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Kris Vanesky and Journey, the Broad-winged Hawk
Wednesday, Sept 23, 2015
Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015
Our Lean, Mean Flying Machine is off to break records. Bill from the road to Fremont Peak picked up Journey's signal in line with Mt. Madonna. So that means that Journey was hiding out somewhere in the ridge just south of San Jose on Wednesday night. Bill and Maxine took bearings until it was obvious that Journey was going to head down the Hwy 101 corridor to the west, and so they headed down to Cuesta Ridge to get ahead of Journey while Mike Hall would come down 101 behind them. As Mike was heading south, he picked up Journey's signal to the west of Hwy 101 in the mid-afternoon. The bearing then moved to the SW indicating that Journey was still moving. It was good knowing that Bill and Maxine were far ahead so that Journey could not sneak by their location. However from Cuesta Ridge, the team never picked up Journey's signal, so the teams were unsure exactly how far south Journey's flight had taken him..... but they knew that Journey was still north of their location. The plan for the following morning would put Bill back up on Cuesta Ridge and Mike and Maxine would head over to Black Mt. in order to pick up cross bearings on Journey in the morning.
Meanwhile, a third team was preparing to join the team on Friday morning. Ken's college class meant that the team could not leave Thursday night, but rather would have to leave before dawn to get down to San Luis Obispo before Journey woke up! What a long day that will be for the team!
Stay tuned to find out where Journey will pop up on Friday morning!
Meanwhile, a third team was preparing to join the team on Friday morning. Ken's college class meant that the team could not leave Thursday night, but rather would have to leave before dawn to get down to San Luis Obispo before Journey woke up! What a long day that will be for the team!
Stay tuned to find out where Journey will pop up on Friday morning!
The JOURNEY Has Begun
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015
It was a Great Day in the Headlands today. The Hawkwatch counted more than 1,000 raptors, and the banders provided 2 Broad-winged Hawks..... well, they caught two Broadwings for us, but we could only accept one. And so, the journey with Journey (our "J" bird) began. Chris Briggs and Kris and Laura efficiently handled the retrieval of Journey from Hawk Blind (thanks banders) and application of the transmitter, while David and Lynn fought morning traffic.
Of the four Broad-winged Hawks we've already followed, Journey is the only one which was determined to continue its long distance migration after release. Libby and Maxine on Twin Peaks were kept busy all afternoon as Journey moved past their location..... somewhat slowly. Maybe there was an early afternoon stop or a lunch or pit stop, but it looked like Journey was going to remain in SF for the first nights' Roost. However, in the mid-afternoon their bearings started to swing to the east and then southward.
Bill, solo, was driver, and tracker, and communicator and recorder. In otherwords, Bill wore all of the hats available. Unfortunately, we are short on staff, so today Bill did it all. Tomorrow, Maxine will join Bill.
David and Lynn began at the release site, just below Hawk Hill in the parking area. Then they set up a position near Kirby Cove, where Journey took his first break from the flight path within the trees of the cove. Within a half hour he was again up and flying. While keeping track of Journey, David spotted Ferrug, and multiple Broadwings, Red-shouldered Hawks, plus bunches of little Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks. When Journey flew over the Golden Gate, the team headed southward through San Francisco to try to get ahead of him. But, that wasn't Journey's plan. He zipped eastward and to the Bay side of Maxine and Libby. Oh, gee,..... we're headed to the west side. We pulled over and took a bearing and then followed that bearing towards downtown SF. We lost the signal, but looked up to see another Broadwing flying right overhead.... of course, it was not our Journey. While trying to regain the signal, we pulled off into a side street and looked for a parking place, only to find Bill had beat us to the spot. We headed on to the East Bay, with no further signals from Yerba Buena Island, or any East Bay highpoints.
Tomottow, Libby will be back to work, and Mike will be coming on. Mike will have to wear all of the hats.... Driver, Tracker, Commnicator and Recorded because he will be working solo.
If an experienced GGRO Tracker would like to join the effort..... Just let me know. But be quick, because by Sunday, we anticipate that Journey will be approaching the Mexican Border. Will Journey's adventure be delayed due to weather. Stayed tuned to hear more about this Journey.
It was a Great Day in the Headlands today. The Hawkwatch counted more than 1,000 raptors, and the banders provided 2 Broad-winged Hawks..... well, they caught two Broadwings for us, but we could only accept one. And so, the journey with Journey (our "J" bird) began. Chris Briggs and Kris and Laura efficiently handled the retrieval of Journey from Hawk Blind (thanks banders) and application of the transmitter, while David and Lynn fought morning traffic.
Of the four Broad-winged Hawks we've already followed, Journey is the only one which was determined to continue its long distance migration after release. Libby and Maxine on Twin Peaks were kept busy all afternoon as Journey moved past their location..... somewhat slowly. Maybe there was an early afternoon stop or a lunch or pit stop, but it looked like Journey was going to remain in SF for the first nights' Roost. However, in the mid-afternoon their bearings started to swing to the east and then southward.
Bill, solo, was driver, and tracker, and communicator and recorder. In otherwords, Bill wore all of the hats available. Unfortunately, we are short on staff, so today Bill did it all. Tomorrow, Maxine will join Bill.
David and Lynn began at the release site, just below Hawk Hill in the parking area. Then they set up a position near Kirby Cove, where Journey took his first break from the flight path within the trees of the cove. Within a half hour he was again up and flying. While keeping track of Journey, David spotted Ferrug, and multiple Broadwings, Red-shouldered Hawks, plus bunches of little Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks. When Journey flew over the Golden Gate, the team headed southward through San Francisco to try to get ahead of him. But, that wasn't Journey's plan. He zipped eastward and to the Bay side of Maxine and Libby. Oh, gee,..... we're headed to the west side. We pulled over and took a bearing and then followed that bearing towards downtown SF. We lost the signal, but looked up to see another Broadwing flying right overhead.... of course, it was not our Journey. While trying to regain the signal, we pulled off into a side street and looked for a parking place, only to find Bill had beat us to the spot. We headed on to the East Bay, with no further signals from Yerba Buena Island, or any East Bay highpoints.
Tomottow, Libby will be back to work, and Mike will be coming on. Mike will have to wear all of the hats.... Driver, Tracker, Commnicator and Recorded because he will be working solo.
If an experienced GGRO Tracker would like to join the effort..... Just let me know. But be quick, because by Sunday, we anticipate that Journey will be approaching the Mexican Border. Will Journey's adventure be delayed due to weather. Stayed tuned to hear more about this Journey.
End of Day, Sept 21, 2015
Well, banders gave it a good try and stayed out all day.... but No Bird for Us!
September 20 and 21, 2015
Well, a very hot weekend has now passed and it is Monday morning, Sept. 21. Wow, Hawkwatchers and Banders both came off the hill early, both Saturday and Sunday. Obviously, the Telemetry Team is still "waiting" for a Broadwing or Better. (Broad-winged Hawk, Swainson Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk or even a Rough-legged Hawk).
So, Now, on Monday morning, the weather is a little cooler and the winds should begin coming from more favorable directions. Not all of the weather sites agree as to what will happen right here on the coast, but 16 happy banders have headed up to the blinds.
I will re-post when we have our "J" (Journey) bird.
So, Now, on Monday morning, the weather is a little cooler and the winds should begin coming from more favorable directions. Not all of the weather sites agree as to what will happen right here on the coast, but 16 happy banders have headed up to the blinds.
I will re-post when we have our "J" (Journey) bird.
September 2015: Broadwing or Better "Wait" Begins
September 18, 2015
Well, I've spent a few days over at 1064 trying to get everything organized so that the Telemetry Team can follow another Broad-winged Hawk to the Mexican Border. Thanks to Maxine, Ron, Brian and Linda who helped sort through all of the equipment. So far, only a few Broadwings have been seen by Hawkwatch, but we know they will be coming in larger numbers very soon. We had some unexpected wet weather on Wednesday, but California needs every drop it can get, and it certainly should help the large fires to our North and East. (As a side subject, David was banding on Wednesday and picked up a female, Sharp-shinned Hawk which "smelled" smoky. He had everyone in the blind "smell" the bird..... that was a first!)
When we begin to actually track a bird, I will update the posts daily, so that you can keep up with the progress of our subject. Hopefully, we get a picture to post to this blog, too.
So, until I have more to post, so long. Oh, this will be the "J" bird, and I'm favoring "Journey" unless someone else can tempt me with an even better name.
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