Hawk Migration Studies by Southeastern Michigan Raptor Research at the Detroit River Mouth: A Basic Look

Hawk Migration Studies by Southeastern Michigan Raptor Research at the Detroit River Mouth: A Basic Look Paul Cypher Southeastern Michigan Raptor Research

1983: Started as a volunteerstaffed hawkwatch based at Lake Erie Metropark using multiple count stites (known as Lake Erie Metropark Hawkwatch); coordinated by Tim Smart 1990: Coverage more consistent; First season w/100,000+ birds

1994:435,000 total birds 1996: 500+ hours of observation 1998:Obtained 501(c)3 status 2000: Hired first paid counter (funding from MDNR) 2001: Began receiving funding from Detroit Edison/ DTE Energy 2003: Recorded 3 millionth bird 2003: Documented 23 rd species

Michigan, United States Grosse Ile, Michigan Ontario, Canada HBMO Holiday Beach Conservation Area Lake Erie

Michigan, United States Grosse Ile, Michigan Ontario, Canada SMRR Lake Erie Metropark Pointe Mouillee SGA 2 miles HBMO Holiday Beach Conservation Area Lake Erie

Michigan, United States Grosse Ile, Michigan Ontario, Canada SMRR Lake Erie Metropark Pointe Mouillee SGA Main Count Site 75% of hours HBMO Holiday Beach Conservation Area Lake Erie

Michigan, United States Grosse Ile, Michigan Ontario, Canada SMRR Lake Erie Metropark Pointe Mouillee SGA Secondary Count Site 25% of hours (used on north winds) HBMO Holiday Beach Conservation Area Lake Erie

Michigan, United States Grosse Ile, Michigan Ontario, Canada SMRR Lake Erie Metropark Pointe Mouillee SGA 8 miles HBMO Holiday Beach Conservation Area Lake Erie

Factors Influencing Migration Geography: Landform funnel effect Wind: Speed and Direction Cloud cover, barometric pressure, etc. Flight Preferences of individual species Water: Shorelines and Islands Altitude: High (Canada) vs. Low (Michigan)

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Factors Influencing Migration Geography: Landform funnel effect Wind: Speed and Direction Cloud cover, barometric pressure, etc. Flight Preferences of individual species Water: Shorelines and Islands Altitude: High (Canada) vs. Low (Michigan)

SMRR Season Averages (1992-2003) Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 32,160 Osprey Pandion haliaetus 140 Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus 170 Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus 802 Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus 9,449 Cooper s Hawk Accipiter cooperii 619 Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis 34 Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus 792 Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus 183,895 Swainson s Hawk Buteo swainsoni 8 Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 7,414 Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus 71 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 111 American Kestrel Falco spaverius 1,739 Merlin Falco columbarius 50 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 51

Red-tailed Hawk

Broad-winged Hawk

Rough-legged Hawk

Swainson s Hawk

SMRR Season Averages (1992-2003) Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 32,160 Osprey Pandion haliaetus 140 Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus 170 Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus 802 Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus 9,449 Cooper s Hawk Accipiter cooperii 619 Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis 34 Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus 792 Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus 183,895 Swainson s Hawk Buteo swainsoni 8 Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 7,414 Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus 71 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 111 American Kestrel Falco spaverius 1,739 Merlin Falco columbarius 50 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 51

Golden Eagle

SMRR Season Averages (1992-2003) Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 32,160 Osprey Pandion haliaetus 140 Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus 170 Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus 802 Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus 9,449 Cooper s Hawk Accipiter cooperii 619 Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis 34 Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus 792 Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus 183,895 Swainson s Hawk Buteo swainsoni 8 Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 7,414 Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus 71 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 111 American Kestrel Falco spaverius 1,739 Merlin Falco columbarius 50 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 51

Osprey

Bald Eagle

Peregrine Falcon

SMRR Season Averages (1992-2003) Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 32,160 Osprey Pandion haliaetus 140 Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus 170 Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus 802 Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus 9,449 Cooper s Hawk Accipiter cooperii 619 Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis 34 Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus 792 Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus 183,895 Swainson s Hawk Buteo swainsoni 8 Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 7,414 Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus 71 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 111 American Kestrel Falco spaverius 1,739 Merlin Falco columbarius 50 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 51

300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Osprey: 1992-2004 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 *2004

250 200 150 100 50 0 Bald Eagle: 1992-2004 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 *2004

100 80 60 40 20 0 Peregrine Falcon: 1992-2004 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 *2004

Turkey Vultures

SMRR Season Averages (1992-2003) Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 32,160 Osprey Pandion haliaetus 140 Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus 170 Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus 802 Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus 9,449 Cooper s Hawk Accipiter cooperii 619 Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis 34 Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus 792 Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus 183,895 Swainson s Hawk Buteo swainsoni 8 Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 7,414 Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus 71 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 111 American Kestrel Falco spaverius 1,739 Merlin Falco columbarius 50 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 51

80,000 70,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 Turkey Vulture: 1992-2004 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 *2004

Red-shouldered Hawk

SMRR Season Averages (1992-2003) Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 32,160 Osprey Pandion haliaetus 140 Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus 170 Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus 802 Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus 9,449 Cooper s Hawk Accipiter cooperii 619 Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis 34 Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus 792 Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus 183,895 Swainson s Hawk Buteo swainsoni 8 Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 7,414 Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus 71 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 111 American Kestrel Falco spaverius 1,739 Merlin Falco columbarius 50 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 51

1,200 1,000 800 600 400 200 0 Red-shouldered Hawk: 1992-2004 1992 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 1993 *2004

Red-shouldered Hawk Adult/Immature Ratios 2001-2004 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 2001 2002 2003 *2004 Theo. Immature Adult

Red-shouldered Hawk Adult/Immature Ratios 2001-2004 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 2001 2002 2003 *2004 Theo. NO RECRUITMENT?!?! Immature Adult

Conclusions: Migration studies must continue Includes long-term funding for counters, banders and on-site/off-site education

Thanks to

Thanks to