Welcome to week 14, first full week of the extended Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch, run by our volunteers!
The week started on 11/17, with no count, then picked up wonderfully on 11/18 with a daily total of 172! We had quite a few volunteer observers, including Ed Pick, Jack Kew, Oliver Kew, and Russ Edmonds, along with some visitors. Red-shouldered Hawks made up most of the numbers, but Golden Eagles and Rough-legged Hawks also showed up in good numbers. No count was conducted 11/19 and 11/20.
The count picked up again on 11/21 with 84 raptors migrating over the Straits of Mackinac. Ed Pike, Jack Kew, and Oliver Kew were counters and observers. Red-Shouldered Hawks, Bald Eagles, and Rough-legged Hawks were the most common raptors.
The count slowed significantly for the last two days of the week. Russ Edmonds and Ed Pike were present on 11/22 and counted 24 raptors. Finally on 11/23, Russ and Ed were present counting once again, but this time only 8 raptors against the poor weather and flying quite high.
A special thanks to our volunteer counters, observers, and visitors during the extended count days! Thanks to everyone for your support during the 2024 raptor migration!
