Caesars Head Hawk Watch

From early September through late November of each year, members of the Greenville County Bird Club participate in a count of migrating hawks at Caesars Head State Park. The Hawk Watch is normally manned by volunteers who call themselves "Wing Nuts". Why "Wing Nuts"? One day a few years ago, as the group was scanning the skies with binoculars, some of the tourists who came to the park to enjoy the view were heard to exclaim "that's just a bunch of wing nuts." The name stuck.

More than 10,000 acres of prime, mountain habitat are protected by a complex of state parks and wildlife management areas known as the Mountain Bridge Wilderness in extreme northern Greenville County, South Carolina. One of the state parks is Caesars Head. Rising 3,266 feet above the Carolina Piedmont, the Caesars Head overlook provides the most dramatic mountain view in South Carolina. Caesars Head is virtually the only place in the South Carolina mountains with the natural characteristics needed to attract thousands of migrating raptors.

The Caesar’s Head Hawk Watch program was initiated by Irvin Pitts. During the mid-80's, while working at Caesar's Head as park naturalist, Irvin first noticed the large numbers of hawks during the fall migration. The birds are attracted by the thermals and updrafts generated by wind currents on the south facing escarpment. On a good day in September, hundreds or even thousands of raptors might be seen passing through. It is not unusual to see 200 to 300 hawks at one time soaring or circling in a thermal overhead. This phenomenon is referred to as “kettling” or a “kettle ” of hawks.

The majority of the fall count consists of Broad-winged Hawks, but other species occur, including Bald Eagle, Osprey, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Merlin, American Kestrel, Mississippi Kite, Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture. Even Peregrine Falcon is possible. Usually, the local Ravens are on hand to entertain the group, as well as other fall migrants such as warblers, Hummingbirds, Red-headed Woodpeckers and Blue Jays.

The yearly counts are reported to the Hawk Migration Association of North America and to Cornell University’s Laboratory of Ornithology. 1988 was the first year a report was submitted.

For more information about the Caesar's Head Hawk Watch program, please contact Tim Lee, Park Interpreter, at (864) 836-6115 or by e-mail at caesars_head_sp@prt.state.sc.us.