The skies over Fort Washington’s Militia Hill, which are typically teeming with raptors at this time of year, have fallen oddly quiet this year – a shift that has local bird watchers puzzled and concerned.

"Last year more than 40,000 raptors were counted, the most ever," said Rich Conroy, co-coordinator of the Militia Hill Hawk Watch. "But this year the numbers are the lowest ever, so we have literally gone from first to worst."

The Hawk Watch, an activity of the Wyncote Audubon Society, involves more than 200 volunteer citizen scientists who gather annually from Sept. 5 to Nov. 15 to count and observe the apex avian predators over the local site also known as “Hawk Mountain.” 

Conroy, who has watched hawks from the Militia Hill platform for 25 years, also owns a Wild Birds Unlimited franchise in Dresher Town Plaza with his wife, Marlene. His experience and passion for bird watching provide valuable insights into the changing patterns of raptor migrations.

According to Conroy, bird migrations are largely a response to seasonal changes in food availability. Some birds, particularly those that feed on cold-blooded prey, are forced to move across continents to areas where their food sources remain abundant despite temperature fluctuations.

However, experts attribute this year’s shift in raptor numbers primarily to wind patterns. Birds prefer to fly with a tailwind, which pushes them along and conserves energy, allowing them to cover greater distances with less effort.

"We are finally getting northwest winds now," Conroy explained, "so the numbers are increasing. We had two major tropical storms last year in early September, which held up the birds in this area and pushed up our numbers. This year birds were pushed to the interior of Pennsylvania, so they have had big numbers in the western part of the state."

For 37 years, dedicated volunteers from Chestnut Hill, East Falls, Manayunk, Mt. Airy, Roxborough, and Northeast Philadelphia have flocked to Militia Hill each fall to identify and count up to all the species they see. Despite its modest elevation of 330 feet and lack of large water bodies, Militia Hill has recorded all 16 species of East Coast raptors over the years, though not all in a single season. 

"It's great being in nature and around very nice people, a bird-friendly garden, bird feeders and a nice park and tower," said Cheryl Massaro, a longtime Chestnut Hill resident and 20-year volunteer who finds the experience both rewarding and relaxing. Massaro has even spotted the local "Philadelphia Eagle" flying over her backyard, though its nest is in Lafayette Hill.

Conroy noted significant successes with certain species over the years. "We have had real success with bald eagles. Years ago we saw just a few, but now we have about 150 a season. We have also had good success with Cooper's hawks and turkey vultures."

However, some species are causing concern among the watchers. "Those of big concern are American goshawks – we see almost none of those – American kestrels and Northern harriers," Conroy said. These declining numbers highlight the importance of continued monitoring and conservation efforts.

Broadwing hawks remain the most commonly sighted species at Militia Hill. Conroy emphasized that while there are no guarantees in bird watching, the experience of witnessing the migration is always rewarding. "Coming to see the migrating raptors is a leap of faith," he said.

To ensure continuous coverage, Conroy coordinates a schedule for the volunteer counters. "I put together a schedule for the volunteer counters, who have the 9 to 1 p.m. shift or the 1 to 5 p.m. shift. It could be once a week or twice a week or whatever one wants, but there is always someone on duty," he explained.

As the season progresses, bird watchers and researchers alike will be keeping a close eye on the skies, hoping for a resurgence in raptor numbers and seeking to understand the complex factors influencing these aerial migrations. The data collected at Militia Hill will be combined with observations from other hawk watch sites across the country – which can be found at hawkcount.org. This data contributes to a broader understanding of raptor migration patterns and population health across the continent.

The Militia Hill Hawk Watch was founded by Oreland environmentalist Marylea Klauder, who passed away at age 86 on Aug. 16 of this year.