Project Partners:   Gulf Coast Bird Observatory
                                  Hawk Watch International
                                  Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

One of the great spectacles in nature a sky full of swirling raptors soaring their way to central and South America for winter. Smith Point on the eastern shore of Galveston Bay is a natural concentration point for southwardly moving raptors in fall migration. At the peak of fall migration, it's not unusual to see thousands of Broad-winged Hawks, the most numerous species that migrates through Smith Pont, on a single day. To take advantage of this natural bottleneck the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory in partnership with Hawk Watch International and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department instituted an annual census of the raptors migrating through Smith Point each fall. Originating as a part-time all-volunteer effort in 1992, the Smith Point Hawk Watch expanded to a full-time, three-month long count in 1997.

About to enter its twelfth year, the Hawk Watch is held daily at the Candy Abshier Wildlife Management Area where GCBO has a 30 foot observation tower. Official hawk counters and volunteers are on the tower daily from 8 AM to 4 PM. You are invited to come out any day during the season. We are in need of volunteer hawk counters to help give the official counters a day off each week. If you could volunteer one day a week, or even one day a month, it would be a great! To volunteer, please contact John Arvin at (979) 480-0999.

How To Get To The Smith Point Hawk Watch Tower at Candy Abshier WMA:

To reach Smith Point from Houston, take I-10 east to the Texas Hwy 61 exit. Turn south (right) on Hwy 61. In a few miles it changes number to FM 562 and continues south to Smith Point. At the intersection of FM 1985, which branches left at a Y intersection, continue right to Smith Point. Once in Smith Point continue on 562 past a small store/gas station on the right. Hawkins Camp Road, another half mile farther on, leads to The Spoonbill RV Park and Lodge. The hawk tower is just past the intersection of 562 and Hawkins Camp Road where a sign directs you to the left and into the large parking area.