thread

Subject: Hawk watches in Virginia

From: Patrick Toomey <ptoomeyjr AT gmail.com>

Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:28:29 -0400

Is it only me or are others tired of our list server being dominated

every fall by mundane, tedious, less than fascinating daily

informational lists about EVERY hawk watch imaginable in Virginia?

Don't get me wrong, I like hawk watches; have been a volunteer hawk

watcher, go to them all of the time. The info is valuable for

scientists. I just think that the daily deluge about 14 more merlins

having been being seen somewhere adds very little of interest for

most of the regular users of this site. Perhaps next year there could

be a 'sister/brother' site where ALL of the Virginia hawk watch info

is displayed rather than cluttering up this one. Just my 'two cents'

worth.

Patrick Toomey

3103 Mollifield Lane

Charlottesville, Virginia 22911

ptoomeyjr AT gmail.com

Subject: Re: Hawk watches in Virginia

From: Christine Huffman <crhuff55 AT aol.com>

Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:33:21 -0400

i personally really like all the reports and knowing the numbers of

birds being recorded, and it is such a good indicator of what birds

are moving where - i find this information and the information on all

bird reports, whatever the birds are, extremely useful when out bird

watching - christie huffman

From: va-bird-bounces AT listserve.com [mailto:va-bird-bounces AT listserve.com]

On Behalf Of Christine Huffman

Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 11:33 AM

To: Patrick Toomey

Cc: va-bird AT listserve.com

Subject: Re: [Va-bird] Hawk watches in Virginia

i personally really like all the reports and knowing the numbers of birds

being recorded, and it is such a good indicator of what birds are moving

where - i find this information and the information on all bird reports,

whatever the birds are, extremely useful when out bird watching - christie

huffman

Subject: Re: Hawk watches in Virginia

From: Sandy Hevener <hevener AT htcnet.org>

Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:46:14 -0400

I find the hawk watch reports very useful to understanding when our

summer and winter eagle populations come and go. Records show that

golden eagle migration is generally later than bald eagle migration.

This year, judging from numbers reported in the hawk watches, golden

eagles seem to be a bit behind most years. Last year "Virgil Caine," the

GOEA outfitted with telemetry in Highland County, made a serious jump

south on September 27. This year, ,although she drifted south at the end

of September, it wasn't until Monday October 19, she was obviously

headed to her winter home. She was already there by October 10 last

year. I'd been concerned if the hawk watch postings had shown larger

numbers of GOEA migrating earlier. So far only two reported this fall-

one by Mendota on 9/27 and one by Seaside on 9/29.

I'd suggest anyone finding the hawk watch numbers boring simply delete,

not open the files. They are clearly labeled.

Please report eagles sighted in western Virginia counties to me here:

hevener AT htcnet.org

We are VERY interested in locating new eagle nests in Virginia's most

western counties. You may visit the CCB Virginia Eagle site

http://www.ccb-wm.org/virginiaeagles/index.htm to see which ones have

been located.

Sandy

Sandy Hevener/Patti Reum

Highland Eagle Survey

Blue Grass, VA 24413

Subject: Re: Hawk watches in Virginia

From: "Susan Powell" <smapowell AT cox.net>

Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:09:49 -0400

Please do continue to report the results of the Hawk watches in Virginia.

This info is very useful to many people.

If someone doesn't find the info useful, they can hit the delete button.

Susan Powell

Subject: Re: Hawk watches in Virginia

From: Shirley Devan <sedevan52 AT cox.net>

Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:17:53 -0400

PLEASE continue to post the daily hawk watch numbers from around the

state. The data are very interesting to most birders, particularly

those within a short (2 hours) driving distance of a hawk watch. Those

folks who are not interested can tap the "delete" key or the down

arrow key to go to the next post.

Many thanks to all the hawkwatchers who work and volunteer every day

and then work at night to post the numbers! Awesome work and very

important.

Thank you!

Shirley Devan

Williamsburg Bird Club

http://williamsburgbirdclub.org/

Board member, Virginia Society of Ornithology

Subject: Re: Hawk watches in Virginia

From: BEN COPELAND <benmarycop AT cavtel.net>

Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:46:09 -0400

Shirley is right, it does help to see the postings, especially early

on and peak times. Gives us a great idea of what to what for & where.

We don't appreciate all the hard work from the workers.

Thanks to all who carry on through rain, fog, and wind & post afterwards.

I delete certain days i have no time to scan them all.

Mary Copeland, Hampton Roads Bird Club, Hampton, VA

Subject: Re: Hawk watches in Virginia

From: "Janice Frye" <jjfdc AT clearwire.net>

Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:38:06 -0400

If you can even get them, volunteers in almost any endeavor are often

under-appreciated, over-worked, and sometimes burned out (but they may keep

going anyway because it won't/can't get done without them). The big black X

is there on the toolbar for a reason. I don't want to go to a separate site

for everything. And THANK YOU TO ALL VOLUNTEERS OUT THERE whether it is

bird-related or not! I know the dedicated hawkers are probably looking

forward to a break soon. Stay warm.

Jan

Subject: HAWK WATCHES

From: Donald Sweig <skybirds.d AT gmail.com>

Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:03:25 -0400

I very much enjoy the reports from the hawk watches. I read nearly all of

them very day. I also read all the reports on BIRDHAWK for watches all

over the east coast. Raptor migration is a truly wonderful natural

phenomenon. I want all the info I can get about what is being seen and

where. If someone doesn't want to read hawk reports, just don't! !!

--

Donald Sweig

Falls Church, Va.____

Subject: Re: Hawk watches in Virginia

From: Stephen Eccles <stephendeccles AT gmail.com>

Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:08:59 -0400

I can hardly think of anything more appropriate for VA-BIRD than this

information, If one does not want to read it, one simply deletes.

Stephen Eccles (with absolutely no link to these hawk watches)

Subject: Re: Hawk watches in Virginia

From: "Janice Frye" <jjfdc AT clearwire.net>

Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 23:00:50 -0500

I must admit I usually read the comments first, then the counts! Halloween at Harvey's Knob last year is a classic! Jan Richmond _____ From: va-bird-bounces AT listserve.com [mailto:va-bird-bounces AT listserve.com] On Behalf Of Nancy Young Sent: Monday, November 09, 2009 10:57 PM To: va-bird AT listserve.com Subject: Re: [Va-bird] Hawk watches in Virginia I agree with those who wrote to say just delete what you are not interested in. But before you delete, scroll to the bottom of the messages especially Harvey's Knob and you will find some interesting sightings beside the hawks - migrating humans on motorcycles or motor cars from all over the country and AT hikers going south or north, Monarch Butterflies winging their way south among Blue Jays and Red-headed Woodpeckers. You will also find weather, stinkbug and gnat predictions, and the occasional sightings of one of the rarest species on the Parkway - the Park Rangers! And so much more! :-) Just my belated two cents worth. Nancy Young Blue Ridge, VA