FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Mendota Hawk Watch

[RonEHarrin@xxxxxxx]

The 2006 Mendota Hawk Watch, sponsored by the Bristol Bird Club, is set to 
begin on Saturday, September 9, and continue until at least Sunday September 
24, 
depending on the weather and number of volunteers who make a commitment to 
help. 

In order to be successful, we need volunteers willing to commit a day or more 
of time to this effort. Last year, we were short of help, especially during 
the peak of the Broad-winged hawk flights (September 21 is the statistical 
peak, but will vary depending on weather). Larry McDaniel has agreed to serve 
as 
compiler for the weekend of September 16-17. I will try to be there daily 
except on weekends. 

The action is sometimes a little slow early on, but picks up nicely as you 
move towards the peak. Last year we had 40 hawks on September 9, but by 
September 12 we were counting 300-400 hawks per day. We had two days last year 
with 
over 1000 hawks counted. Last year we had the highest count of Broad-winged 
hawks of any watch site in the Eastern United States (6,303). With your help,  
and 
a little push from Mother Nature, we can do it again. Let me know if and when 
you might be able to participate. Bring a folding chair, water, lunch, 
snacks, sun lotion, binocs, rain gear as appropriate, and a positive attitude. 

Plan now to participate. Come up at least once and "catch the fever." The 
hawk watch is located at the old Mendota Fire Tower, atop Clinch Mountain, 
about 
3 miles north of Mendota, VA on the Washington-Russell line. Take Pinnacle 
Road to the top of the mountain, walk up the old tower road. If you need more 
detailed directions, let me know. 
                                              
Ron Harrington
Compiler for BBC

Below is the history of the count (written by Wallace Coffey), and a 
five-year summary by species.

Birders and other curious nature observers have gathered atop Clinch Mountain 
above Mendota to watch the annual spectacle of massive fall hawk migration 
for more than 50 years.
 
In the late 1940's, bird watchers from East Tennessee, led by Fred W. Behrend 
of Elizabethton had begun to search diligently in the mountains of Southwest 
Virginia, East Tennessee and Western North Carolina in hopes of discovering 
passage flights of migrating hawks. 
 
For more than a decade, famous lookouts in Pennsylvania had been observing 
and reporting flights but nothing was known about their flight paths thru the 
southern Appalachian Mountains. 
 
The discovery of Clinch Mountain as a hawk migration flyway occurred 
September 23, 1950.  Stephen M. Russell, a Bristol Bird Club member and high 
school 
student from Abingdon, Va., discovered a sensational flight of 627 Broad-winged 
Hawks at Hayter Knob Fire Tower in Washington County, Va. 
 
Fred W. Behrend was the first observer to reach Mendota Fire Tower to count 
hawks when he saw 65 Broad-winged Hawks there on September 20, 1952.  
 
Thomas Finucane arrived at Mendota Fire Tower lookout on September 15, 1957 
to observe the migration.  The following year he began regular coverage at 
Mendota and continued to do so for more than a quarter century.
 
Regular coverage at Mendota has continued since 1958.   Among those with long 
tenure coordinating and compiling annual records have been Thomas W. Finucane 
of Kingsport, Tenn., Holmes Rolyston of Bristol, Va., Eugene E. Scott of 
Nickelsville, Va., and Violet and George Larkin of Kingsport. Ron Harrington, 
Bristol, VA, has coordinated the count for the last five years.
 
In the fall of 2002, the Bristol Bird Club assumed responsibility for 
promoting and coordinating coverage and record keeping for the Mendota Hawk 
Watch.
 
Bob Quillen, an active member of the Bristol Bird Club, has the longest 
tenure at the Mendota Hawk Count, having participated regularly each year since 
1961 -- 44 years!
 
 Written By Wallace Coffey, September 30, 2004
Amended, 2005


Five Year Summary by Species:

                                               2001 2002    2003    2004      
   2005

BROAD-WINGED HAWK:      6262    3444    3749    4463     6303
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK:         37      25      32        19       16
OSPREY:                           15        26      14        25       21
AMERICAN BALD EAGLE:              6       5       7        7           6
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK:          1        4          3        4           1
COOPERS HAWK:                     25        25        9       14         16
AMERICAN KESTREL:                15     12      16        8          14


NORTHERN HARRIER:              4          6       4       2            2
MERLIN:                        2          0       2       0            0
PEREGRINE FALCON:              3          5       4       1           2
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE:               1       0        0        0     0
GOLDEN EAGLE:                  0         1         1       0            0

TOTAL RAPTORS:                           6371  3553   3841  4543      6381
        
TOTAL SPECIES:                           11      10     11       9           
9