Holiday Beach Migration Observatory Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 28, 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Turkey Vulture 0 834 14752 Osprey 0 0 83 Bald Eagle 0 16 61 Northern Harrier 0 24 272 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 133 5504 Cooper's Hawk 0 85 368 Northern Goshawk 0 23 28 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 249 403 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 27843 Red-tailed Hawk 0 1579 2771 Rough-legged Hawk 0 35 64 Golden Eagle 1 40 42 American Kestrel 0 1 1369 Merlin 0 4 62 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 15 Unknown 0 106 239 Total: 1 3129 53876 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 10:00:00 Total observation time: 3 hours Official Counter: Bob Hall-Brooks Observers: Visitors: The only visitor was the CAA Tow Truck operator who came to boost my car battery after it died while I waited to see birds flying. After he came at 9:45 a.m, I had to leave to attend to my dying battery. Weather: Strong SW winds up to 26 mph, cloudy, some rain, 4-5 degrees Celsius. Observations: Only C-Gulls and E-Gulls (or is that Eagles). The only migrant seen was an adult Golden Eagle who swept in low beside the Tower and landed in the trees due west at the Hunt Club. The resident second year Bald Eagle and resident adult Bald Eagle were also spotted later in the same area. Three American Tree Sparrows, one immature White-crowned Sparrow, five Tundra Swans and a flight of twenty-two American Goldfinches were seen. Predictions: The season draws to a conclusion Tuesday at Holiday Beach, at least for the counters. Birds are still flying, Owls are still being banded at night. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Bob Hall-Brooks ([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).
