Pilot Mountain History                                                                  I     On October 4th 1973 Ramona Snavely and members of the Forsyth County Audubon Society made a field trip to  Pilot Mountain State Park in Surry County, NC.   Pilot Mountain had just opened in 1968 as North Carolina’s fourteenth state park so perhaps the group was checking to see what migrants might be present. While at the Little Pinnacle Overlook, the group saw something unexpected, a kettle of Broad-winged Hawks drifting southwest over the mountain.     Snavely recognized the importance of the sighting and returned in following years to study the raptor migration. She wrote papers about the site, collected hawk migration data and joined with Janice Levitt in arguing for the protection of the park’s Big Pinnacle due to the presence of  nesting Common Ravens. Since that day in 1973 many people have shared their time and talent to support Pilot Mountain’s hawk watch but Ramona Snavely started it all.                                                                        II     Pilot Mountain State Park is one of the roughly 200 sites which submits data to the Hawk Migration Association of North America, an “organization committed to the conservation of raptors through scientific study, enjoyment and appreciation of raptor migration”. The presence of migrating raptors  at the park is interesting since the site is more than twenty miles south of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is unclear why southbound raptors would deviate from their path along the Appalachians, and yet they do. During the ten years from 1991 through 2000 the average count was about 4500 migrants with about 110 hours of observations. Of these, 95% were Broad-winged Hawks, followed by Sharp-shinned Hawks (1%), Osprey (.7%) and Cooper’s Hawks (.5%). Thirteen species of raptors are seen regularly including Black Vultures and Turkey Vultures.     Most migrating raptors are seen between September 10 and October 15. The peak of the Broad-winged Hawk migration usually occurs in the last 10 days of September. Look for clear cool days with winds out of the north.  Visitors to the Little Pinnacle Overlook may also see resident Common Ravens as well as a variety of  passerines –notably warblers and the occasional red-headed wood-pecker.                                                                        III     To reach Pilot Mountain State Park follow US 52 north from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The state park exit is located between the towns of Pinnacle (exit 29) and Pilot Mountain (exit 34). Follow the main park road past the office and continue up to the summit parking area. The Little Pinnacle Overlook is a five minute walk from the parking area: just follow the sidewalk uphill beyond the restrooms.     As with any outdoor activity, appropriate clothing is essential. The Little Pinnacle is a rocky area so wear supportive shoes or boots. Bring a hat, sunscreen, water, and whatever snacks and additional clothing you might need. A vending area for soft drinks is located alongside the restroom. Binoculars are a must and spotting scopes can be helpful.     Finally, park visitors with limited mobility can view the hawk migration easily from the summit parking area. There is also an overlook which is accessible from the lower corner of the parking area. Good Luck!     Toby Gordon