Belvedere Castle Hawk Watch

Date: Thursday, October 9, 2025, 12:30 pm

Leader(s): Phil and Anne Ribolow
Transportation: Public Transportation: Participants can use public transportation to arrive at the meeting location.
Meeting Point: Our meeting location is Belvedere Castle in Central Park.
Schedule: Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 12:30 pm. Registration is not required but is recommended for easier communication; there is no limit to the group size.
Relative Difficulty: The group will gather at Belvedere Castle and view raptors from the steps. You can sit on the steps or stand.

Trip Description: Fall is the best time to witness raptor migration. These magnificent birds often migrate in large “kettles”, soaring on thermals to their southern wintering grounds. We will watch the sky over the Great Lawn from the steps of Central Park’s Belvedere Castle to search for migrants, including Broad-winged Hawks, Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, Red-tailed Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels, and vultures. The best chances of seeing large numbers of raptors are sunny days after a cold front has pushed through and winds are from the north or northwest. The date will be set when these conditions are forecast and will be announced only one to two days in advance. Follow us on social media, and check Discord (Manhattan chat) and our website (www.linnaeannewyork.org) for the date. Registration is not required but is recommended for easier communication; there is no limit to the group size.

Please read The Linnaean Society of New York COVID-19 Field Trip Guidelines before registering.

Registration: No registration needed.

Please read the About Our Trips page, if you’re going on a field trip for the first time. It details our field trip policies, recommends what to bring on a trip, and offers other useful information, pro tips, and tricks.

If after visiting the About Our Trips page, you still have questions, feel free to contact the Registrar via email.