Panko Press, 10/3/08 edition

Breaking News:  Record Peregrine Flight!

As Bobby would say; "The Peregrine door is wide open!"

They burst the door wide open on Monday 9/29 with a new daily record -

68 PGs in one day

  

 
   
            Deviation from 25 yr average
  9/29 9/30 10/1 10/2 YTD
           
AK 11 0 0 4 239 -74%
ML 88 7 5 57 613 -19%
PG 68** 15* 14 28 158 +182%
The last column is the deviation from our 25-year average, for the most
common species. An asterisk (*) indicates a record for the date.
A double asterisk (**) indicates an all time one day record.


The good news first - our 158 PGs are extraordinary.  We are just entering the PG season and we have more PGs than we totaled in 10 of our 25 years. Currently at 182% above average, I have to believe that we are headed for a record total for the year.  (continued)

Peregrine Falcon looks down on hawkwatchers at Fire Island Hawk Watch.

Peregrine Falcon at FIRE on Sep 29, 2008

Kestrels have been low for 5 years....but this is a new low.  We may set a record low year for AKs.  Boooo.....

The Merlin flight did not materialize in the past 2 weeks.  We slipped from  +37% above average on 9/22 to 19% below average on 10/2.  They could still turn around, but I'm worried that the good ML flights we've had since 2000 may turn around.  We're already above our low year (497 in 1984) but not doing well at all.  My fondest hope is that they've been held up and we'll have a new daily record in the next week or so and get back on track.

Be on the lookout for the next cold front over the weekend.  It may be very good!
Hope to see you all down at the beach!