FRANKLIN MOUNTAIN HAWKWATCH
Sponsored by the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society
PO Box 544
Oneonta, NY 13820
 
 

 The Franklin Mt. Hawkwatch, located on the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society Sanctuary overlooking Oneonta, NY, is particularly noted for late fall season flights of Red-tailed Hawks and Golden Eagles. Franklin Mt. provides a panoramic view of the Susquehanna River valley and surrounding hills of Otsego and Delaware Counties. In addition to the hawk watch, the Audubon Sanctuary provides marked hiking trails through a variety of habitats.
 

Data from the Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch is submitted to the Hawk Migration Association of North America, which compiles numbers from similar hawk counts across the continent.
Franklin Mt. Hawkwatch daily data is available at Hawkcount website, along with that of many other
North American hawkwatches.
Click here to go to Hawkcount.

HIGHLIGHTS

10/26/76________________________________________ ______ 1231 Red-tailed Hawks
10/26/90_______________________________________________914 Red-tailed Hawks
11/2/93______________________376 Red-tailed Hawks_________27 Golden Eagles
10/29/95_______________________________________________717 Red-tailed Hawks
11/9/01________________________________________________28 Golden Eagles
12/9/01________________________________________________28 Golden Eagles
10/23/03___________________681 Red-tailed Hawks___________19 Golden Eagles
11/20/03____________________9 Bald Eagles_________________51 Golden Eagles
11/1/04_________________________________________________45 Golden Eagles
11/11/05________________________________________________71 Golden Eagles
11/10/06________________________________________________31 Golden Eagles
11/18/06________________________________________________33 Golden Eagles
11/1/08_________________________________________________41 Golden Eagles
11/6/08_________________________________________________46 Golden Eagles

DIRECTIONS TO FRANKLIN MT. HAWKWATCH

The hawkwatch is on the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society Sanctuary overlooking Oneonta, NY from the south.

From I-88 eastbound, take Exit 14. Turn right after the exit, go straight at the light, crossing Rte. 28.  Immediately turn left at the T onto Southside Dr.  Turn right on Swart Hollow Rd. (0.8 mi.).  Go 1.5 mi. and take a sharp right turn onto Grange Hall Rd.  Take sharp left turn into the driveway (0.2 mi.) and park on the right side.  Walk up to the barn, turn left and follow a path up the hill.  The hawkwatch is about halfway up the hill, not at the top.

From I-88 westbound, take Exit 15.  Turn left at the bottom of the ramp, right at the light by McDonalds and go to the 4th stop light (0.7 mi.).  Turn left at this light and follow the directions above from the Southside Dr. T.

From Rte. 17 westbound, take Exit 94 (Roscoe), then Rte. 206 north to Walton (20 mi.), then Co. Rte. 21 to Rte. 357 (12 mi.).  Turn right on Rte. 357 to Rte. 28 (8 mi.).  Take Rte. 28 south for 1/4 mi. to a crossroads with a small church on the right.  Turn left onto Grange Hall Rd. for about 3 mi. to a point where it takes a 90 degree right turn. A short distance on the right is the driveway noted above.

From the NYS Thruway at Kingston, take Rte. 28 north through Delhi, (70 mi.)  About 15 miles beyond Delhi, look for a crossroads with a small church on the left.  The right turn is Grange Hall Rd.  Follow directions as above.

GET FRANKLIN MT. ALERTS BY EMAIL

Interested in receiving alerts for anticipated good raptor flights at Franklin Mt.?  Sign up for Hawkcast, our email early warning system.  Alerts go out a day or two before expected good days--approximately once a week through the fall.

Please note: Good flights often occur on days when the wind blows from the north, especially following periods of rain and the passing of a cold front. Hawk and eagle flights are affected by weather to an extreme degree. Our forecasts are dependent on accurate weather forecasts. Since weather forecasts can change, anyone intending to visit the watch should read an updated weather forecast before traveling.

To join Hawkcast, visit www.pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/hawkcast/ to sign up.

GET FRANKLIN MT. DAILY REPORTS BY EMAIL

To receive Franklin Mt. daily reports via email through the season, send an email to AndyMason@earthling.net with your request.

FRANKLIN MT. HAWKWATCH SEASONAL TOTALS

BV=Black Vulture; TV=Turkey Vulture; OS=Osprey; BE=Bald Eagle; NH=Northern Harrier; SS=Sharp-shinned Hawk; CH=Cooper's Hawk; NG=Northern Goshawk; RS=Red-shouldered Hawk; BW=Broad-winged Hawk; RT=Red-tailed Hawk; RL=Rough-legged Hawk; GE=Golden Eagle; AK=American Kestrel; ML=Merlin; PG=Peregrine Falcon; UR=Unidentified Raptor; HPH=Hawks per Hour.  Maxima are boldfaced.