Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 08, 2013 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 27 | 48 | 57 |
| Osprey | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 1 | 28 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 2 | 7 | 15 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 2 | 24 | 35 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 4 | 38 | 172 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| American Kestrel | 23 | 44 | 66 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 1 | 15 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| Unknown Buteo | 1 | 19 | 28 |
| Unknown Falcon | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| Total: | 63 | 205 | 466 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:15:00 |
| Total observation time: | 6.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Bill Wuerthele |
| Observers: | Bill Flowers, Claude Vallieres, Jennifer Hyypio, Rob Reilly |
Visitors:
We had several visitors. One group spent several minutes with us in the morning asking about raptors and what we were doing. This group was from the Westminster Mature Adult Center. Two other visitors asked about Hawk Watch and we told them about the activities and the objectives.
Weather:
The weather was mild with increasing wind during the day. The temperature ranged from 12 to 16 Celsius. The wind increased to to about 15 km/h in the early afternoon switching from SSE to NNE. It was cloudy, ranging from 30 to 90 percent cloud cover.
Raptor Observations:
We had 6 identified species of migrating raptors- totaling 63: 27 turkey vultures, 23 American kestrels, 4 red-tailed hawks, 2 sharp-shinned hawks, 2 Cooper's Hawks, 1 Peregrine falcon, and a 4 unidentified raptors. Most of the raptors flew over Dinosaur Ridge, less than 50 meters above the observers. Most were flying to the East of Dino Ridge. Most of the birds were observed in the afternoon. We had several resident raptors - golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, Cooper's hawks, and American kestrels during the day. The golden eagle was harassed by unidentified falcons over West Ridge and by red-tailed hawks over Dinosaur Ridge. The was a lot of near talon on talon strikes by the red tails on the eagle.
Non-raptor Observations:
We saw mountain chickadees, black-billed magpies, western scrub jays, northern flickers, western meadowlarks, bushtits, spotted towhees, dark-eyed juncos, common ravers, crows, robins, a Canada goose, white-throated swifts, Townsend's solitaire, and a rock pigeon dove. A murder of crows exceeding 50 individuals flew North over Dino Ridge in the afternoon. Bill Flowers was official counter, but Bill Wuerthele's name was used due to limitations on Counter menu pull down.
Predictions:
With the snow forecast for tomorrow, migration probably will be limited.
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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