Monitoring of the 2025 spring hawk migration is once again underway at Beamer Memorial Conservation Area (Beamer). Since 1975, dedicated hawk-watchers from Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch (NPH) have counted migrating raptors at the site  from March 1 to May 15. Visitors can join other hawkwatchers throughout the season to learn how to identify birds of prey such as Golden Eagles or Red-Tailed Hawks, which are a few of the first species to be seen in early spring.

Beamer is known as the best vantage point in the Niagara Peninsula, with sightings of more than 14,000 hawks, eagles, falcons, and vultures each spring. A variety of birds of prey are seen throughout the season, as they migrate from South and Central America, the Caribbean, and the United States to their nesting territories in Canada.

“We’re always happy to welcome aspiring counters to join us at Beamer Memorial,” says Keith Dieroff, President of NPH. “Every birder and hawk-watcher starts somewhere and can learn by observing in the field alongside experienced counters. We hope more people will join us this year for another exciting season of counting and perhaps even be inspired to join our group.”

The NPH had an unbeatable year in 2024, during which they celebrated 50 years of counting, enjoyed solid migration numbers, and saw an increase in membership and counters. After an unseasonably mild winter, they got a head start on the year with four count days in February. Counters saw a few of the rarer raptors at Beamer — two Black Vultures made an appearance, and two American Goshawks made a surprise return to the area.

As the only spring raptor count in Ontario, NPH provides one of the longest time-series datasets for spring raptor migration in North America and the longest in Canada. This data has been used in past reports by Birds Canada, the Hawk Migration Association of North America and other raptor conservation groups due to the standardized methods used and length of the time series.

From March 1 to May 15, the central lookout tower at Beamer will be reserved for NPH counters and will not be open to the general public. Visitors can check in with the counters on-site daily to learn about their work. Nature enthusiasts can still enjoy the escarpment viewing platforms along the trail.

For more information on the raptor spring migration count and the NPH group, visit nphawkwatch.ca. NPH counters are on-site daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting.

Learn more about Beamer Memorial Conservation Area and NPCA at www.npca.ca.