Local Raptors to Watch for This Coming Spring Migration

What is Spring Migration?

Spring migration is the seasonal movement of birds as they travel south due to temperature changes. Many of the birds that migrate through Olivet take winter residence down south in the tropics and migrate back north in the spring.

Migration features multiple different groups of birds, known as families. Families of particular interest to bird watchers, also known as birders, are warblers, finches, and most importantly for this article, raptors.

Spring migration tends to peak around April, with most of the raptors being spotted in the later half of the month.

Migration has already brought some waterfowl visitors (ducks, geese, and other water-loving birds). A waterfowl of particular interest that has been recently spotted near Olivet is the Sandhill Cranes.

Sandhill Cranes’ migration season differs from that of other birds, so it’s always useful to research your target species before you begin looking for them.

What is a Raptor?

Image of a Red-Tailed Hawk as posted on the Sacramento Audubon website. Image taken by Daniel Lee Brown, through the Michigan Audubon.

A raptor is what many may call a “bird of prey”; including owls, hawks, falcons, eagles, and osprey to name a few groups.

Raptors are birds that eats other living organisms as its main food source. Raptors also possess distinctive sharp talons and beaks to assist them in tearing prey.

Their prey includes mammals, and smaller birds. The specific prey of raptors makes them essential for maintaining ecosystem function. Ecosystems rely on “apex-predators”, such as raptors, to prevent species lower on the food web from overpopulation.

Birds that can be seen in Olivet during Spring Migration

Olivet is home to several birds during spring migration. Spring migration often brings about Broad-winged Hawks through the Great Lakes region, as outlined by The Great Lakes Audubon.

Olivet offers far more than just raptors.

Olivet also offers the chance to identify smaller songbirds such as kinglets and warblers. There have been warblers singing near the water treatment effluent ponds (otherwise known as the sewage ponds) and the Bernard W. Baker Sanctuary.

Photo showing the Benard W. Baker Sanctuary as posted on the Michigan Audubon’s Facebook page.

While the Bernard W. Baker Sanctuary is not within Olivet, it is about a 15-minute drive away from campus.

A full list of birds that are visible during a given timeframe can be found through eBird's Michigan region list, however it should be noted that this covers the entire state. To get a more detailed and local report on what birds to look out for it is recommended to use the eBird app.

Where to find Raptors near Olivet

Olivet has plenty of places to go looking for raptors, and birds in general. The Olivet water treatment effluent ponds attract birders year-round, especially during migration.

The Olivet cemetery also offers great views of a large field known to be used as hunting grounds by raptors.

Birders have exceptional success with finding raptors at the Bernard W. Baker Sanctuary – Meadow and Marsh trails maintained by the Michigan Audubon.

For those looking for additional locations, use the eBird Hotspot Finder run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Written by Logan "Lunar" Seiler