Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 29, 2012 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 135 | 135 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| American Kestrel | 3 | 19 | 19 |
| Merlin | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Total: | 4 | 210 | 210 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 13:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 5 hours |
| Official Counter | Chuck Hundertmark |
| Observers: | Bill Wuerthele, Chris Tremmeling |
Visitors:
Cohen family: Jonathan (father), Dana (mother), and sons Zander and Jack. Zander is interested in birds, especially raptors. Talked to them about RMBO summer camps, banding station and about DFO trips. Gave them URLs for both organizations. Also several hikers. Visitor from Highland Ranch talked for a bit about hawks. 2 hikers stopped for the view.
Weather:
Mild weather. Cloud cover from 40% lessening to 10%. Smoke haze from a mountain fire lessening visibility to the south and southeast. Winds from the west early shifting to northeast, then southeast.
Raptor Observations:
Little raptor movement and decreased appearances by local Red-tails.
Non-raptor Observations:
First of season flights of White-throated Swifts livened the morning (32 total). Mountain Bluebird, 6;Townsend's Sollitaire 3; Western Meadowlark, 2; Black-billed Magpie, 2; American Robin, 12; Mountain Chickadee, 4; Western Scrub-jay, 1; American Crow, 1; Common Raven, 3.
Report submitted by Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (jeff.birek@rmbo.org)
Dinosaur Ridge information may be found at: http://www.rmbo.org/
Site Description
Dinosaur Ridge is the only regularly staffed hawkwatch in Colorado and is the
best place in the world to see migrating Ferruginous Hawks. Dinosaur Ridge may
be the best place in the country to see the rare dark morph of the Broad-winged
Hawk (a few are seen each spring). Hawkwatchers who linger long enough may see
resident Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie Falcons, in addition to
migrating Swainson's, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels and
Turkey Vultures. Peregrine Falcons and Ferruginous Hawks are uncommon; Northern
Goshawk is rare but regular. Non-raptor species include Rock Wren, and sometimes
Bushtit, Western Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, White-throated Swift, American White
Pelican or Dusky Grouse. Birders are always welcome.
The hawkwatch is generally staffed by volunteers from the Rocky Mountain Bird
Observatory from about 9 AM to around 4 PM from the first week of March to the
first week of May.
Directions to site:
From exit 259 on I-70 towards Morrison, drive south under freeway and take left
into first parking lot, the Stegosaurus lot. Follow small signs from the south
side of lot to hawkwatch site. The hike starts heading east on an old two-track
and quickly turns south onto a trail on the west side of the ridge. When the
trail nears the top of the ridge, turn left, head through the gate, and walk to
the clearly-visible, flat area at the crest of the ridge.
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