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.
03/06/2022
Observers: Blake Weis, Annie Finch, Allison Zukewich
07:15 AM
06:30 PM
-12 to -4 C
It was a bright and sunny day bookended with cloudy periods in the first and last few hours. The western mountains were occasionally obscured by low cloud from snow-making on Nakiska. Otherwise, the ridges were clear. Wind gusted to 20 km/h from the SW in the afternoon.
The first migrant of the season was an adult Bald Eagle flying north over the east side of the valley at 10:26 am. Eagles continued to move over the eastern ridges in a steady trickle until 3 pm, after which only two were seen.
10 (Adults)
5 Bald Eagles (Adults), 1 Unidentified Eagle
11 am to 12 pm and 2 to 3 pm were tied with 4 migrants each
16
n/a
1 Clark's Nutcracker flying high up on Patrick, 1 Red Crossbill
N/a
20
