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.
04/18/2022
Observers: Lori Anderson, Glenn Webber
06:45 AM
08:45 PM
-7 C to + 4 C
A wonderful calm spring morning that allowed for a smorgasbord on the Hay Meadow Biosphere Reserve, especially between 9:00 and10:00. The weather was quite stable all day until about 19:30 when a front started moving in from the SW.
Ground winds averaged between 5-10 km/h from the south with occasional periods of gusts to about 18 km/h. The winds at ridge level were not detectable due to irregular wind currents. Lenticular clouds formed and stayed in the same places all day. The USASK centennial ridge data recorded the winds as between 10- 40 km/h from the S and S/SE. 100 % Altostratus started as a thin layer and thickened as the day progressed. Most of the raptors were found either on the eastern ridges, valley center, or at Lorette.
5 (1 adult, 3 subadult, 1 indeterminate)
Bald Eagle (2 adults, 1 subadult), Indeterminate Eagle 1, Prairie Falcon 1, Merlin 1, Northern Goshawk 1.
17:00 to 19:00 with 6 migrants
12
Bald Eagle 3 adults, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Northern Goshawk 1, Golden Eagle 2 adults.
Mountain Bluebird 3 (m,m,f)
Varied Thrush 2
American Robin 30
Northern Shrike 1
Dark-eyed Junco 12
Canada goose 2
Northern Flicker 3
Canada Jay 2
Common Raven 3
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Mountain Chickadee 1
Bohemian Waxwing 50
Clark’s Nutcracker 1
Ruffed Grouse 3
European Starling 3
Common Merganser 3
American Crow 1
A hungry Merlin swooped down past us into the meadow and almost caught the female mountain bluebird after a wild pursuit. Yikes!!!
A Raven caught a large prey and flew it triumphantly all over the valley for about 10 minutes. At one point two other Ravens joined the show.
40
