October 10, 2015 Florida Keys Hawkwatch

By Jim Eager

Red-Shoulder Hawk Photo by
 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Many of you know about the legendary Peregrine Falcon counts at the Florida Keys Hawkwatch. They hold the single day and seasonal world records. 638 counted on Oct. 11, 2008, 651 on Oct. 10, 2012 and 4,219 for the 2014 season. Well my fellow hawk watchers the record was obliterated yesterday Oct. 10, 2015. They counted 1,506 Peregrine Falcons. Big congratulations to Rafael Galvez, Ted Keyel and the rest of the Florida Keys Hawkwatch volunteers. I was a counter there for nearly 3 seasons so it is near and dear to my heart. Rafael used to call me militant when I referred to the peregrines. Indeed I am. In case some don't know Space Coast Audubon has been a sponsor/partner of this awesome hawkwatch since 2011.