Dinosaur Ridge
Colorado, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 11, 2012
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 0 6 6
Northern Harrier 0 0 0
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 0 0
Cooper's Hawk 0 2 2
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 2 29 29
Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1
Swainson's Hawk 0 1 1
Ferruginous Hawk 0 2 2
Golden Eagle 0 2 2
American Kestrel 0 1 1
Merlin 0 1 1
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1
Prairie Falcon 0 5 5
Mississippi Kite 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 1 2 2
Unknown Buteo 0 1 1
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 3 54 54
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Bill Wuerthele, Francis Commercon
Observers: Bill Wuerthele, Cyndy Johnson, Elizabeth Prevatte,
Joyce Commercon
Visitors:
Great day for visitors. 16 total people came up and expressed interest in
Hawk Watch. One man from Maine wanted to become a volunteer. Multiple young
couples visited with their young children specifically for the hawk watch!
Weather:
The weather today was slightly breezy with light winds from the northwest
all day except around noon, when wind began blowing from the east.
Temperatures very warm and scattered clouds. Sunny
Raptor Observations:
Good views of the pair of local red tailed hawks all day, with a show of
the local prairie falcon at 10AM. Another pair of Red Tails was seen over
Mt. Morrison, accompanying a local Golden Eagle. Many Red Tailed hawks
active throughout the day, but few demonstrated migratory behavior. A local
male Kestrel was seen perched on a pole on the West slope of the ridge, and
a local red tailed hawk passed very close with a dead mouse.
Non-raptor Observations:
Several crows and ravens observed throughout the day, with a flock of 40
crows seen at 3PM. Morning singing from a pair of Townsend's Solitaires,
and also some Western Meadowlarks. at 9AM there was a flock of 30+ robins,
and The western Scrub jay was constantly active. 4 Mountain Bluebirds
passed by. At 11AM a herd of 80 elk grazed on the slopes north of mother
cabrini shrine.
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Report submitted by Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory ([email protected])
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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