Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory — Attraction in Duluth

Indeed it is a very nice place. We went to the festival they have today. It was pretty nice, at first one volunteer approach us and engaged with us immediately. My son and daughter enjoyed talking with two of the first volunteers we approached and my son started to do some of the activities. He finished part of the activity booklet (the young naturalist guide) and he got his patch. He was pretty excited and he even met the person who created the activity book for young naturalists. That experience was pretty neat for him as well as the banding activity where they make a bracelet for you. But, shortly after he finished the activity book, a woman (a naturalist or volunteer) approached the public with a Sharp-shinned hawk for release and she was rather rude. Our son was excited to see the hawk and she immediately said in a snarky and rude tone to him to “step down from here to the first step.” Her tone was harsh and not one to be used with children. She asked everyone what species of bird it was and our son correctly answered sharpy which is short for Sharp-shinned hawk. She gave a short informative talk about the species which was good but then asked who wanted to help release the hawk. She barley looked around the crowd and selected a young girl who we later saw was associated with one of the volunteers working the cash register in the trailer they had set up as a gift shop. We now can see how things work as you seem to have to know someone who works or volunteers at hawk ridge to be able to partake in the releasing of a bird. I would put our review to 1 star just for this woman volunteer who held the hawk and gave the short talk. It makes me wonder if she has a bias against minorities or people who are not Caucasian as we are a mixed family and not Caucasian. I just can’t tolerate that kind of behavior. As a minority these things always cross your mind and you wonder how treatment like this might effect your children. I have been working with birds and people for over 10 years and I have seen other bird observatories similar to this interact much better with diverse groups of people. The only thing I can say is when you talk to young people like that you can leave a lasting and very negative impact.......I am giving 4 stars 🌟 because the other volunteers were very inclusive and did not make us feel discriminated against but I never will go and try to be a member or get a membership. Don’t get me wrong, I love what they do but they have to make a conscious effort to work more effectively with people of diverse backgrounds or all you are doing is creating a career field (such as ornithology and conservation) with all people from the same background and you exclude people who might bring wonderful new ideas and concepts to this field. Isn’t the main goal to conserve species for...

Exquisite Views I recently had the pleasure of visiting Hawks Ridge Duluth, and I must say, it's an absolute gem for nature enthusiasts and bird lovers alike. The experience I had here was nothing short of extraordinary. The moment I arrived, I was greeted by the breathtaking beauty of Hawks Ridge. With its stunning views of Duluth and Lake Superior, it's impossible not to be captivated by the natural splendor of this place. The trails at Hawks Ridge Duluth well-maintained and clearly marked, they offer a variety of options. The trails wind through the forest on the hillside, and lead back to the scenic overlook where you can pause and take in the magnificent views. Now, let's talk about the main attraction at Hawks Ridge: the hawk migration. This place is a haven for birdwatchers, but what surprised me the most was how even non bird watchers can appreciate and enjoy this. The count board of birds is updated throughout the day. Whether you're an avid bird watcher or not, Hawks Ridge Duluth offers an unforgettable adventure. The combination of gorgeous views, great trails, and the incredible autumn hawk migration make it a must-visit destination for nature lovers. I can't recommend this...

If you have an interest in birds and love being outside, this is worth a stop. Best time to go is mid day and in September and October. We visited during MEA break in mid October. We loved the experience! The staff are friendly and helpful. They have binoculars you can borrow and teach you how to use them effectively. They are tracking the migrations so they call out birds as they fly over and helped us spot them. Very informative and eager to answer questions. My daughter enjoyed making a bird mask and learned about banding. She even got to release a hawk and they emailed me a pic on the spot. Super memorable moment for us! It’s all outside so dress for weather. Trails all around to explore so bringing hiking boots helps. Parking is just along the dirt roadway and cars drive through slowly so watch your little ones. Gorgeous view of the lake and in the fall it’s...