I would like to thank everyone who came to enjoy one of nature’s most amazing spectacles – ‘migration’ at one of Toronto’s most beautiful parks – Rosetta McClain Gardens. What a wonderful time we shared together with endless great memories. Again this year we had so many returning faces and equally so many new ones. It was a real pleasure seeing everyone again and at the same time meeting and welcoming all the new folks. I’d personally like to thank everyone for your friendship and all your kind offerings throughout the season. Without all your help searching, spotting, photographing, and identifying everything that came our way, our numbers would be nowhere near as high as they ended up being. This record season is a true reflection of all your hard work. Also I’d like to thank Rosetta’s staff for allowing us to conduct our Watch again this year, without your help and understanding none of this would've been possible.
Sincerely,
Walter
Statistics Updated
The 'Statistics' section down the right-hand column has been updated with all the 2014 numbers.
Walter
Walter
Nov 30th - What an Incredible Season!!!
The following is a review of what happened during our time at the hawk watch...
Black Vulture (1) - Our first ever and without a doubt the highlight of this year's count. Observed on October 23rd.
Turkey Vulture (3306) - Our best year ever for this species - 1083 birds more than our previous high count. October was our best month ever for 'TVs' with a new high count of 3156 birds. Our highest day count for the season occurred on October 11th when we observed 1234 birds.
Osprey (140) - Our second best year ever for this species. September was our second best month ever for Osprey with a count of 90 birds. Our highest day count for the season occurred on September 6th when we observed 15 birds.
Bald Eagle (106) - Our second best year ever for this species - missing a new high count by only 4 birds. Our highest day count for the season occurred on September 12th when we observed 17 birds.
Northern Harrier (278) - Our fourth best year ever for this species - not bad considering the low count by the halfway point of the season. As suggested at that time, this species might have been running a little late this year. Our highest day count for the season occurred on September 22nd when we observed 26 birds.
Sharp-shinned Hawk (3712) - Our best count ever for this species - 915 birds more than our previous high count. September was our second best month ever for 'sharpies' missing a new high count by only 45 birds. Our highest day count for the season occurred on September 22nd when we observed 560 birds - only 10 birds shy of a new record!
Cooper's Hawk (116) - Our second best count ever for this species - not bad considering the low count by the halfway point of the season. October was our best month ever for 'coops' with a new high count of 72 birds. Our highest day count for the season occurred on October 10th when we observed 11 birds.
Northern Goshawk (19) - Our fifth best count ever for this species - missing a new high count by only 6 birds. Our highest day count for the season occurred on October 19th when we observed 4 birds.
Red-shouldered Hawk (83) - Our best year ever for this species - 7 birds more than our previous high count. October was our best month ever for 'shoulders' with a new high count of 58 birds. Our highest day count for the season, and all-time, occurred on October 19th when we observed 33 birds.
Broad-winged Hawk (1418) - Our best year ever for this species - 661 birds more than our previous high count. September was our best month ever for 'wings' with a new high count of 1322 birds. Our highest day count for the season, and all-time, occurred on September 16th when we observed 1057 birds.
Red-tailed Hawk (1019) - Our best year ever for this species - 17 birds more than our previous high count. October was our second best month ever for 'tails' with a count of 585 birds. Our highest day count for the season occurred on October 22nd when we observed 223 birds.
Rough-legged Hawk (13) - Our third best year ever for this species. Our highest day count for the season occurred on November 21st when we observed 5 birds.
Golden Eagle (12) - Tied our second best year ever for this species. Our highest day count for the season occurred on October 1st when we observed 5 birds.
American Kestrel (697) - Our second best year ever for this species - missing a new high count by only 23 birds. Our highest day count for the season occurred on September 22nd when we observed 149 birds.
Merlin (128) - Our second best year ever for this species - missing a new high count by only 3 birds. September was our second best month ever for Merlin with a count of 64 birds. Our highest day count for the season occurred on October 9th when we observed 14 birds.
Peregrine Falcon (80) - Our second best year ever for this species. October was our best month ever for 'grines' with a new high count of 65 birds. Our highest day count for the season, and all-time, occurred on October 8th when we observed 21 birds.
Total Raptors (11128) - Our best year ever at Rosetta - 3861 birds more than our previous high count. October was our best month ever for migrating raptors with a new high count of 6126 birds. Our highest day count for the season occurred on October 11th when we observed 1577 birds.
Plus...
Species Survey - Birds (133) - 18 species more than our previous high count. Highlights included the following new 'Park List' species - Black Vulture, Pectoral Sandpiper, Eastern Meadowlark, plus an unidentified Plover and an unidentified Jaeger. Also, a Long-eared Owl was a thrill for those who saw it.
Species Survey - Mammals (12) - Nothing overly exciting was observed this year. Highlight was a Red Fox that was seen on November 27th and 28th.
Species Survey - Butterflies (23) - It's was another great season for butterflies with 23 species being identified. Although highlights which included a sighting of the now 'GTA rare' Leonard's Skipper, 17 Giant Swallowtails, and new 'Park List' species - Red-spotted Purple, nothing compared to the number of migrating Monarchs. FYI - The sighting of the Leonard's Skipper is so rare that it is now thought that Rosetta McClain Gardens is likely the last place that this species will be observed in the GTA.
Monarch Count (6897) - An amazing turnaround from such a dreadful migration last year. By the end of the season last year we had observed an estimated 1468 Monarchs, this year our count was a very encouraging 6897 Monarchs! Terry, with the help of many others, managed to capture, tag, and release 160 of the orange and black beauties.
Walter
Black Vulture (1) - Our first ever and without a doubt the highlight of this year's count. Observed on October 23rd.
Turkey Vulture (3306) - Our best year ever for this species - 1083 birds more than our previous high count. October was our best month ever for 'TVs' with a new high count of 3156 birds. Our highest day count for the season occurred on October 11th when we observed 1234 birds.
Osprey (140) - Our second best year ever for this species. September was our second best month ever for Osprey with a count of 90 birds. Our highest day count for the season occurred on September 6th when we observed 15 birds.
Bald Eagle (106) - Our second best year ever for this species - missing a new high count by only 4 birds. Our highest day count for the season occurred on September 12th when we observed 17 birds.
Northern Harrier (278) - Our fourth best year ever for this species - not bad considering the low count by the halfway point of the season. As suggested at that time, this species might have been running a little late this year. Our highest day count for the season occurred on September 22nd when we observed 26 birds.
Sharp-shinned Hawk (3712) - Our best count ever for this species - 915 birds more than our previous high count. September was our second best month ever for 'sharpies' missing a new high count by only 45 birds. Our highest day count for the season occurred on September 22nd when we observed 560 birds - only 10 birds shy of a new record!
Cooper's Hawk (116) - Our second best count ever for this species - not bad considering the low count by the halfway point of the season. October was our best month ever for 'coops' with a new high count of 72 birds. Our highest day count for the season occurred on October 10th when we observed 11 birds.
Northern Goshawk (19) - Our fifth best count ever for this species - missing a new high count by only 6 birds. Our highest day count for the season occurred on October 19th when we observed 4 birds.
Red-shouldered Hawk (83) - Our best year ever for this species - 7 birds more than our previous high count. October was our best month ever for 'shoulders' with a new high count of 58 birds. Our highest day count for the season, and all-time, occurred on October 19th when we observed 33 birds.
Broad-winged Hawk (1418) - Our best year ever for this species - 661 birds more than our previous high count. September was our best month ever for 'wings' with a new high count of 1322 birds. Our highest day count for the season, and all-time, occurred on September 16th when we observed 1057 birds.
Red-tailed Hawk (1019) - Our best year ever for this species - 17 birds more than our previous high count. October was our second best month ever for 'tails' with a count of 585 birds. Our highest day count for the season occurred on October 22nd when we observed 223 birds.
Rough-legged Hawk (13) - Our third best year ever for this species. Our highest day count for the season occurred on November 21st when we observed 5 birds.
Golden Eagle (12) - Tied our second best year ever for this species. Our highest day count for the season occurred on October 1st when we observed 5 birds.
American Kestrel (697) - Our second best year ever for this species - missing a new high count by only 23 birds. Our highest day count for the season occurred on September 22nd when we observed 149 birds.
Merlin (128) - Our second best year ever for this species - missing a new high count by only 3 birds. September was our second best month ever for Merlin with a count of 64 birds. Our highest day count for the season occurred on October 9th when we observed 14 birds.
Peregrine Falcon (80) - Our second best year ever for this species. October was our best month ever for 'grines' with a new high count of 65 birds. Our highest day count for the season, and all-time, occurred on October 8th when we observed 21 birds.
Total Raptors (11128) - Our best year ever at Rosetta - 3861 birds more than our previous high count. October was our best month ever for migrating raptors with a new high count of 6126 birds. Our highest day count for the season occurred on October 11th when we observed 1577 birds.
Plus...
Species Survey - Birds (133) - 18 species more than our previous high count. Highlights included the following new 'Park List' species - Black Vulture, Pectoral Sandpiper, Eastern Meadowlark, plus an unidentified Plover and an unidentified Jaeger. Also, a Long-eared Owl was a thrill for those who saw it.
Species Survey - Mammals (12) - Nothing overly exciting was observed this year. Highlight was a Red Fox that was seen on November 27th and 28th.
Species Survey - Butterflies (23) - It's was another great season for butterflies with 23 species being identified. Although highlights which included a sighting of the now 'GTA rare' Leonard's Skipper, 17 Giant Swallowtails, and new 'Park List' species - Red-spotted Purple, nothing compared to the number of migrating Monarchs. FYI - The sighting of the Leonard's Skipper is so rare that it is now thought that Rosetta McClain Gardens is likely the last place that this species will be observed in the GTA.
Monarch Count (6897) - An amazing turnaround from such a dreadful migration last year. By the end of the season last year we had observed an estimated 1468 Monarchs, this year our count was a very encouraging 6897 Monarchs! Terry, with the help of many others, managed to capture, tag, and release 160 of the orange and black beauties.
Walter
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