March 6-16, 2021-Some Great Migration Days, Including the Second Highest Count Day In 19 Years-March 13-2,736 Swainson's Hawks

Leaders and assistants:

Richard,Craig,Ted,Seldon,Jane,Judy,Susan,HalK,Hal,Francie,Randy Marilyn,Pete,Johnathan,Nancy K,Nancy M. 

                        Swainson's Hawks        Turkey Vultures        Other Hawks

March 6-                  14 

March 7-                  51                                      1                    1 Red-shouldered Hawk 

March 8-                 304                                     79 

March 9-                 11                                       3 

March 10-               346                                     9     

March 11-               133                                     1 

March 12-               110                                     21

March 13-               2731                                   11

March 14-               118 

March 15-               409 

Discussion: March Migration produced more migrant hawks than expected. We have had a very dry year thus far, with less than 2 inches of rain. So insects have been virtually absent. We did have one day of aerial feeding (probably feeding on flying ants). We have had several days with high wind. On March 13, hawks were migrating before sunup. 

A Dark Swainson's Hawk-Ted Spriggs Jr.

A Juvenile Dark Rufous Swainson's Hawk-Marion Brown

Swainson's Hawks Going to Ground-Ted Spriggs Jr.

 

Beginning of the Season-Slow Start With Hopes-February 28-March 5, 2021

 A New Season With New Leaders and Observers

Our veteran crew is not available this season as the virus puts a damper on coverage. Thankfully we have new eyes to the sky. 

In February we counted only 5 Swainson's Hawks, 24 Turkey Vultures, 1 Red-tailed Hawk. In March so far, we counted 54 Swainson's Hawks, 1 Turkey Vulture and 2 Northern Harriers. 

Our counters and observers this season include:

Craig Johnson, Don White, Jane Helms, Jan Henry, Johnathan Williams, Judy Spaulding, Marilyn Dickson, Nancy Keeley, Nancy McRae, Pam Albers, Pete McRae, Richard Shutler, and Susan Plumb

Migration Discussion: We have had an interesting weather pattern with predominant wind from the south, southeast and east. An afternoon of rain Wednesday March 3rd pushed over 150 Swainson's toward Cochella Valley. So far our high count of Swainson's Hawks is 38 observed on March 1. The wind pattern is due to change the evening of March 5. This may bring more Swainson's into the valley. We have no flowers and no caterpillars, grasshoppers or flying ants to attract hawks. 

Opportunities: Join us as a volunteer-Contact Hal Cohen Raptorhal3@gmail.com

Photographers: A few photographers are beginning to come into town. Congratulations to Ted Springs Jr. for not only entering the annual park photo contest, he won an award for one of his shots. This is the first entry of Swainson's Hawks throughout several years of the contest. 

        Winner In the Anza Borrego Desert State Park Photo Contest-Lords of Sunrise-Ted Spriggs Jr. 

                                                            Lords Of Vertigo-Ted Spriggs Jr. 

We now have a famous dance group that have partnered up to add spark to our counter collection:

                        

Hawkettes

More Serious Hawkettes-Jane Helms, Judy Spaulding, and Susan Plumb