Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 24, 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 159 620 620 Osprey 0 48 48 Bald Eagle 3 94 94 Northern Harrier 3 77 77 Sharp-shinned Hawk 189 1101 1101 Cooper's Hawk 6 58 58 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 82 38600 38600 Swainson's Hawk 0 3 3 Red-tailed Hawk 1 64 64 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 39 317 317 Merlin 1 17 17 Peregrine Falcon 0 12 12 Unknown Accipiter 1 10 10 Unknown Buteo 0 2 2 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 1 18 18 Total: 485 41042 41042 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Jonathan Stein Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Jim Lynch, Patrick Mulawa, Raburn Howland Visitors: Jim Maki, Rodney Laura, Mike D and a handful of others. Weather: It was cool and crisp out there today with a thin film of high cirrus helping to muffle the sun. The wind was light and out of the west and then strengthened and turned more southwest as the day progressed. Raptor Observations: Sharp-shinned Hawks and American Kestrels were on the move in the morning, but when the wind shifted toward the south after noon, activity slowed considerably. Also of note, Turkey Vulture numbers are beginning to build in anticipation of our usual early October peak. Non-raptor Observations: Blue Jays (18000+) were again abundant. Red-winged Blackbirds (150+) are passing over with increasing regularity. And many Chimney Swifts (250+) joined the continued buildup of Tree and Northern Rough-winged Swallows out over the lake. Predictions: Partly cloudy, highs in the mid 70s and strong wind out of the south. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jonathan Stein ([email protected]) SMRR- Lake Erie Metropark information may be found at: http://www.drhawkwatch.org Site Description: The primary site used by the Detroit River Hawk Watch (a joint venture of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge and it's Friends group, the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance) is the Boat Launch at Lake Erie Metropark located approximately 20 miles south of Detroit, Michigan. A secondary site, the Headquarters of Pointe Mouillee State Game Area is used during certain wind conditions. When staffing is available, both sites can be used at the same time. The season begins on the first day of September and concludes on the final day of November. For details and directions, log on to www.drhawkwatch.org Directions to site: Lake Erie Metropark: >From I-75, exit at Huron River Drive (exit 27). Continue east on Huron River Drive. Turn left on West Jefferson and proceed a few hundred yards to the entrance of Lake Erie Metropark. After paying the entrance fee, follow the signs to the Boat Launch. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
