Hello Hawkmates You probably think I'm getting lazy posting 3 days in one but none of those days was worth talking about on its own. To be sure we had lots of human visitors as Mid Sept. is widely known to be peak Broadwing time. What I found encouraging, and will keep me spouting off until I fall off my perch is that a lot of folks stopped by because of the welcome attitude and good publicity we have been generating of late. Even more exciting, a good many of our visitors were younger and new to birding. They are the bright future of our pastime.( Sport? Hobby? Whatever it is.) There were no Broadwings the past 3 days but I'll tell you about something new and hopefully big with Broadwings in it in just a minute. Over the past 3 days all we saw were totals of: Sharp Shins 120 Coopers Hawk 10 Red Tail 1 Am. Kestrel 2 Peregrine Falc. 1 63 Monarch Butterflies 3 Common Ravens and buckets of dickiebirds There have been a great many warblers and other small passerines coming through since last weekend and we think all the Sharpies are just following their tucker home. Note how the Sharpies fly in small groups when they are down low? We think that's because they sort of hunt as they migrate. And if the first bird misses a shot, the one behind and above him will be there to take the prize. Now I get the chance to talk about one of my pet projects which I've been warning you all about since last year. The Hugh Currie Linear Hawk Watch Revival is about to take place Saturday morning, Sept. 19th. We are going to occupy 7 observation sites all day ranging from the Lakeshore North in a straight line all the way up Jane Street to Holland Marsh. We figure if the Broaddies aren't going to come to us any more, then by golly we are going to go looking for them. We don't get much of a window but this will will be a start. I have an introductory package which I can email out to you tomorrow and which covers anything one might need for Saturday. I know its short notice but people tend to forget if you tell them too soon. Everyone is welcome as long as they can get to the watch sites on their own. If there is success, we will hold the same event next September and be much better organized. Email me for details at [email protected] (in case you can't see it, that's an underscore before the 5 Happy Hawking, Tim Mccarthy _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
