The Smith Point Hawk Watch ended it's 14th season on November 15 and we bid good-bye to our two fantastic hawk watchers, Jennifer Ottinger and Leah Vader. Our total raptor count at Smith Point was one of the lowest during our 14 year history, mostly due to the extremely low Broad-winged Hawk tally this fall. Year in and year out Broad-winged Hawks make up about the same number as all other species combined at Smith Point. We are not overly concerned by the low total.  No inferences about population status can be made from a single season’s hawk watch (and our last year’s count of Broad-wings was a record high). Wind patterns may shift the flight path a few miles inland and prevent many flocks from being funneled down to The Point. Late in the season Jen and Leah spotted not one, but a record-tying two beautiful Golden Eagles. We would like to thank Bill Saulman for his continued support and Cliff Peterson for many hours of volunteer hawk counting. Joseph Kennedy photographically documented some of our more outstanding raptors, including both Golden Eagles and some record late Mississippi Kites. Joe and Annette Whitehead provided many kindnesses to our hawk watchers and continued their long role of supporting the SPHW locally. We would also like to thank our sponsors: Houston Endowment, U.S. Fish & Wildlife - Coastal Program, The Trull Foundation, Ornithology Group of Houston Outdoor Club, and Bill Saulman. If you would like to volunteer to count raptors or otherwise support the Smith Point Hawk Watch next year, please contact Susan Heath.