[EBB Sightings] Crockett Hills 4/18 Raptor Census

April 18, 2007

Turkey Vulture 19
Red-tailed Hawk 154
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0
Cooper's Hawk 4
Northern Harrier 7
Am. Kestrel 1
Peregrine 0
White-tailed Kite 1
Golden Eagle 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 0
Osprey 0
Unidentified Accip 0
Unidentified Buteo 12
Unidentified Raptor 13

Total Count: 213
Total Minutes: 180
Raptors per Hour: 71.0

Temp 53F-63F, Wind  280 10G14, shifting to 235 13G20, Sky scattered to
broken cumulus. Abundant lift. 

Crew: Harv Wilson

About two-thirds of the Red Tails were observed at high altitude. Many
passed directly overhead northbound. Most descended inbound from the SSW.
Several arrived at low altitude along both the east and west sides of the
site. 

For the last several days, the number of juvenile Red Tails has been
increasing. Of the 48 RTs for which I recorded age today, 20 (41%) were
juveniles. This is a higher ratio than during previous watches. Typically,
only about 20% or less have been juveniles. 

I shifted the watch site about 100 yds uphill to the south today in order to
monitor the canyon on the west side better. The goal was to locate the
nesting site of the resident dark-morph Red Tail. Did not have much luck. 

However, was able to watch 4 Cooper's Hawks come in low over the south ridge
and then fly directly down into the tree-covered canyon. When they got to
the north end, they popped up against the sky, ascended to about 1500 feet
and headed north. Usually, I don't see them until they pop up. Now I know
how they're doing it.