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.
10/31/2021
Observers: Bill Wilson and Ian Dowson
08:00 AM
06:25 PM
-14 C to 0 C
It was a beautiful, cloudless day with almost no wind (0 to 5 km/h, getting up to about 10 km/h for only a couple of hours). Smoke from somewhere made the ridges a bit hazy until about mid-day. Ridge winds were very light. Half the hourly readings at Nakiska Ridgetop were "calm", and the other five were no more than 6 km/h. All Golden Eagles crossed the face of Patrick; none were observed above the summit. One of the Golden Eagles landed four times for 1 to 5 minutes each time as it crossed the face of Patrick, and another landed once for about a minute. Most used a flap-glide-flap-glide flight style, so they had to work to get where they were going. Several also soared in front of the face of Patrick or Fisher North trying to gain altitude, not always very successfully, before continuing on.
18 (16 adults, 1 subadult and 1 juvenile)
1 juvenile Bald Eagle
3 pm to 5 pm with 14 Golden Eagles and 1 Bald Eagle.
19
0
One Varied Thrush atop a spruce, singing quietly for a short time.
Nothing of note.
0
