This week is International Hawk Migration Week, a time in which many hawkwatch sites record their peak fall season counts. The week is celebrated by the Hawk Migration Association of North America, and it is meant to raise awareness of raptor migration. We, and many other hawkwatch sites all over the continent, submit our data to this organization.
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| Tim Barry hard at work spotting raptors |
Migration is certainly picking up, and yesterday we had our busiest day of the season so far with 1273 raptors in total. This included 164 Ospreys, 266 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 188 Broad-winged Hawks, and 478 American Kestrels. Today, we had another Wood Stork sighting (quite likely the same bird that was seen on 9/17). The bird flew relatively low over the platform and was heading southwards.
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| Wood Stork |
Tomorrow, we will be participating in the Kiptopeke Challenge, an annual "big day" fundraising event in which we record all bird species seen from the platform and surrounding areas. Other teams will be participating as well, birding on the Eastern Shore and coastal plain of Virginia. We hope to see you at the hawkwatch soon!
