Every fall, the ridge above Kempton, Pennsylvania turns into one of the best wildlife shows in the eastern United States. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, the world’s first refuge built specifically for birds of prey, sits along the Appalachian flyway, and from late summer through November it becomes the flight path for thousands of migrating raptors. Birders travel from all over the country to watch it happen, and if you’re staying at The South Mountain Inn, our Bed and Breakfast in Pennsylvania, you’re less than an hour away from all of it. Book your stay today.
When Does the Hawk Migration Happen at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary?
The migration doesn’t arrive all at once; it builds in waves. Bald eagles are usually the first to show up, often by mid-August, with osprey migration following close behind. American kestrels pass through around the same time. By mid-September, broad-winged hawk migration takes over the skies, and it’s common to see these birds traveling together in large, swirling groups called kettles that can number in the hundreds. Sharp-shinned hawks, red-tailed hawks, and golden eagles round out the season into October and November, when Hawk Mountain’s counters have recorded as many as sixteen raptor species passing overhead in a single day.
How Hawk Mountain Tracks the Raptor Migration
Hawk Mountain has kept an official hawk count every fall since 1934, making it the longest running raptor migration record in the world. The count runs each year from August 15 through December 15, and staff and volunteers head up to North Lookout daily during that window to identify and tally what passes by. On average, about 18,000 raptors are counted each season, with a typical single day peak in late September bringing around 3,000 birds past the lookout. The data collected at Hawk Mountain has shaped raptor conservation research for decades, and Rachel Carson actually used the numbers as evidence in her book Silent Spring. It’s not surprising birders treat this place with so much respect.
If you want to time your visit well, most sightings happen between 8 am and 5 pm, and the best viewing tends to come on days with northwest winds following a cold front, since that’s when raptors ride the air currents most efficiently. Late October usually brings the widest variety of species in a single day. You can also follow the raptor count before or after your trip.
What Raptors Will You See at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary?
Part of what makes observing the fall migration so compelling is the sheer variety of raptors at the sanctuary. Broad-winged hawks and red-tailed hawks tend to soar in large groups and are some of the most commonly spotted birds of the season. Sharp-shinned hawks and Cooper’s hawks fly with quicker, more direct wingbeats and are easy to pick out once you know what to look for. Falcons like the American kestrel, merlin, and peregrine falcon add speed and agility to the mix, while bald eagles and golden eagles are often the birds visitors hope to see most. Turkey vultures and black vultures are seen drifting past on thermals throughout the season.
Fall Events Worth Planning Around
Hawk Mountain hosts a couple of events worth checking the calendar for. International Hawk Migration Week typically falls during the season’s busiest stretch and celebrates raptor migration sites across the globe, with extra programming and hawk counters on hand to talk through the day’s flight. The sanctuary’s Autumn Lecture Series brings in researchers and conservationists for talks on raptor biology and migration science, if you are interested in knowing more about these fascinating birds.
Tips for Watching the Migration
You don’t need to be an expert to enjoy it. Volunteers are stationed at the lookouts throughout the migration season, and they’re glad to help you spot and identify whatever’s flying overhead, whether this is your first time observing the raptor migration or your twentieth. Bring binoculars if you have a pair, though on a good day you won’t need them to notice the kettles forming.
Fall Foliage and the Migration Go Hand in Hand
The timing works out nicely for another reason too. Fall foliage in this part of Pennsylvania tends to peak right alongside the migration, so you’ll often catch broad-winged hawks and osprey gliding over ridgelines covered in red and gold. Photos never quite capture the stunning beauty, which is one more reason visiting in person in the autumn is worth it.
Hiking at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
If you’d rather spend more of your visit exploring on foot, we’ve put together a full guide to hiking the trails at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, covering which routes are easiest for beginners and which ones connect to the Appalachian Trail.
Stay Close to Hawk Mountain at The South Mountain Inn
If you are one of the birders coming from out of town to watch the fall migration at Hawk Mountain, we’d love to welcome you to our Bed and Breakfast in Pennsylvania. We’ll have fresh coffee waiting outside your door the next morning, along with a full gourmet breakfast to fuel you up if you’re headed back out for round two of hawk watching. Our historic home and personalized hospitality make for a comfortable landing spot after a day spent outdoors, and our team is always happy to help you plan around that day’s migration count. Reserve your stay today!