Kim, I haven't heard of such concentrations. That sounds unique.

Dennis Paulson
Seattle


> On Aug 11, 2025, at 9:32 PM, Kim Thorburn via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:

>

> Hi Tweets,

>

> I'm wondering if anyone has insight about what seemed a very unusual event on July 22, 2025.

>

> I was working a field project on July 28, 2025 with another volunteer for WDFW at the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area in Lincoln County. In the process we drove an approximately 28-mile transect, mostly through public lands (Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area and BLM Telford Management Area) that comprises decent scablands shrub-steppe habitat. We began noticing American kestrel everywhere. We stopped counting at about 100 birds and probably saw twice that many. I have spent lots of time in this area and don't ever recall such a phenomenon.

>

> Many of the birds seemed to be hatch-year but there were clearly also adults. They were very active-perching, spatting, foraging. Some birds in this area over-winter. My anecdotal observation is that many over-wintering AMKE are adult males. I believe those that migrate only fly short distances. However, it seems early migratory activity, which, according to the literature occurs predominantly in September and tends to be solitary.

>

> Does anyone know if this is a known phenomenon and if so, what is means?

>

> Thanks,

>

> Kim

>

> Kim Marie Thorburn, MD, MPH

> Spokane, WA

> (509) 465-3025 home

> (509) 599-6721 cell

>

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