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Thousands of raptors have started migrating over Keys; Hawkwatch keeps count

By: Author Bonnie Gross

Posted on Last updated:

Every fall, the skies over the Florida Keys fill with thousands of birds from hundreds of species heading south for the winter.

The migrating birds follow the land as far as it goes, and that includes the narrow strip that is the Florida Keys, often stopping to chow down before heading over water to the Caribbean or Central or South America.

In the Keys, a remarkable citizen-science project occurs every fall called Florida Keys Hawkwatch.

Peregrine falcon. Florida Keys Hawkwatch
The peregrine falcon is one of the species that migrates south via the Florida Keys in the fall. In fact, Florida Keys Hawkwatch counts more peregrine falcons than anywhere else in the continent.

Headquartered in Curry Hammock State Park, volunteers will staff a viewing outpost every day from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31 identifying and counting birds overhead.

In 2022, the Florida Keys Hawkwatch project in Curry Hammock State Park counted 30,490 raptors! 

The Keys Hawkwatch is one of more than 100 conducted around the country in collaboration with the Hawk Migration Association of North America. It is the southernmost migration monitoring project in the continental United States. 

Florida Keys Hawkwatch at Curry Hammock State Park

The Hawkwatch project selected Curry Hammock State Park as its headquarters because the Middle Keys are only .62 miles across at the widest point and thus the birds compress into a narrow space overhead.

The Curry Hammock site is famous in birding circles for the number of peregrine falcons that are spotted here.  On a world-record day in 2015, volunteers counted more than 1,506 peregrine falcons in one day!

Peregrine falcons feed on other birds — pigeons, doves, waterfowl, parrots. They’re the size of a crow, but are often called the fastest animal in the world because they can reach 150 mph while making a dive.

Florida Keys Hawkwatch welcomes volunteers with binoculars and the birders there will answer questions from visitors. Hawkwatch sets up shop on the second-floor deck of the building housing the campground bathrooms at Curry Hammock. (This area is usually only open to campers and park rangers ask that you respect the privacy of campers.)

If you’re interested in participating, Jeff Bouton posted this on the Hawkwatch website: “We welcome visitors throughout the season from Aug. 1 through Nov. 30 (weather allowing), but the middle of the count season is generally more rewarding in overall raptor sightings, especially on days with Northerly winds.”

Bouton adds: “For those wanting greater species diversity and consistently higher numbers, we’d suggest the period from the last week in September through the third week in October. For our world class Peregrine Falcon flights try the week centered on either side of Oct. 10, which is respectfully referred to as “Day of the Peregrine” or “Dia de los Peregrinos” acknowledging these migrants spend potentially more time in Central and South America than here in the US and Canada.”

In 2022, Hawkwatch began monitoring the skies at Curry Hammock on Aug. 1 in order to monitor the migration of swallow tail kites, a bird whose migration is little understood. Volunteers counted 2,896 kites in August 2023.

Here’s info about how to participate in Florida Keys Hawkwatch.

Learn more about the Florida Keys Hawkwatch project on their Facebook page and their website. Both are full of fascinating observations and information.

Want to witness the migration on your own? You’ll find advice on identifying raptors here.

Here are three good spots for birding in the Florida Keys.

Curry Hammock State Park in Marathon and Bahia Honda State Park in Big Pine offer excellent opportunities to view migrating birds on your own.

Curry Hammock State Park,  56200 Overseas Hwy., Marathon, FL 33050. (305) 289-2690.  “If you enjoy watching bird migration then this site won’t disappoint; on a good day it’s one of the best sites in the United States,” according to the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail.

The park has a campground, but very few vacancies at this point. In addition to watching the skies, you can kayak around the island and into coves where birds roost. Day-use fees: $5 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle; $2, Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers; $4, Single-occupant vehicle or motorcycle.

Click for larger map of Big Pine and No Name Keys.
Click for larger map of Big Pine and No Name Keys.

Bahia Honda State Park,  36850 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key, FL 33043. (305) 872-2353. Here’s where to look for birds in Bahia Honda. The park has a campground and cabins, but, again, they are very hard to reserve. Day-use fees:  $8 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle; $2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers; $4 Single-occupant vehicle or motorcycle.

National Key Deer Refuge. Visitors Center in the Big Pine Shopping Center, 179 Key Deer Boulevard, Big Pine Key. (305) 304-9625. Explore Big Pine Key and No Name Key by bike should produce plenty of wildlife, or your can take a self-guided tour of Ohio Key and Long Beach ares of the refuge to spot migrating hawks. Here’s advice on where to look for birds here.

More things to do in the Florida Keys

More birding resources from Florida Rambler

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