Holiday Beach
Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 15, 2007
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Turkey Vulture 6 70 70
Osprey 6 84 84
Bald Eagle 21 60 60
Northern Harrier 29 194 194
Sharp-shinned Hawk 348 2468 2468
Cooper's Hawk 21 85 85
Northern Goshawk 0 2 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 1 1
Broad-winged Hawk 10365 16671 16671
Red-tailed Hawk 21 75 75
Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 51 577 577
Merlin 3 23 23
Peregrine Falcon 7 13 13
Unknown 6 6
Total: 10879 20330 20330
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Observation start time: 06:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 10 hours
Official Counter: Claude Radley, Todd Pepper
Observers: Claude Radley, Dan Lumm, Dan Mennil, Karen Padbury,
Kathy Evans, Mike Fitzpatrick, Pat Schlenk
Visitors:
Lots of visitors today, who thought it was the start of the annual Hawk
Festival. They came from Florida, North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio, 7 or 8
towns and cities in Michigan, and from around Windsor and Essex County.
Weather:
Temperatures from 8C - 18C, mostly clear but clouding up in afternoon,
Winds predominately N or NW, pressure steady around 30.25.
Raptor Observations:
It started early with Sharp-shinned, but it had all the makings of a big
Broad-winged day, and it did not disappoint. The BW's started around 8:30,
slowed down slightly around 10 and then at noon there was a steady stream
of them coming at us from the east as far as we could see with aided vision
for the rest of the day. We had 14 of the 16 regular raptor species
recorded for Holiday Beach.
Non-raptor Observations:
A number of flocks of Blue Jays between 8 - 10 a.m. totalling 342 birds.
Other passerines of note included Cape May and Blackpoll Warblers and
several dozen Ruby-throated Hummers. A temporary hummingbird feeder set up
below the tower was busy all day.
Predictions:
The same as today, except south-west winds.
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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).
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.
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