Holiday Beach Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 26, 2006 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Turkey Vulture 76 196 196 Osprey 7 77 77 Bald Eagle 8 38 38 Northern Harrier 47 354 354 Sharp-shinned Hawk 158 3242 3242 Cooper's Hawk 16 128 128 Northern Goshawk 1 2 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 1056 4873 4873 Red-tailed Hawk 17 124 124 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 1 4 4 American Kestrel 24 1358 1358 Merlin 4 50 50 Peregrine Falcon 14 46 46 Unknown 3 5 5 Swainson's Hawk 0 2 2 Total: 1432 10499 10499 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Claude Radley Observers: Jim McCoy, Larry Ludwiki, Shirley Hopp Visitors: Our visitors today included Shirley from Indiana, Bob and Margeret from Burlington and Larry from Michigan, two classes of enthusiastic scholars from the local public schools as well as others. Weather: A beautiful day today with sunny skies and light northerly winds becoming light southerly at mid-morning. Temps ranged from a morning low of 11 to an afternoon high of 21. Raptor Observations: A decent flow of birds with 13 species recorded. A few Broadwings were in evidence, mostly between 9:00 and 10:00 until the wind shifted with one good kettle of 760 birds and a number of small kettles. Non-raptor Observations: 7000+ Blue Jays were harbingers of the blue tide to come. Predictions: Moderate Southwest winds with mainly sunny skies and mild temps. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Claude Radley (ca@radley.ca) Holiday Beach Migration Observatory information may be found at: http://hbmo.org/ Site Description: Holiday Beach Conservation Area was formerly a Provincial Park, but is now administered by the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA). It is strategically located at the extreme southwestern tip of southern Ontario. The park is on the eastern end of a large freshwater estuary known as Big Creek. (Specifically the site is 1.1 miles south of the junction Highway 20 (old 18) and Essex Road 50, Town of Amherstburg). The Holiday Beach Migration Observatory (HBMO) (founded in 1986) is a non-profit, volunteer organization formed to promote the study and protection of migrating birds. Activities focus primarily on fall migration of raptors and other species. This site is in Essex County, Ontario, on the north shore of Lake Erie near the Detroit River. In 1988, HBMO persuaded Detroit Edison to donate a 40 foot Hawk Tower which is now at the site. Southwestern Ontario has a funneling effect on migrating raptors due to the geography of the nearby lakes and the reluctance of most raptors to cross large bodies of water. Birds gain altitude over the flat farmland to the north and east, rising easily with the thermals that such areas provide in abundance. As the birds head south they meet Lake Erie and, reluctant to cross it , turn west. With appropriate wind and weather conditions, birds pile up along the lake shore and move west until they reach the narrow crossing at the Detroit River (or island hop within the river mouth). Directions to site: Entering Canada from Detroit at the Ambassador Bridge: After Canadian Customs, stay left 50 yards, passing over the railroad tracks. You are now on Huron Church Road leading to Highway 401 and Highway 3. Continue east 3.8 miles to the intersection with Todd and Cabana roads. Go through the intersection, staying to the right. In less than 100 yards the main road splits; 401 and 3 continue to the left as the main road and Huron Church narrows and angles to the right. Follow Huron Church right for 0.5 miles to Disputed Road. After anglign a right turn onto Disputed Road, travel south. At 4 miles Disputed Road intersects with Townline Road, and the name changes to Concession 5. Continue south 5 miles and Concession 5 "T"'s with South Townline Road. Turn left and travel east 0.2 miles, turning right (south) onto Concession 6. Continue south for 3.4 miles to the intersection with Highway 20 at Malden Centre in the town of Amherstburg. There is a restaurant/convenience/gas store on the southeast corner of the intersection. Go through the intersection south onto Route 50 for 1.3 miles. The entrance to the Holiday Beach Conservation Area is on the right. Pay entry fee and continue to the Hawk Tower at the south end of the park. Park vehicle and walk to the tower. West bound on Routes 401 and 3 Howard Avenue, Route 9, intersects Routes 401 and 3 east of Windsor. Take Howard Avenue south to Highway 20 ("T"'s) and turn left (west) traveling to Malden Centre in the town of Amherstburg. A restaurant/convenience/gas store is on the left. Turn left (south) on to Route 50 for 1.3 miles; the entrance to HBCA is on the right.