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Beaver Mines is an observation site located in the Crowsnest area. Annual counts are conducted in spring.

 

Beaver Mines Observations

See the count reports for historical data. The following observations started in Spring 2022.

10/30/2021

Observers: Blake Weis, Annie Finch

Start Time:

08:40 AM

End Time:

07:00 PM

Temperature:

-9 to 0

Description of the Day:

It was a sunny day with very little wind and about 10 cm of fresh snow on the ground. In the afternoon the western ridges were partially obscured by low cumulus from snow-making on Nakiska. The sky was totally clear otherwise. Raptor migration picked up later in the day as most of the birds were recorded after 3 pm. The last few passed just after sunset. All migrants used the eastern ridges and most of them were detected over Patrick and the Fisher Range. With the lack of wind migrants were usually moving low and slow with much soaring. They were well lit from below by sun reflecting off snow which (finally) made excellent conditions for ageing.

Migrant Golden Eagle Count:

81 (76 adults, 1 sub-abult, 4 unaged)

Migrant Other Raptor Count By Species:

13 Bald Eagles, 2 Northern Goshawks, 3 unidentified accipers, 2 Rough-legged Hawks

Period with Most Migrants:

4-5 pm with 35 migrants

Total Migratory Raptors:

101

Non-Migrant Raptors:

1 Golden Eagle and 2 Bald Eagles flying the migration route in reverse and 1 Northern Goshawk perched by the river

Other Birds of Note:

Lots of waterfowl moving south including 120 Snow Geese, 610 Canada Geese, 10 unidentified swans and 250 Mallards. Also 2 Northern Shrikes, 120 Ravens (including one conspiracy of at least 100), 1 Clark's Nutcracker, 1 Mountain Bluebird, 1 American Robin, 2 Varied Thrush, 8 Pine Grosbeaks, 15 Grey-crowned Rosy Finches, 50 Common Redpolls, 5 White-winged Crossbills, 4 Pine Siskins, 2 Snow Buntings, 1 American Tree Sparrow, 2 Dark Eyed Juncos and 1 White-crowned Sparrow

Other Observations:

Nothing of note

Number of Visitors:

0