The main observation site is the Hay Meadow, Mt. Lorette Site. The site is located in Kananaskis on the bank of the Kananaskis River. It has a view of the open valley. which allows excellent (though rather distant) viewing of the Fisher Range to the east. The bulk of the Golden Eagles and other raptors use this ridge as part of their preferred migration route.
Mt. Lorette Observations
See the seasonal count reports and daily summaries for historical observation counts. The following observations started in Fall 2021.
04/03/2022
Observers: Blake Weis, Annie Finch
07:15 AM
08:10 PM
Min -1 C, Max +7 C
Cloud cover varied from 50-90% throughout the day. Wind was mostly from the SW and WSW, strong at ridge level and gusting to 40 km/h in the valley. Late in the day the western ridges were obscured up to 50% by low cloud which sent occasional flurries into the valley. Despite good conditions for migration few eagles turned up to take advantage of it. Those that did were usually detected at Mt. Lorette or high over the Fisher Range.
17 (9 adult, 3 juvenile, 5 unaged)
Bald Eagle (2 adults, 2 unaged)
2-3 pm with 6 migrants
21
2 Golden Eagles (adults), 1 Northern Goshawk and 1 Red-tailed Hawk were hover hunting at various locations throughout the afternoon. A sub-adult Golden Eagle also flew south from Mt. Lorette
Highlights include 1 American Dipper, 3 Mountain Bluebirds, 2 Varied Thrushes, 2 Common Redpolls and 1 Dark-eyed Junco
Nothing of note
17
