A Trip to Veracruz, Mexico

Map of Broad-winged Hawk migration paths.

 MIGRATION!!!!

In early September the four birds we satellite-tagged left Pennsylvania, and every day since we have been 'web map' addicts..(you too?). All four birds moved down the Appalachians and then lingered several days to over a week in large forests of southern Virginia... perhaps feeding and getting ready for the next big flight.  In mid-September Kit began to move but we quickly lost contact with her possibly due to transmitter failure.  There are still chances we will get some signal from her in future, assuming the transmitter had a malfunction.

The other three birds moved steadily southwest into Texas and then Mexico, almost on parallel tracks!

On September 30, 2014, a small group of birdwatchers from Hawk Mountain woke up in Veracruz, Mexico ready for the annual hawkwatching ecotour. Before we had left Pennsylvania, I had checked the progress of our three tagged broadwings and saw that all three had roosted somewhere north of Veracruz city in coastal plain east of the Sierra Madre mountains. Could we possibly SEE the marked birds fly over the Veracruz River of Raptors watchsite in the narrow bottleneck in eastern Veracruz between Sierra Madres and Gulf coast!??  I was hoping to time our visit for that event, but not sure the birds would wait. We arrived in Cardel later that morning and headed to the roof of Hotel Bienvenidos, to join the hawk counters. That day we had some kettles of broadwings pass overhead along with vultures, peregrines, and kites.  Because signal was sporadic we did not know until later that Hawkeye had headed west into the mountains, but America and Abbo were still roosting to our north. The winds were southerly so perhaps they were waiting for better conditions.

Broadwings over Veracruz on October 1, 2014 (by B. Moroney)

The next day, October 1st, we arrived to the hawkwatch by mid-morning and suddenly the skies filled with streams of broadwings flying off the foothills to our north and coming over right above us!  Within two hours the counters tallied more than 50,000 broadwings and by day's end the two watchsites had tallied more than 100,000 birds. As we gazed up at the kettles we kept imagining we might see our Hawk Mountain birds, but they were too far away to see any antenna and moving steadily past.  After consulting the maps that night it was clear that America and Abbo had passed right over the HMS tour group in one of those  amazing streams of migrants!

It was very exciting to know our tagged birds were soaring with such a great concentration of other broadwings, and that they likely passed right over the River of Raptors while we were down below watching!

Broadwings gliding over Veracruz, 10/1 (by N. Bolgiano)

Since then America and HawkEye have been moving around forests of southern Mexico, perhaps resting and feeding or possibly this is where they will winter?  Abbo has kept moving south and is currently in Colombia. Where will she spend the winter? !!! Time will tell!

We have learned so much already from the four birds we tagged. First, that they definitely stop en route and seem to use large forest habitats. Even the adult spent several days in Virginia and in Mexico and Panama before moving again. HawkEye's path was different than others, and surprising to us.  Perhaps the east winds influenced her?

So many questions to answer and pursue.  This project is breaking new ground in understanding long-distance migration in raptors. No one has ever satellite-tagged juveniles and we have tagged both adult and juvenile from same latitude! so much to learn! Thank you for joining us on this journey.. and stay tuned for next reports from our intrepid migrants!

Fundraising on Indiegogo

We have launched our crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo!

This past year has been a great success (a big thanks to those who donated last year!) so we are kicking off another campaign to help raise money to increase our sample size for 2015.

Check out the link...share it with friends, family, fellow nature lovers and help us spread the word and reach our goal!!!

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/conserving-migrating-broad-winged-hawks-part-ii/x/5460882

Migration

As the peak timing for Broadwing migration here at Hawk Mountain comes to an end, the birds are continuing their journey south and making their way towards Mexico where hawk watchers in Veracruz can witness over 400,000 Broadwings in just one day! You might ask what is so special about Veracruz, Mexico? Well the large concentration of Broadwings passing through are essentially being funneled by the topography, avoiding large bodies of water and following paths with increased thermal strength. 

Distribution of Broadwings (Photo Credit: Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

One of the earliest fall migrants here in North America, the Broadwing migration period may only last 2 months, so those who left their breeding grounds in mid August are expected to arrive at their wintering site by late October. We are very interested in seeing where our 4 tagged birds winter and how long it will take them to get there. Our 3 juvenile birds left their nesting grounds around the 3rd and 4th week in August and have made their way down to Alabama and Mississippi. Visit http://www.hawkmountain.org/birdtracker/ to get up-to-date locations of all four of our tagged birds. 

Thank you to Bill Moses for sharing these beautiful pictures of Broadwings migrating over Hawk Mountain Sanctuary this September!

They are on the Move!

As August wraps up and our first field season is behind us, we anxiously await that special time in mid-September when those of us here and near Hawk Mountain Sanctuary witness the large kettles of broad-winged hawks swirling above the mountain slopes. The peak of broadwing migration through Pennsylvania is during the period from September 13th to 20th. We are especially excited because our four tagged broadwings are already on the move and we cannot wait to see where they end up. Already we can see our two nestmates are not traveling together.

The Broadwing Project webpage is almost finished (to access go to www.hawkmountain.org; click on the Science tab and then Research Programs, and select New for 2014!! Broadwing Study or just search for "broadwing"). We are working with web programmers to have the telemetry mapping occur automatically so keep checking back as we hope that will be working in next week. In the interim, we will be posting updates twice a week. Our transmitters collect location data every two days and may obtain several locations on days they transmit.

Below are the movements of the four tagged Broadwings for the period from mid-July until August 25th. The fifth map shows the movements of all of the birds together on a larger scale. All four birds have moved either north or west with the adult bird returning to a site she settled in soon after leaving her nest area in mid July.
**Click on each map to enlarge the image**

America, one of the nestlings tagged at Hawk Mountain (locations in red).

America moved north in mid-August, settled near Wilkes Barre then moved west into Centre County in the last week.

HawkEye was tagged from the same nest as America at Hawk Mountain (pink dots).  

HawkEye moved north and west to a site near Pottsville on 8/12 and stayed until 8/17. Then  she flew west to the mountains of Franklin County in the last week.

Kit, the nestling from the Shartlesville nest and the third juvenile Broadwing tagged (purple dots).

Kit flew west along the Kittatinny Ridge then moved north  and crossed the Susquahanna River then flew west into Juniata County.

Abbo, the adult female tagged at the New Ringgold nest site (orange dots).  

Abbo started moving west just a week after her young fledged. She moved south of Shamokin on 7/23, then by 8/10 she was in the southwestern portion of Union County. She then moved up towards Bloomsburg on 8/12-8/15 and back to Shamokin on 8/20. She must like it there!

A map of Pennsylvania showing the range of the four tagged Broadwings (as of 8/21) from the 2014 field season!

The end of the field season

     We are wrapping up our first field season with vegetation sampling at each of the nest sites. One of our goals is to understand what habitat attributes are important for Broad-winged Hawks when choosing nest sites and territories. Last week we spent Monday and Wednesday morning and afternoon at the New Ringgold and Shartlesville nests.  

     For each nest site we are measuring variables such as height, species and size of nest tree, percent canopy cover, ground cover, shrub density, distance to streams and ponds, all within a plot around the nest. We are also measuring variables of five nearby random plots to compare to the nest site and help us better understand the Broadwings habitat preference. We will also assess landscape values such as forest size, forest cover, nearness to human development, etc.

     In two weeks we will continue habitat sampling at the Morgantown and Hawk Mountain nest sites.... yes, site has become plural since we just located a second nest over a half mile from the River of Rocks nest! We found the nest right as the young were in the early stages of fledging and we were only able to count two juveniles at the nest and see one of the adults. Although we missed out on observations at this nest site, we will be sure to come back next year in hopes of adding this nest to the list. 

Kenny recording tree species and  size while Zach measures canopy cover.

Laurie recording data while Zach walks the plot for shrub density.

   We have also been getting some data from our birds with transmitters! The units turn on every two days and stay on for about 8 hours and then shut off. During that time we acquire points depending on the location of the satellites. We have included maps below of each of the four Broadwings; Abbo (New Ringgold), Kit (Shartlesville), America (River of Rocks) and Hawkeye (River of Rocks). The goal for early September is to have the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary website (www.hawkmountain.org) Broadwing page revamped and updated with all of the current maps and status of the birds during their migration. 

America (red) and Hawkeye (green)

Abbo's location around 7-16 but then check out the map below to see where she traveled to...

On 7-19 we started to get data showing us Abbo moved away from the nest site. This map shows points from 7-19 to 7-31.

 

Kit's locations from 7/10 to 7/23

Trapping, and Banding and Tagging, Oh my! Part II

   It is Thursday morning, and today is the day we are putting the units on the Broadwings. We gather outside of the Visitor Center at 8 am and discuss our plan of action and then head down to the River of Rocks nest site. Tree climbers from JoshuaTree, Inc., Josh and Jeff, follow Laurie and I to the base of the nest tree. David Barber and visiting raptor expert Marc Bechard set up a table for processing the birds, Zach, field assistant, positions his scope for a clear view of the nest, Terry and Megan are watching it all unfold and Mary is snapping pictures of all the excitement! 

   It is time. Within a flash, Josh climbs to the top of the nest tree and begins prepping his equipment for the lowering of the nestlings. Each young bird is placed in its own cotton bag to keep it safe and quiet and then placed together in a larger durable protective bag for transit.  As the yellow bag slowly makes its way down the tree I am already feeling 100 times better. I grab the precious cargo and make my way out of the rocky woods and onto the path where the team is patiently waiting. The first bird is weighed and then David and Marc begin attaching the back-pack mounted transmitter on the young Broadwing. While that is occurring I carefully hold the other nestling and Laurie starts taking measurements. Just like we did on Wednesday... weight, wing chord, wing flattened, tarsus, culmen, eye color, band number are all documented for each of the three nestlings.
   With  only four units for the 2014 season, we decided to tag only the two larger nestlings at the River of Rocks nest site. So with units successfully attached to two young birds and the last juvenile banded, we placed them all back in the bag and carry them to the nest tree where Jeff and Josh quickly deliver them back into their nest. Hooray! The nestlings are healthy, and two satellite tracking units are safely attached.  We all breathe more easily now. 
   As it was still early we headed over to the other nest site in Shartlesville. Round Two. Both nestlings are carefully lowered down the tree by our professional climbers. Marc and David are waiting to affix a third unit on the heaviest bird. Everything goes smoothly just as before, both nestlings are banded and one receives a satellite transmitter, we send them back up into the nest. We celebrate our success with sandwiches from Heckys of Hamburg, snap some team photos, and drive home elated. 

   With experienced trapper and researcher Marc Bechard visiting for another day, we decided that Friday morning we were going to head out to another two nest sites in hopes of trapping an adult. Leaser Lake was first on the list. A few hours passed, and although a Broadwing sat in a neighboring tree calling, it never dove at the Great Horned Owl decoy. We called it quits there and moved on to the second site in New Ringgold. Set up took longer than usual with mist nets to untangle but within 10 minutes after we took cover in the vegetation and the call of the Great Horned Owl played, an adult dove into our nets! We quickly retrieved it and rushed over to the scale hoping this one weighed enough that we could put on our last unit. AND IT DID! The team worked quickly and efficiently to band, process and tag the female Broadwing from the New Ringgold nest site.  We did high fives all around when the bird flew away, with its transmitter safely attached.
   Another great day, and a piece of the project that we anxiously awaited, is now over. We are all very happy with the results. As of today, Tuesday the 15th, all birds that have been banded and tagged are alive and well. Transmitters are working and sending data. We checked on each bird over the weekend and everyone was safely in their nests. We expect birds to fledge soon and begin moving around. Once they have fledged we will update everyone on their locations as they disperse and in September make their way down South :)  Stay tuned!

the crew on the trail to the River of Rocks nest

Nest Tree, a Chestnut Oak 

Prepping for the climb

Lowering the young from the nest

Marc and David putting on the satellite telemetry unit

Almost finished affixing the unit

side view of the nestling

Laurie and I banding a young at Shartlesville

David Barber with the adult female from the New Ringgold Nest

Marc Bechard and adult female Broadwing

Jeff, Zach, Marc, David, Laurie, Myself, Terry and Megan

Same as before but Laurie took the picture so Josh could jump in!

Field assistant Zach proudly holding a nestling

Trapping, and Banding and Tagging, Oh my! Part I

    As I sit at my computer clicking through hundreds of images from last weeks events, I feel happy and relieved that everything went so smoothly and was a great success. Our week began on Sunday, July 6th when Laurie and I met at the Acopian Center to gather our materials for our first attempt at trapping Broadwings. With the car packed up and ready to go, we made our way to the River of Rocks nest site. After four hours of waiting for an adult to swoop into the mist net we made the decision to call it a day. With no Broadwing trapping on Monday, we had time to discuss the pros and cons to our set up on Sunday. It was nice to have a 'trial day' where we actually got to test everything out in the field and see what worked and what did not.

    Tuesday was a new day and this time we had some friends to help us out at a new location. Dave Hughes, HMS volunteer, experienced raptor trapper and wildlife artist, as well as Adam Carter, HMS Educator and Broadwing project videographer spent their morning at the New Ringgold nest site with us. Unfortunately we were unable to trap any Broadwings during our time there.

    As Wednesday morning approached, I started to feel a little stressed that our methods for trapping were not going to work on this secretive, forest raptor. I stayed positive knowing that this is a learning experience and we are only going to get better from here. With a new location, Shartlesville, and another friend to help us on our mission, Bracken Brown, former HMS trainee and experienced raptor trapper, we set up all of the equipment and waited patiently for the call of the nearby Broadwing. As the fake Great Horned Owl sat behind the mist nets and its call played on a tape player, it took all but 10 minutes for the call of what we believe to have been the female Broadwing. She called and called, bouncing from tree to tree, never taking a dive at the net. 20 minutes later, a second Broadwing calls, louder and closer than the first. Could it be that the female kept an eye on the owl and called until the male came to defend and protect the nest? We think that might have been the case since the male was the one to sweep in, taking a dive at the owl, and getting trapped in the net.
    We all rush over and carefully take the Broadwing out of the net and bring it over to our processing area. [[ The rush that you feel in this moment is crazy... you are a mixture of emotions.... excited, nervous, anxious, relieved, happy, etc. ]] With the Broadwing in Bracken's hand, Laurie begins taking measurements of the bird as I document them on our data sheet. Weight, wing chord, wing flattened, tarsus, culmen, eye color, crop are all documented as well as the number of the USFWS band and the color code for this individual. After it's banded, we snap a few pictures of our first trapped Broadwing and then release it back into the wild.  Because it was a smaller male we could not put a transmitter on it nevertheless we are happy to have it color-marked so we can identify it in the future. A great day for the Broadwing Project crew!

Laurie setting up the tape player next to the Great Horned Owl decoy

A great look at the Broadwing from the back

Weighing the bird

Measuring tail band

Color code for this individual is Blue Blue

a very happy grad student!

Laurie giving it a pep talk about heading South and returning next year :)

Nest Cameras

    Time has been flying by! It is crazy to think that this field season will be coming to an end in less than a month. I am very, very happy with how things have been going and I am feeling very grateful for all the people who have contributed to our success. I am especially grateful to those who have helped make this week run smoothly.
    On Tuesday PPL (Electric Services Company) assisted us with the installation of our first nest camera. It was finally time to put the cameras up for real, no more trial tests, this was it. Laurie and I gathered all of our materials, jumped in the car and headed out to New Ringgold to meet the PPL crew. We arrive to the site and begin unloading the equipment. I will tell you that I am pretty sure I triple checked everything to make sure it was there and working properly! Two bucket trucks pull up, one with a 55 foot bucket and the other a 70 foot bucket (we had a feeling we were going to need the larger one since the nest was over 60 feet high in a White Pine). We discuss the game plan with Andy Rhody and the crew from Orwigsburg Service Center. Then I showed the guys going up in the bucket, Tim and Dennis, how to install the camera once up at the nest.
    Finally we are ready, it is go time. Tim and Dennis snaked the bucket deftly between two trees into the opening near the large white pine holding the nest. Laurie and I nervously pace back and forth worrying about the little ones and the parents too.  At one point we saw a parent fly over. After reaching the right height near the nest tree, they positioned the camera on a thick tree branch above the nest. The camera was mounted and they slowly dropped the camera video cable to the ground. Andy and I grabbed the cable and ran it along ground to our hidding place for the DVR.  I then worked to set up the DVR, turn on the monitor and timer and voilà! The camera was working! Three, fluffy, white adorable Broadwings sitting in the middle of the nest and the middle of our video screen! A feeling of relief and happiness came over me when I saw them on the monitor screen. We did it! 

    The next morning we find it is "go" time for the camera installation at the Shartlesville nest. We greet the gentlemen from Met-Ed (a FirstEnergy Company), Jeff, who just like the PPL crew, graciously donated their time and bucket trucks. He and his four crew members also were very enthusiastic about the project and had many questions for Laurie and I about Broadwings! The second camera was mounted successfully on the branch of the neighboring tree of the 55 foot Red Oak nest tree. They also helped us string the cable to secure location in a Game Commission building.
    
    Many thanks goes out to both PPL and Met-Ed for assisting us with this task and allowing us to collect valuable data on the nesting ecology of Broad-winged Hawks. We hope we can pass on video clips in the near future for everyone to enjoy!

The 70 foot bucket truck up at the nest

A look at the nest from inside the bucket

I think they might have been posing for the camera ;)

It looks like a tight fit in there

Myself, Laurie and the great staff from PPL- Andy, Dennis and Tim

Met-Ed bucket truck

The camera mounted on the neighboring tree

Thank you again to the Met-Ed team!!

A distant look at the nest from inside the bucket truck

One of the chicks popping up to say Hi!