The South Livingston Raptor Count for the fall migration of 2009 has now begun. First official day of counting began on 25th August 2009. Follow the daily movement of raptors on this blog updated daily by Peter Sherrington. If you enjoy and are inspired by what you are reading, and would consider supporting or joining RMERF, please click on Membership for details.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

December 9 [Day 103] (Valley View site) The temperature reached a high of -13C from a low at 1015 of -16C, which was also the temperature at 1700. Ground winds were mainly SW to NW and occasionally NE gusting to 50 km/h and ridge winds were mainly strong WNW. Cloud cover was 20-90% altocumulus, cirrostratus, cirrus and lenticular and a spectacular sunset proved a fitting end to the fall 2009 count. No migrant raptors were seen but an adult resident Golden Eagle displayed briefly above the Livingstone ridge at 1044 and probably the same bird glided high to the north above the valley at 1617. 7 hours (1142.8) TOTAL 0 (7145)
December summary This is only the second year that the count has extended into December, the other being in 2007: inclement weather precluded December counts in 2006 and 2008. Seven days were spent in the field (60 hours) with December 5 and 6 lost to poor weather and 48 migrant raptors were counted compared to 78 in 2007. The count comprised (with 2007 count in parenthesis) 36 Bald Eagles (69), 1 Red-tailed Hawk (0), 4 Rough-legged Hawks (4) and 7 Golden Eagles (3). Two migrant Northern Goshawks occurred in 2007 but the species was not recorded in December this year.

FINAL COUNT, AUGUST 25 TO DECEMBER 9 (variance from 2006-8 average in parentheses)

DAYS 103 (+10.8%)
HOURS 1142.8 (+15.16%)

TURKEY VULTURE (TUVU) 0 (=)
OSPREY (OSPR) 49 (+167%) New high count
BALD EAGLE (BAEA) 684 (+24.5%)
NORTHERN HARRIER (NOHA) 100 (+65.7%) New high count
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (SSHA) 1015 (-22.3%)
COOPER’S HAWK (COHA) 302 (+40.2%) New high count
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (NOGO) 136 (-27.8%)
Unidentified Accipiter (UA) 35 (-34.8%)
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (BWHA) 45 (+214%) New high count
SWAINSON’S HAWK (SWHA) 7 (+250%) New high count
RED-TAILED HAWK (RTHA) 195 (-14%)
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FEHA) 10 (+400%) New high count
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (RLHA) 85 (-20.6%)
Unidentified Buteo (UB) 7 (+10.5%)
GOLDEN EAGLE (GOEA) 4293 (-14.45%)
Unidentified eagle (UE) 4 (-76%)
AMERICAN KESTREL (AMKE) 65 (-122%) New high count
MERLIN (MERL) 29 (-16.3%)
GYRFALCON (GYRF) 10 (+66.7%) New high count
PEREGRINE FALCON (PEFA) 48 (+63.6%) New high count
PRAIRIE FALCON (PRFA) 12 (-26.5%)
Unidentified Falco (UF) 3 (+12.5%)
Unidentified raptor (UU) 11 (-8.3%)

TOTAL 7145 (-9.72%)

Principal Observers: Peter Sherrington (95 days), Bill Wilson (4 days), Vance Mattson (3 days) and Doug and Teresa Dolman (1 day). The Principal Observers were skillfully assisted by Keith McClary (51 days), Phil Nicholas (41 days), Denise Coccioloni-Amatto (29 days), Nel Van Kamer (9 days), David Thomas (9 days), Dawn Hall (9 days), Doug and Teresa Dolman (6 days), Pat Lucas (5 Days), Peter Sherrington (3 days), Ben Johnson (2 days), Karole Michalsky (2 days), Angelo Mincone (2 days), Dominic Mincone (2 days), Patricia Wagenaar (2 days), Nancy and Terry Waters (2 days), John and Donna Dubbelboer (1 day), Brenda Kofell (1 day), Marian Mincone (1 day), Mark Sherrington (1 day), Gareth Thompson (1 day) Heinz and Marilyn Unger (1 day), Paul Vandervelde (1 days) and Michael Woertman (1 day).

Acknowledgements: To the Board, members and supporters of the Rocky Mountain Eagle Research Foundation for their continuing financial and material support, and to members of the Crowsnest Conservation Society for their support and many contributions to the success of the project. To the many people who invited me for meals and hospitality during the season, to Nel Van Kamer who cooked prepared meals for me and saved me hours of cooking time, and to all of the above for their support, friendship and companionship during what was a long and often arduous field season.

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