Volunteers join up with experienced surveyors and everyone carpools to the official location. No experience is required and it is great fun! Learn how to identify various hawks in flight.

Rugged Mt. Jefferson is our beautiful backdrop as these majestic and spectacular birds migrate south along the 15 mile ridge. It is also a great area for Ponderosa species such as    PYGMY OWL, WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER, and WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER. SOOTY GROUSE and NORTHERN GOSHAWK have also been seen right at the survey location!

I hope you will join us! The more eyes we have, the better.

Here is the volunteer information with ECBC Fall Raptor Migration.

WHY: Raptors help us by acting as ecological barometers. They are sensitive indicators of changes in the ecosystems, not only within our country but across political borders. As do many predators, raptors play a critical role in maintaining ecosystem health. The yearly trends in data various hawk watch sites point out rises or declines in species numbers. This information is useful to biologists and conservationists.

WHEN: Last 2 weekends of Sept. (9/19-20, 26-27); First 2 weekends of Oct. 10/3-4,10-11).

WHERE: Meeting place is at Indian Ford Campground near Sisters, Oregon. We
meet at 9:15 AM.  The survey site is approximately 18 miles from Indian Ford Campground. Carpooling is strongly encouraged from the entrance to Indian Ford Campground, which is only 30 yards from the highway.

DIRECTIONS TO MEETING SITE: To reach Indian Ford Campground, Take Hwy 126/20 west out of Sisters following signs to Salem. Travel on this road about 5.5 miles. Indian Ford Campground is on the north side of the highway, and the
parking lot is just 100 feet off of the highway after you turn.

SURVEY SITE LOCATION: For those who want to join us at a later time and not at Indian Ford CG, here are the directions. From Indian Ford take Forest Rd. 11 north to pavement end (approx 10 miles) Take the left fork (FR1150) for approximately 6 miles(follow signs to Green Ridge Lookout). Turn left on Forest Rd 1154 and go approximately 1 mile (Look out sign). Turn Left on FR1140 and go approx. 300 yards (lookout sign). Turn right on Road 600 (gravel single lane) and follow 600 for a little over a 1/2 mile. Park where road makes a 90 degree turn to left in clear-cut near ridge top. We now have a sign to direct volunteers from the car park to the site. Look for blue ribbon on north side of road at corner and follow ribbon north across clear-cut, through narrow leave strip and into top of next clear-cut. This is the place. It takes about 5 minutes to walk to the survey site.

WHAT TO BRING: Binoculars, scope (optional), warm clothes, rain gear, foldable chair, lunch, good spirit, and humor. Good reference book: Hawks from Every Angle by Jerry, Liguori, and David Sibley.

Raptor species seen:

Bald Eagle; Golden Eagle; Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrin, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Coopers Hawk, Goshawk, Red Tailed hawk, Swainsons Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, Rough Legged Hawk, Northern Harrier, Osprey, (Turkey Vulture).