Hawk Ridge, Duluth
Hawk Ridge is a nature reserve and bird observatory renowned for its autumnal raptor migrations. The Audubon Society describes Hawk Ridge as "one of the premier sites in North America". P. B. Hofslund, one of the first ornithologists to conduct research there, pronounced it "one of the great hawk flyways of the world". Twenty-thousand birdwatchers visit Hawk Ridge each year to view the migration. It is an important site for ornithological research.
History
The area was originally frequented by hunters. "Hawk hill", as it was known, was a favorite location for shooting birds of prey. However, because the site was within the city limits of Duluth, the Duluth Bird Club succeeded in having an ordinance enforced there prohibiting the discharge of firearms within city limits.Hofslund and the Duluth Bird Club helped to popularize the location as a site for bird watching. In 1972 the Duluth Audubon Society received a loan from the Nature Conservancy to purchase land at the location. The Duluth Audubon Society then donated the funds to the city of Duluth's parks and recreation department which purchased 135 acres at the highest part of the ridge. This land and an additional 200 acres became the Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve. Duluth Audubon and the city of Duluth created a nonprofit trust to manage the reserve, the Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory.