The HAWK WATCH Documentary | 2025 | NR | 00:45:00The survival of Swainson’s hawks on their global migration now depends more than ever on local communities. Sharing that story, and using it to educate and inspire, is the heart of our film.
WHY this film
In the Californian village of Borrego Springs, a dedicated group of citizen scientists, known as the Hawksters, attempts to protect hawk migration in the desert. But this ecosystem faces threats: a changing climate, development, and an aging volunteer force. If we don’t do something now, we risk losing not just the hawks but the chance to educate future generations on the power of conservation.
what’s the story
HAWKWATCH was filmed across three key locations that reveal the full arc of the Swainson’s Hawk migration. In Borrego Springs, California, the film captures the annual spring arrival of hawks as they stop to rest and refuel in the Sonoran Desert—one of the only spring hawkwatches in the western U.S. In Veracruz, Mexico, the story unfolds during the fall migration, where millions of raptors funnel through one narrow flyway in what’s known as The River of Raptors—the largest hawk migration event on Earth. Finally, in Antelope Valley, California, the film visits nesting grounds where Swainson’s Hawks return each year to raise their young before heading south. Together, these locations illustrate the scale, beauty, and fragility of a 10,000-mile journey that depends on connected landscapes and passionate people.
Filming locations
The cast of HAWKWATCH is made up of real-life citizen scientists and dedicated volunteers. Every spring, they document the Swainson’s Hawk migration. Their passion and persistence are the heart of the film.
The hawksters
Hal Cohen, The Hawk Guy, moved to Borrego Springs, California in 2001. Hal is the founder of the Borrego Springs Hawkwatch. He spends his time studying bird migration, specializing in the migration of Swainson's Hawks.
After a 2020 chance meeting with founder Hal Cohen, Tracee was hooked and recruited to the Borrego Springs Hawkwatch. She is now a count leader and one of the regular human migrants to the Borrego Valley.
Candace began her life-long birding hobby as an early teen. Her focus on Raptor migration began after retirement. As happens to a small cohort of birdwatchers, counting and trying to understand migrating raptors became a delightful part of her life.
HAWKWATCH is the latest documentary from Alicia Wszelaki and Matthew Nothelfer. Their Path88Productions studio has been writing, producing, directing and editing projects for the last three decades.
Their documentaries often combine social issues with education; inspiring others to make change. Their films include Flying Fur, a film about animal rescue, The Newsletter, a story of Japanese journalists, Camino The Journey to Santiago, a voyage into an ancient pilgrimage, A Gift For All Ages, a narrative film about the magic of Christmas, and numerous other film credits. For more information, visit Path88Productions.
The filmmakers
As a director, producer and editor, Alicia’s passion is telling other people’s stories. Alicia lives in San Diego, California with her husband, and amazing rescue dog Teddy. She is part-owner of Path 88 Productions, which produces travel films and inspirational documentaries. She enjoys being outside and has walked both the Camino de Santiago, and Japan’s 88 Temples pilgrimages … twice.
Matthew has directed documentary shorts, documentary feature films, narrative shorts, and narrative features. Over the past three decades his career has been spent mostly on the road. He has traveled to all continents on the globe as a photographer, videographer, and cinematographer. Matthew currently lives in Borrego Springs, California and is part-owner of the media company Path 88 Productions.