Following 2 days of rain, the period from April 16-19 was excellent, with a total of 250 birds of 11 species! On 4-19 the total was 120, the 3rd day of 100+ for the season: there were 9 Northern Harriers, which ties the daily record...there were 3 Merlins, which ties the daily record...there were 37 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1 shy of the daily record and there were 7 Red-tailed Hawks, 2 shy of the daily record. There were also 47 Turkey Vultures, 10 Ospreys, 2 Broad-winged Hawks and 5 American Kestrels. The 5 American Kestrels were much welcomed as the season totals for that species from 2005-2008 were only 15, 10, 18 and 12 respectively.
The total of 73 hawks is the highest daily total for hawk species (not including vultures).
The season total now stands at 1,264, on pace to pass the season record of 1,666.
Brian Taber
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Sharp-shinned Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk, by Steve Thornhill
