Holiday Beach Migration Observatory Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 09, 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Turkey Vulture 5 5 5 Osprey 5 25 25 Bald Eagle 6 7 7 Northern Harrier 10 59 59 Sharp-shinned Hawk 85 553 553 Cooper's Hawk 2 3 3 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 21 49 49 Red-tailed Hawk 9 11 11 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 17 230 230 Merlin 0 4 4 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown 0 0 0 Total: 160 946 946 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 10:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 5 hours Official Counter: Mike Fitzpatrick Observers: Visitors: Mike Malone, Bob Sanford Weather: Winds were consistent NNW to NW all day, moderate from 6-20k. 95% cloud cover gradually dissipating to almost clear by 3pm. Observations: Highlights inc hunting ospreys, and 3 imm bald eagles, mock-fighting with talon display and wing-rocking. Almost all of the kestrels hugged the shoreline as they rocketed by. We were disappointed in the total #, as the conditions seemed prime for optimal, low-altitude viewing. (too bad the birds don't pick that up) At 2:30,the "hawk-flight switch" was turned off. It seemed like a good day for visiting the park, but there were no visitors other than the two keen watchers listed below.11 hummers zipped by , and 1 Caspian tern was hunting the marsh. Very few waterfowl so far. Predictions: Sorry this took so long to post--glitches in our system! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Michael Fitzpatrick ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Holiday Beach Migration Observatory information may be found at: http://hbmo.org/ Holiday Beach Migration Observatory Information on southern Ontario's hawk migration and the Holiday Beach Conservation Area site ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Southwestern Ontario is largely an area of flat, featureless farmland. There are only two geographic features of note in the region. One is the proximity of the Great lakes, which influence bird migration in the area to a great extent, The second is the shape of the province, roughly funnel-shaped with the narrow end to the southwest. These features confine south-bound bird migrants, especially hawks, to specific flight corridors. 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).
