Each fall, an average of 10,000 –20,000 raptors migrate over the Quaker Ridge Hawk Watch site, which is located at the Greenwich Audubon Center Main Sanctuary property. Quaker Ridge is one of the highest points in Greenwich and is an excellent vantage point for spotting raptors coming from the north.
Quaker Ridge is one of over 200 official hawk counting locations across the nation that tally more than 15 species of migrating hawks, eagles, falcons, and vultures each fall. The daily counts of these birds are provided to scientists who are working to gauge the health of the raptor populations in this hemisphere and assess their conservation needs.
The migration peaks often occur in mid-September on days when the winds are from the north. Sometimes hawk watchers spot several thousand Broad-winged Hawks in a single day! October and November also bring with them a variety of raptor species, from the expected Ospreys and Red-tailed Hawks to less common American Goshawks and Golden Eagles. Many of these species can be spotted in the hundreds!
Enjoy the amazing fall migration spectacle this season! Scroll down for more information about visiting Quaker Ridge for the chance to see the thousands of raptors that pass over it each year.
Plan Your Visit
The best time to visit Quaker Ridge is in the fall, when visitors can witness the incredible spectacle of hawk migration alongside our expert hawk watchers and volunteers! See below for additional visitor information.
The Quaker Ridge Hawk Watch is located on the large lawn adjacent to the Greenwich Audubon Center parking lot.
Our 2025 hawk watch season runs from August 20 through November 30. Our hawk watcher will be on site Monday through Friday, from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
On the weekends, our volunteer hawk watchers will be present from [TIME] to [TIME].
Since many of the hawks are high in the sky, binoculars are needed to get a good look as they fly overhead! Visitors without binoculars—or who forgot theirs at home—can borrow a pair from the Greenwich Audubon Center for the duration of their visit.
Visitors can bring their own lawn chairs or use the provided Adirondack chairs during their visit.
Weather conditions often determine the number of hawks seen migrating each day. The optimal conditions for viewing large flights are typically partly cloudy days following a cold front with Northwest winds.
Northerly winds will push large numbers of hawks southward towards Long Island Sound and partly cloudy skies provide an ideal backdrop for viewing. Warm days with Southerly winds will often have very low daily counts of migrating hawks.
Please note that steady rain, snow, or fog will typically cancel hawk counting for the day.
The History of Quaker Ridge
In the late 1960s, birders in the Fairfield County, Connecticut area began searching for sites where large numbers of migrant raptors could be observed. Over a dozen sites were tested on weekends for several years, until it was determined that Quaker Ridge was by far the best site in the area.
Since 1971, migrating hawks have been counted by volunteers as they pass over Quaker Ridge Hawk Watch. In 1985, the Audubon Society of Greenwich hired a full-time watcher for the site. Now, the Greenwich Audubon Center hires a paid hawk watcher for the site every year.
The significant number of migrating raptors that are observed here each year is one of the key reasons why the Greenwich Audubon Center Main Sanctuary is designated an Important Bird Area.
Become a Quaker Ridge Community Scientist
Throughout the season, we welcome volunteers to assist our expert hawk watcher in finding and tallying each bird that passes by Quaker Ridge!
This is a fantastic opportunity to get involved in community science and to grow your raptor identification skills.
Interested in getting involved? Contact Ryan MacLean at 203-930-1353 or by email.
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