Every fall, the Greene Valley Forest Preserve scenic overlook — known as the “Hill” to local birders — provides an ideal vantage point to track hawk migration through DuPage County.

During daylight hours from September through mid-November, volunteers set up lawn chairs and spotting scopes at the top of the hill to count hawks, falcons, eagle and vultures that migrate south for the winter. The data they collect contributes to a North American dataset that helps track raptor population trends.

Greene Valley typically sees large numbers of broad-winged, red-tailed and sharp-shinned hawks and turkey vultures, as well as unusual birds, like golden eagles, Mississippi kites, merlins and peregrine falcons.

Many birds travel considerable distances, and Greene Valley is only one viewpoint along their journey. Broad-winged hawks, for example, migrate from Canada to Central and South America, where they winter.

Learn more about Hawkwatch and join these dedicated volunteers through October on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Greene Valley scenic overlook.

For more information on Hawkwatch and the Hawk Migration Association of North America, see www.hmana.org.

Learn more about raptors and other bird species on the Birds page or at Observe Your Preserve.

Natural Resource Management volunteers monitor birds in DuPage forest preserves. Discover more about this program by visiting the Natural Resources Volunteer page.

–News Bulletin news sources