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Waggoner's Gap
By Producer, Kelly Meinhart
 'm
going to share a secret with you that has been tucked under my hat
for a few years. Some of my friends will tell you that I claim to
have a secret birding spot.. but none of them know the exact location.
It's really not a secret at all, and among birding enthusiasts — it's
a very well known location. It's called Waggoner's Gap, and if you
travel along the Kittatiny Mountain ridge, on Route 74 toward Carlisle,
Pa, you'll find it.
aggoner's Gap is a unique birding spot for many reasons. It's located
along the same ridge as its' famous cousin, Hawk Mountain, and so
many of the natural features are very similar. You'll find the same
Tuscarora sandstone boulders sitting high atop the ridge, which makes
finding your own perch a bit tricky. It also sits along the same flyway
as Hawk Mountain. Catching a glimpse at a Red-Tailed hawk, Goshawk,
or even a Golden Eagle is the norm during the spring and autumn months.
[
Waggoner's Gap Photo Gallery 1 ]
 ne
of the great things about both Waggoner's Gap and Hawk Mountain is
that folks are dedicated to watching for these beautiful raptors and
making count of each one spotted flying along the ridge. Each spring
and fall raptors begin their migration to and from the warmer southern
regions where they spend their winters. The Kittatiny Ridge is a heavily
used flyway for raptors. Thermal air rises from the valley below and
creates a long stream of air, or current, in which they can glide.
Gliding along this current means they aren't flapping as rapidly to
travel, and so they are able to save energy for their long journeys.
was originally introduced to the site a few years back, when I worked
with the Audubon Society. I quickly learned that birders regarded
Waggoner's Gap as a 'haven' for not only wildlife, but for the birders
themselves. It's a place of solitude and harmony with your surroundings.
One of these birders is Dave Grove. Dave has been visiting the site
for nine years, and is dedicated to spending several hours per day,
every day, for 5 months out of the year — to being on site to
count each bird that soars by. Why count these beautiful creatures?
Counting the species and numbers that fly by, on a regular basis,
gives us a good look at how particular species are doing. For instance,
if Dave had counted 20,000 Golden Eagles steadily for several years,
and then the following season the number suddenly plummeted to 1,000,
Dave would alert scientists to the sharp decline. This early detection
gives scientists the opportunity to look into what might be happening
in their environment to cause such a dramatic decline in their numbers.
It's a fantastic way of keeping an eye on the health of birds —
from a distance.
[ Waggoner's Gap Photo Gallery 2 ]
 ow,
the numbers I quoted above were obviously overstated, at least for
one particular species. But the count of 20,000 is quite accurate
as an overall count. In 2001, over 20,000 raptors were seen flying
overhead. If your goal is to see Golden Eagles, then Waggoner's Gap
is the place to go. Last season Dave and his core group of volunteers
counted 204 Golden Eagles — that's the highest count east of
the Rockies.
 udubon
Pennsylvania has really guided the raptor watch at Waggoner's Gap
in many ways. Audubon has a program to protect birds, by protecting
their habitats. It's an international program, with a statewide focus
as well. By identifying areas throughout PA that are important to
birds, either as flyways, nesting areas, feeding areas, etc., Audubon
hopes to protect those lands from encroaching development. It's called
The Important Bird Area (IBA) program, and Waggoner's Gap is one such
IBA. In order to protect the property of Waggoner's Gap, as well as
to create educational opportunities for the public, Audubon took ownership
of approximately 20 acres, including the lookout point, which resides
within a 3,000 acre tract of lands of the Florence Reineman Sanctuary.
[ Waggoner's Gap Photo Gallery 3 ]
 ecently,
Audubon, the Keystone Trails Association, Appalachian Audubon, and
the Dickinson College Outdoor Club all worked tirelessly to move boulders
and clear a trail to the main rock outcrop at the top of the ridge.
They also cleared a parking lot for 34 or so cars, and are working
together to build a pavilion for educational programs on site.
 o,
while it doesn't have the tumultuous history of Hawk Mountain, nor
the capacity for the number of visitors as its more famous cousin,
Waggoner's Gap has a unique charm all its own. If you are seeking
a day of tranquility, with a mountain breeze blowing across your face,
a view that's out of this world, and a glimpse of nature at its finest
— make the journey to Waggoner's Gap. But be sure to bring a
few things; I always recommend water, grapes, Triscuits and a warm
blanket to sit on — those rocks can be hard and cold!
Special Note: Audubon Pennsylvania has begun a conservation
program to protect the entire Kittatiny Ridge from developmental pressures.
This program will be featured on Watersheds.tv in Spring 2003.
To learn more about Waggoner's Gap;
 Pennsylvania Audubon
Directions to Waggoner's Gap
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
GreenWorks production, Return of the Raptor, featuring Dave Grove
The
Hawk Migration Association of North America
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