I will be leading a field trip to the Florida Keys Hawkwatch October
10-13, 2014 for the fall migration. As some of you know I worked the
2008 field season as a raptor observer and the 2011-2012 seasons as
co-coordinator and raptor observer. The trip can be reduced to 3 days if that is what the consensus wants.
We will need 6-7 hours to get to Grassy Key so I was figuring on 1 day to drive, 1 or 2 days at the hawkwatch and 1 day to drive home. Also by staying an extra day that would give folks who don't want to spend 2 full days at the hawkwatch the opportunity to have a day to explore the Keys. But I see a minimum of 3 days at least.
A little history of the Florida Keys Hawkwatch:
The hawkwatch ran from 1999-2008 and then in 2009 the funding ceased.
There was no season in 2009. In 2010 the Hawk Migration Association of
North America (HMANA) funded the hawkwatch due to the possibility of
losing 10 years of data and having to start all over again at square
one. In 2011 myself and a board member of the Tropical Audubon Society
joined forces to secure funding from various organizations and also
bring aboard Leica Sport Optics as the official optics provider of the
Florida Keys Hawkwatch. Space Coast Audubon along with Tropical Audubon
and the Florida Keys Audubon have been supporters all 3 years and once
again SCAS will be a sponsor for the hawkwatch.
I wanted to post this trip now so anyone interested would be able to
have as much lead time as possible so as to plan if so desired. I would like to show folks firsthand what goes on at a hawkwatch and the amount
of work that goes into making it a success. I have picked this weekend because historically this is the peak weekend. The season runs from
September 15-November 13. In case folks don't know this is the #1 site, in the world, to see Peregrine Falcons. During the 2008 season
our 3 person team broke the single day world record by counting 638
Peregrine Falcons on October 11th. During the 2012 season that record
was broken on October 10th when 651 were counted in one day. In
addition, the seasonal world record was broken following the 2012 season
with 3,836 and again following the 2013 season with 4,010. Although
the Peregrine Falcon steals the show there is the possibility of seeing
up to 15 different raptors. If folks want to read about the 2013
hawkwatch check out www.floridakeyshawkwatch.wordpress.com for their daily blog
entries. You will also be able to see various other migrants as they pass the the site.
I have arranged to book lodging at The White Sands
Inn (whitesandsinn.com) on Grassy Key. The Inn is 1 1/2 miles from
Curry Hammock SP the site of the hawkwatch. It is approximately 6 mile north of
Marathon so there are plenty of restaurant options. In addition, at The
White Sands Inn some of the rooms are equipped with kitchens or kitchenettes
depending on the room. That way folks can make arrangements
to share a room. The room rates range from $70-$140. This discount
is due to the White Sands Inn being the official Inn of the hawkwatch and I know the owners and have personally stayed there for many years.
It is located on the Atlantic Ocean and has a pool. If interested contact me at beachbirder@bellsouth.net so I can start a list of
interested folks. I'm sure we will have to put down a deposit to
reserve the rooms so I will take care of making all those arrangements.
If you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to contact me.
Jim Eager
beachbirder@bellsouth.net
423-593-0059 cell
Space Coast Audubon Society
Vice President
Program/Publicity Chair
