Holiday Beach Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 14, 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Turkey Vulture 2343 14772 15512 Osprey 0 12 109 Bald Eagle 0 28 79 Northern Harrier 10 196 626 Sharp-shinned Hawk 350 2135 6572 Cooper's Hawk 23 236 420 Northern Goshawk 0 1 4 Red-shouldered Hawk 3 20 20 Broad-winged Hawk 0 473 7728 Red-tailed Hawk 19 397 557 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 4 American Kestrel 9 279 2033 Merlin 0 32 109 Peregrine Falcon 3 22 87 Unknown 2 4 10 Swainson's Hawk 0 1 3 Total: 2762 18608 33873 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:30:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours Official Counter: Bob Hall-Brooks Observers: Dan Mennil, Martha Derbowka Visitors: Visitors to the site today included friends from Kentucky, Vancouver, Alaska, and Georgia. We also welcomed and contributed to programs for the Ornithology students of Dan Mennill from the University of Windsor. Two groups split their time between the hawk count on the Tower or a session of bird banding at the Passerine Station (with raptors provided from the Lake Raptor Station). Weather: Rain for the first hour then changing to sunny with cloudy periods. Winds strong from the West for most of the day. Raptor Observations: Over 2700 raptors with most being Turkey Vultures. Sharp-shinned Hawks made up the lions share of the remaining species, but Cooper's Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks, Northern Harriers, merican Kestrels and 3 Peregrine Falcons made up the balance. Non-raptor Observations: Due to the strong winds, passerine sightings were greatly reduced with only 230 Blue Jays and 90 American Goldfinch. The marsh is teeming with many species of duck and American Coots. Some Great Egrets are still present. Predictions: More of the same expected (minus the rain). ======================================================================== Report submitted by Bob Hall-Brooks ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Holiday Beach Migration Observatory information may be found at: http://hbmo.org/ Site Description: Holiday Beach Conservation Area was formerly a Provincial Park, but is now administered by the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA). It is strategically located at the extreme southwestern tip of southern Ontario. The park is on the eastern end of a large freshwater estuary known as Big Creek. (Specifically the site is 1.1 miles south of the junction Highway 20 (old 18) and Essex Road 50, Town of Amherstburg). The Holiday Beach Migration Observatory (HBMO) (founded in 1986) is a non-profit, volunteer organization formed to promote the study and protection of migrating birds. Activities focus primarily on fall migration of raptors and other species. This site is in Essex County, Ontario, on the north shore of Lake Erie near the Detroit River. In 1988, HBMO persuaded Detroit Edison to donate a 40 foot Hawk Tower which is now at the site. Southwestern Ontario has a funneling effect on migrating raptors due to the geography of the nearby lakes and the reluctance of most raptors to cross large bodies of water. Birds gain altitude over the flat farmland to the north and east, rising easily with the thermals that such areas provide in abundance. As the birds head south they meet Lake Erie and, reluctant to cross it , turn west. With appropriate wind and weather conditions, birds pile up along the lake shore and move west until they reach the narrow crossing at the Detroit River (or island hop within the river mouth). Directions to site: Entering Canada from Detroit at the Ambassador Bridge: After Canadian Customs, stay left 50 yards, passing over the railroad tracks. You are now on Huron Church Road leading to Highway 401 and Highway 3. Continue east 3.8 miles to the intersection with Todd and Cabana roads. Go through the intersection, staying to the right. In less than 100 yards the main road splits; 401 and 3 continue to the left as the main road and Huron Church narrows and angles to the right. Follow Huron Church right for 0.5 miles to Disputed Road. After anglign a right turn onto Disputed Road, travel south. At 4 miles Disputed Road intersects with Townline Road, and the name changes to Concession 5. Continue south 5 miles and Concession 5 "T"'s with South Townline Road. Turn left and travel east 0.2 miles, turning right (south) onto Concession 6. Continue south for 3.4 miles to the intersection with Highway 20 at Malden Centre in the town of Amherstburg. There is a restaurant/convenience/gas store on the southeast corner of the intersection. Go through the intersection south onto Route 50 for 1.3 miles. The entrance to the Holiday Beach Conservation Area is on the right. Pay entry fee and continue to the Hawk Tower at the south end of the park. Park vehicle and walk to the tower. West bound on Routes 401 and 3 Howard Avenue, Route 9, intersects Routes 401 and 3 east of Windsor. Take Howard Avenue south to Highway 20 ("T"'s) and turn left (west) traveling to Malden Centre in the town of Amherstburg. A restaurant/convenience/gas store is on the left. Turn left (south) on to Route 50 for 1.3 miles; the entrance to HBCA is on the right.
