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Peak time nears for southbound raptor migration

A Hawkwatch volunteer scans the skies.

A Hawkwatch volunteer scans the skies.

Starting next week and running through early November, volunteers from Hawk Watch International will be on the South Rim to monitor the fall raptor migration.

They will have observation stations at Yaki and Lipan points, where they will identify and count birds of prey traveling south via the Intermountain Flyway. With a steady wind, eagles, hawks, and falcons migrating south tend to fly along the Canyon in sight of the observation points. The largest concentration of migrating raptors in the west occurs where the flyway narrows and passes over the Canyon.

Birders, hikers and nature lovers are welcome to meet with volunteers to learn more about raptors and their role in the ecosystem.

Raptors, commonly referred to as birds of prey, are good indicators of environmental health because they feed at the top of the food chain.

For over a decade, HWI has been counting raptors at Lipan and Yaki points. They are two of the 14 counting sites run by HWI. The first site was established at Grand Canyon, at Lipan Point, in 1991. The Yaki Point site was added in 1997.

From the parking areas, shuttle buses will travel to the migration points. The Visitor Center in Canyon View Information Plaza has a display with daily tallies of birds observed and brochures with directions to the site. Raptor identification guides are also available. For further information, downloadable site brochures or driving directions, visit http://www.hawkwatch.org.


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