HawkWatch Site

Stop by the site any time of year for an excellent view of the canyon and potential bird sightings

NPS

Quick Facts

Location:

Desert View Drive

Significance:

Migratory Flight Path

Designation:

Globally Important Bird Area

Amenities

1 listed

Scenic View/Photo Spot

In September and October, large concentrations of migrating raptors fly through Grand Canyon National Park on their migration routes through the 'Central Flyway'. This established migration corridor and avian conservation zone stretches from the upper reaches of Canada's boreal forests into Central and South America.

At least 19 species of raptors fly through the Grand Canyon including Sharp-shinned, Cooper's, Red-tailed, Swainson's, Broad-winged, and Ferruginous Hawks; Bald and Golden Eagles; Peregrine and Prairie Falcons; American Kestrel, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Merlin, Northern Goshawk, and California Condor.

Almost 30 years ago, birders along the South Rim of Grand Canyon noticed these raptors migrating, prompting HawkWatch International (HWI) to set up an official monitoring site at Yaki Point, an overlook on Desert View Drive east of Grand Canyon Village.

During migration, official counters from HWI are stationed at the site daily from 9 am to 4 pm to update raptor-migration tally boards between August 27th and October 30, each year.

They welcome visitors to watch, count, and learn about raptor identification and ecology. There is no vehicle parking at Yaki Point, so, park at the visitor center and take the Eastbound Kaibab (ORANGE) Route shuttle to Yaki Point. At Yaki Point, follow the hanging signs to the west, along the dirt footpath to the observation site. Buses come every 15 minutes during the time that Hawkwatch volunteers are staffing the site.  

The narrow, unpaved trail leads across the rocky, uneven ground through a sparsely forested area with low desert scrub. The trail's width varies from a foot to three- to four-feet (1- to 1.2 m) wide along a gentle downward sloping surface. Caution is advised as you move along the trail across flat limestone rocks and smaller six- to eight-inch (15- to 20 cm) loose rocks strewn in the path. Note there are no railings or ropes on the platform to prevent accidental slips and falls on the loose footing, so exercise extreme caution when approaching the rim. The trail leads 200 feet (60 m) to a wide open flat-topped mesa, 15-feet (5 m) wide by 40-feet (12 m) long. 

The information collected by HWI is used to monitor long-term trends in raptor populations and identify the effects of the environment and humans on these high-flying inhabitants of the sky. Although not officially monitored by HWI, Lipan Point, about 13 miles farther east on Desert View Drive, is also a good spot for watching these fall migrants wing their way to warmer climates. 

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