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Mt. Pisgah, NC Hawkwatch -- 09/20/00



	WELCOME TO THE MOUNT PISGAH, NC HAWK WATCH REPORT -- FALL 2000
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Today's Date: 20 Sept. 2000
Hours of coverage today: 10 - 12 (2 hours)

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Species		     Today     Season Total
              
Black Vulture...........0.............11		
Turkey Vulture .........0..............0 			 
Osprey .................1..............8				
Bald Eagle..............0..............3 				
Northern Harrier .......0..............2	
Sharp-shinned H. .......0..............6	
Cooper's H. ............0..............4
Red-shouldered H. ......0..............1	
Broad-winged H. .......57...........1484
Red-tailed H. ..........0..............4
American Kestrel .......0.............11
Merlin .................0..............0
Peregrine Falcon .......0..............0
unidentified raptors ...0..............3

TOTALS.................58...........1537

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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: Bob and SueAnna Dickinson

Today's weather: Mostly sunny in the morning, becoming mostly cloudy
this afternoon.  Light SE winds most of the day.  

Comments:  Tough viewing conditions were reported.  Lots of deep blue
skies and not enough high cloud made speck birds hard to resolve.

Other migrants noted today: One Black-billed Cuckoo reported.

The outlook for tomorrow:  Grim.  Heavy, wet weather is forecast.

Next scheduled coverage:  Thursday, 21 Sept.  Despite the gloomy
forecast I'll be at the watch site to do a morning raptor talk for a
group of teachers from the NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching
(NCCAT). 

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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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