Date: 04/01/2005

Number: 1

One of the things about studying migration is that there are places where one can go to experience the phenomenon, as it happens in front of our eyes, whereas many migrations are more subtle, and go unnoticed.

Last Friday was parent/teacher interview day. It was past noon and I had finished my interviews. On a whim, despite the sky turning suddenly overcast, I headed down to Beamer Conservation area, on a cliff overlooking western lake Ontario, about halfway to Niagara Falls from Mississauga, Ontario.

As I got out of the car, a kettle of over 100 Turkey Vultures circled the observer's tower. During the next hour, almost 300 birds flew over the cliff area viewing platform. As I say, it was a spectacle. They streamed north, perhaps in anticipation of the brutal late winter storm that was approaching. Over 25 cm of snow fell Saturday and Sunday. The day's official totals are below.

Can I suggest that students who are Journey North participants get out and watch for migrations, perhaps at a nearby Hawkwatch. Many Hawkwatches can be found here:

http://hawkcount.org/index.php

FYI- Here is last Friday's count


Fr, Apr 1/2005- Beamer Hawkwatch

Species Day's Count

------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------


Black Vulture 0


Turkey Vulture 1403


Osprey 2


Bald Eagle 2


Northern Harrier 0


Sharp-shinned Hawk 44


Cooper's Hawk 12


Northern Goshawk 0


Red-shouldered Hawk 24


Broad-winged Hawk 0


Red-tailed Hawk 131


Rough-legged Hawk 6


Golden Eagle 1


American Kestrel 0


Merlin 0


Peregrine Falcon 0


Unknown UA 0


Unknown UB 1


Unknown UF 1


Unknown UE 0


Unknown UR 0



Total: 1627

Beamer Conservation Area, ON

Latitude: 43.2 Longitude: -39.6

Observed by:
Contact Observer

The observer's e-mail address will not be disclosed.
Contact will be made through a web-based form.