Hawk Cliff, Bird observation cliff on Lake Erie shore, Ontario, Canada
Hawk Cliff is a limestone formation that rises along the shore of Lake Erie, offering an elevated viewing position for observing raptors. The geographic position at this lake provides ideal conditions to watch the migrating birds that pass through seasonally.
In the late 1800s, naturalists began recording raptor movements at this location and recognized its importance as a migration corridor. By the mid-1900s, these observations grew into formal monitoring programs that continue today.
The site is a gathering place where bird watchers come together to count migrating raptors and share their observations. The data collected here contributes to scientific research that helps protect these species across North America.
Access to the site is via Fairview Avenue south of St. Thomas, which becomes Hawk Cliff Road at the intersection with Dexter Line. The area is most active and accessible during the autumn migration season from September through October.
On peak migration days, especially in September, more than 100,000 raptors can pass through this corridor in a single day. This remarkable concentration of birds makes the location world-renowned among raptor researchers and enthusiasts.
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