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Mt. Pisgah, NC Hawkwatch -- 09/15/00



	WELCOME TO THE MOUNT PISGAH, NC HAWK WATCH REPORT -- FALL 2000
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Today's Date: 15 September 2000
Hours of coverage today: 1pm - 6pm (5 hours)

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Species		     Today*     Season Total		*See comments below
              
Black Vulture..........3............3		
Turkey Vulture ........0............0 			 
Osprey ................1............5					
Bald Eagle ............0............2				
Northern Harrier ......0............0	
Sharp-shinned H. ......0............2 	
Cooper's H. ...........0............4
Red-shouldered H. .....1............1	
Broad-winged H. ......27..........157
Red-tailed H. .........0............4
American Kestrel ......0...........10
Merlin ................0............0
Peregrine Falcon ......0............0
unidentified raptors ..1............2

TOTALS................33..........190

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Note that only birds showing definite migratory movements are counted. 
Many local raptors and vultures observed at the site are not mentioned
in this report.
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Today's counts were made by: Bill Sanderson and Ray Sharpton

	Today's weather was mostly sunny with stiff NW winds.  Deep blue skies
made for brutal viewing conditions, and no doubt many birds slipped by
unseen. 

Comments:  The Red-shouldered Hawk seen today was, believe it or not,
the first one recorded in five years at the Pisgah watch.  These guys
sure do stick to the low country.  As I make this report I still have
not received the 4pm to 6pm numbers.  I'll throw these in as comments on
tomorrow's report.

	The outlook for tomorrow is excellent.  Partly cloudy skies are
forecast for Saturday and Sunday, with continued northerly winds.  Many
upstream hawk watches got record numbers today, so the outlook for
the weekend and the first half on next week remains very good.  

	Other migrants noted today: Continued good numbers of passerines
late in the day.  Tanagers and warblers in abundance.  No Monarchs.

	The watch site will be covered Saturday 9am to 6 pm (counters may be
absent at mid-day), Sunday 9am to 6pm.

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Reported By:
	Bill Sanderson, Site Coordinator
	Asheville, NC
	nctigers@bellsouth.net
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Site Description:
	The Mount Pisgah Hawk Watch, begun in 1995, is located at the Mills
River Valley overlook, mile 404.6 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  At an
elevation of 4085 feet, it is approx. three miles north of Mount Pisgah,
and approx. 11 miles south of the city of Asheville, NC.  The watch site
is staffed by volunteer counters on an irregular basis throughout the
fall migration season; most often on weekday afternoons and weekends,
weather permitting.  The site is handicapped friendly, and
gas/food/lodging are available at the Pisgah Inn complex, approx. three
miles south on the Parkway.  Visitors are always welcomed, and new
volunteer watchers are always needed.  Contact Bill Sanderson
(nctigers@bellsouth.net) for more information.  
	
	The Mount Pisgah Hawk Watch is an unfunded volunteer effort.  
All data obtained are submitted to the Hawk Migration Association of
North America (HMANA).  Other fall hawk watch sites in this region
include the Caesar's Head State Park Hawk Watch in upstate South
Carolina, the Mahogany Rock Hawk Watch on the Blue Ridge Parkway near
Sparta, NC and the Pilot Mountain State Park Hawk Watch in Surry County,
NC.
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I am the Eagle, I live in high country,
	In rocky cathedrals that reach to the sky.
I am the Hawk, and there's blood on my feathers
	But time is still turning, they soon will be dry.
All those who see me, and all who believe in me, 
	Share in the freedom I feel when I fly!
				John Denver
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