Holiday Beach Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 30, 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Turkey Vulture 0 710 21182 Osprey 0 0 48 Bald Eagle 0 13 99 Northern Harrier 3 93 266 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 102 3532 Cooper's Hawk 2 69 218 Northern Goshawk 0 4 7 Red-shouldered Hawk 4 197 293 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 8953 Red-tailed Hawk 26 1408 2259 Rough-legged Hawk 0 20 23 Golden Eagle 1 89 133 American Kestrel 0 6 597 Merlin 0 3 36 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 30 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 4 9 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 1 Total: 37 2720 37686 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 4 hours Official Counter: Claude Radley Observers: Jim McCoy Visitors: On this last day of the 2008 count I would like to thank all of those that participated. The Holiday Beach hawk tower is reknown not only for the birds we see but also for the great experience vistors enjoy. Our volunteers go a long way to enhance this reputation. Your help, encouragement and great company is much appreciated. Have a great winter all! Weather: Cloudy with brisk East winds and the temperature just above freezing. Very light rain started just before noon and became moderate by 12:30. Raptor Observations: Most birds were seen as they made landfall after being blown out over the lake. An adult Golden Eagle circled over the park for 10 minutes before heading West. The migration came to an abrupt halt when the intensity of the rain increased. Non-raptor Observations: The usual ducks were in the marsh. 130 Tundra Swans overhead and a dozen or so on the water. Mixed flocks of Cowbirds, Redwings and Rusties headed west. White-throated, Tree and a lone Swamp Sparrow were present as well as a good number of Juncos and Goldfinches. Predictions: The Monday raptor counter will sleep in! The weather looks a little rough. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Claude Radley ([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). _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
