March 30 [Day 26] (Terry Waters, and Jim Davis after 1400 at Lusk Creek) The temperature high was 7C at 1400 and it was 2C both at the beginning and end of the day. Ground winds were mainly SW 10-20 gusting 30 km/h while ridge winds were strong SW-SSW gusting to 140 km/h in the morning but moderating to 50-85 km/h in the afternoon. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus all day giving very hazy sunshine, and flurries in the afternoon. The W ridges were obscured all day and the E ridges clouded over after 1600. Only 6 birds were seen at the Hay Meadow site, between 0910 and 1250: 2 Bald Eagles, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 Northern Goshawk and 2 Golden Eagles. At 1400 Terry left the Hay Meadow as the Fisher Range became obscured and headed for the Lusk Creek site where the First Foothills ridge was clear. Jim Davis had been observing there since 1400 and subsequently a total of 17 migrant Golden Eagles were observed, the last moving at 1725. The combined flight of 23 migrants at the two sites was 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j), 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk of undetermined age, 1 adult Northern Goshawk and 19 Golden Eagles (17a, 1sa, 1u). 11 hours (291.67) BAEA 2 (122), SSHA 1 (2), NOGO 1 (9), GOEA 19 (2525) TOTAL 23 (2688)

Yesterday the adult female Golden Eagle “Elaine”was close to 142^o W and 64^oN which is in eastern Alaska about 50 km west of the Yukon-Alaska border near the settlement of Chicken.

March 29 [Day 25] (George Halmazna, Cliff Hansen after 1800) The temperature reached a high of 5C at 1300 and 1400 from a morning low of -0.5C, ground winds were SW 5-10 gusting 20 km/h all day while ridge winds were strong SW-SSW gusting to 85 km/h in mid afternoon. Cloud cover was initially 40% cumulus and stratus reaching 100% at 1100, diminishing to 20% cumulus after 1500, and the ridges remained clear all day. There was yet another strong movement of Golden Eagles with 318 birds (279a, 2sa, 20j and 17u) moving between 0737 and 1950. This was the second highest count of the season and the peak movement of the species has now yielded 1827 birds in the last 8 days and only 3 counts in the last 12 days have fallen below 100 birds. Ten Bald Eagles (9a, 1j) completed the count which peaked early between 0737 and 0800 with the passage of 56 birds (2 Bald and 54 Golden Eagles) and the passage rate remained high all day with most of the birds gliding very high to the NW between the centre of the valley and the Fisher Range. A Townsend's Solitaire and a Brown Creeper were firsts for the season, and the warm weather produced the first sighting of a wolf spider and a hatch of stoneflies. 13.5 hours (280.67) BAEA 10 (120), GOEA 318 (2516) TOTAL 328 (2665)

March 28 [Day 24] (George Halmazna) The temperature rose to 6C at 1500 from a low of -5C, ground winds were mainly light SW-W occasionally gusting to 14 km/h. Ridge winds were moderate SW and cloud cover was 90-100% stratus all day. There were periods of snow and flurries all day and the eastern ridges were 90-100% obscured to noon when they cleared to 30% and were completely clear after 1500. The western ridges were obscured all day except between 1500 and 1700 when cloud drape reduced to 10%. Because of the weather the first migrant, a Golden Eagle, was not recorded until 1258 but when the last Golden Eagle of the day flew NW at 1947 a total of 193 migrant raptors had been tallied with 49 of the birds moving between 1500 and 1600, 41 between 1600 and 1700 and peak movement of 54 between 1700 and 1800. The flight comprised 14 Bald Eagles (12a, 2j), 10 of which moved between 1600 and 1700, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 175 Golden Eagles (170a, 5j), 1 light grey morph Gyrfalcon, 1 Peregrine Falcon on undetermined age and 1 Prairie Falcon. After 24.5 days without seeing a falcon it is remarkable that individual birds of three different species moved between 1512 and 1650. For the first time this season, at 1440, the resident pair of Golden Eagles was observed copulating near Olympic Summit on Mount Allan 13.67 hours (267.17) BAEA 14 (110), NOGO 1 (8), GOEA 175 (2188), GYRF 1 (1), PEFA 1 (1), PRFA 1 (1) TOTAL 193 (2337)

March 27 [Day 23] (Bill Wilson) The temperature rose to 1C at 1500 from a low of -9C and was -2C at the end of the day. Ground winds were calm to very light SW to noon, after which they became N-NE 5-15 gusting 33 km/h, while ridge winds were calm to variable not exceeding 15 km/h. Cloud cover was 10% stratus and altostratus at the start but had increased to 70% by 0800 and low stratus over Hummingbird Plume Hill spread north to envelop Mount Lorette between 0735 and 0845. Seventy percent light altostratus cover persisted to 1400 giving mainly sunny conditions, after which it thickened and between 1630 and 1700 reached 100% stratus that produced snow flurries and later steady snow developed. By 1700 most ridges were obscured. The first birds seen were 4 adult Golden Eagles that soared over the summit of Mount Lorette, which had possibly had just lifted off from an overnight roost, and 4 minutes later the mountain was completely enveloped in cloud. The day's last Golden Eagle was seen at 1641, but an adult Bald Eagle soaring south of Hay Meadow at 1727 before gliding north in snow was the day's last migrant. The highest hourly count was 40 Golden eagles between 1000 and 1100, with most of the birds spending time soaring in kettles, and movement was fairly steady to 1700 when the weather deteriorated. The flight of 164 birds comprised 4 adult Bald Eagles, 1 adult male Northern Harrier, 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, 155 Golden Eagles (130a, 3j, 23u) and 1 unidentified eagle. The last 6 days have now produced a total of 1324 migrant Golden Eagles which is the most sustained movement we have seen at the site for several years. Other birds recorded included the year's first Varied Thrush, 24 Common Mergansers flying high to the south at 1631, 2 flocks of 24 and 29 Tundra Swans flying high to the north over the centre of the valley at 1821 and 1905 respectively, and the day began with 3 Great Horned Owls singing to the SE and N of the site. 12.75 hours (253.5) BAEA 4 (96), NOHA 1 (2), NOGO 1 (7), RLHA 1 (9), GOEA 156 (2013), UE 1 (10) TOTAL 164 (2144)

March 26 [Day 22] (Joel Duncan) The temperature was -5C at 0900 and rose to a high of 0.5C at 1400, falling again to -2.5C at 1900. Ground winds were N-NE 8-12 occasionally gusting 20 km/h and ridge winds were moderate SW-SSW gusting to 30 km/h. Cloud cover was initially 90% cumulus, stratus with some valley fog which lifted and thinned to 30% cumulus, stratus and cirrus by 1100 which gradually again thickened to 1005 stratocumulus and cumulus by the end of the day. All ridges were obscured until 1000 when they became 50% clear with variable draping. The east was completely clear after 1100, but the west was 25-75% obscured for the rest of the day. Once again, despite the unpromising initial weather conditions, there was strong raptor movement with 315 birds migrating between 1132 and 1903 with a peak movement of 103 (4 Bald and 99 Golden Eagles) between 1700 and 1800. The flight comprised a season-high 17 Bald Eagles (6a, 6sa, 5j), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 293 Golden Eagles (111a, 5sa, 8j, 69u) and 3 unidentified eagles. Non raptors recorded included 2 Dark-eyed Juncos (Slate-coloured forms), 50 California Gulls that flew high to the north above the Fisher Range, and a Pileated Woodpecker that flew low overhead. 10.25 hours (240.75) BAEA 17 (92), NOGO 1 (6), RLHA 1 (8), GOEA 293 (1857), UE 3 (9) TOTAL 315 (1980)

March 25 [Day 21] (George Halmazna) The temperature rose to a high of -1C after 1400 from a low of -7C. It was flat calm until 1000 after which N winds developed 15-25 gusting 40 km/h for the rest of the day, while ridge winds were calm or light and variable. Cloud cover was 60-100% stratocumulus, stratus and cumulus all day with all ridges including Skogan Pass obscured all day except for a brief 30 minute partial clearing around noon. It was humid and hazy all day with light snow flurries, and heavier snow appeared to be falling to the N, E and S. The only migrant raptors were 10 adult Golden Eagles that moved between 1145 and 1652 with 4 of the birds occurring between 1300 and 1400. The only other raptors seen were 2 adult resident Northern Goshawks. Other birds were also thin on the ground with the exception of a flock of 15 male Mountain Bluebirds. 11.92 hours (230.5) GOEA 10 (1564) total 10 (1665)

March 24 [Day 20] (George Halmazna) The temperature at 0650 was -12C and fell to a low of -15C at 0800 before climbing to a high of 0C at 1400. Ground winds were initially calm to light SSW in the morning becoming E then north in the afternoon occasionally gusting to 40 km/h, while ridge winds were variable and light all day. The early morning was cloudless but cloud rapidly developed reaching 100% stratus at 1100 which thereafter varied between 80 and 100%. The top half of the western ridges were covered in cloud all day, as was the top third of the eastern ridges for most of the day. Despite these apparently unpromising conditions the first Golden Eagle appeared at 1015 and the day's movement peaked between 1200 and 1300 with 167 raptors of which 151 were Golden Eagles, while the following hour yielded 115 raptors of which 112 were Golden Eagles. By the time the last migrant Golden Eagle had headed to the NW at 1743 a season high total of 452 birds had been tallied comprising 14 Bald Eagles (11a, 3j), 1 adult Northern Goshawk, and a season high count of 452 Golden Eagles (417a, 1sa, 19j). Most of the movement took place to the W of the site and birds moving above the E part of the valley moved to the NW directly over Skogan Pass meaning that only 2 birds were seen over Mount Lorette all day. Other birds recorded included 2 American Crows (the first of the season), 2 male Mountain Bluebirds and 1 male Red-winged Blackbird. 12.5 hours (218.58) BAEA 14 (75), NOGO 1 (5), GOEA 437 (1554) TOTAL 452 (1655)

March 23 [Day 19] (Jim Davis) The temperature at 0900 was -3C and rose to a high of 2C at 1700. Ground winds were light N for most of the day occasionally gusting to 15 km/h, and ridge winds were calm to light SW to 1600 when they changed to SSE 14-16 km/h. Cloud cover was 100% stratocumulus for most of the day diminishing at times to 70-80% in the late afternoon, with the ridges obscured or draped for most of the day. Birds either moved below the cloud base or, on occasion, flew above the cloud when the ridges were obscured but the peaks remained clear. Heavy snow fell between 1600 and 1645 and light snow persisted for the rest of the day making the aging of birds impossible at times. The first migrant raptor of the day was a Bald Eagle at 1044 but the second bird, a Golden Eagle, did not appear until 1402 with the hour producing 29 migrants (2 Bald and 27 Golden Eagles). Between 1500 and 1600 a season-high 114 birds were recorded, all of which were Golden Eagles. Between 1600 and 1700, however, only 5 birds were seen and it is probable that eagles were moving in clear air above the stratocumulus layer as they could be occasionally glimpsed through small breaks in the cloud. Between 1700 and 1800 42 birds moved (6 Bald Eagles, 35 Golden Eagles and 1 unidentified eagle) and 1800-2000 yielded 30 more (30 Golden Eagles and 1 unidentified eagle). All but about 15 birds moved on the eastern route and the light winds produced much soaring flight with kettles of up to 36 Golden Eagles forming, waiting for clouds to clear so they could progress, rather analogous to rush-hour cars waiting for traffic lights to turn green. The combined species total of 222 equals yesterday's season high and comprised 9 Bald Eagles (4a, 5j), 211 Golden Eagles (165a, 4sa, 2j, 40u) and 2 unidentified eagles. As if this were not enough the day also produced the season's first Western Meadowlark, 9 American Robins, 150 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 Northern Flicker and a Trumpeter Swan that flew low to the north above the river. 10.25 hours (206.08) BAEA 9 (61), GOEA 211 (1117), UE 2 (6) TOTAL 222 (1203)

March 22 [Day 18] (George Halmazna) The temperature reached a high of 2.5C at 1500 from a low of -12C. Ground winds, which were initially calm became SW gusting to 40 km/h switching to N in mid-afternoon, while afternoon ridge winds were calm to E-NNE not exceeding 11 km/k. The morning was cloudless but in the afternoon cumulus and stratus cloud developed that progressively thickened and lowered obscuring 90% of the western ridges and 50% of the eastern ridges by the end of the day. The first of the day's season-high count of 222 migrant raptors appeared at 1040 and the movement peaked at 69 birds (2 Bald and 67 Golden Eagles) between 1400 and 1500 with the last bird flying north at 1634. Ninety-five percent of the movement today was along the western ridge system with birds moving from Olympic Summit on mount Allan north to Mount Collembola. The final day's count was 4 Bald Eagles (2a, 2j), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and a season-high 217 Golden Eagles, all of which were adult. 11.5 hours (195.83) BAEA 4 (52), RLHA 1 (7), GOEA 217 (906) TOTAL 222 (981)

Piitaistakis-South Livingstone Raymond Tole snowshoed to the Frank Slide observation site and between 1200 and 1330 observed 2 Bald Eagles, 35 Golden Eagles and 1 Prairie Falcon before cloud obscured the ridge. A northern Pygmy-Owl also sang near the site.

After spending three days SE of the Bennett Dam in NE British Columbia (possibly being held up by adverse weather conditions), adult female Golden Eagle “Elaine” moved to the NNW and by the end of the day was in the foothills some 110 km NNW of the Bennett Dam and about 18 km SW of the Elbow of the Halfway River.

March 21 [Day 17] (George Halmazna) The temperature reached a high of -2C between 1400 and 1900 from a low at 0700 of -5C. Ground winds were calm or very light until late morning becoming moderate N-W and then N gusting to 40 km/h in the afternoon, while ridge winds in the afternoon were ENE-NE 2-22 km/h. Cloud cover was 90-100% stratus and cumulus and light snow fell all day. All ridges were obscured in the morning and the eastern ridges became 30% clear for periods in the afternoon. One of these periods saw 32 of the day's 36 migrant raptors move along the Fisher Range between 1422 and 1500, and the last bird went north at 1545. The flight comprised 6 Bald Eagles (5a, 1j) and 36 adult Golden Eagles, and 2 non-migratory Northern Goshawks were also noted. Non raptor species included the season's first Killdeer, 3 Snow Buntings, 6 Common Goldeneye flying north and 280 Bohemian Waxwings. 12.5 hours (184.33) BAEA 6 (48), GOEA 36 (689) TOTAL 42 (759)

March 20 [Day 16] (Bill Wilson) The first day of spring was not very spring-like with a starting temperature of -4C that fell to -5C at 1000 and reached a high of only -1C between 1400 and 1500. Ground winds were N-NE 5-15 gusting 25 km/h all day making it feel considerably colder, while ridge winds were light SW and even calm on occasion. Cloud cover was 100-80% stratus to noon after which it was 90-100% cumulus and stratus apart from 1400-1500 when it diminished to 40%. It snowed until just before noon (2 cm fresh)with the ridges mostly obscured, and the west remained 80-100% obscured all day, as did the eastern route except between 1400 and 1600 when it was 50-60% clear. Despite these unpromising conditions the first migrant raptor, a subadult Bald Eagle, moved north above the valley at 1232 and when the last two Golden Eagles moved to the NW at 1740 a total of 118 migrant raptors had been recorded: 9 Bald Eagles (7a, 1 sa, 1j), 106 Golden Eagles (88a, 1sa, 2j, 15u) and 3 unidentified eagles. Until just before 1500 nearly all the movement was along the western route, but for the rest of the day birds moved against the face of the Fisher Range beneath the cloud that usually enveloped the ridge top, or they were detected as they approached Mount Lorette from the SE. Maximum movement was 1600 to 1700 when 49 raptors (5 Bald Eagles, 42 Golden Eagles and 2 unidentified eagles) were recorded, while 27 Golden Eagles occurred between 1400 and 1500, and 14 Golden Eagles moved between 1700 and 1740.

12 hours (171.83) BAEA 9 (42), GOEA 106 (653), UE 3 (4) TOTAL 118 (717)

March 19 [Day 15] (Joel Duncan) The temperature reached a high of 3C between 1500 and 1700 from a low of -9C at 0900. Ground winds were very light or even calm until 1400 when they became moderate NE-E gusting to 24 km/h, while ridge winds were moderate SSE-SSW until 1400 after which they also switched to moderate NE, 15-26 km/h. Cloud cover was initially 50% cumulus and stratocumulus becoming 90-100% after 1500. The western ridges were 20-30% obscured until 1500 when it increased to 80% at which time the eastern ridges became 50% obscured. Both the first and last of the day's migrant raptors was a Rough-legged Hawk at 1145 and 1444 respectively and between these 2 adult Bald Eagles, a third Rough-legged Hawk and 23 Golden Eagles (20a, 3u) were recorded. Sixteen of the Golden Eagles moved between 1300 and 1330 with the first birds appearing in a kettle of 6 birds, quickly followed by 2 groups each of 4 birds. The non-raptor highlight of the day was a singing Northern Shrike around 1600, and there were again fresh lynx tracks at the site. 9.5 hours (159.83) BAEA 2 (33), RLHA 3 (6), GOEA 23 (547) TOTAL 28 (599)

“Elaine” is now located about half-way between Moberly Lake and the SE end of the Williston Reservoir (Peace Reach) in NE British Columbia, about 200 km NW of where she roosted last night.

March 18 (Terry Waters) The temperature was -15C at 0730 but by 1600 it had risen to 3C and was 0C at 1900. Ground winds were S-SW, generally light but gusting to 20 km/h in the afternoon, while ridge winds were moderate SSW-SW gusting to 30 km/h. It was essentially cloudless to 1300 after which 10% scattered cumulus developed and all the ridges were clear all day. Conditions appeared to be ideal for raptor movement but the first bird, an unidentified Buteo, was not seen until 1135 and the first Bald and Golden Eagles were not recorded until 1224. Subsequently, however, the migration became increasingly strong throughout the afternoon with 43 birds moving between 1600 and 1700, 64 birds between 1700 and 1800 and 63 birds between 1800 and 1900. The total of 200 Golden Eagles (168a, 4sa, 4j, 24u) was by far the highest count so far this season with the birds initially moving along the western ridges or above the valley, but after 1500 they were seen exclusively above the Fisher Range to the east. The relatively light winds allowed for extensive high soaring flight with kettles of 15 Golden Eagles recorded at 1835, of 14 birds at 1855 and 12 birds at 1705. The flight comprised 7 Bald Eagles (6a, 1j), the season's first Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1j), 2 Rough-legged Hawks, 3 unidentified buteos, 200 Golden Eagles, and at 1839, the bird of the season so far,was a very early Turkey Vulture. The previous earliest record of the bird at the site was April 13, 1993 and its average first appearance date (for the 9 years that it has occurred) is May 4. Songbird sightings included 15 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and an American Robin, and fresh lynx tracks were again present at the site. 11.5 hours (150.33) TUVU 1 (1), BAEA 7 (31), SSHA 1 (1), NOGO 2 (4), RLHA 2 (3), UB 3 (4), GOEA 200 (524) TOTAL 216 (524)

In January Denise and I looked for a new observation site to replace the Valley View site to the west of the Piitaistakis Ridge, which was no longer available to us. We found a site NE of the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre that afforded an excellent view of the entire ridge system to the east as well as of Bluff Mountain and Turtle Mountain to the west. Today the weather forecast appeared to be favourable so I decided to spend some time at the site to test it out. At 1000 the temperature was -1C and it rose to a high of 4C at 1400, ground winds were generally light W-WSW until 1440 when they became SW gusting to 20-30 km/h before becoming light again after 1700, and ridge winds appeared to mainly moderate W all day. Cloud cover was 10-20% altocumulus or cumulus to 1400, after which the cumulus gradually increased to 90% and thickening of the previously extremely thin cirrostratus along with development of cirrus gave excellent observation condition,s and hazy sunshine persisted throughout the day. The first raptors were seen at 1051 slowly rising from presumed roosts on Bluff Mountain, but soon after steady movement was established along the Piitaistakis Ridge and Livingstone Range where a steady stream of eagles could be seen moving north for the rest of the day. The dynamic was similar to that seen at Mount Lorette with the movement peaking between 1600 and 1700 when 70 eagles were recorded. The last birds were 3 adult Bald Eagles first seen at 1821 which slowly drifted north finally being lost to view at 1835. The total flight of 288 birds comprised 13 Bald Eagles (9a, 4sa) and 275 Golden Eagles (262a, 9sa, 4j), with the Golden Eagle total being the second highest spring daily count at the site (behind 335 on March 24, 2009) and is only the third count above 200 there. The resident pair of Golden Eagles were seen from time to time but only one bird displayed briefly at 1538. Surprisingly, considering the conditions, no non-eagle raptors were seen, but other birds recorded were 1 Blue Jay, 2 Grey Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 32 Common Ravens, 3 Mountain Chickadees, 1 American Robin and 1 European Starling. 9 hours BAEA 13, GOEA 275 TOTAL 288

The observation site, which will be called the Frank Slide site, is located at 0688840 5497960 at 1442 m which is about 700m NE of the NE corner of the Interpretive Centre's parking lot and involves a 54 m elevation gain. The site is 2 km almost due west of the observation site on the Piitaistakis Ridge, and as the first day's results demonstrate it is an excellent place from which to observe when the ridge top is inaccessible. At present the access route and the site still have a fairly deep snow cover, but when this is reduced we will flag the path from the parking lot.

By the end of the day Golden Eagle #78453 (“Elaine”) had reached the foothills of NE British Columbia and was roosting some 25 km east of Monkman Park and about 70 km SW of the community of Tumbler Ridge. There is now a link from our website www.eaglewatch.ca to the tracking site if you wish to follow her progress towards her northern breeding grounds.

March 17 [Day 13] (George Halmazna) There was little temperature variation with a high of 3C at 1500 and it was -1C at both 0715 and at 1930. Ground winds were mainly W gusting to 30 km/h while ridge winds were moderate WSW-SW gusting to 54 km/h. Cloud cover was 70-90% cumulus and altostratus all day with snow flurries developing after 1400: the eastern ridges remained clear but the west was 60-90% obscured after 1600. A total of 76 raptors migrated between the first Golden Eagle at 1126 and the last Bald Eagle at 1635, with the best hourly counts being 12-1300 when 22 Golden Eagles passed and 13-1400 with 19 Golden and 2 Bald Eagles recorded. The flight comprised 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 2sa), 1 adult Northern Goshawk and 72 Golden Eagles (69a, 1sa, 2j). Thirty-two Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches and 11 White-winged Crossbills were both seasonal firsts for the site and a single Black-capped Chickadee was, surprisingly, only the second record for the season. 12.25 hours (138.83) BAEA 3 (24), NOGO 1 (2), GOEA 72 (324) TOTAL 76 (355)

March 16 [Day 12] (Terry Waters) When Terry arrived at 0730 there was steady snow and all ridges were obscured. At 1200 the ridges showed signs of clearing so observation began. The temperature at 1200 was 1C and rose to a high of 3C at 1400 and was still 2C at 1800. Ground winds were SW-W all day generally 10-20 gusting 30 km/h, and ridge winds were strong SW-WSW gusting to nearly 100 km/h to 1500 after which they moderated 30-40 gusting 60 km/h. Cloud cover was 100% stratocumulus all afternoon which was thin enough to allow very hazy sunshine. The eastern ridges were more-or-less clear all afternoon, but the west was 50% obscured and the mountains to the south were often invisible. The first raptor was the season's first migrant Northern Goshawk (an adult) at 1310 followed by adult Golden Eagles at 1315 and 1355. An adult Cooper's Hawk at 1442 was also a season's first and the 5^th and last bird of the day was another adult Golden Eagle at 1545. 6 hours (126.58) COHA 1 (1), NOGO 1 (1) GOEA 3 (252) TOTAL 5 (279)

Eagle #78453 started the day by flying due east into the foothills, probably to avoid the same downslope snow conditions that were experienced at Lorette. It then resumed its flight to the NW but by the end of the day it was still well south of the North Saskatchewan River.

March 15 [Day 11] (Brian McBride) The temperature rose to a high of 8C at 1500 from a low of -4C and was 3C at 1900. Ground winds were SW most of the day, generally 10-20 km/h while ridge winds were strong SW gusting to 120 km/h late in the day. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus and stratocumulus to noon reducing to 80% by 1500 and to 30% by the end of the day, and the ridges remained clear all day. A total of 60 raptors migrated between 0835 and 1829, of which 58 were Golden Eagles (56a, 2sa) the other birds being a subadult Bald Eagle and an undetermined dark morph Buteo. Most birds moved high to the NW from the Fisher range to Mount Lorette until late in the afternoon after which they moved high over the centre of the valley. Five American Dippers were the only other birds recorded from the site. 11.25 hours (120.58) BAEA 1 (21), UB 1 (1), GOEA 58 (249) TOTAL 60 (274)

On this day the adult female Golden Eagle #78453 (see March 12) was at approximately 116^oE and 52^oN which would put it in the Ram Range about 53 km S of Nordegg, 25 km SW of Abraham Lake (North Saskatchewan River) and 20 km E of Kootenay Plains. This also puts it about 130 km NW of Mount Lorette (over which it almost certainly passed) and about 285 km NNW of Piitaistakis-South Livingstone.

March 14 [Day 10] (Brian McBride) At 0815 it was -5C with 1 cm of fresh snow, but by noon the temperature had risen to 5C and remained there until 1700. Ground winds were strong S all day gusting to 70 km/h dropping to 50 km/h after 1700, and ridge winds were strong SW all day occasionally gusting to 150 km/h. Cloud cover was 100% altostratus and stratocumulus all day with the western ridges averaging 50% obscured while the eastern ridges essentially remained clear. The peaks and ridges to the south, however, were obscured all day and by 1700 all ridges were obscured as snow reached the site. The only migrant raptors seen were an unaged Golden Eagle at 1000 and adults at 1120 and 1124, but no other bird of any kind was recorded all day.8.75 hours (109.33) GOEA 3 (106) TOTAL 3 (214)

March 13 [Day 9] (Bill Wilson) The temperature was 0C at 0730 and rose to 8C at 1700 before falling again to 4C at 1950. Ground winds were mainly 10-15 gusting 25 km/h while ridge winds were SW all day gusting close to 100 km/h in the morning but moderating in the afternoon with gusts between 60 and 80 km/h. Initial cloud cover was 90% cumulus and altostratus reducing to 30% cumulus around noon before thickening again throughout the afternoon reaching almost 100% altostratus and cumulus by the end of the day, yielding mainly sunny or hazy sun conditions and an excellent observing backdrop. The western ridges were 40% obscured until 1400 but the eastern route was clear all day. The first of the day’s season-high 103 Golden Eagles was seen at 0850 and the birds moved steadily until the last one went north at 1913, the latest to be seen so far this year. The hourly Golden Eagle counts between 1000 and 1900 were 16, 7, 14, 5, 16, 8 10, 16 and 19. The flight comprised 97 adults, 1 subadult, 3 juveniles and 2 birds of undetermined age. The Bald Eagle count of 13 birds (12a, 1j) was also a season high. Birds recorded for the first time this season were 4 Common Redpolls and a male Red-winged Blackbird. 12.33 hours (100.6) BAEA 13 (20), GOEA 102, (187), UE 1 (1) TOTAL 117 (211)

March 12 [Day 8] (Doug Pedersen) The temperature reached a high of 5.5C at 1600 from a morning low of -4C, ground winds were S-SSW averaging 10 km/h gusting to 20 km/h in the morning and up to 30 km/h in mid-afternoon, while ridge winds were mainly strong WSW-SW gusting to 115 km/h. Cloud cover was initially 10% altocumulus but quickly thickened to 90% altocumulus and stratocumulus at 0900 reducing to 10-70% for the rest of the day. The eastern ridges were clear all day but up to 20% of the western ridges were obscured by downslope cloud. Raptor movement started early with an adult Golden Eagle moving north at 0805 and when the last Golden Eagle moved at 1754 a season high count of 73 Golden Eagles (59a, 4j, 3sa, 7u) had been tallied. The highest hourly Golden Eagle counts were 18 from 1500 to 1600 and 17 from 1700 to 1800: the Golden Eagle migration has finally started. The only other raptor migrant was an undifferentiated immature Bald Eagle. A single Snow Bunting was the first for the season. 12 hours (88.25) BAEA 1 (7), GOEA 73 (94) TOTAL 74 (94)

Rob Domenech of the Raptor View Research Institute has kindly sent me a map that shows that their adult female Golden Eagle number 78453 roosted overnight on Bluff Mountain immediately west of the Piitaistakis-South Livingstone site this evening. The bird was captured and fitted with a transmitter during the third week of October, 2010 and spent the winter in the Paradise Valley just south of Livingstone, Montana and just north of Yellowstone National Park. It will be interesting to see if the bird moves north over the Mount Lorette site and how long it takes to get there.

March 11 [Day 7] (Joel Duncan (0730-1000), Cliff Hansen (1000-1415), Peter Sherrington (1415-1845)) The temperature rose to a high of 1.5C at 1500 from a low of -13C, ground winds were light NNE-SE until 1100, SW 5-10 gusting 20 km/h to 1700 after which they were N-NE gusting to 10 km/h while ridge winds were strong SW to early afternoon after which they moderated but still gusted to 60 km/h. Cloud cover was 70-100% cumulus, stratocumulus and cirrus all day, and there was 5 cm of fresh snow early in the morning. A total of 4 Golden Eagles (2a, 2u) migrated high above the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette between 1504 and 1752 which may finally signal the start of a sustained migration. An American Robin perched on a gravel bar in the river next to an American Dipper at 1645 was the first of the season, and 3 Canada Lynx were seen by Jim Saint Laurent as he walked from the site to the parking lot at 1630. The “split shifts” for today’s observers were to facilitate our volunteering at a casino in Calgary along with 22 other RMERF members and supporters who have worked there over the last two days. We extend our thanks to all these dedicated volunteers and to our Treasurer, Claire Bourret, for initiating and organizing the event which should provide significant funding to support the Foundation’s work over the next two years. 11.25 hours (76.25) GOEA 4 (12) TOTAL 4 (20)

March 10 NO OBSERVATION POSSIBLE Terry Waters endured the rain and snow at the site between 1000 and 1500, but the peaks and ridges remained obscured all day.

March 9 [Day 6] (Peter Sherrington) It was a much warmer day with the temperature rising to 4C at 1400 from a low of -3C, ground winds were SW-SSE all day gusting to 25 km/h in the afternoon while ridge winds were strong all day, SW to 1500 and then SSW with a maximum gust of 150 km/h at 1500. Cloud cover was 70-100% mainly altostratus and cumulus with light snow starting at 1540 after the ridges to the south had been obscured since 1130. At 1620 the observers moved to Lusk Creek for the rest of the day. An adult Bald Eagle flying low to the north at 0735 raised hopes of some concerted movement but it again proved to be a disappointing day for migration with only 2 more birds seen at the Hay Meadow site: an adult Golden Eagle at 1308 and an adult Bald Eagle at 1411, while Lusk Creek provided the first Rough-legged Hawk of the season. An non-migratory adult Northern Goshawk hunting over Hummingbird Plume Hill at 0927 was the first seen this season.10.75 hours (65) BAEA 2 (6), RLHA 1 (1), GOEA 1 (8) TOTAL 4 (16)

March 8 [Day 5] (Peter Sherrington) The temperature was -22C at 0800 but by noon it had risen to -2C and reached the day’s high of 0C at 1600 falling back to -2C at the end of the day. Ground winds were light SW in the morning becoming SW-WSW in the afternoon gusting to 20 km/h while ridge winds were SW moderate in the morning becoming strong after noon. Cloud cover was 70-100% altostratus and cumulus all day that gave hazy sun conditions for the most part and provided excellent viewing conditions. A total of 7 migrant raptors were recorded between 1142 and 1706 comprising 3 adult Bald Eagles and 4 adult Golden Eagles which is the highest count of what has so far been a disappointing season. The only other birds seen at the site were 7 American Dippers and 16 Common Ravens, but 4 Canada Goose were at Lorette Ponds in the late evening. A fresh track of a Richardson’s Water Vole in snow covering an ice pan in the river was notable. 11.25 hours (54.25) BAEA 3 (4), GOEA 4 (7) TOTAL 7 (12)

March 7 [Day 4] (Cliff Hansen) The temperature ranged from -21C to a high of -13C at 1000, ground winds were variable and generally light to 1400 after which they were N 5-10 gusting 15 km/h while ridge winds were WSW moderate to strong. Cloud cover was 10% cumulus and cirrus at 0800 increasing to 20% at 1200 and 60% at 1300 thickening to 100% cumulus and stratus after 1500 with ice crystal haze and then snow developing for the rest of the day. By 1600 all ridges and peaks were obscured. The only raptor recorded was an adult Golden eagle at 1130 that slowly moved to the north above the western ridges. Between 1745 and 1815 Cliff observed at the Lusk Creek site but no raptors were seen. 10.5 hours (43) GOEA 1 (3) TOTAL 1 (5)

March 6 [Day 3] (Bill Wilson) The initial temperature of -19C at 0705 fell to -21C at 0900, rose to a high of -10C at 1500 before again falling to -15C at 1840. Ground winds were N-NE (occasionally NW) 0-10 occasionally gusting 20 km/h, while ridge winds were calm to moderate SW gusting to 33 km/h. Cloud cover was initially 80% cumulus decreasing to 5-20% for the rest of the day, and there was very light snow for the first two hours of the count. The day’s first migrant raptor was an adult Golden Eagle moving from the Fisher Range to Mount Lorette at 1435 while the second (and last of the day!) was an adult Bald Eagle moving north from the northern end of the Fisher Range at 1445. 11.58 hours (32.5) BAEA 1 (1), GOEA 1 (2) TOTAL 2 (4)

March 5 [Day 2] (Joel Duncan) The temperature was -19C at 0730 and rose to a high of -12C at 1400, ground winds were N-NE 5-15 km/h occasionally gusting to 26 km/h and ridge winds were generally light. Cloud cover was initially 20% altocumulus thickening to 100% at 1600 and subsequently reducing to 50%, and the ridges were partially obscured by ice-crystal fog all day. No migrant raptors were seen, but 8 American Dippers feeding on a restricted patch of open water on the largely frozen Kananaskis River at the site provided some compensation 10.67 hours (20.92) TOTAL 0 (2)

March 4 NO OBSERVATION Light snow persisted to 1000 but the ridges remained obscured until 1700 after which they gradually cleared but too late for any potential movement.

March 3 [Day 1] (Cliff Hansen) Around 50 cm of fresh snow greeted Cliff on his arrival at the site, but it was almost cloudless, -19C with light ground winds. By 1300 the temperature had risen to 0C and was 1C at 1400, but then fell as developing cumulus and altocumulus cloud reached 50% at 1400 and 100% stratus at 1700 when snow started obscuring all peaks and ridges. Ground winds remained light all day, but ridge winds were moderate to strong WSW which should have provided favourable migration conditions before 1700. The day’s only migrant raptors, however, both occurred at 1210 when a juvenile Northern Harrier flew low to the north along the centre of the valley, while an adult Golden Eagle glided high to the north from the end of the Fisher Range. A female Moose was present at the site when the observers arrived and watched their activities with some bemusement for the following 4.5 hours. At 1700 the observers moved to the Lusk Creek site where weather conditions were better, but no further birds were seen. 10.25 hours (10.25) NOHA 1 (1), GOEA 1 (1) TOTAL 2 (2)

March 2 NO OBSERVATION Snow stopped in the afternoon but the ridges remained obscured.

March 1 NO OBSERVATION Snow all day.

Introduction 2011 is the 20th consecutive year that a spring raptor count has been conducted at the Mount Lorette site. In 1992 an 8-day reconnaissance count established that Golden Eagles moved to the north in significant numbers through the Rocky Mountain Front Ranges. Most of the birds moved along the Fisher Range, crossing the Kananaskis Valley to Mount Lorette before continuing their migration to the northwest. A 48 day (393 hour) count at the site in the spring of 1993 yielded 4140 migrating Golden Eagles and the following year a 70 day (649 hour) count produced 4213 birds which remains the highest spring count ever for the species at Mount Lorette. Between 1994 and 2007 extensive spring counts averaging 82 days (897 hours) were conducted at the site with a maximum count in 2005 of 94 days (1238 hours). Despite the steady increase in observer effort during this period, the number of migrating Golden Eagles counted has steadily and significantly decreased since 1995. In 2006 RMERF conducted it first complete fall count at the Piitaistakis-South Livingstone site near the Crowsnest Pass in SW Alberta and in 2008-10 also conducted full spring counts there. During this period extensive comparative counts were made at Mount Lorette between March 1 and April 15 which is coincident with the height of the Golden Eagle migration and during which period over 90% of the population moves north. Observer effort from 2008-10 at Mount Lorette has averaged 43 days (487 hours) with a maximum count of 46 days (519 hours) in 2010 when no days were lost to inclement weather. Because of a lack of Principal Observers it was decided not to count at Piitaistakis-South Livingstone this spring but we hope to rectify this situation for forthcoming counts.

This winter in the mountains has so far reflected La Niña Pacific Ocean water conditions that have produced higher than average snowfalls and lower than average temperatures with only brief periods of warm, clear weather. Had the Piitaistakis-South Livingstone count started on its usual date of February 15 the weather would have permitted only a few days of observation during the month. On March 2, which was yet another cold and snowy day, David McIntyre reported 6 adult Golden Eagles feeding on deer carrion in the Rock Creek valley east of the Livingstone Ridge, and I observed 8 Bald Eagles and 14 Golden Eagles (nearly all adults) also feeding on deer carrion in the Castle River valley north of Beaver Mines. The following day the Livingstone Ridge was clear and I only observed one Golden and one Bald Eagle in the Castle valley area suggesting that birds had taken advantage of the clear conditions and had moved north.

Cliff Hansen is again coordinating the Lorette count this spring and would welcome volunteers to assist the Principal Observers at the site. If you are interested in helping you can contact him at 403-673-2422 or 403-609-0691 (cell), or just turn up at the site with your binoculars and warm clothing!