Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 22, 2013 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 23 | 23 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 9 | 83 | 83 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| American Kestrel | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Unknown Buteo | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total: | 14 | 145 | 145 |
| Observation start time: | 08:45:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 5.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Cynthia Madsen |
| Observers: | Ernie Stone, Fran Haas, Will Burt |
Visitors:
We were fortunate to have 5 other assistants today: Nathan Berry arrived at 7:45 AM and stayed until 10:00; Jerry Stone helped from 8:50 until 12:30; Nelson Ford assisted us from 9:00 until 10:30; Rob Reilly, volunteer for the Jefferson County Open Space, spotted hawks from 11:00 until 2:00, and Mary Cay Burger stayed the entire time. Thanks to you all for your great help at Hawk Watch!
Weather:
The times given in this report are in MST. The morning proved to be fairly pleasant with 20 - 25% cloud cover and winds from the east and northeast around 5 to 10 mph. Around noon, however, it was evident that a change in the weather was arriving with increased cloud cover and stronger winds.
Raptor Observations:
We had 14 migrating raptors today with one adult Bald Eagle, one Ferruginous Hawk, one Dark Morph Rough-legged Hawk, one male American Kestrel, one unidentified buteo, and 9 Red-tailed Hawks. The majority of the Red-tails were fairly close to the ridge, although a few were quite high. The local raptors included one male American Kestrel seen several times during the day, at least 4 Red-tailed Hawks, and one juvenile Golden Eagle that did a complete roll when it was dive bombed by one of the Red-tails over the west ridge.
Non-raptor Observations:
There were numerous runners, hikers, and bikers coming up the trail, but only 2 hikers and one biker stopped at the Hawk Watch site. Other birds seen or heard on the ridge included: Rock Pigeon (5), Western Scrub-Jay (2), Black-billed Magpie (2), American Crow (31), Common Raven (4), Western Bluebird (1), Mountain Bluebird (3), Townsend's Solitaire (1), American Robin (1), Dark-eyed Junco (3). Four Mule Deer were seen in Matthews/Winters Park.
Predictions:
Unfortunately, it is not looking too promising for tomorrow's hawk watchers.
Report submitted by Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (jeff.birek@rmbo.org)
Dinosaur Ridge information may be found at: http://www.rmbo.org/
Site Description
Dinosaur Ridge is the only regularly staffed hawkwatch in Colorado and is the
best place in the world to see migrating Ferruginous Hawks. Dinosaur Ridge may
be the best place in the country to see the rare dark morph of the Broad-winged
Hawk (a few are seen each spring). Hawkwatchers who linger long enough may see
resident Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie Falcons, in addition to
migrating Swainson's, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels and
Turkey Vultures. Peregrine Falcons and Ferruginous Hawks are uncommon; Northern
Goshawk is rare but regular. Non-raptor species include Rock Wren, and sometimes
Bushtit, Western Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, White-throated Swift, American White
Pelican or Dusky Grouse. Birders are always welcome.
The hawkwatch is generally staffed by volunteers from the Rocky Mountain Bird
Observatory from about 9 AM to around 4 PM from the first week of March to the
first week of May.
Directions to site:
From exit 259 on I-70 towards Morrison, drive south under freeway and take left
into first parking lot, the Stegosaurus lot. Follow small signs from the south
side of lot to hawkwatch site. The hike starts heading east on an old two-track
and quickly turns south onto a trail on the west side of the ridge. When the
trail nears the top of the ridge, turn left, head through the gate, and walk to
the clearly-visible, flat area at the crest of the ridge.
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