Journey of the Broad-Winged Hawk: A Windows to the Wild Special

Every September, broad-winged hawks set out on a 4,500-mile journey south. They use nature’s freeways – warm air thermals – to soar from state to state and country to country. By the end of October, the hawks, numbering in the millions, find homes throughout Central and South America to spend the winter.

There was a time when broad-winged hawks were hunted in Pennsylvania for a $5 bounty. The killing of the hawks spilled beyond the state border and lasted until 1971. Today, the birds are protected and the broad-winged hawk population is healthy.

Journey of the Broad-Winged Hawk takes viewers along the broad-winged hawk’s migratory route, from the northern forests of New Hampshire to the rainforests of Ecuador. Along the way, people and communities anticipate the hawks’ arrival, and celebrate it. The program tells the story of the connection people have with the raptors, and how broad-winged hawks inspire learning, teaching and a greater understanding of the relationship between humans and the natural world.

 

Behind the Scenes
In January 2009, NHPTV videographer Steve Giordani and producer Phil Vaughn traveled to Ecuador to film the southern habitats of the broad-winged hawk. Willem Lange, the host of the documentary, was scheduled to travel with them. But just hours before his flight, he fell on his snow-covered driveway and broke his leg.

Phil and Steve visited an indigenous community near Otavola and documented educational work being conducted about raptors, wildlife conservation and protection of the local environment. They also spent time in the rainforest at Maquipucuna Reserve filming native and migratory birds. They heard about ongoing conservation efforts and the development of an eco-tourism industry. The forests in and around Maquipucuna are regarded as one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, with more than 1,700 species of birds. The rainforests have been targeted by developers, thus threatening not only the natural environment but the long-term sustainability of the local economy. By introducing eco-tourism to the region, conservationists have been able to create jobs for the local population.

Barbara Butler from the Butler Foundation accompanied the production team to Ecuador, and assisted as a guide, translator and expert on the reserve and area. 

RESOURCES – WEBSITES
http://www.nhnature.org/
http://www.nhaudubon.org/
http://www.hawkmountain.org/
http://www.hawkwatch.org/home/
http://www.hmana.org/
http://maqui.myweb.uga.edu/
http://www.ventbird.com/people/paul-greenfield
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/broad-winged_hawk/id
http://www.birdnature.com/index.html