[mou] Westskyline Hawk Count- 4/18 Update

[Bjboreal@aol.com]

Westskyline Hawk Count has been up and running since 1 March.

April

I have not sent out an updates since the 3rd as there has been very few 
raptors migrating compared to what should be normal for this time of year. April is 
the month with the largest number of raptors and species diversity. Some 
years one can count upward to 18,000+ raptors of 15 species. So far this month, as 
of the 18th, 3981 raptors have been counted with over half of these counted 
on the 2nd and 3rd. Starting on the 4th there have been northeast winds nearly 
everyday, with some days winds speed reaching 30-40 mph. This is mainly do to 
high pressure systems sitting above us (Omega Block) producing northeast 
winds. The raptors have not even been able to approached the vicinity of the 
lakeshore. Meanwhile condition further inland have been warm and sunny with some 
days producing southerly winds. This is the reason for the low number of 
Red-tails and will for sure give us the lowest number since the count started the two 
site protocol. It should be noted that this is being seen at other great lakes 
sites such as Derby Hill and Braddock Bay which are both on the south side of 
Lake Ontario in New York State.

Hope is for a break in the weather and southerly winds. Now that the red-tail 
push is most certainly done, we are starting to see the beginning of the 
Broad-winged Hawk movement. This species is even more prone to migrating away from 
the lakeshore with the type of conditions of late.

Other birds sighting have been slow with most species starting to show up. 
Interesting sighting include: White Pelican seen on the 15th, with 63 seen on 
the 16th along with 5 Belted Kingfishers. A few sandhills every few days (poor 
movement this year), a male Purple Martin on 18th along with 23 Common Loons, 
Chipping sparrow at my feeder along with several Evening Grosbeaks. 
Yellow-rumped Warbler showed up on the 16 at the lookout along with some kinglet.

Below you can view today and this season's count which is up to date as of 18 
April. You may also view the count on a daily basis at "HAWKCOUNT. ORG" and 
look for 
West Skyline Hawk Count. 

I would like to thank the MOU committee's and Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory for 
funding the count this year.

West Skyline Hawk Count

Minnesota, USA

Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 18, 2005

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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total

------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------

Black Vulture                0              0              0

Turkey Vulture              54            352            355

Osprey                      11             23             23

Bald Eagle                   9            699           2745

Northern Harrier             3             24             25

Sharp-shinned Hawk          70            528            547

Cooper's Hawk                3             14             18

Northern Goshawk             0              3              9

Red-shouldered Hawk          0              3              4

Broad-winged Hawk           47             59             59

Red-tailed Hawk             31           2153           2230

Rough-legged Hawk            1             78             84

Golden Eagle                 0              6             43

American Kestrel            17             29             29

Merlin                       5             10             10

Peregrine Falcon             0              0              0

Unknown                      0              0              0


Total:                     251           3981           6181

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Submitted by: Frank Nicoletti