Ryan D.

‘Tis the season…the season of fall hawk migration, that is! Each year in late summer and early fall, thousands of hawks and their young move through the state from northern breeding grounds to wintering areas often far to the south. While the majority of broad-wing hawks depart by late September, now’s your chance to see the best variety of migrating hawks, as well as several species of falcons and late-moving ospreys, eagles, and northern harriers.

Enjoy these five fantastic photographs of hawks from past years of our annual Picture This: Your Great Outdoors photo contest and check out our How to Hawk Watch guide—then get out there and hawk watch like pro!

This year’s photo contest closes on September 30, so be sure to enter your nature photographs today!

Red-tailed Hawk © Nathan Goshgarian

Cooper’s Hawk © Lee Fortier

Red-shouldered Hawk © Richard Alvarnaz

Broad-winged Hawk © Joseph Cavanaugh

Cooper’s Hawk © Mary Anne Doyle

While we are amazed by many of the submissions to our annual Picture This: Your Great Outdoors photo contest, we are always particularly impressed with the photographers in the Under 18 age category.

These youth photographers demonstrate, year after year, that they have an eye for composition and a thirst to master the full range of photographic techniques. Sometimes a “fresh perspective” leads to dazzling creativity…and it’s hard to argue with the results! Here are five entries to past photo contests from some very talented young photographers.

Are you or someone you know a budding photographer? Enter our photo contest today for a chance to win some great prizes and be featured in Mass Audubon’s Explore member newsletter!