The naked eye, binoculars and spotting scopes are used to scan the sky for migrants. Spotters are often used to help the official counter locate birds. When a raptor is observed, a series of decisions is made.

Only birds moving to the south or southwest are defined as migrating.
Any bird not moving into this quadrant is not counted.

Once it has been determined the bird is migrating, it is then identified as to species using the standard field identification techniques (shape, color, pattern, wing beat cadence, behavior, etc.). If it is not possible to identify the bird, it is recorded as "unidentified." If possible, age and sex are also noted.

The bird is officially tallied only after it passes south of the observer. Any bird that does not pass that point is not counted. Each migrant species that is observed is recorded on a tabletop clicker with one button for each of 16 species. At the end of the hour, the species totals are documented and the clicker is cleared.

Broad-wings save energy by riding thermals for lift. At times, hundreds or thousands of birds are using the same thermal. The birds are far too difficult to count while in these "kettles" which can look like a tornado swirling with birds.

Conveniently for counters, however, when the birds reach the top of the thermal, they glide out singly or in smaller numbers (often referred to as "streaming out"). As they stream out, the birds can be counted one at a time on our hand-held clickers. If necessary, they are counted 10 at a time (one click represents 10 birds). If there are too many birds for this, a block count method can be used on the stream (example: if 40 birds are in one field of view in the binoculars and 25 fields of view are required to scan a given group, 1000 birds are tallied).

Before a Bald Eagle or Osprey is officially tallied, it must demonstrate a migratory pattern as opposed to a behavior indicative of a transient or local bird.
Birds are not counted as migrants if they are:

1. in view for extended periods of time ("hanging out"),
2. actively hunting, or
3. flying "the wrong way".

Eagles and osprey are counted if they are:

1. using thermals,
2. flying a straight course in the correct direction or
3. at a very high altitude are recorded as migrants.

Identifying individual birds by sex or age assists with the migrant/transient documentation. This procedure allows for a more conservative Bald Eagle and Osprey survey.

It is important to note that two sites -- the Boat Launch at Lake Erie Metropark (LEMP) plus the headquarters of Pointe Mouillee State Game Area (PMSGA) about 2 miles to the south -- can and will be used simultaneously under certain conditions. This does not mean that birds are "double-counted." The positions of the north and south observation sites relative to the east-to-west migration path over the shoreline prevent it. (See map).

For example, raptors recorded at PMSGA, the southern site, will never be seen at LEMP. Coming ashore at PMSGA, they disappear into the skies of Monroe County west or south of the count site and will never be seen again by SMRR during this migration. However, a raptor observed at LEMP, the northern count site, will do one of two things:

1. continue further inland before adjusting to a more southerly course or
2. swing immediately to the southwest.
   If it swings to the southwest, the geography of the shoreline brings the bird over land behind the PMSGA count site. As stated above, the birds are counted only when they cross the counter's line, but not if they appear suddenly behind the observers.
   

Simultaneous use of the sites is irregular at best and depends on wind direction (see weather section). The majority of the season's hours come from the LEMP site. Also, all numbers are recorded separately and can be analyzed separately. Numbers posted on the Internet are combined for the sake of simplicity.

Questions or Comments to:
Paul Cypher - SMRR President
paulcypher@comcast.net

© SMRR.net 2007