The Skagit Flats Winter Hawk Count...

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Winter Hawk Count

   The Skagit Flats area is one of the premier winter hawkwatching sites in Washington. This area is located in Skagit County about an hour north of Seattle, WA. The word Skagit rhymes with gadget.

The Skagit River is the second largest river in Washington and over the last 8,000 years, has deposited a rich deltaic alluvium that extends well out into Puget Sound. The flat, open delta is famous for its farmlands and agriculture. Primary crops include peas, corn, raspberries, blueberries, winter wheat, seed cabbage and spinach. The Skagit Delta connects with the Snohomish River Delta to the south, thereby creating a vast flat, open area approximately 25 miles long and 10 miles wide.

It is ideal winter raptor habitat. The winter raptor population reaches its peak in mid-February when the Bald Eagles disperse from the upper Skagit River down onto the open fields and salt-water bays. They complement the other main wintering species, including Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Harriers and Rough-legged Hawks.

   In mid-February, the FRG hosts an annual winter raptor count to determine how many birds of prey occur on the Flats. We began this count in 1985. We have divided the area into 26 census routes. Each year, approximately 100 volunteers survey the routes during a two-hour count period. The results are compiled into an annual report.

Results demonstrate that typically 85-95% of the winter raptors are composed of the “Big Four”, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier and Rough-legged Hawk. Other species seen, in generally descending order of frequency, are: Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, Cooper's Hawk, American Kestrel, Short-eared Owl, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Snowy Owl, Common Barn Owl, Gyrfalcon, Prairie Falcon, Great Horned Owl, Golden Eagle, Great Grey Owl, Barred owl.