Hi,
The Entiat Ridge Experimental Hawk Banding Station is now up and running. Over the last 11 days, our team of volunteers has banded and released 84 birds of prey, primarily accipiters. This is a new record for the Entiat site thus far.
This year, we are trying something new. We are posting our daily reports on what happened at the ridge that day on our web-site at www.frg.org. Please feel free to check it out if you have an interest in the fall Cascade hawk migration.
In addition, if you are interested in coming to the ridge to see the migration, I will be meeting visitors at the Leavenworth Safeway parking lot (gas station side) at 0900 each Saturday morning during September (except September 30th). Visitors can join us there and drive up the mountain to observe migrating hawks from the ridge at 5,000'. It is about a half hour from town. Some of the route up is on typical USFS dirt roads. If you are arriving later, directions to the observation site are listed on the website so you can come up on your own. Bring sunblock, hat, a comfortable folding chair, binoculars, field guides and lots to drink.
If the banders catch hawks, we usually allow the visitors to see the birds in hand before release. Personally, I think this is the best way to familiarize yourself with accipiter identification.
Please remember that there is a high fire danger in the Cascades this fall. No smoking, cooking or open flames please.
For more information, contact me by phone or e-mail.
Have a great fall season,

Bud Anderson
Falcon Research Group
Box 248
Bow, WA 98232
(360) 757-1911
bud at frg.org