Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 20, 2012 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 4 | 82 | 83 |
| Osprey | 0 | 10 | 11 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 12 | 15 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 5 | 48 | 56 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 64 | 215 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| American Kestrel | 1 | 62 | 82 |
| Merlin | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 4 | 7 |
| Prairie Falcon | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 21 | 25 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 11 | 19 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| Total: | 12 | 345 | 575 |
| Observation start time: | 07:30:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 7 hours |
| Official Counter | Cynthia Madsen |
| Observers: | Michael Kiessig |
Visitors:
Our sincere thanks go to our many capable visitors today who assisted with HawkWatch. Fran Haas, David Christian, and Peter Conrad gave us 2 hours of their time this morning. Jeanette Wesley helped us spot for an hour and Justin Dee, a long time birder from Vail, provided support for the last hour and a half.
Weather:
Visibility was good today except for a slight haze upon arriving on the ridge. Winds were slight and from the east in the morning and shifted from the west with significant gusts in the afternoon. Although the temperatures were in the 60s by the end, it felt much cooler.
Raptor Observations:
The raptor migration count was down significantly from the past two days possibly because of the fairer weather. The migrating Turkey Vultures stayed over the west ridge, whereas the majority of all the other migrating raptors were below or above Dinosaur Ridge. Local raptors included 6 Turkey Vultures, 5 of which traveled together over the west ridge. The local Cooper's Hawk and American Kestrel made multiple appearances, usually on the west side of the ridge. There were at least 4 local Red-tailed Hawks, some performing nice aerial displays. The highlight of the day was a Broad-winged Hawk being harassed by a Red-tailed Hawk in front of Mount Morrison. We were all holding our breath hoping it would head north, but, alas, it spiraled up and turned south.
Non-raptor Observations:
Other birds observed or heard today were 4 American Pelicans very high heading west over Cabrini, at least 12 White-throated Swifts, 2 Western Scrub-Jays, 5 Black-billed Magpies, 5 Common Ravens, 1 American Crow, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Rock Wren, 1 Townsend's Solitaire, 4 Spotted Towhees, and 3 Western Meadowlarks.
Predictions:
It will be interesting to see if the number of migrating hawks continues to stay low with this improved weather.
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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