Date: 4/26/25 10:15 am From: Nick Bolgiano <nickbolgiano...> Subject: 2025 Tussey Mt hawk watch summary
2025 was the 25th full season of the spring hawk watch at Tussey Mt,
staffed daily Feb 20-Apr 25. Achieving a 25th season is an excellent
milestone. The watch site is located on the top of Tussey Mt, the second
ridge from the north and west in the western Ridge-and-Valley physiographic
province and near the boundary between Huntingdon and Centre counties. The
watch’s primary focus is monitoring the spring Golden Eagle migration.
The 2025 official counter was Adam Richardson, who has been a raptor
watcher in Montana and New York. The 2025 watch was conducted on 63 days,
with 484 hours of watching, the highest effort since 2012. Watch times were
extended on those April days with particularly favorable S/SE winds. Season
totals are shown in Table 1.
*Table 1. 2025 season totals and 10-year averages (2015-2024). *
*Species*
*2024*
*10-year average*
*2025 Ranking*
*Comment*
Turkey Vulture
290
180
above average
Highest since 2017
Osprey
84
81
average
Bald Eagle
125
72
above average
New site high
Northern Harrier
41
21
above average
Highest since 2011
Sharp-shinned Hawk
232
159
above average
Highest since 2014
Cooper’s Hawk
53
24
above average
Highest since 2011
American Goshawk
0
<1
6th consecutive year without any
Red-shouldered Hawk
46
38
average
Highest since 2015
Broad-winged Hawk
1485
964
above average
4th highest total
Red-tailed Hawk
316
269
above average
Highest since 2021
Rough-legged Hawk
1
2
First in 4 years
Golden Eagle
150
166
below average
American Kestrel
68
42
above average
2nd highest to 166 in 2001
Merlin
10
6
above average
2nd highest to 16 in 2001
Peregrine Falcon
4
2
Total
2981
2063
above average
3rd highest total
There are two aspects about the 2025 count at Tussey Mt that stand out: 1)
an early Golden Eagle flight that ended with 150 total birds, a somewhat
below average number but a value similar to that of several other recent
years; and 2) very good numbers of many raptors that mostly flew past on
days when the wind was particularly favorable from the S or SE.
Golden Eagle was the only species with a below average total, although the
150 total was similar to totals from 2016, 2018, and 2019 (156, 150, 147,
respectively). The overall trend over the last 25 years has been
hill-shaped, with a peak during 2008-2015 when 200 or more Golden Eagles
were counted in six of eight years. Numbers have declined in the last 10
years, with this year’s total being one of the middle values in that span
(Figure 1). I’m not sure why Golden Eagle numbers were lower during the
first seven years, but the observed decline during the last 10 years is
almost certainly real and is likely related to recent winters being milder
than previously. Nevertheless, the Tussey Mt hawk watch continued to count
the most Golden Eagles during spring in the Eastern Flyway; our Golden
Eagle observations are the most important results from our site.
The Golden Eagle cumulative curve shows how the season unfolded for that
species. A record-high February total of 41 moved this season’s total ahead
of any other season by the end of the month. During the 2nd and 3rd weeks
of March, this season’s Golden Eagle total tracked the long-term mean.
There was a steady flight with at least one Golden Eagle counted on 29
straight days, the high count was 18 on March 13, but there were no big
days. Once the main Golden Eagle migration ended around the end of the 3rd
week of March, Golden Eagle numbers dropped off quickly, with most of the
remaining Golden Eagles being counted during favorable S/SE wind days
(Figure 2).
The spring hawk watch season functions like two seasons within one: the
first four weeks when we count most of the Golden Eagles, Turkey Vultures,
and Red-shouldered Hawks and many of the Bald Eagles and Red-tailed Hawks;
and April, when we count most of the Ospreys, Northern Harriers,
Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, Broad-winged Hawks, and American
Kestrels. How we do during April depends upon experiencing good S/SE winds.
This season, we experienced good S/SE winds on April 2, 14, 18, and 21 and
those winds moved the majority of April raptors through our region. The
peak was April 14 with 766 birds and the 2nd-best was April 18 with 446
birds.
Above-average numbers were counted for nine species: Turkey Vulture, Bald
Eagle (a new site high), Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s
Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, and Merlin. The
Broad-winged Hawk flight was excellent with a pronounced peak period. The
numbers of Bald Eagles, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks, Red-shouldered
Hawks, and Red-tailed Hawks were sustained throughout their migration
periods. Notable were the 41 Northern Harriers and 68 American Kestrels,
two species with recently-observed declines.
Thanks to our sponsors, Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, the State
College Bird Club, and individuals. Also, thanks to Adam’s diligence and
to the many people who visited and helped to spot migrating raptors; we
appreciate all the good help.
