In 2020, I was elected as the 11th President of Eastern Mass Hawk Watch. Traditionally, the President address the membership in the annual newsletter. The below article appears in the 2021 edition of the Eastern Mass Hawk Watch newsletter.

It seems likely only yesterday that I first wandered up Mount Wachusett, on a late August day, and decided to try my luck at this “hawkwatching” thing that I had been reading about in my email. There wasn’t anyone else counting birds on the fire tower that day, but to my delight, there were indeed some hawks up there! My first count didn’t break any records, and actually left me really questioning my birding confidence. I couldn’t tell the difference between a migrating hawk and a local, let alone separate the different juvenile buteos that soared over my head.  Yet my data, 6 birds in 4 hours on light NE winds, ended up getting counted.  When EMHW Founder Paul Roberts reached out to me to ask about my sightings, I was surprised.  When he told me that my numbers were going into the official season count, I was inspired. And when he told me to come back in September to see some real numbers, I did just that. The hawks obliged. And the rest, as they say, is history.

While it may have seemed like yesterday, that first hawkwatching session was actually in 2014.  And now, seven years later, I am thoroughly delighted to address the members of Eastern Mass Hawk Watch as the group’s new President.  It’s been a remarkable evolution from my beginnings as a simple ‘hawk fan’ to today. I can only describe my relationship with hawks as a calling, and I am so proud to lead this group that shares that passion.  In the time since that first session, I’ve logged hundreds of hours at EMHW watch sites, learning identification technique from teachers like Tom Pirro, Bob Secatore and Rod Chase.  From Mount Watatic and Plum Island, I’ve seen record-breaking flights and found comfort in the solitude and silence of waiting for the next one to happen.  I’ve traveled the US, eager to meet the hawks from my field guides; Swainson’s and Ferruginous in Utah, Swallow-tailed Kites in Florida, and even the ‘Io of Hawaii.  I’ve taken thousands of photos of raptors, hoping to capture the moments that inspire the pure disbelief that these birds leave me with. I’ve even studied enough raptor identification that Mass Audubon let me teach a program about it.  What I’m trying to say is, I think I am the right person for this job!    

Hawkwatching isn’t just about birds though. From the outset, the community built around hawkwatching has impressed me.  My hope is to strengthen and grow that community and inspire the next generation of watchers in Massachusetts and beyond. 

I’m excited to announce that one of my first initiatives as President has been the adoption of a new Code of Conduct that helps prioritize and publicly state EMHW’s commitment to the values of inclusivity and safety.  The Board of Directors has unanimously approved the Code this year, and I’d like to introduce its basic tenets to you and ask that members join us in practicing it together.  

The code applies to all interactions between members of EMHW, participants at our hawk watch sites, and attendees at our meetings.  

1. Always be respectful of one another. All interactions at any EMHW site or event should be free of disrespectful or discriminatory language or action concerning race, religion, sexual orientation, age, gender, nationality, disability, or birding skill.  Respect the rights and safety of all people at all times. Comply with all health and safety guidelines during in-person events.
2. Aspire to promote the club and hawkwatching. In the field, at an event, or when participating in the birding community, EMHW’s members serve as ambassadors of the club and to the field of hawkwatching in general. Promote the values of education, conservation and inclusion.
3. Practice ethical birding. Become familiar with the standards of birding ethics and promote the conservation of birds and their environment through ethical practices. Minimize negative impacts on birds and their habitat.    
4. Respect hawk watch site properties.  All formal EMHW watches are currently conducted on state- or federally-managed public lands.  Follow all published regulations when using these properties.  

Information about reporting violations and disciplinary action can be found on our website at www.emhw.org.  

I’ve also authored a new section of our website called Conservation Projects in our About The Club section.  This page highlights the many raptor conservation efforts that EMHW sponsors throughout the year.  Your dues, donations and raffle proceeds go towards real results and make a real difference for raptors in Massachusetts and across the Northeast.  I invite you to explore the wonderful work being done with the goal of conserving raptors for future generations.

The future is bright for Eastern Mass Hawk Watch. Our counters navigated the confusing and frightening reality of COVID-19 through the 2020 season, and persevered even as the virus fight spilled into 2021.  We hope that our next hawkwatch season will be free of restrictions, but we remain vigilant and appreciative of the sacrifices made by many during this time.  

Despite COVID-19’s obstacles, we saw inspirational results from our hawkwatching efforts.  Mount Wachusett produced an all-time record in coverage hours, in fact the highest season for any site in EMHW’s history: an amazing 432.5 hours over 73 days. All that coverage produced seasonal standards for 9 species on the mountain.  

At Plum Island, we also set a new all-time coverage record, with 236 hours of watch time spread over 56 days. That led to a new all-time record for total raptors (1,771), a new single-day flight record (699 on May 2), and also new highs for 3 species. 

At the Head of the Meadow Beach, Don Manchester has led a second consecutive productive year at a new location on Cape Cod, charting 1,866 birds.  Mount Watatic enjoyed its best season in a decade, while Pinnacle Rock continued to surprise us with sneaky big days in 2020.    

I thank Ted Mara for his honorable service as President of EMHW from 2017 through 2020.  Ted’s sharp eyes, unending positivity, and boundless joy for hawkwatching have inspired me since my first day meeting him on Wachusett in 2014.  He is a huge part of what EMHW is all about to me and I hope to make him proud as successor.  Please enjoy this year’s newsletter, and let us know what you think by reaching out to the EMHW Club Officers at e.masshawkwatch@comcast.net.