by Kathy Ross

Looking for incoming raptors at the Jewel Basin Hawk Watch site - Photo Credit: Jake Bramante
Looking for incoming raptors at the Jewel Basin Hawk Watch site – Photo Credit: Jake Bramante

The Jewel Basin Hawk Watch season officially opened on Friday, August 26 with 6 migrating raptors reported by veteran Jeweler, BJ Worth. BJ once again carried all materials to the mountaintop—again many thanks, BJ for getting things set up for the season. This report was followed the next day with 18 raptors, of seven species, being reported by Kathy Ross, Brigit Rooney and Daniel Ishmael. Despite stormy weather, numbers have increased most days with Barbara Summers having a record breaking, early season day on 9/1. On that day Barbara had an amazing 80 raptors of 9 different species.

As of 9/10, 408 raptors have been counted this season with our ever-reliable, entertaining accipiters flying through in consistent large numbers(275 as of 9/10. We are grateful for our returning veteran Jewelers who have already signed up this year for surveys. A huge thank you to BJ, Barbara, Lisa Bate, Diane Lundgren and of course our dedicated leader Dan Casey. We look forward to all the new eyes and dedicated raptor lovers on the ridge this year.

More information on the Jewel Basin Hawk Watch program can be found at our Jewel Basin Hawk Watch page.