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Hawks and hurricanes

Wednesday looks to me like it could be a real good hawk day, so I'll be heading for Wachusetts. This weekend may also prove good, depending on exactly what Hurricane Isabel does.


But hey - that's later in the week. Right now, I'm interested in what the hawks make of the weather on Wednesday. Will they find it good for migrating? If you want to check it out then - or on the weekend - here's a brief guide.

1. Take binoculars. Any size will do - but the usual 7x or 8x is a good choice. You'll b holding them up a lot, so comfort is important.

2. When you get on top of the mountain, look for the folks who seem to know what they're doing. If you see someone who has spotted something, get behind them and try to look where they are looking without disturbing them.

3. Listen. There are several people on top of the mountain who know what they're talking about and listening to them is the best way to learn. Most are pretty amendable to questions, as long as you don't ask them when they are trying to count and hawks are streaming by in the hundreds! ;-)

4. Bring a sweatshirt and windbreaker - even if you think it's warm. The top of the mountain is exposed and always a bit cooler. Sometimes a lot cooler.

Here are the driving directions from the Eastern Massachusetts Hawk Watch site. Go there for more observing tips.

Take Route 2 to Route 140 (south) in Westminster. Take Route 140 south several miles to Wachusett Lake, where you turn right onto Mile Hill Road, following the signs to the Wachusett Mountain Ski Area. Drive past the ski area to the reservation entrance partially up the mountain on your right. Restrooms and water are available in the Visitor Center to your left. Immediately inside the reservation, turn right again onto the all-weather road to the summit. Don’t have an extra large coffee on your way to the hawkwatch. There are no facilities on the summit. The drive to the restrooms is about three miles roundtrip. You can pretty well guarantee that when you drive to the restrooms, the flight or the bird of the day will occur.
Posted by Greg Stone at September 15, 2003 07:28 PM