After a slow and stubborn start to April, the Indiana Dunes Longshore Tower finally saw the skies open up for a textbook raptor day this past Sunday, April 13. Light south winds paired with high overcast conditions offered just the setup we’ve been waiting for—and the birds did not disappoint.
A total of 159 raptors passed over the tower, giving us our best flight of the season so far. Highlights included:
- Red-tailed Hawk – 9
- Red-shouldered Hawk – 4
- Broad-winged Hawk – 1
- Sharp-shinned Hawk – 24
- Cooper’s Hawk – 4
- Northern Harrier – 19 (our best movement yet this spring!)
- Turkey Vulture – 23
- American Kestrel – 65
- Merlin – 2
- Osprey – 4
- Bald Eagle – 3
The steady stream of harriers provided a real treat, with several low glides over the dunes and the classic tilting flight that makes them unmistakable.
The Return of the “Grack Pack”
Blackbirds, which had been unusually sparse in recent days, surged back with dramatic flair. The Common Grackles returned in force with a charismatic and noisy 10,000+ individuals swirling in classic “Grack Pack” fashion. This grackle spectacle is one of the hallmark behaviors of early spring migration in the dunes, and their absence had been sorely felt until now.
Other blackbird highlights included:
- Red-winged Blackbird – 1,500
- Rusty Blackbird – 880
- Brown-headed Cowbird – 3300
Still Behind—But Hopeful
Despite Sunday’s boost, we’ve still only recorded five truly ideal count days this season. April can often turn on a dime, and the next week offers promise with improving wind patterns that could carry in our first Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, early warblers, and perhaps even a Ruby-throated Hummingbird if the southern breezes persist. We’re optimistic that the long-awaited neotropical wave is just over the horizon.
Stay connected with our daily updates and detailed records through our official April Longshore eBird Trip Report.
Join Us at the Tower
Now’s the time to grab those binoculars and join us for a morning atop the dunes. With the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival just around the corner (May 15–18), this is the perfect time to sharpen your ID skills, witness spring migration in full swing, and maybe even catch a few rarities before the crowds arrive.
Learn more about the festival and register here: www.indunesbirdingfestival.com
Turkey Vuluture by Michael Topp
Tags: blackbird flight hawkwatch
