Bradbury Mountain Hawkwatch: Week 1

The 19th Bradbury Mountain Spring Hawkcount was up and running on March 15th with Zane Baker returning as our official counter. The first day was really pretty good with a slightly delayed start due to morning fog. Once the skies started to clear and the winds moved from west to ESE, we ended the day with a respectful 62 birds. The weather for the remainder of the week was hit or miss with one total shutdown and three shortened days. We already have one highlight for the season with a BLACK VULTURE observed on 3/18 (one of only 5 raptors counted that day). A Black Vulture was seen again on 3/21, but we surmise it may the same individual hanging around. 3/15 was also a good day for other migrants with flights of blackbirds, American Robins, and Canada Geese. A dozen SANDHILL CRANES were spotted on 3/21.

Trail conditions are good with most of the winter’s ice and snow melted out.

Week 1 Totals (current week - total to date – season average)  

BLACK VULTURE  1-1-1

TURKEY VULTURE  51-51-403      

OSPREY 0-0-404

SWALLOW-TAILED KITE 0-0-0   

MISSISSIPPI KITE   0-0-0   

BALD EAGLE 23-23-80

NORTHERN HARRIER 4-4-106

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 4-4-660

COOPER’S HAWK 3-3-69

AMERICAN GOSHAWK 0-0-6      

RED-SHOULDERED HAWK 11-11-89

BROAD-WINGED HAWK 0-0-1773

SWAINSON’S HAWK 0-0-0

RED-TAILED HAWK 13-13-209

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK 0-0-1

GOLDEN EAGLE 0-0-0       

AMERICAN KESTREL 1-1-354

MERLIN 1-1-70

PEREGRINE FALCON 0-0-6

UNIDENTIFIED RAPTOR 0-0-47  

TOTAL 112-112-4277