MSRW has participated in the Hawk Migration Association Winter Raptor Survey program for two years now. The surveys follow a prescribed route through the open fields around Rudyard, Dryburg and Pickford, using HMA’s Winter Raptor Survey protocol.
We just completed our third and final survey of the season, spotting 37 raptors along the route. Rough-legged Hawks are generally one of our most numerous winter raptor species and we identified 26 in the area. Bald Eagles are common on these surveys too, but only 6 were spotted on Saturday. We also saw 2 Red-tailed Hawks, 1 unidentified buteo and 2 Snowy Owls. One owl was on the ground along Hantz Road and the other on top of a cellular tower on Centerline Road.
Ed Pike, Steve Baker and Russ Edmonds were the observers for each of the surveys this season. For more information on the Winter Raptor Survey program use this link: https://www.hawkmigration.org/winter-raptor-survey/