Date: 8/3/26 2:52 pm From: Eric Mueller <ericmueller1912...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Fall Hawk Watch begins at Mt Wachusett on Aug 23
Hello MassBirders,
Eastern Mass Hawk Watch is happy to announce that we'll begin our 51st consecutive season of daily Fall hawk watch coverage on the summit of Mt. Wachusett on Sunday, August 23 (weather permitting) and plan to run through mid-November. We invite everyone who enjoys watching birds and wants to experience the wonders of raptor migration to join us. No experience is necessary, just a willingness to scan the skies for raptors and give a shout out when you see something. We'll be happy to share tips on where to look, what to look for and how to identify the different species. The raptors often appear at a fair distance from the mountain, so binoculars are a must, and if you have a spotting scope, feel free to bring that along as well.
Our watches are always more successful (and enjoyable) when we have multiple observers on the mountain each day, so we invite folks who are interested to consider volunteering on a scheduled basis. Barring poor weather or other circumstances, we'll always have at least one veteran hawk watcher present each day to handle recording and reporting duties, so volunteers can just concentrate on spotting birds and calling out their locations. If you'd be interested in helping out this way, please contact me (Eric Mueller) at the email address or phone number shown below. This doesn't preclude you from just showing up whenever you can - we're always happy to have extra help at any time.
The gate to the summit road opens at 9:00 am each morning, so we start right after that. The address of the park entrance is 345 Mountain Road, Princeton MA. We typically stay until at least 2:00 pm each day early and late in the season, and to 3:00 pm or later during the heart of the season in mid-to-late September. The park closes the auto road entrance gate just before sunset each day. There are more details about the site posted on the hawkcount.org website at https://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?r=on&rsite=228&go=Go+To+Hawkwatch+Profile . The auto road to the summit will be open daily through Sunday, October 25. After that, we'll continue to hike and bike up the mountain as the weather and our personal energy levels allow. We'll post daily reports of what we see on hawkcount.org, eBird and here on MassBird The reports normally include predictions about the following day's weather and alerts if we think that the next day's watch might be cancelled or delayed.
Wachusett Mt Reservation is a MA state park and DCR charges a daily parking fee of $5.00 for vehicles with MA license plates, or $20 for out-of-state. If you're a MA resident, you can buy an annual park pass (Jan 1- Dec 31) for $60. MA residents who are age 62 and older can purchase a lifetime park pass for only $10 (an excellent deal!) To purchase either type of pass, go to https://www.mass.gov/how-to/purchase-an-annual-parking-pass-for-massachusetts-state-parks . Each pass is linked to a single MA vehicle license plate, so have that information handy when you place your order. Parking is free for vehicles with disability plates or placards, or with Purple Heart recipient or Disabled Veteran plates. Many MA public libraries and recreation centers have daily park passes that MA residents can borrow for free. If you like to hike, there are multiple free parking spots at the trailheads surrounding the mountain.
We'll also be conducting the Mt. Watatic hawk watch (Rt. 119 in Ashburnham MA) this year from Saturday, Sept. 12 through Sunday, Sept. 27. It requires a hike up the mountain and there are no facilities up there, but the birds often ride the uplifts coming up the steep slopes on both sides and can give you great, up-close views. Everyone is welcome.
The Eastern Mass Hawk Watch in-person annual meeting is scheduled for Friday evening, Sept 11 at Middlesex Community College in Bedford. Keep your eyes peeled for more details. It's always a great time!
If you have any questions about the upcoming hawk watch or about volunteering, please feel free to contact me.
Best regards, Eric
Eric Mueller EMHW Site Coordinator for the Wachusett Mt. hawk watch Clinton MA <ericmueller1912...> 978-337-9150 (voice and text)
