Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 10, 2012 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 8 | 24 | 25 |
| Osprey | 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 3 | 13 | 21 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 7 | 41 | 192 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| American Kestrel | 2 | 11 | 31 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 7 | 11 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Total: | 22 | 113 | 343 |
| Observation start time: | 08:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6.5 hours |
| Official Counter | Paul Slingsby |
| Observers: | Art Hudak |
Visitors:
At 10, MST, 3 teachers and 17 3rd grade students from The Logan School for Creative Learning arrived, Elizabeth Wroe had coordinated the visit with us. These students knew their hawks. They made entries in logbooks, had hawk ID sheets from RMBO, and some made sketches that could be identified as, for instance, an Osprey. Check the hourly accounts for more comments on these sharp minded students.
Weather:
Warm (10 deg. to 21 deg. C), sunny, with a pleasant breeze. Almost no clouds. There was a brown haze over Denver Metro but our visibility was unlimited.
Raptor Observations:
All of our raptors travelled along Dinosaur Ridge. Some flew near ridge level, some soared very high from the gap in the ridge just south of our viewing platform.
Non-raptor Observations:
Breeding was confirmed for Spotted Towhee, one was seen carrying nest material nearby. We also saw Western Meadowlarks (2), Black-billed Magpies (7), American Robins (4) Northern Flickers (2), Western Bluebirds (2), Townsend's Solitaires (2), Scrub Jays (2), and a Barn Swallow. Most birds are now singing frequently.
Predictions:
Hawks in the morning, seen mainly over Dinosaur Ridge. Too bad you missed the students!
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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