2005 GGRO Hawkwatch Count*
Species	2005	2005 Rate	10-Yr Av
		hawks/hour	95-04
Hours	455		525.1
Turkey Vulture	7,876	17.31	9,177
Osprey	110	0.24	102
White-tailed Kite	66	0.15	71
Mississippi Kite	0	0.00	0.1
Bald Eagle	6	0.01	4
Northern Harrier	459	1.01	819
Sharp-shinned Hawk	4,406	9.68	4,050
Cooper’s Hawk	2,426	5.33	2,377
Northern Goshawk	0	0.00	2
Red-shouldered Hawk	149	0.33	361
Broad-winged Hawk	146	0.32	103
Swainson’s Hawk	4	0.01	4
Red-tailed Hawk	7,272	15.98	9,486
Ferruginous Hawk	33	0.07	23
Rough-legged Hawk	4	0.01	7
Golden Eagle	13	0.03	19
American Kestrel	627	1.38	609
Merlin	198	0.44	152
Peregrine Falcon	218	0.48	147
Prairie Falcon	5	0.01	6
Unidentifies	1442	3.17	1,746
Total	25,461	55.96	29,256
Raptors per Hour	56		55.8

Above is the 2005 Hawkwatch data set, checked and rechecked by our eagle-eyed GGRO Interns this past month.  I included the previous ten years and the average of those years (see far right), nestled against the 2005 data set.  What’s interesting?  Highs in Merlin and Broadwings, lows in Harriers, Redshoulders, Redtails, and in total hours.  (Remember the foggy days of August and September?)  And yes, there was a droop in juvenile Red-tailed Hawk proportions late this year, but only a smidge out of previous bounds.  Our 14-year (1991-2004) average for % juvenile Red-tailed Hawks was 62%; 2005’s figure was 49.9%.  In 2003, our juv Redtail percentage dipped to 53.9% and in 2004 the number popped up to 71.0%.  So, was there a critical decline in young Red-tailed Hawks in 2005?  As Buzz reminds me, we may know in a year. Hang on.  And thank you for your hard work for these numbers.                                           - Allen Fish

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