Raptor Migration 2013 Update 2
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The second week of raptor surveys provided twice the raptors of last week. The beginning of the week was cold and rainy, but temperatures warmed enough to avoid snow, and winds turned favorable. By the end of the week, blue skies and temperatures in the mid-sixties accompanied south winds. Northern Harriers, American Kestrels, and Turkey Vultures began flying over. Accipiter numbers increased, with Cooper’s Hawks as the most common. Rough-legged and Red-tailed Hawk numbers remained high.
On March 26th we spotted a season high 74 birds. The Buteo count was substantial at 50. Species diversity increases daily as other raptors start migrating through the Bitterroot.
Our top non-raptor migrants include:
Snow Goose—4103
Unknown gull—300
Mountain Bluebird—150
We also observed Canvasback and California Gull, new species for MPG. One Sandhill Crane was seen the 27th.
A male American Kestrel briefly hovers over the observation site before flying north (above).
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Raptor Counts: March 24, 2013 |
||
|
Species |
Week Total 3/25-3/31 |
Total |
|
Turkey Vulture |
35 |
37 |
|
Osprey |
0 |
0 |
|
Bald Eagle |
20 |
26 |
|
Northern Harrier |
21 |
26 |
|
Sharp-shinned Hawk |
5 |
5 |
|
Cooper's Hawk |
11 |
12 |
|
Northern Goshawk |
3 |
4 |
|
Broad-winged Hawk |
0 |
0 |
|
Red-tailed Hawk |
147 |
209 |
|
Rough-legged Hawk |
65 |
90 |
|
Swainson's Hawk |
0 |
0 |
|
Ferruginous Hawk |
0 |
0 |
|
Golden Eagle |
25 |
69 |
|
American Kestrel |
9 |
12 |
|
Merlin |
1 |
3 |
|
Peregrine Falcon |
0 |
0 |
|
Prairie Falcon |
2 |
2 |
|
Unknown Accipiter |
1 |
1 |
|
Unknown Buteo |
13 |
19 |
|
Unknown Falcon |
0 |
0 |
|
Unknown Eagle |
1 |
2 |
|
Unknown Raptor |
10 |
12 |
|
Total: |
369 |
529 |
