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Mt. Pisgah, NC Hawkwatch -- 14 October 2001



	WELCOME TO THE MOUNT PISGAH, NC HAWK WATCH REPORT -- FALL 2001
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Today's Date: 14 October 2001
Hours of coverage today:  4:30 -- 6:00  (1.5 hours)

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Species		     Today     Season Total
              
Black Vulture		14		37		
Turkey Vulture  	20		26			 
Osprey 					13				
Bald Eagle 				 5
Northern Harrier 	 		 3
Sharp-shinned H. 			31
Cooper's H. 				17
Red-shouldered H.			 2
Broad-winged H. 		      1231
Red-tailed H.		1		10
American Kestrel 	1		28
Merlin 			1		 3
Peregrine Falcon 			 2
unidentified raptors 			15

TOTALS		       37	      1423 

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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		

Today's weather:  WINDY! 

Comments:  Have you ever seen a Kestrel trying to control a glide in a
45 mph crosswind?    

Other migrants noted today:  None

The outlook for tomorrow:  Excellent.  Winds should continue N to NE,
and cloud conditions should be good.  Good numbers of vultures should be
on the move.  

Next scheduled coverage:  N/A

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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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