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This annual tradition leverages the counties adjacent to Lake Superior – St. Louis, Lake, and Cook. In two ways. Migrating loons, grebes, and diving ducks use the lake as a stopover. More importantly for birders, the size of the lake creates a barrier during migration. Prevailing winds carry birds south and east from Canada and the western US where they encounter the lake. Rather than fly over a large water body they funnel down the lake towards Duluth. Hawk Ridge has been documenting this migration pattern for years, but passerines are also impacted. Rarities, like last year's Black Pheobe and Mountain Bluebird, blow in and hang out. At that same time northern birds are available – Bohemian Waxwing, Spruce Grouse, and others. This popular trip often yields surprising results. (Base: Tofte.)
This annual tradition leverages the counties adjacent to Lake Superior – St. Louis, Lake, and Cook. In two ways. Migrating loons, grebes, and diving ducks use the lake as a stopover. More importantly for birders, the size of the lake creates a barrier during migration. Prevailing winds carry birds south and east from Canada and the western US where they encounter the lake. Rather than fly over a large water body they funnel down the lake towards Duluth. Hawk Ridge has been documenting this migration pattern for years, but passerines are also impacted. Rarities, like last year's Black Pheobe and Mountain Bluebird, blow in and hang out. At that same time northern birds are available – Bohemian Waxwing, Spruce Grouse, and others. This popular trip often yields surprising results. (Base: Tofte.)