Monitoring of the 2020 spring hawk migration will once again take place from March 1 to May 15, as members of the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch (NPH) will be on site counting the number of sightings daily.
“Beamer Memorial Conservation Area is known as the best vantage point in the Niagara Peninsula, with sightings of more than 15,000 hawks, eagles, falcons and vultures on average each spring,” says Kim Frohlich, Ecologist at the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. “At this site, members of the public can see a variety of birds of prey, as they migrate from South and Central America, the Caribbean and the United States to their nesting territories in Canada.”
Visitors can join counters from NPH throughout the season, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (weather permitting), to learn how to identify birds of prey such as Golden Eagles or Red-Tailed Hawks, which are a few of the first species to be seen in early March.
Results from 2019 indicated a spring migration total of 12,828 raptors over the Conservation Area. Trends in these migrating bird populations serve as valuable biological indicators for ecosystem health, as raptors are top-level predators, occupying large home ranges, inhabiting most ecosystems, and being sensitive to environmental contamination and other human disturbances. This migration monitoring continues year after year, with Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch leading this effort since 1990.
Follow this spring migration journey on social media using @NPHawkwatch. Save the date for the annual Hawkwatch Open House on Good Friday, April 10, 2020 for on-site live hawk demonstrations, ‘Talks on the Hawk Migration’, children’s programming and more. In terms of species diversity, there is no better time of the year!
For more information on Beamer Conservation Area, visit www.npca.ca/parks/beamer-memorial. Follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more updates.
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About NPCA:
The NPCA manages the impact of human activities, urban growth, and rural activities on the Niagara Peninsula watershed with programs and services that help keep people and their property safe from flooding and erosion, while retaining the safety of our drinking water.
NPCA manages 42 Conservation Areas, including Ball’s Falls, Binbrook, Long Beach and Chippawa Creek. These lands are held in public trust for recreation, heritage preservation, conservation, and education. NPCA’s Conservation Areas marry nature, culture and adventure to create limitless opportunities for discovery.
Questions related to the above release should be directed to:
Erika Navarro, Communications Specialist
Mobile: 905-650-4027
enavarro@npca.ca