The Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society Sanctuary overlooking Oneonta is the site of the Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch, one of New York state’s premier fall hawk watch locations. It is particularly noted for late-season flights of red-tailed hawks and golden eagles, as Franklin Mountain offers a panoramic view of the Susquehanna River Valley and its surrounding hills.
Visitors can search for other wildlife from lookouts, interpretive trails, and a wetland boardwalk. In addition to birding, hiking is popular on trails that traverse a variety of habitats on the 100-acre property, including open and mowed fields, second-growth forest, and old pastures.
To receive alerts for anticipated good days to view raptor migrations at Franklin Mountain, register for Hawkcast, an email early notification system. Alerts are emailed a day or two before expected good days—approximately once a week through the fall. When the wind blows from the north, especially following periods of rain and the passing of a cold front, hawk and eagle sightings are generally successful.
