Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 29, 2016 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 1119 1119 Osprey 0 18 18 Bald Eagle 0 52 52 Northern Harrier 2 221 221 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 2477 2477 Cooper's Hawk 0 43 43 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 1 Broad-winged Hawk 0 17396 17396 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 131 131 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 0 478 478 Merlin 0 17 17 Peregrine Falcon 0 4 4 Unknown Accipiter 0 3 3 Unknown Buteo 0 8 8 Unknown Falcon 0 2 2 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 11 11 Total: 4 21981 21981 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 11:00:00 Total observation time: 3 hours Official Counter: Dustin Brewer Observers: Andrew Sturgess Visitors: Our only visitors today were two hungry ducks, Splish and Splash. Weather: This morning, clouds to the southeast appeared bright blue, as if a wavy disturbance in a tropical bay. The wind was variable in direction and strength, as if the the weather system moving through couldn't 'make up its mind.' The rain was also unpredictable, starting and stopping throughout the morning. It rained throughout most of the afternoon, which stopped the count early. Raptor Observations: We observed only two Northern Harriers and two Sharp-shinned Hawks today, due to the weather. Even when it was not raining at the count site, it was often raining in Canada on the migration route. Birds in the past who tried to go through such weather or didn't have the capacity to perceive its presence probably often died, and didn't pass on genes that made them more likely to fly in the rain. Thus, few birds migrating today. Non-raptor Observations: We got to see a ball of about 10 starlings mirroring the movements of our local Cooper's Hawk, flying just above its head. This behavior was very interesting to watch, and may ultimately decrease the hawk's hunting success, making it more likely to die or move on, and therefore creating a safer environment for starlings. Even the Blue Jays weren't moving today, as we only counted 200. About 100 Red-winged Blackbirds flew overhead, and 25 Pie-billed Grebes are still hanging around in the water. Predictions: Tomorrow is also predicted to be rainy, but there may be breaks in the rain long enough to see some migrants. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Detroit River Hawk Watch ([email protected]) Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at: http://www.drhawkwatch.org _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
