Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 15 27
Turkey Vulture 0 92 92
Osprey 0 497 898
Bald Eagle 0 73 220
Northern Harrier 7 211 368
Sharp-shinned Hawk 187 4309 8233
Cooper's Hawk 44 2110 3511
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 12 21
Broad-winged Hawk 5 355 494
Red-tailed Hawk 0 57 148
Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1
Golden Eagle 0 1 1
American Kestrel 51 742 2749
Merlin 21 416 1120
Peregrine Falcon 15 731 1195
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 1
Mississippi Kite 0 1 2
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 2
Total: 330 9624 19084
Hawk Watch Count 10-13-2008
Official Observer: Dan Berard
Morning Flight 10-13-2008
Morning Flight: 0-5 W wind, clear conditions
Counter: Sam Galick
Ruby-crowned Kinglet- 1
American Robin- 780
Northern Parula- 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 283
Blackpoll Warbler- 2
Warbler sp.- 164
Savannah Sparrow- 1
Eastern Meadowlark- 8
Total Birds: 1240
Non Morning Flight birds: 191 Crow Sp., 16 Wood Ducks
Counter: Sam Galick
Ruby-crowned Kinglet- 1
American Robin- 780
Northern Parula- 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 283
Blackpoll Warbler- 2
Warbler sp.- 164
Savannah Sparrow- 1
Eastern Meadowlark- 8
Total Birds: 1240
Non Morning Flight birds: 191 Crow Sp., 16 Wood Ducks
Sea Watch Count - 10/12/08
Counter: Sean Fitzgerald
Canada Goose - 8
Brant - 4
Wood Duck - 13
American Wigeon - 1
American Black Duck - 7
Mallard - 7
Northern Pintail - 73
Green-winged Teal - 626
Greater Scaup - 2
Surf Scoter - 1,949
White-winged Scoter - 3
Black Scoter - 1,875
dakr-winged scoter - 131
Red-breasted Merganser - 1
Red-throated Loon - 1
Common Loon - 23
Northern Gannet - 64
Brown Pelican - 4
Double-crested Cormorant - 5,229
Great Cormorant - 1
Great Blue Heron - 13
Laughing Gull - 240
Ring-billed Gull - 116
Common Tern - 1
Forster's Tern - 41
Royal Tern - 17
Parasitic Jaeger - 1
Hudsonian Godwit - 1
Total: 10,452
Monarch: 61
Canada Goose - 8
Brant - 4
Wood Duck - 13
American Wigeon - 1
American Black Duck - 7
Mallard - 7
Northern Pintail - 73
Green-winged Teal - 626
Greater Scaup - 2
Surf Scoter - 1,949
White-winged Scoter - 3
Black Scoter - 1,875
dakr-winged scoter - 131
Red-breasted Merganser - 1
Red-throated Loon - 1
Common Loon - 23
Northern Gannet - 64
Brown Pelican - 4
Double-crested Cormorant - 5,229
Great Cormorant - 1
Great Blue Heron - 13
Laughing Gull - 240
Ring-billed Gull - 116
Common Tern - 1
Forster's Tern - 41
Royal Tern - 17
Parasitic Jaeger - 1
Hudsonian Godwit - 1
Total: 10,452
Monarch: 61
Hawk Watch Count 10-12-2008
Official Observer: Seth Cutright
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 15 27
Turkey Vulture 0 92 92
Osprey 13 497 898
Bald Eagle 1 73 220
Northern Harrier 5 204 361
Sharp-shinned Hawk 194 4122 8046
Cooper's Hawk 78 2066 3467
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 12 21
Broad-winged Hawk 4 350 489
Red-tailed Hawk 10 57 148
Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1
Golden Eagle 0 1 1
American Kestrel 6 691 2698
Merlin 21 395 1099
Peregrine Falcon 42 716 1180
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 1
Mississippi Kite 0 1 2
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 2
Total: 376 9294 18754
Morning Flight 10-12-2008
Morning Flight: 0-5 NE wind, clear conditions
Counter: Sam Galick
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker- 1
Northern Flicker- 6
Red-breasted Nuthatch- 1
American Robin- 1011
American Pipit- 2
Cedar Waxwing- 10
Northern Parula- 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler- 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 577
Palm Warbler- 5
Blackpoll Warbler- 3
Warbler sp.- 253
Savannah Sparrow- 3
Eastern Meadowlark- 23
Brown Creeper- 1
Total Birds: 1899
Counter: Sam Galick
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker- 1
Northern Flicker- 6
Red-breasted Nuthatch- 1
American Robin- 1011
American Pipit- 2
Cedar Waxwing- 10
Northern Parula- 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler- 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 577
Palm Warbler- 5
Blackpoll Warbler- 3
Warbler sp.- 253
Savannah Sparrow- 3
Eastern Meadowlark- 23
Brown Creeper- 1
Total Birds: 1899
Hawk Watch Count 10-11-2008
Official Observer: Seth Cutright
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 15 27
Turkey Vulture 0 92 92
Osprey 19 484 885
Bald Eagle 3 72 219
Northern Harrier 8 199 356
Sharp-shinned Hawk 285 3928 7852
Cooper's Hawk 211 1988 3389
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 10 19
Broad-winged Hawk 3 346 485
Red-tailed Hawk 19 47 138
Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1
Golden Eagle 0 1 1
American Kestrel 39 685 2692
Merlin 20 374 1078
Peregrine Falcon 46 674 1138
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 1
Mississippi Kite 0 1 2
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 2
Total: 654 8918 18378
Sea Watch Count 10/11/08
Counter: Sean Fitzgerald
Brant - 19
Wood Duck - 10
Gadwall - 2
American Wigeon - 7
American Black Duck - 17
Mallard - 5
Northern Pintail - 77
Green-winged Teal - 237
Surf Scoter - 1,048
White-winged Scoter - 2
Black Scoter - 921
dark-winged scoter - 62
Red-throated Loon - 8
Common Loon - 41
Northern Gannet - 116
Brown Pelican - 10
Double-crested Cormorant - 9,247
Great Cormorant - 1
Great Blue Heron - 4
Great Egret - 68
Laughing Gull - 631
Ring-billed Gull - 172
Common Tern - 1
Forster's Tern - 162
Royal Tern - 18
Black Skimmer - 160
Parasitic Jaeger - 2
American Oystercatcher - 25
Total: 13,073
Monarch: 27
View from the Platform 10-11-08
Location: Cape May Bird Observatory Hawk Watch Site
Number of species: 25
Brant-5
Canada Goose-X
Mute Swan-4
Wood Duck-2
Gadwall-5
Mallard-X
Northern Shoveler-10
Northern Pintail-3
Green-winged Teal-X
Ruddy Duck-3
Double-crested Cormorant-87
Great Blue Heron-1
Great Egret-1
Great Black-backed Gull-1
Belted Kingfisher-1
Tree Swallow-X
European Starling-1
Yellow-rumped Warbler-2
Pine Warbler-2
Palm Warbler-2
Song Sparrow-1
White-throated Sparrow-1
White-crowned Sparrow-1
Indigo Bunting-1
House Sparrow-X
Number of species: 25
Brant-5
Canada Goose-X
Mute Swan-4
Wood Duck-2
Gadwall-5
Mallard-X
Northern Shoveler-10
Northern Pintail-3
Green-winged Teal-X
Ruddy Duck-3
Double-crested Cormorant-87
Great Blue Heron-1
Great Egret-1
Great Black-backed Gull-1
Belted Kingfisher-1
Tree Swallow-X
European Starling-1
Yellow-rumped Warbler-2
Pine Warbler-2
Palm Warbler-2
Song Sparrow-1
White-throated Sparrow-1
White-crowned Sparrow-1
Indigo Bunting-1
House Sparrow-X
Morning Flight 10-11-2008
Morning Flight: 5-10 NE wind, clear conditions
Counter: Sam Galick
Red-bellied Woodpecker- 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker- 2
Northern Flicker- 19
Eastern Wood-Pewee- 2
Eastern Phoebe- 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch- 23
Ruby-crowned Kinglet- 3
American Robin- 1302
American Pipit- 12
Cedar Waxwing- 158
Tennessee Warbler- 2
Nashville Warbler- 12
Northern Parula- 24
Black-throated Blue Warbler- 10
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 5708
Black-throated Green Warbler- 4
Palm Warbler- 32
Blackpoll Warbler- 67
Black and White Warbler- 2
Warbler sp.- 3914
Scarlet Tanager- 1
Chipping Sparrow- 1
Savannah Sparrow- 29
Dark-eyed Junco- 10
Indigo Bunting- 2
Dickcissel- 1
Bobolink- 2
Eastern Meadowlark- 22
Rusty Blackbird- 5
Purple Finch- 7
Pine Siskin- 1
Blue Jay- 191
Total Birds: 11574
Non Morning Flight birds: 12 Wood Ducks, 14 Brants, 60 Black Scoters, 8 Boat-tailed Grackles
Counter: Sam Galick
Red-bellied Woodpecker- 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker- 2
Northern Flicker- 19
Eastern Wood-Pewee- 2
Eastern Phoebe- 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch- 23
Ruby-crowned Kinglet- 3
American Robin- 1302
American Pipit- 12
Cedar Waxwing- 158
Tennessee Warbler- 2
Nashville Warbler- 12
Northern Parula- 24
Black-throated Blue Warbler- 10
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 5708
Black-throated Green Warbler- 4
Palm Warbler- 32
Blackpoll Warbler- 67
Black and White Warbler- 2
Warbler sp.- 3914
Scarlet Tanager- 1
Chipping Sparrow- 1
Savannah Sparrow- 29
Dark-eyed Junco- 10
Indigo Bunting- 2
Dickcissel- 1
Bobolink- 2
Eastern Meadowlark- 22
Rusty Blackbird- 5
Purple Finch- 7
Pine Siskin- 1
Blue Jay- 191
Total Birds: 11574
Non Morning Flight birds: 12 Wood Ducks, 14 Brants, 60 Black Scoters, 8 Boat-tailed Grackles
View from the Platform 10-10-08
This is our first "View from the Platform" blog and what exciting news we have to report for today! The day started off with blue skies, high clouds and north winds, pushing through a good amount of the usual suspects: Accipiters, Black and Turkey Vultures, Bald Eagles, and Peregrines. However, these fair winds blew in quite an unusual suspect as well; this morning we saw the first Rough-Legged Hawk of the season! It flew in relatively low and circled the hawk watch platform, giving everyone on the deck - around 25 people - a great look at this Arctic hawk.
The day finished out strong with the count at 565 hawks plus 35 non-raptor bird species including an American Coot and over 75 Double-Crested Cormorants! The only drawback to this great day was that Melissa, while performing her duties as hawk ID instructor, was in the classroom when the big news hit. Ironically, she was dutifully explaining how rare a Rough-Legged Hawk is to Cape May as it was flying overhead. However, we have high hopes that our already successful season will continue with many other exciting birds (and another Rough-Legged for Melissa)...so until then, keep a watchful eye to the sky!
Ashley Green
Location: Cape May Bird Observatory Hawk Watch Site
Number of species: 35
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 4
Gadwall 2
American Wigeon 7
Mallard X
Blue-winged Teal 3
Northern Shoveler 7
Northern Pintail 5
Green-winged Teal X
Double-crested Cormorant 78
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 2
Snowy Egret 1
American Coot 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1
White-rumped Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull X
Belted Kingfisher 1
Northern Flicker 2
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 45
Tree Swallow 200
Barn Swallow 1
Carolina Wren 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Palm Warbler 1
White-throated Sparrow 1
Bobolink 1
Red-winged Blackbird 22
Eastern Meadowlark 2
House Sparrow X
The day finished out strong with the count at 565 hawks plus 35 non-raptor bird species including an American Coot and over 75 Double-Crested Cormorants! The only drawback to this great day was that Melissa, while performing her duties as hawk ID instructor, was in the classroom when the big news hit. Ironically, she was dutifully explaining how rare a Rough-Legged Hawk is to Cape May as it was flying overhead. However, we have high hopes that our already successful season will continue with many other exciting birds (and another Rough-Legged for Melissa)...so until then, keep a watchful eye to the sky!
Ashley Green
Location: Cape May Bird Observatory Hawk Watch Site
Number of species: 35
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 4
Gadwall 2
American Wigeon 7
Mallard X
Blue-winged Teal 3
Northern Shoveler 7
Northern Pintail 5
Green-winged Teal X
Double-crested Cormorant 78
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 2
Snowy Egret 1
American Coot 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1
White-rumped Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull X
Belted Kingfisher 1
Northern Flicker 2
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 45
Tree Swallow 200
Barn Swallow 1
Carolina Wren 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Palm Warbler 1
White-throated Sparrow 1
Bobolink 1
Red-winged Blackbird 22
Eastern Meadowlark 2
House Sparrow X
Sea Watch Count 10/10/08
Counter: Sean Fitzgerald
Wood Duck - 8
American Wigeon - 1
American Black Duck - 3
Northern Pintail - 4
Green-winged Teal - 20
Surf Scoter - 129
Black Scoter - 93
Red-breasted Merganser - 1
Common Loon - 16
Northern Gannet - 102
Brown Pelican - 37
Double-crested Cormorant - 5,566
Great Blue Heron - 14
Laughing Gull - 162
Forster's Tern - 51
Black Skimmer - 31
American Oystercatcher - 72
Greater Yellowlegs - 2
Total: 6,312
Monarch: 66
Hawk Watch Count 10-10-2008
Official Observer: Seth Cutright
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 7 15 27
Turkey Vulture 34 92 92
Osprey 17 465 866
Bald Eagle 10 69 216
Northern Harrier 19 191 348
Sharp-shinned Hawk 248 3643 7567
Cooper's Hawk 150 1777 3178
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 9 18
Broad-winged Hawk 6 343 482
Red-tailed Hawk 1 28 119
Rough-legged Hawk 1 1 1
Golden Eagle 0 1 1
American Kestrel 11 646 2653
Merlin 16 354 1058
Peregrine Falcon 45 628 1092
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 1
Mississippi Kite 0 1 2
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 2
Total: 565 8264 17724
Morning Flight 10-10-2008
Morning Flight: 5-10 NW wind, clear conditions
Counter: Dan Berard
Red-bellied Woodpecker- 9
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker- 1
Northern Flicker- 23
Eastern Wood-Pewee- 3
Eastern Phoebe- 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch- 15
Golden-crowned Kinglet- 7
Ruby-crowned Kinglet- 7
American Robin- 46
Cedar Waxwing- 23
Tennessee Warbler- 1
Northern Parula- 4
Yellow Warbler- 1
Cape May Warbler- 5
Black-throated Blue Warbler- 11
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 655
Black-throated Green Warbler- 27
Palm Warbler- 86
Blackpoll Warbler- 2175
Black and White Warbler- 8
Warbler sp.- 64
Savannah Sparrow- 3
Indigo Bunting- 1
Bobolink- 45
Eastern Meadowlark- 3
Purple Finch- 3
Blue Jay- 445
Blue-headed Vireo- 6
Brown Creeper- 1
Total Birds: 3679
Counter: Dan Berard
Red-bellied Woodpecker- 9
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker- 1
Northern Flicker- 23
Eastern Wood-Pewee- 3
Eastern Phoebe- 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch- 15
Golden-crowned Kinglet- 7
Ruby-crowned Kinglet- 7
American Robin- 46
Cedar Waxwing- 23
Tennessee Warbler- 1
Northern Parula- 4
Yellow Warbler- 1
Cape May Warbler- 5
Black-throated Blue Warbler- 11
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 655
Black-throated Green Warbler- 27
Palm Warbler- 86
Blackpoll Warbler- 2175
Black and White Warbler- 8
Warbler sp.- 64
Savannah Sparrow- 3
Indigo Bunting- 1
Bobolink- 45
Eastern Meadowlark- 3
Purple Finch- 3
Blue Jay- 445
Blue-headed Vireo- 6
Brown Creeper- 1
Total Birds: 3679
View from the Platform 10-9-08
Location: Cape May Bird Observatory Hawk Watch Site
Number of species: 25
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 2
Gadwall 5
Mallard X
Blue-winged Teal 5
Northern Shoveler 15
Northern Pintail 3
Green-winged Teal 10
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 2
Lesser Yellowlegs X
Pectoral Sandpiper 8
Laughing Gull X
Caspian Tern 1
Forster's Tern 1
Royal Tern 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Blue Jay X
crow sp. X
Tree Swallow X
Carolina Wren 1
Northern Mockingbird 2
Song Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 18
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Number of species: 25
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 2
Gadwall 5
Mallard X
Blue-winged Teal 5
Northern Shoveler 15
Northern Pintail 3
Green-winged Teal 10
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 2
Lesser Yellowlegs X
Pectoral Sandpiper 8
Laughing Gull X
Caspian Tern 1
Forster's Tern 1
Royal Tern 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Blue Jay X
crow sp. X
Tree Swallow X
Carolina Wren 1
Northern Mockingbird 2
Song Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 18
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Hawk Watch Count 10-9-2008
Official Observer: Seth Cutright
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 8 20
Turkey Vulture 0 58 58
Osprey 4 448 849
Bald Eagle 0 59 206
Northern Harrier 3 172 329
Sharp-shinned Hawk 68 3395 7319
Cooper's Hawk 20 1627 3028
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 9 18
Broad-winged Hawk 0 337 476
Red-tailed Hawk 0 27 118
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 1 1
American Kestrel 8 635 2642
Merlin 1 338 1042
Peregrine Falcon 22 583 1047
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 1
Mississippi Kite 0 1 2
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 2
Total: 126 7699 17159
Morning Flight 10-9-2008
Morning Flight: 5-10 SW wind, clear conditions
Counter: Sam Galick
Northern Parula- 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler- 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 2
Blackpoll Warbler- 2
Warbler sp.- 1
Eastern Meadowlark- 2
Total Birds: 9
Non Morning Flight birds: 40 Surf Scoters, 350 Black Scoters
Counter: Sam Galick
Northern Parula- 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler- 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 2
Blackpoll Warbler- 2
Warbler sp.- 1
Eastern Meadowlark- 2
Total Birds: 9
Non Morning Flight birds: 40 Surf Scoters, 350 Black Scoters
Hawk Watch Count 10-8-2008
Official Observer: Seth Cutright
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 8 20
Turkey Vulture 0 58 58
Osprey 0 444 845
Bald Eagle 0 59 206
Northern Harrier 11 169 326
Sharp-shinned Hawk 30 3327 7251
Cooper's Hawk 13 1607 3008
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 9 18
Broad-winged Hawk 0 337 476
Red-tailed Hawk 0 27 118
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 1 1
American Kestrel 33 627 2634
Merlin 1 337 1041
Peregrine Falcon 2 561 1025
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 1
Mississippi Kite 0 1 2
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 2
Total: 90 7573 17033
Monarch Monitoring Project - 10/8/08
The Monarch Monitoring Project Presents the Insect of the Week:
PRAYING MANTID
Thanks Jon Kauffman for the photoIt's time for another exciting blog about the "Insect of the Week"! This week we are featuring the Praying Mantid. Praying mantids are common around Cape May, but may be easily overlooked because of their cryptic "leaf-like" appearance. There are three different species of mantids found here:
1. The European Mantid (Mantis religiosa)
2. The Chinese Mantid (Tenodera aridifolia)
3. The Carolina Mantid (Stagmomantis carolina) - our only native mantid
All three of these mantid have similar habits of feeding. They use their cryptic appearance to blend in with leaves and stems near flowers. Then when an unsuspecting bee, wasp, or butterfly visits the flower, the mantid will use it's raptorial front legs to quickly grab the insect. After it has the insect firmly in its grasp, it will begin to chow down (see below)!
Above is a photo I took of a Carolina mantid eating an American lady (Vanessa virginiensis). Although mantids often eat butterflies and other beloved insects, they can be extremely helpful at getting rid of unwanted pests. Both the European and the Chinese mantid were introduced in the early 1900s to control common garden pests. You can actually even buy the egg cases of the Chinese mantid at garden stores! Mantids are actually one of the few predators of the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexipus). Below is a picture of a Chinese mantid eating a monarch (hopefully the monarch wasn't tagged!).
Photo by Michael O'BrienMantids have also gained notoriety because of their strange and violent courtship process. After mating the female will often eat the male mantid. The females are usually bigger, and the male mantis has little hope of getting away if she decides that she's hungry. This after fertilization meal, gives the female an extra boost of nutrition and energy that she will use make an egg case (an ootheca in entomological terms). It seems like a bad deal for the male mantid, but he does pass his genes on before he is devoured. Evolutionarily he still wins!
Unfortunately I don't have enough room or time to talk about all the amazing aspects of mantids. To learn more consult your local library, there are many great books about mantids out there!
European mantids mating (RUN Mr. Mantid, RUN!)
Morning Flight 10-8-2008
Morning Flight: 0-5 SSW wind, clear conditions
Counter: Sam Galick
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker- 1
Northern Flicker- 6
American Robin- 816
Northern Parula- 15
Black-throated Blue Warbler- 4
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 159
Black-throated Green Warbler- 4
Palm Warbler- 10
Blackpoll Warbler- 1
Black and White Warbler- 1
American Redstart- 1
Connecticut Warbler- 1
Warbler sp.- 23
Savannah Sparrow- 1
Total Birds: 1043
Non Morning Flight birds: 1 Common Loon, 35 Surf Scoters, 200 Black Scoters
Counter: Sam Galick
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker- 1
Northern Flicker- 6
American Robin- 816
Northern Parula- 15
Black-throated Blue Warbler- 4
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 159
Black-throated Green Warbler- 4
Palm Warbler- 10
Blackpoll Warbler- 1
Black and White Warbler- 1
American Redstart- 1
Connecticut Warbler- 1
Warbler sp.- 23
Savannah Sparrow- 1
Total Birds: 1043
Non Morning Flight birds: 1 Common Loon, 35 Surf Scoters, 200 Black Scoters
Hawk Watch Count 10-7-2008
Official Observer: Dan Berard
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 8 8 20
Turkey Vulture 58 58 58
Osprey 56 444 845
Bald Eagle 16 59 206
Northern Harrier 24 158 315
Sharp-shinned Hawk 575 3297 7221
Cooper's Hawk 369 1594 2995
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 9 18
Broad-winged Hawk 24 337 476
Red-tailed Hawk 5 27 118
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 1 1 1
American Kestrel 70 594 2601
Merlin 38 336 1040
Peregrine Falcon 22 559 1023
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 1
Mississippi Kite 0 1 2
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 2
Total: 1268 7483 16943