For many in Minnesota, the signs of fall include the leaves changing color, pumpkins, and football. But for bird watchers, the primary marker of the season is the fall migration. And there's no more dramatic way to observe the migration than at Duluth's Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory where birders gather to watch hundreds – sometimes thousands – of raptors make their way south for the winter. Journalist Matthew Schneeman attended the Hawk Weekend Festival at the height of migration to witness the event.  

Support for MinneCulture on KFAI has been provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund. Photo by Sean McLaughlin, courtesy of Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory.

Birders flock to Hawk Ridge to observe the fall migration

MinneCulture is KFAI’s award-winning audio storytelling program. We produce audio documentaries exploring Minnesota’s art, culture, and history — stories about musical sensations, small town heroes, cultural icons, local lore, and everything in between.

Birders flock to Hawk Ridge to observe the fall migration

KFAI's MinneCulture