Date: 3/18/26 9:51 am From: Lance Benner via groups.io <lbenner...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Swainson's hawk picket lines: March 21
Greetings Everyone, The purpose of this email is to provide a quick update on Swainson's Hawk migration through this area and to invite you to join us on picket lines on Saturday, March 21, to try to understand their migration routes better. I've been keeping track of all the Swainson's hawks reported in eBird west and north of Borrego Springs and Palm Springs this month, and to date, about 350 Swainson's hawks have moved through the area. This is far fewer than we had tallied at this date last year so it could be that we've missed a lot due to unusually clear weather, which makes the birds hard to see, and/or that a significant number haven't arrived yet. There have been fewer large groups of hawks seen moving along the foothills west of Glendora relative to previous years. Reports dating back several years have documented the birds flying into the mountains over Glendora Ridge during sunny weather; more birds are seen west through Pasadena when low clouds are present. Right now we're close to the historical peak of Swainson's hawk migration in this area. We'd like to invite you to help us check sites along the foothills _and_ in the San Gabriel Mountains. In 2025 observers spread out east-west along the foothills and also in a rough line in the mountains along the Angeles Crest Highway. Currently the Angeles Crest Highway is open on the west from La Canada-Flintridge to the gate at mile 54, which is about 3 miles east of Newcomb's Ranch. We don't know in detail where the hawks go once they get into the mountains, so we'd like to position observers along the Angeles Crest Highway east of Clear Creek Junction (where the Crest and the Angeles Forest Highways intersect) to watch for hawks from 9:00-11:00 on March 21. We suspect that sites east of Red Box Gap might be more likely to have hawks, but we don't really know. We can't guarantee that hawks will migrate over any specific location, but it we won't know if we don't try. If this might interest you, please feel free to contact me if you have a site you'd like to check; if not, I can suggest locations, although pretty much any spot along the road with clear views to the south and east could work well. Locations along the Angeles Forest Highway might also be worth checking (say, Mill Creek Summit). It's also fine if you just head up there and report back later. Bear Divide could also be worth checking even though it's farther west. 50+hawks were reported there on March 16. In 2025, the largest numbers were seen around miles 45-46 on the Angeles Crest Highway. We also welcome reports from observers along the foothills from the Palm Springs area on the east all the way to the Grapevine on the west. It would be particularly helpful if someone could cover Glen Helen Park to see if the birds are moving through the Cajon Pass. Of course, observations from the Antelope Valley and anywhere else in the greater Los Angeles area are also welcome. Thank you! Lance Lance Benner Pasadena, CA On behalf of Los Angeles Birders _._,_._,_
