Sept 19 -- End of Day Summary
As you know we had teams spread out on high points, and it worked beautifully. The team on Williams Hill began picking up Marathon's signal around 1000, pointing back towards the Panoche Valley. At 1123 the team on Parkfield picked up her signal. By 1330, Marathon was passing Barb and Lorri on Williams Hill, and by 1530 she flew close to the team on Cuesta Ridge, above San Luis Obispo. (We have a little gadget on the receiver which allows us to restrict the signal strength so that we can tell if the bird is "close") By 1600 Bill, on Cuesta Ridge, and Phil and Mike on Parkfield Grade, all lost the signal abuptly. Did Marathon head into the mountains? Did she go down hunting? Did she head to roost? So many questions, but we'll have to be patient and see where she pops up Thursday morning.
Sept. 19 - New Interactive Map
Exciting news! We've got a interactive map which will show the rough estimation of Marathon's various locations, as she continues her journey southward. We will not be able to give more exact info until the teams (with their data logs) return home. Click here to check it out!
Sept. 19 -- Afternoon Report
The team on Williams Hill near Fort Hunter Liggett, and the team on Parkfield Grade both have the signal and report that Marathon is slowly (interesting word for a Broadwing who has so far to go) working her way south between the two teams. A third team is on Cuesta Ridge (above San Luis Obispo) waiting for her arrival.
Sept 18, Marathon Heads South from the Headlands
Marathon is her own girl, and is not following Zoe's lead from 18 years ago (East Bay, through Salinas Valley). Of course, maybe she's using Google Maps instead of the AAA maps which Zoe had to use.
Today, we were able to have 4 teams out on Marathon. Four teams is a bonus since we can have 2 teams on highpoints (in this case, Barb on San Bruno Mt and Cheryl on Mt. Hamilton) and two teams mobile. Phil and Mike began along the East Bay Ridgeline (Grizzly Peak area) and Bill and Lorri were "on the bird" early in the morning.
So, Tuesday morning Marathon woke up and continued her journey southward by heading over the Gate, through the City, and past Barb on San Bruno Mountain. Bill and Lorri were immediately playing catch up, but were able to get bearings as they also moved down the Peninsula. Meanwhile Phil and Mike had great bearings as Marathon moved southward towards Los Gatos. Add in the bearings from Mt. Hamilton, and I think we'll have a pretty good flight path for Marathon through the Bay Area.
Then Marathon flew into/through the Santa Cruz Mountains. Cheryl, on Mt. Hamilton, maintained the signal for most of the day...... hoorah! The 4th team was proving very valuable. The other teams repositioned to Fremont Peak and other nearby highpoints with mobile teams trying to get crossbearings. About 1500, crossbearings placed Marathon near Panoche Valley. One team traveling the area was unable to pick up her signal within the valley, so Marathon likely moved into the nearby hills. That was the last crossbearing of the day.
Similarly, when the teams were tracking Zoe in 1994, they would lose her mid-afternoon and then the following morning she would pop up about 40 miles south. Where will Marathon pop up on Wednesday? We'll all have to wait and see.
Today, we were able to have 4 teams out on Marathon. Four teams is a bonus since we can have 2 teams on highpoints (in this case, Barb on San Bruno Mt and Cheryl on Mt. Hamilton) and two teams mobile. Phil and Mike began along the East Bay Ridgeline (Grizzly Peak area) and Bill and Lorri were "on the bird" early in the morning.
So, Tuesday morning Marathon woke up and continued her journey southward by heading over the Gate, through the City, and past Barb on San Bruno Mountain. Bill and Lorri were immediately playing catch up, but were able to get bearings as they also moved down the Peninsula. Meanwhile Phil and Mike had great bearings as Marathon moved southward towards Los Gatos. Add in the bearings from Mt. Hamilton, and I think we'll have a pretty good flight path for Marathon through the Bay Area.
Then Marathon flew into/through the Santa Cruz Mountains. Cheryl, on Mt. Hamilton, maintained the signal for most of the day...... hoorah! The 4th team was proving very valuable. The other teams repositioned to Fremont Peak and other nearby highpoints with mobile teams trying to get crossbearings. About 1500, crossbearings placed Marathon near Panoche Valley. One team traveling the area was unable to pick up her signal within the valley, so Marathon likely moved into the nearby hills. That was the last crossbearing of the day.
Similarly, when the teams were tracking Zoe in 1994, they would lose her mid-afternoon and then the following morning she would pop up about 40 miles south. Where will Marathon pop up on Wednesday? We'll all have to wait and see.
Sept. 17, 2012: On Your Mark, Get Set,.........Go!
The 2012 tracking season has begun with Marathon, a juvenile Broad-winged Hawk. It's been 18 long years since we tracked our first Broadwing, Zoe. When told that we have a Broadwing, Phil Capitolo simply said, "I'm stunned!" That elusive Broadwing that we've been waiting for, flew into Hill 88 blind, and was banded by Dick Horn.... on his birthday! Thank You, Dick for sharing your present.
Soon we'll have a couple of photos to add to this Blog, so stay tuned for daily updates (or as frequently as I can get them posted).
After being released from the road beneath Hawk Hill, Marathon flew directly over Slacker Ridge and settled down on the East side of the ridge, overlooking the North Tower of the Golden Gate Bridge, and Hwy 101. Tomorrow we anticipate that she will continue her southward journey. Stay Tuned!
Soon we'll have a couple of photos to add to this Blog, so stay tuned for daily updates (or as frequently as I can get them posted).
After being released from the road beneath Hawk Hill, Marathon flew directly over Slacker Ridge and settled down on the East side of the ridge, overlooking the North Tower of the Golden Gate Bridge, and Hwy 101. Tomorrow we anticipate that she will continue her southward journey. Stay Tuned!
Update on Diana and Coco
Coco:
February 2, 2012! Coco is located on the ridgeline just west of Lower Crystal Springs Reservoir, just north of Highway 92 and west of Highway 280. It is very surprising that his transmitter is still working, since the manufacturer gives the battery a 6 - 8 week estimated life and we're going on 3 months! Coco is active, up and circling and apparently hanging out with a number of other Redtails along the coastal ridge.
Diana:
Jan. 3, 2012! Phil walked into the Laguna de Santa Rosa and observed Diana perched in a tree. Her transmitter was still working (almost 2 months after release). Phil returned on January 17, but was unable to pick up her signal. At the end of January, Phil and Lorri checked out the wider region, but were unable to pick up her signal. Her transmitter may have stopped transmitting, or she may have moved beyond the region.
February 2, 2012! Coco is located on the ridgeline just west of Lower Crystal Springs Reservoir, just north of Highway 92 and west of Highway 280. It is very surprising that his transmitter is still working, since the manufacturer gives the battery a 6 - 8 week estimated life and we're going on 3 months! Coco is active, up and circling and apparently hanging out with a number of other Redtails along the coastal ridge.
Diana:
Jan. 3, 2012! Phil walked into the Laguna de Santa Rosa and observed Diana perched in a tree. Her transmitter was still working (almost 2 months after release). Phil returned on January 17, but was unable to pick up her signal. At the end of January, Phil and Lorri checked out the wider region, but were unable to pick up her signal. Her transmitter may have stopped transmitting, or she may have moved beyond the region.
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