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.
09/30/2021
Observers: Graeme Dunlop, Ruth Morrow, Johan Poll
07:20 AM
07:10 PM
+11C to +18C
Generally a nice day, windy and lots of clouds but quite sunny and warm. Ridge winds SW with gusts up to 140 km/h in the morning.
Decent early movement of Golden Eagles with 40 birds seen before 11a.m. (first birds observed 10 minutes before sunrise with a pair soaring into vivid pink clouds). A cold front passed through late on the previous day so this had likely held some birds back.
Vast majority of birds flew high from Mt Lorette to Fisher range, often angling into the strong wind with wings half-closed until half way across the valley before turning towards Fisher Range.
High percentage of unaged birds due to a combination of high flying, below average lighting conditions and also many of the morning birds were only glimpsed briefly as they flew in and out of the cloud base.
150 (72 adults, 4 subadults, 5 juveniles, 69 unaged)
3 Bald Eagles, 3 Sharp shinned Hawks, 7 Coopers Hawks, 7 Northern Goshawks, 4 Red tailed Hawks, 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 unidentified large falcon.
15:00 to 16:00 with 33 migrant raptors
177
Golden Eagle 1, Northern Goshawk 1.
1 Ruby crowned Kinglet, 3 Black billed Magpies, 1 Downy Woodpecker
0
