Jenner Hawkwatch

For the past three years, we’ve had the pleasure of volunteering for the Jenner Headlands Hawk Migration Project. Counting raptors with other hawkwatch enthusiasts while taking in the views from the Jenner Hawk Overlook is always a special way to spend a day.

The Jenner Headlands Hawk Migration Project was launched in 2009 by director Larry Broderick. Enamored with raptors since childhood, Larry started a raptor education outreach organization in 1996 called West County Hawkwatch. Larry had long hoped to gain access to the formerly private land known as the Jenner Headlands – a prime spot to observe migrating raptors due to its elevated location along the Pacific Flyway. When Sonoma Land Trust purchased the land in 2009, Larry quickly worked with the SLT team to develop the idea of an annual raptor migration count.

“After spending so much time seeking out raptors at the vast Lower Klamath Refuge System, the Marin Headlands Hawk Hill (GGRO), and the large Sacramento Refuge System, it was nice to have a chance to have something happening right here in Sonoma County.”

—Larry Broderick

In 2013, Dave Barry joined as a co-managing partner, and has helped Larry lead the charge ever since. Now in its tenth year, the Project’s stated mission is not only to identify and count all the raptors that can be observed from the Hawk Overlook, but to also teach people about the natural history of these magnificent birds of prey.

“Hawks to me embody grace, power, and freedom. Raptors as a group show us incredible diversity and fill highly specialized niches. They are an excellent example of the theory of niche partitioning, and also serve as a barometer of the environment. Being able to document and build a scientific database as citizen scientists is a great privilege.”

—Dave “Duck Dave” Barry

The views from the Hawk Overlook can change from week to week – or from hour to hour, for that matter. And, with such a vantage point, we sometimes get to see whale spouts!

From our high perch on the hill, we have the opportunity to view raptors from above as they zip through the ravines, hugging the slopes of the hillside.

Just look at the gorgeous, pristine plumage of this juvenile Turkey Vulture!

Aside from Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawks are easily the most abundant raptor on our counts. Multiple pairs of Red-tailed Hawks call the Jenner Headlands their home year-round, and it’s always a thrill to see the contentious interactions between these residents and the ones that migrate through.
 
It’s not uncommon to hear this classic, screeching call.

Observing so many Red-tailed Hawks gives us a great opportunity to study their silhouettes and features repeatedly.
 
During fall, adult raptors go through the process of molt – replacing old feathers with new, fresh ones. Below, compare the oddly shaped wings and tail of the molting adult on the left with the smooth shape of the juvenile on the right.
 
For a quick primer and quiz on the slight shape differences between adult and juvenile Red-tailed Hawks, take a look at this previous post.

Here’s a male American Kestrel that gave us great looks. Though one way to sex an American Kestrel is to note the difference in wing color from the top-side (orange for females; blue-gray for males), the tail also gives it away. Male kestrels show a clean, orange tail with a thick, black subterminal band. Females, on the other hand, show an orange tail with thin, black stripes throughout.

American Kestrels are famously noisy, especially when mobbing a larger perched hawk. Listen below to a kestrel yelling while dive-bombing a perched Red-tailed Hawk.

This White-tailed Kite cruised by directly over our heads. We can tell it’s a juvenile by the rust-colored wash on its breast.

A Ferruginous Hawk is always an exciting addition to any particular hawkwatch count day. Last year, a handful of birds overwintered in the area and graced us often with their majestic presence.

We lucked out when our audio recorder was on while a Ferruginous Hawk happened to let out a short cry overhead. This recording happens to be one of only 15 audio recordings of a FEHA in all of The Macaulay Library!

Any given day at the Hawk Overlook has the chance of turning up a rarer hawk. On one special afternoon last year, the team gawked in awe as a Broad-winged Hawk appeared in the distance and eventually flew right over us.

The coastal grasslands are also a great place to spot large mammals like coyotes, bobcats, and deer – so we always keep an eye out.

Though hawkwatching is certainly the focus, it’s impossible not to notice the songbirds that make an appearance. Here are some of the various passerines that share the coastal prairie with the migrating hawks.

The wind noise is high in this recording, but you can still hear the Western Meadowlark’s liquid-y, whistled song – a melodic backdrop to the sweeping views.

Burrowing Owls begin to arrive in Sonoma County in September, and we’re lucky to occasionally spot one while hawkwatching.

During a hawkwatch day last November, we heard an intriguing vocalization behind us…

A Rock Wren! These wrens are uncommon in the county, but are spotted on occasion in the Headlands.

We absolutely love participating in Jenner Hawkwatch. Any given count day can include the great company of fellow hawkwatchers, jaw-dropping views of the Sonoma Coast, stunning raptors, coastal prairie-dwelling passerines, coyotes, bobcats, and burrowing owls – what’s not to love?!

For more information or to volunteer for Jenner Hawkwatch, please visit the Facebook page (Jenner Headlands Hawk Migration Project) or email Larry here: northcoastraptor@gmail.com.