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the opposite of a hawk watch | this count is one where the hawk watchers are on the move and hawks -- more or less -- aren't. These "winter counts" are now conducted around Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Groundhog Day in two locations with similar open, flat terrain and of approx. the same square miles.
Temps in the fifties, overcast, and on the verge of rain classed the weather for both counts. Last year at Thanksgiving, it was white-out snow squalls and ice storms. While the conditions made aging and sexing birds difficult, we had ideal, dingy days for Short-eared Owls... and had none.
About 130 raptors for the two days, including Redtails, Rouglegs , and adult Bald Eagle outside the count areas.
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Christmas Eve, NewYear's Eve and Groundhog Day |
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Champlain Valley VT [11/24/01]:
Count area -- Towns of Bridport and Addison, west of Middlebury.
NH 7 [5 adults, 2 immatures]
SS 2 [adult males]
RT 29 [24 adults, 2 immatures, 3 undetermined]*
RL 19 [13 light, 6 dark]**
PG 1 [adult]
Plus: Northern Shrike [1], Barred Owl [2]
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Northern NY [11/26/01]:
Count area -- Jefferson County, west of Watertown on Pt. Peninsula and nearby.
NH 3 [immatures]
CH 3 [adult male, 2 immatures]
NG 1 [immature]
RT 22 [19 adults, 2 immatures, 1 undetermined]*
RL 5 [4 light, 1 dark]**
AK 10 [8 males, 2 females]
Plus: Snowy Owl [1], Northern Shrike [1]
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| About the Images: [Title Image] In tribute to that great field science movie, Twister [1996], the line "We got cows" was worth uddering even though these are young bulls on the loose and they are not airborne. [Snowy Owl] We almost drove right by this immature male snowy as he was nestled into a grassy farm field. |
** Roughleg field notes also include info on age classes.
Unindicted Coconspirators: Tom Tyning [VT]; Gerry Smith [NY]