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Mt. Pisgah, NC Hawkwatch -- 09/23/00



	WELCOME TO THE MOUNT PISGAH, NC HAWK WATCH REPORT -- FALL 2000
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Today's Date: 23 Sept 2000
Hours of coverage today: 9-6 (9 hours)

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Species		     Today     Season Total
              
Black Vulture	........2............14	
Turkey Vulture  ........0.............0			 
Osprey 	................0.............8					
Bald Eagle .............0.............3				
Northern Harrier .......0.............3	
Sharp-shinned H. .......2............10	
Cooper's H. ............1.............6
Red-shouldered H. ......0.............1	
Broad-winged H. .......34..........1588
Red-tailed H. ..........0.............4
American Kestrel .......3............14
Merlin .................0.............0
Peregrine Falcon .......0.............1
unidentified raptors ...0.............3

TOTALS.................42..........1656

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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 a host of visitors.

Today's weather: Mostly cloudy throughout the day.  Excellent viewing
conditions.  Winds light NW switching to W by mid-afternoon.

Comments: A very disappointing showing today, especially since we had so
many visitors anxious to see hawks.  The few birds observed were flying
low and offered good looks, so everyone saw some birds.  Quality vs.
quantity, I suppose.  With over 1500 Broad-wings reported today at Pilot
Mt.., NC, it seems that the action was farther east. Congrats to Toby
Gordon and the Surry County watchers. 
Tomorrow we will hold the re-scheduled "Raptor Day" event, 1-6 pm at the
hawk watch site.  Hopefully there will be more hawks than hawk watchers. 

Other migrants noted today: A few tanagers and warblers in the morning. 
No more than 10 Monarchs all day.

Next scheduled coverage: Tomorrow, 24 Sept, 1-6 definitely, 9-12
possibly.

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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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