Hawkwatch Returns August 2025 while Hawk Hill Gets a Makeover
An update from the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory
Kelly Sullivan for the Parks Conservancy
It’s here! Every year in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area from mid-August to early December, thousands of raptors pass through the Marin Headlands on their long Pacific Flyway journey. Many are migrating from their northern summer breeding grounds to southern overwintering spots. Others, such as juvenile Red-tailed Hawks, may be searching for new territories. It’s a spectacular phenomenon we witness right here in the San Francisco Bay Area each year.
The Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO), a program of the Parks Conservancy in cooperation with the National Park Service—with over 150 volunteers annually—has been documenting the annual fall raptor migration since 1984. Hawkwatch, the GGRO program that sights and counts the passing birds from Hawk Hill, kicks off again in August. You can follow the migration along with us on our Daily Hawk Count page to see the birds observed by volunteers.
This year, Hawk Hill is undergoing the final phase of the Hawk Hill Visitor Improvement Project, which will enhance visitor experience and improve habitat at the hill. While we normally welcome visitors during the season, Hawk Hill will be closed to the public during construction. The goal is to potentially reopen before migration season is over, but until that time only enrolled Hawkwatch volunteers are permitted to access Hawk Hill. Stay up-to-date on GGNRA closures on our park updates page.
There are other great spots in the parks to view the migration! Here are two we recommend:
- Battery Godfrey – Enjoy views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean from the Presidio while you keep an eye out for raptors.
- Golden Gate Observation Deck – A little farther down from Hawk Hill’s peak, this is still a great spot for fall and a prime viewing spot for the second annual raptor migration, which happens during springtime.
