April 30, 2026
Borrego Springs Hawkwatch Wraps 2026 Season with Lower Counts, Ongoing Research
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Low counts, valuable research, and strong community support.
The Borrego Springs Hawkwatch team has wrapped up its 2026 migration season, reporting a slower-than-usual year for Swainson’s Hawk sightings but continued progress in research and community education.
In its final season update, the Hawkwatch team wrote, “It was a slow year with only 1,475 Swainson’s recorded as migrating.” The team noted that this was the second lowest count since the Hawkwatch began in 2003, making the season disappointing compared with more typical migration years.
Even with the lower numbers, the season included an important research milestone. According to the Hawkwatch team, volunteers helped band 10 Swainson’s Hawks with raptor biologist Dr. Peter Bloom. Combined with last year’s project, the team reported that there are now eight birds with GPS backpacks, which may provide valuable information about migration routes and behavior in the years ahead.
The Hawkwatch team also thanked supporters for participating in community presentations, training programs, BioBlitz events, and documentary screenings. In their message, they wrote that this engagement “inspires us all.”
The team hopes this year’s low count is temporary and that future seasons will return to more average numbers.
As the season closed, the Hawkwatch team signed off with its familiar reminder:
“Eyes to the Sky.”
