Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 08, 2009 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 5 2558 4877 Osprey 0 2 4 Bald Eagle 0 5 52 Northern Harrier 0 12 41 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 136 334 Cooper's Hawk 0 10 93 Northern Goshawk 0 0 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 18 717 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 3 274 2292 Rough-legged Hawk 0 8 59 Golden Eagle 0 7 12 American Kestrel 1 7 23 Merlin 0 0 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 5 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 4 Unknown Buteo 0 4 24 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 2 45 Total: 10 3043 8585 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours Official Counter: Geoff Carpentier Observers: Terrie Smith Weather: High winds plagued the day's count. The day started overcast, but by 10 a.m. blue sky prevailed until after lunch when some cloud reappeared. Raptor Observations: Very poor flight. Non-raptor Observations: Few landbirds or song noted. Fox Sparrows (3), Phoebe (1), Hermit Thrush (2) and YB Sapsucker (3) ======================================================================== Report submitted by Geoff Carpentier () Beamer Conservation Area, Grimsby, ON information may be found at: http://www.hwcn.org/link/niaghawk/ Site Description: The hawk migration at the Beamer Memorial Conservation Area is conducted by the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch (NPH). The counting is all done by volunteers. Not all members are counters nor does a counter have to be a member. Typically one person is the designated counter for each day but other observers present assist with the spotting and identification. Counting is done from a steel observation tower with a wooden floor. For wind protection on the cold days of March, a black plastic wind guard is installed around the tower’s platform. This platform easily accommodates ten people but on most busy days, no more than five or six observers would be on it. The site lies within a publically accessible property owned by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. There is no charge for admittance. The tower stands in the centre of a mowed area with a gravel ring road near the outer edge. This provides lots of room to park vehicles (along the road) and set up lawn chairs, telescopes and cameras. Toilet facilities are present. During the counting season, the NPH erect a counting board to display the day’s observations for the public. The box enclosing the sign contains brochures and silhouette sheets for the public as well as bulletin boards with news and historical sighting records. Directions to site: To get to Beamer CA, take the QEW to Exit 72, follow Christie St./Mountain St. to the top of the escarpment, turn right on Ridge Road West, and go 1.6km to Quarry Rd. Turn right on Quarry Rd. and drive 100m to the conservation area. Parking is normally available inside the park. If parking at the entrance or on the roads, do NOT leave valuables in your car. Please note: Data in this report is not official until reviewed and finalized after the end of the season. © 2008 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch