While the storm at the end of the month slowed down migration, we are still having our best season ever so far. We have set multiple site records including new season high totals of Turkey Vultures at 2204, Red-shouldered Hawks at 41 and Peregrine Falcons at 99. Our tally thus far is 6506, which sets us up to set a record for how many total raptors we count, needing just 121 more. We are well within reach of 7000 raptors and its not out of the question for us to count another 826 to hit 45000 raptors counted since the counts inception. I never dreamed that myself and friends would ever see such numbers when the count began back in 2004.
Our current numbers as of October 31st are:
Turkery Vulture - 2204
Osprey - 114
Bald Eagle - 59
Northern Harrier - 255
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2175
Cooper's Hawk - 92
Northern Goshawk - 10
Red-shouldered Hawk - 41
Broad-winged Hawk - 347
Red-tailed Hawk - 401
Rough-legged Hawk - 3
Golden Eagle - 5
American Kestrel - 601
Merlin - 100
Peregrine Falcon - 99
Total Raptors- 6506
With much thanks to Walter without whom I couldnt do this all day so many days!! Thanks to all of the rest of the Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptor Watch gang for your help, friendships and many kindnesses. We got a month to go...it should start off with a bang as the weather for the next several days looks excellent for migration. I wont be shocked if by early next week all of the above mentioned milestones are achieved. Lets start the march towards 50000.
I was shocked to get an email today from Betty that she has had a bad fall and injured herself quite badly. I know many of us got the same email and have already joined me in wishing her a speedy recovery and offering any help we can be at all. Everyone be careful!!!
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