College Creek Hawkwatch has finished its 10th consecutive season, covering
80 days and 128 hours and tallying a new season high 1525 vultures and hawks.
Coverage extended from February 8th to May 27th.The coverage is one day more
and 5 fewer hours than last year when the record was set at 1445. A few of
the larger days were March 11th with 92 birds, March 17th with 64 birds and
March 8th with 62 birds.
Species totals:
Black Vulture 117, new season high thanks to 50 birds on March 11
Turkey Vulture 915, second highest total
Osprey 183, new season high
Bald Eagle, 109, second highest total
Northern Harrier 35, third highest total
Sharp-shinned 79, fourth highest total
Cooper's 17, tied for second highest
Red-shouldered 6, tied for fourth highest total
Broad-winged 10, third highest total
Red-tailed 37, fourth highest total
Kestrel 10, sadly, the lowest ever, even with much increased coverage
Merlin 1, it came on May 9th with the 4 Peregrines
Peregrine 4, new season high
unidentified 2
Monthly breakdown
February 73 birds and 9 days of coverage
March 730 birds and 26 days of coverage
April 524 birds and 24 days of coverage
May 198 birds and 21 days of coverage, though the final 13 days of the
season had virtually no flight
Non-raptor highlights included American White Pelican on several days in
April and 2 Sandhill Cranes on May 10th.
If anyone wants further details of the season, please contact me directly.
A very special thanks is due to the dedicated regular hawkwatch volunteers,
Tom Armour, Bill Williams and Fred Blystone....thanks for a great season!
Brian Taber
College Creek Hawkwatch is located on the James River near Williamsburg and
is a program of Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory
