This is an official posting from the High Park Hawk Watch. Station: High Park, Toronto, Ontario View Period: Sept. 1 - Sept. 9 Station coordinator: Don Barnett Participants: D. Barnett, A. Bell, D. Burton, B. Cummming, H. Currie, J. DeMarco, C.Harte, L. Kinrys, N. McHugh, I. Mahione, T. McCarthy, H. Shapiro, B. Tannanhill, J. Venturi and B. Yukich
The High Park Hawk Watch has started its 2012 season. Many early migrating raptors have had their historic high numbers for this site on Sept. 15th (Osprey, Bald Eagle, Broad-winged Hawk). Some such as Bald Eagle and Northern Harrier will continue migrating until early to mid October. The American Kestrel is at its peak numbers now for this site although unfortunately the numbers of the falcon are continuing to decline over time. This is also the peak time at our site for Osprey. Our totals for the best today this week Sept. 9 and the year so far are: Species Oct 14 Year to Date Turkey Vulture.............-..............4 Osprey.....................7.............10 Bald Eagle.................6.............11 Northern Harrier...........3..............4 Sharp-Shinned Hawk........44.............91 Cooper's Hawk..............2.............10 Northern Goshawk...........-..............- Red-shouldered Hawk........-..............- Broad-winged Hawk..........6.............23 Red-tailed Hawk............2..............5 Rough-legged Hawk..........-..............- Golden Eagle...............3..............- American Kestrel...........8.............14 Merlin.....................1..............1 Peregrine Falcon...........2..............3 Unidentified...............2..............6 Total.....................83............182 High Park Site Description High Park is a 400 acre wooded park dominated by a Black Oak Savannah located just west of Downtown Toronto near Keele and Bloor. The park is operated by the City of Toronto Parks Department. The Count site (Hawk Hill) is located on a small hill at the north end of the Grenadier Restaurant parking lot. It is located about 1.5km (1 mile) north of Lake Ontario, at an elevation of 110 metres above sea level and 38 metres above Lake Ontario. The site location is N 43 degrees 37 minutes 03.8 seconds, W 79 degrees 28 minutes 56.5 seconds. This station is at the highest point and near the centre of the park; a steep slope that descends to a large pond is immediately west of the station. Full time counts have been recorded here since 1993. The following are partners in our raptor migration monitoring in the Greater Toronto Region: City of Toronto Parks and Culture Department, Toronto Ornithological Club, and Local Naturalist's Clubs. More information including a summary of our past observations is available at: http://www.greatertorontohawkwatch.com/ Observations for this season are not yet available. -- Howard Shapiro email: [email protected] _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
