[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Mt. Pisgah, NC Hawkwatch -- 17 Sept. 2001



	WELCOME TO THE MOUNT PISGAH, NC HAWK WATCH REPORT -- FALL 2001
============================================================================

Today's Date: 17 Sept. 2001
Hours of coverage today: 9AM - 3 PM, 5 PM - 6 PM   (7 hours)

============================================================================

Species		     Today     Season Total
              
Black Vulture		
Turkey Vulture  			 
Osprey 			1		12						
Bald Eagle 				 3		
Northern Harrier 	
Sharp-shinned H. 	1		 8
Cooper's H. 		2		 8
Red-shouldered H.			 1
Broad-winged H.       498	       717
Red-tailed H.				 5
American Kestrel	2	        14 
Merlin 				         1
Peregrine Falcon 
unidentified raptors			 4 

TOTALS		      504		773

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Today's counts were made by: Greg Townsend, Diane and Rich Byers

Today's weather: Partly cloudy with light winds, variable

Comments: Finally a good flight with someone there to see it!  Most of
the birds moved through between 11 AM and 1 PM, and as the day warmed
the birds just went out of sight.  Asheville really should do something
about all the hot air it generates!  Many thanks to veteran birders
Diane and Rich Byers making their first trip to the Pisgah watch.  

Other migrants noted today:  My 7-year-old Patrick made me promise to
report the 11 Monarchs he counted between 5 and 6 PM.

The outlook for tomorrow:  EXCELLENT.  Current forecasts call for NW
winds, which will encourage movement, changing to S by afternoon, which
will force the birds to stay low on the ridges. Partly cloudy skies
should provide good viewing conditions.   

Next scheduled coverage: N/A

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reported By:
	Bill Sanderson, Site Coordinator
	Asheville, NC
	nctigers@bellsouth.net
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
============================================================================

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
============================================================================