Hi Tweeters,
The Falcon Research Group has joined an on-going study of the fall hawk
migration at Cooper Mountain on Chelan Ridge (page 99 in the De Lorme
Atlas, lower right). This project is co-sponsored by the US Forest Service
and Hawkwatch International. They have been counting migrants there for the
last two autumns and have come up with the highest fall hawk counts in
Washington so far.
We would like to invite members of the birding community to join us on
the ridge and enjoy the migration. Two official counters from Hawkwatch
(Dan and Richard) are currently observing at the site on a daily basis. You
can generally expect to see 15-100 migrant raptors per day, depending on
the weather. The study will continue until the snows drive us out, probably
around mid-October. It is a great place to sharpen your accipiter
identification skills. It is also the only place in our state where
Broad-winged Hawks were seen in the last two years. Remarkably, seven were
seen there last year from 14-18 September.
Volunteers from the FRG will be operating a raptor banding station
throughout the season. Our campsite is located on the flat by the yellow
cattle guard. Look for all the cars.
The site is located just northwest of Cooper Mountain on the ridge above
the town of Chelan in Chelan County. For you west-siders, it takes about 4
hours to get there from Seattle or Mt. Vernon. Elevation is 5,500' so bring
warm clothes. It can get quite windy too. Camping is available but bring
your own water. The Forest Service has kindly provided two San-i-kans for
our use. We are also making a special effort to pack out all of our trash
so we don't get a bear problem. Please help us with that effort.
To get to the site, drive to Chelan and continue north on alternate
highway 97 to Apple Acres Road (page 84 in the De Lorme Atlas). Go left and
continue on approximately 5 miles to Antoine Creek Road. Go left again and
follow the main road (FS 8140) to the summit of the ridge. It is a pretty
good road and quite suitable for passenger cars. It takes about 25 minutes
to get up the valley. At the top, there is a T. Go right (FS 8020) and
follow the main road about a mile until you see two green San-i-kans on
your right. Do not take the earlier left side spur to the summit of Cooper
Mountain except for beautiful view. The half-mile trail to the observation
site starts on your left and is well-marked with flagging.
If you have questions, please contact me, although I will be on the
ridge until 7 September. You can also contact the USFS coordinater, Kent
Woodruff, at (509) 996-4002 or woody at methow.com.
See you there,
Bud

Falcon Research Group
Box 248
Bow, WA 98232 USA
(360) 757-1911
bud at frg.org