Hawk Ridge is a nature reserve and bird observatory renowned for its autumnal raptor migrations.
[1] The Audubon Society describes Hawk Ridge as "one of the premier sites in North America".
In 1972 the Duluth Audubon Society received a loan from the Nature Conservancy to purchase land at the location.
[3] Lake Superior is a natural barrier for migratory birds of prey coming south from Canada.
[6][2] The concentration of migratory raptors makes Hawk Ridge a valuable site for conducting ornithological research.