Each fall, starting in early September I make almost weekly treks to Lake Erie Metropark on the western shore of Lake Erie to view one of the most impressive fall hawk migrations in North America.
This year marks the 43rd year of the Detroit River Hawk Watch (DRHW), where thousands of raptors can be seen streaming over the Lake Erie Metropark boat launch during fall migration.
From September 1 through November 30, DRHW professional and volunteer observers watch and count migrating hawks seven days a week.
Their daily counts, along with other counts across North America, are used to monitor and analyze species population, status, and changes as well as population health.
From what I learned, 23 species have been observed at DRHW with 16 species regularly seen each year.
What is astonishing are the number of raptors that can be seen in one day!
Over 190,000 Broad-winged Hawks were counted September 17, 2011.
I’ve never seen that many hawks in one day when I’ve been at hawk count, but in October 2025 I watched as 2,900+ Turkey Vultures flew over.
What an amazing view!
Wondering why the DRHC is located at Lake Erie Metropark Boat Launch? Here’s one explanation:
- As raptors from Canada migrate south, they ride thermals, which are rising columns of warm air.
- Since thermals don’t form over water, the hawks are blocked by the north shorelines of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
- The hawks are forced to make a choice: head east around Lake Ontario or head west around Lake Erie.
- For raptors flying west, the mouth of the Detroit River emptying into Lake Erie near the boat launch is one of the shortest distances across the water.
- As hawks cross the water, they lose altitude. Which can make it somewhat easier to observe them as they fly by.
If you’re near or traveling to southeast Michigan in the fall, and love to learn more about hawks and migration, consider visiting DRHC.
While hawk count observers are busy counting hawks, they often share info and identification tips with folks stopping to watch the migration.
