New Research Report from 2025 Raptor Banding Study on Manitou Island

In 2025, Tim Baerwald conducted a raptor and owl banding study in the Keweenaw Peninsula and Manitou Island with funding from CCBC. This work built on past club surveys that documented a major concentration of migrating hawks on Manitou Island.

While diurnal raptor migration at Manitou Island has long been recognized, Tim’s study revealed a previously unknown major concentration point for migrating owls. Notably, he banded nationally significant numbers of the poorly understood and declining Long-eared Owl. Overall, the project resulted in the banding of 409 diurnal raptors representing 10 species and 119 owls of four species, underscoring the region’s importance as a migratory corridor. Tim aims to continue this work in 2026. (Link to Tim’s report here.)