Date: 03/05/2007

Number: 1

The highlight of the day at Beamer Hawkwatch occurred in the first 10 minutes. At 9:10, five turkey vultures flew along Ridge Road heading west. The only other raptors today were two red-tails.

Contributed by Don Davis
I have only heard of one other report of returning turkey vultures. With the temperatures we are experiencing right now (AND snow), I hope these birds find some carrion. Beamer Hawk Watch is near Grimsby, Ontario on the Niagara escarpment

Phil responds:
Apparently, Beamer had 2 TV's on March 3. This brings the total
already to 7. I can't really say I'm surprised. Turkey vulture
numbers continue to increase dramatically in this northern part of
their range, creating pressure to return early. This winter, I
suspect a rather large number wintered not too far south of here
(Carolinas) as the winter was quite mild. The big push of these birds
occurs in the 10 days surrounding April 1. Two years ago, we
determined that the bulk of the returning TV's passes the Ripley, New
York Hawkwatch the day before arriving at Beamer.

Beamer Memorial Conservation Area, ON

Latitude: 43.2 Longitude: -79.6

Observed by: Donald A.
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