200-300 Swainson's Hawks in Borrego Springs

This evening 2 waves of hawks dropped into town between 5:30 and 6pm. It's possible that we have as many as 300 hawks in the area. It appears that they may have roosted either at the Roadrunner Club or tamarisk trees north of The Springs RV Park. Tomorrow the wind should be moderate at 8am so the hawks might get up early. However for the past few days, the Swainson's Hawks have been feeding on Crane Flies. It is possible that this huge group might do the same. If so, the hawks will move about the valley slowly while consuming the flies on the wing. By 9 or 10am the hawks will most likely begin to migrate. I'd say there is a 50/50 chance that the hawks will leave the valley by 8am or they will remain in the area to feed before migrating. 

Best spots to observe the hawks will be at the evening site on Borrego Valley Rd., 1.8 miles north of Palm Canyon Drive. Another possible spot for observation is on DiGiorgio Rd and Big Horn Rd. about 1 mile north of Palm Canyon Drive.  

Hal Cohen

Borrego Springs