NH Audubon and the Harris Center are proud to co-sponsor this long-term research and education project, monitoring raptor migration in Peterborough, NH since 2005.
For more information and a recent season summary, please visit the Harris Center’s website.
Follow the migration season online in two ways:
Hawkcount (select Pack Monadnock) to see daily reports and the next day’s predictions.
Harris Center Field Reports for periodic migration reports, photos, and informative links.
The Pack Monadnock Raptor Observatory is a partnership between NH Audubon and The Harris Center for Conservation Education, and with Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation.
Download the Pack Monadnock Raptor Observatory Brochure.
Visit the Pack Monadnock Observatory page at The Harris Center website.
The Pack Monadnock Raptor Observatory is located within Miller State Park near the summit of Pack Monadnock Mountain along the 22-mile long Wapack Ridge in the southwestern portion of the state. The site was launched in September 2005 with funding from the Samuel P. Hunt Foundation, The Monadnock Community Foundation, and the Putnam Foundation.
This location is an observation area that can accommodate large crowds and is ADA accessible. It is reached by a short trail from a parking area at the top of the mountain, as well as from several hiking trails. The trails in Miller State Park are open to hikers during all seasons, and the auto road is open through mid-October (and to late October on weekends) barring poor weather conditions. Visitors can hike one of two 1.5-mile long trails or drive to the summit and walk a 0.2 mile accessible trail to the observation area. Weekends from mid-September to mid-October may result in limited parking within the park and, especially, on the summit. Upwards of 5,000 people may visit the platform over the course of a fall season, while weekdays during peak season (mid-September through early October) often feature large school group visits. Reservations to Miller State Park are required for school or other large group visits, and a donation to New Hampshire Audubon in support of the Observatory is suggested. There is a small entrance fee upon entering Miller State Park.
Miller State Park offers hiking trails, scenic vistas, leaf peeping, and bathrooms. The auto road is open to the public 9-5 daily through mid-October, and sporadically afterwards. The park is otherwise open to the public during daylight hours.
You can now follow the migration season online in two ways:
The Pack Monadnock Raptor Observatory is a partnership between NH Audubon and The Harris Center for Conservation Education, and with Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation.
Pack Monadnock has been a popular spot for hawkwatching since the 1960’s. Iain MacLeod founded the site in 2005 for New Hampshire Audubon and initiated full coverage by a seasonal Biologist/Interpreter, which has occurred continuously since then. Pack Monadnock has proven to be an excellent site with an average of nearly 10,000 raptors/season, making it one of the most productive sites in northern New England.
The observatory is located within an expansive, granite clearing on the north face of Pack Monadnock, surrounded by red spruce and hardwood forest. It provides stunning views of Mt. Monadnock and the surrounding area, a panoramic view of the green mountains of Vermont to the west, the White Mountains to the north and the coastal plain to the east. On a clear day, you can see Mt. Washington.
Migration is most pronounced on northwest winds, especially on the several days following the passage of a cold front. Significant daily and seasonal flights of Broad-winged Hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Northern Goshawks, Peregrine Falcons, Ospreys, and Bald Eagles have occurred here. Late season (mid-October through mid-November) can be highlighted by Golden Eagles and Northern Goshawks.
For current and historic migration data, visit HawkCount.org.
Visit Google Maps for directions to Pack Monadnock and Miller State Park located at 13 Miller Park Road in Peterborough, NH 03458.
If you are planning to bring a school group to Pack Monadnock, please notify Miller State Park (603-924-3672) in advance.
Photos, from the top: Hawkwatching on Pack Monadnock, by Phil Brown; Broad-winged Hawk, by Judd Nathan; observers at Pack Monadnock, by Meade Cadot; a group of students learns about raptor migration, by Phil Brown.
