• American Camp prairie and Mount Finlayson.

    San Juan Island

    National Historical Park Washington

  • American Camp Visitor Center on Daily Schedule

    The American Camp visitor center will be open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., daily through Friday, June 2. Grounds are open sunrise to 11 p.m. The English Camp visitor center opens June 2. Grounds are open 8 a.m. to sunset. More »

Northern Harrier

Northern harrier
The Northern harrier frequents American Camps open prairies, on the hunt for small mammals. They are distinctive for the broad white patch above their tail feathers.
Steve Byland
 

You’ll see these slender, long-winged raptors gliding low over the prairie like kites, patrolling for voles and other small mammals, frogs, reptiles, and insects.

They may hover briefly with quick, short wingbeats, then dive quickly to surprise their prey. You can’t miss them: they have a broad white patch on their rump.

If you’re close enough, you may see their round, owl-like faces. But don’t get too close. Protective females will repeatedly dive at any person or bird approaching too close to a nest.

 
Fast facts Northern harrier
  • Bird Checklist Bird Checklist

    San Juan Island NHP's bird checklist reflects the wide range of species passing through each year. Read More

Did You Know?

Capt. Lewis Cass Hunt

Capt. Lewis Cass Hunt, who squabbled with Capt. George E. Pickett over buildings on San Juan Island, was the brother of Henry Hunt, who commanded the Union artillery at the Battle of Gettysburg. Hunt's guns would largely decimate Pickett's division before they reached the Union lines.