Last Thursday, 11/30, marked the final day for collecting point count data for the 2023 fall raptor migration at Point LaBarbe. We finished off the season with three bald eagles- one on 11/28 and two on 11/30- and one red-tailed hawk on 11/30.
This season offered a remarkable spectacle, encompassing a total count of 14,256 birds. Although this was the lowest fall count total since 2019 (total: 13,531), these numbers were not unsubstantial! Among these, a diverse array of raptors crossed the Straits:
- 4,108 Sharp-shinned hawks
- 3,529 Turkey vultures
- 2,463 Red-tailed hawks
- 1,693 Broad-winged hawks
- 1,254 Bald eagles
- 437 American kestrels
- 187 Red-shouldered hawks
- 149 Rough-legged hawks
- 138 Northern harriers
- 115 Merlins
- 60 Golden eagles
- 60 Peregrine falcons
- 29 Osprey
- 20 Cooper’s hawk
- 8 American goshawks
- 3 Short-eared owls
- 1 Mississippi kite
- 1 Northern shrike
- 1 Swainson’s hawk
There were several notable highlights this season, including rare, unusual, and record-setting sightings:
- A Mississippi kite passed through on 9/8, the first recorded sighting for the Point LaBarbe count site.
- A Swainson’s hawk was spotted on 9/21. The first, and otherwise most recent, record of a Swainson’s hawk at Point LaBarbe was on 10/4/2021.
- On 10/2, a single day site record of 10 peregrine falcons was set. This was then tied on 10/5.
- On 10/28, a leucistic red-tailed hawk, which was mostly white with a few dark flight feathers, captured attention.
- A broad-winged hawk with damaged flight feathers was observed on 11/7 and 11/11, which are record-late appearances for this species. Other than this bird, the last broad-winged hawk headed south almost a month prior, on 10/16. In previous years, the latest broad-winged hawk sighting was on 10/29/2020, although sightings have typically dropped off by mid-October.
This season has not only provided substantial counts but also offered unique and memorable sightings, solidifying Point LaBarbe as a crucial location for observing and understanding the migratory patterns and behaviors of various raptor species.
Thank you again to Calvin, our official counter, Ed Pike and Russ Edmonds for taking over his duties in November, and for all who showed up throughout the season to observe! We’ll see you again in the spring!
