Programs

Raptor Migration & Monhegan Island

ll participants must agree to the COVID-19 Camp Guidelines - please read before registering.

September 17–22, 2023 

Registration is Open (click this link)

Our registration software server is still experiencing slowness, please do not double-click any buttons while registering.  Have patience and let each page load before proceeding.  We are aware of the issue.  For all other questions or assistance please call our Office Coordinator Lindsy Buckland at 207-360-8353 ext.103. 

Each autumn, a river of raptors flows south across North America — hawks, eagles, falcons and vultures by day, and owls by night. Raptors from as far north as the Canadian Arctic and Greenland, heading as far south as Bolivia and Chile, pass through coastal Maine each autumn, one tributary in this great avian flood.

Join some of the top raptor biologists in the country for an immersion in this riveting phenomenon. We'll visit several mainland sites with a history of providing good hawk-watching, including Great Salt Bay Reserve and one or more locations in the Camden Hills. (The heaviest hawk migration depends on windy weather, so keep your fingers crossed for a strong cold front.) We'll also make an overnight trip to scenic Monhegan Island far out in Muscongus Bay, where peregrine falcons, merlins and accipiters are the common migrants, and where we usually find hordes of passerines and seabirds. At night, we’ll open mist nets to lure migrating owls for banding. In between field trips, participants will learn about the mechanics of raptor migration, the fine points of raptor ID, and hear first-hand from experts doing the research about ground-breaking techniques for tracking raptors across thousands of miles of migration.

Requirements
All participants must be able to walk over uneven terrain for at least 2 miles. Monhegan Island has unimproved trails with hills and rocky outcroppings that require the ability to walk uphill and on a single track trail. 

Prices: The prices listed below are per person and include meals, housing, instruction and all boat trips. Participants must arrange transportation to and from the Audubon dock in Bremen at the start and end of the session (see directions page). Check with your local Audubon chapter or bird club for scholarship opportunities. 

Includes one overnight on Monhegan Island

$1890 Standard Room: shared room (2 twin beds), shared bathroom
$2040 Puffin Room in the Crow's Nest, 2 twin beds, private 1/2 bath (dbl occupancy)
$2190 Single room, shared bathroom
$2190 Osprey RoomEider roomBlackburnian, or Guillemot room, 2 twin beds, private bathroom (dbl occupancy)
$2390 Helm Cabin, 1 queen bed, 1 twin bed, private bathrooms (dbl occupancy) 

Requirements
All participants must be able to walk over uneven terrain for 2 miles. Monhegan Island has unimproved trails with hills and rocky outcroppings that require the ability to walk uphill and on a single track trail. Some wet landings may also be included on slippery rocks.

Wait list
If the program or your preferred housing option is sold out, please add your name to the wait list. There are usually a few cancellations, and the first people on the wait list are almost always able to enroll.  You can also email hogisland@audubon.org or call (843) 340-8673, for updates on the wait list status.

Questions: For questions regarding the program, registration, lodging or meals, contact the Audubon Camp program manager at hogisland@audubon.org or (843) 340-8673. Additional information about accommodations can be found on the lodging and frequently asked questions pages.

Please note that for these programs, there are NO prerequisites, and less experienced/enthusiastic spouses/friends are more than welcome to enroll in all sessions!

Director
Scott Weidensaul
Author and ornithologist

2022 Instructors 
David Brinker, Ecologist, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Carol McIntyre, Wildlife Biologist, Denali National Park and Preserve
Patrick MauriceJunior Instructor

Peregrine Falcon Photo: Mick Thompson
Osprey Photo: Mick Thompson
Northern Harrier Photo: Mick Thompson

1 of 3

Learn More & Act Now