Nice Close Views of Swainson's Today

Migration Today:
Swainson's Hawks-103
Turkey Vultures-46


Discussion:
Sunny, calm wind and upper 60's-low 70's. Just after 9A kettles of 35 TV's and 71 Swainson's came out of the Roadrunner Club. TV's came up from Pekoff Farm as well. Just after 10A TV's and Swainson's were spotted that brought the totals up.

Nice sky today for a Swainson's Hawk kettle. Find the TV.

This week Calavera Hills Middle School in Carlsbad, Ishi Hills Middle School in Oroville and Southgate Middle School in Los Angeles joined the Hawkwatch.  Thanks for bringing your students to share this conservation story.  Don Callejon Middle School from the Southern San Francisco Bay area sent some awesome letters from last week's visit.    

Question: From Mrs. Browns students:
"What is the average lifespan of a Swainson's Hawk?" The life span of a Swainson's Hawk is 7-8 years on average. The longest wild Swainson's record is 24 years. Swainson's Hawks die from collision's with cars, electrocution, shooting, hailstorms and predators (Great Horned Owls, Golden Eagles, Coyotes and Bobcats). The first year of a Swainson's Hawk life is the most dangerous. About 50% of juvenile Swainson's don't make it to a second year. 


Evening Watch:
A slow evening with a dozen TV's coming in plus around 12-15 Swainson's. Most of the raptors settled into the date farm. Our first big wave of Swainson's Hawks is probably over. After the predicted storm this weekend we should have another wave. 


Prediction for Tomorrow:
Once again we will have sunny and warm weather tomorrow. The few Swainson's and TV's will kettle up around 9A unless the predicted winds continue into the morning hours. 

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