for 59% of the spring 2024 count. The second most observed raptor was the Red-tailed Hawks which made up 22% of the count this season. This breakdown aligns with previous seasons, with Broad-wings and Red-tails being the first and second most observed birds.
Spring 2024 gave us an excellent raptor migration, with plenty of useful and interesting data to consider. However, none of this would have been possible without the support of our visitors, donors, and volunteers. We appreciate everything you do for us, from the bottom of our bird-loving hearts! We hope you enjoyed this spring 2024 migration as much as we did, and that you will join us again in the fall, and for many seasons to come!
Thank you!
