affordwatches

102 Peregrine Falcons Among Over 7000 Raptors Counted

December 14, 2012 - International, National and Local News

Frank Butson Reports:

While my late spring is full of Peregrine Falcon bandings and summer is filled with fledge watches, my fall is occupied from August until the end of November every year with raptor watching. Counting migrating birds of prey from Rosetta McClain Gardens in Scarborough to be more accurate. This season we set many day, month and species records. One that meant a great deal to me was that we counted 102 Peregrine Falcons!! That is almost unbelievable. Many of the birds were tundrius Peregrines, but a few were photographed well enough for us to see band numbers and identify the individuals. Those sightings were reported at the time on their individual pages. Again this season CPF did a release of a Peregrine Falcon who had been checked out for injury at Toronto Wildlife Centre. That was a real thrill for all those gathered. Below please find the final species totals for the season and records that were set. I was glad so many of my fellow Canadian Peregrine Foundation fledge watchers joined us this year, Bruce, Ann, Donna, Murray, Bill, Rob and Angie, Toivo, Harry, Paul, Zoey and dear departed Annie. Thanks to all of you for your support and friendships. 

Turkey Vulture - 2223 (best year)
Osprey - 115 (3rd best year)
Bald Eagle - 65 (3rd best year)
Northern Harrier - 266 (4th best year)
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2208 (4th best year)
Cooper’s Hawk - 110 (2nd best year)
Northern Goshawk - 23 (2nd best year)
Red-shouldered Hawk - 76 (best year)
Broad-winged Hawk - 347 (2nd best year)
Red-tailed Hawk - 1002 (best year)
Rough-legged Hawk - 5 (7th best year)
Golden Eagle - 20 (best year)
American Kestrel - 604 (4th best year)
Merlin - 101 (2nd best year)
Peregrine Falcon - 102 (best year)
 
Total - 7267 (best year)
 
 
Here are the new records (14 new, 1 tied)…
 
Turkey Vulture - Day record of 1750 birds on October 12th, Month record of 2051 birds in October, Year record of 2223 birds.
Red-shouldered Hawk - Day record of 19 on October 26th, Month record of 41 birds in October, Year record of 76 birds.
Red-tailed Hawk - Month record of 601 birds in November, Year record of 1002 birds.
Golden Eagle - Month record of 15 birds in November, Year record of 20 birds.
Merlin - (tied) Day record of 17 birds on October 21st.
Peregrine Falcon - Month record of 51 birds in September, Year record of 102 birds.
All Species - Day record of 2066 birds on October 12th, Year record of 7267 birds.

I hope as many of you as possible will join us next fall! You can check out the watch blog at http://raptorwatch.blogspot.com  Enjoy.