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