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.
03/17/2022
Observers: Caroline Lambert, Rick Robb
06:45 AM
08:00 PM
Temperature ranged from 0C to 6C
Finally, after a couple of weeks of less than ideal conditions for migrating raptors, the weather cooperated to produce a season high total of 117 Golden Eagles, almost doubling the season count to date. A low temperature of 0ºC and high of 6ºC, plus relatively calm ground winds, made the day comfortable for the observers. Cumulus clouds scudded across the sky all day in a migration-favourable mostly west to east direction, with sufficient wind that nearly all the eagles could glide effortlessly with little soaring or flapping of wings. Those few eagles that flapped their wings were assumed to be males trying to keep up with their larger and more powerful mates. Those that were seen soaring might just have been the females waiting for their mates to catch up. All the migrants were seen on the east side of the valley, ranging in height from ridge level to four "binocular views" above ridge level (not quite overhead, but close), keeping the observers on their toes. No raptors were seen on the west side of the valley, which was often obscured in clouds.
117 (94a, 4sa, 19u)
3 Bald Eagles
Migrants were evenly distributed throughout the day.
120
None
1 Northern Flicker, 1 Northern Shrike (juvenile), 2 Canada Jays, 12 Common Ravens, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 American Dipper
50
