PROGRAM and ABSTRACTS Raptor Research Foundation and Hawk Migration Association of North America JOINT CONFERENCE 12-16 September 2007 Holiday Inn Conference Center, Lehigh Valley Fogelsville, Pennsylvania HOSTED BY Hawk Mountain Sanctuary The Raptor Research Foundation and the Hawk Migration Association of North America express their sincere appreciation to its 2007 Kettling on the Kittatinny Conference Sponsors SPONSOR LEVEL PEREGRINE MERLIN BROADWING Lehigh Valley Audubon Society Northstar Science & Technology, LLC Birding Club of Delaware County Cornell University Press AMERICAN KESTREL NetShops Inc. Ontelaunee Energy Corporation Buteo Books Senate Engineering Company OTHER VENDORS & EXHIBITORS Ron Austing Photography Gey Band and Tag Company Paul Gritis Books Jim Lockyer - jl-studio Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Holiday Beach Raptor Observatory Association NonProfit VENDORS & Kittatinny Corridor Conservation EXHIBITORS Hawk Migration Association of Project North America Raptor Research Foundation Fred Gehlbach Wildlands Conservancy Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology Weyerbacher Brewing Company OTHER DONORS Audubon Pennsylvania and Silent Auction DONORS Mendocino Brewing Company Raptor Research Foundation and Hawk Migration Association of North America JOINT CONFERENCE 12-16 September 2007 HOSTED BY Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Conference Committee Laurie Goodrich, Local Committee Chair Holly Merker Dan Varland, RRF Chair Janet Modjeska Katie Andrews Jim Morris Dotty Brett Peter Saenger Fritz Brock Kim Van Fleet Janet Crawford Drew Weber Barb Dutton Joan Ziegler Kathi Dzuryachko Linda Ziegler Greg George and other HMS volunteers & staff David Hughes Carolyn Hoffman Scientific Program Todd Katzner Committee Arlene Koch Jim Bednarz, Chair Dan Kunkle Travis Booms Tom Kerr Jeremy D. Brown Dan Klem, Jr. Libby Mojica Jim Lockyer i RAPTOR HAWK MIGRATION RESEARCH ASSOCIATION OF FOUNDATION NORTH AMERICA MISSION: To stimulate the dissemination of information MISSION: To conserve raptor populations through the concerning raptorial birds among interested persons scientific study, enjoyment and appreciation of raptor worldwide and to promote a better public understanding migration. and appreciation of the value of birds of prey. OFFICERS OFFICERS President: Leonard Young Chair: Iain MacLeod Vice President: Ted Swem Vice-Chair: Gil Randell Secretary: Joan Morrison Secretary: Jason Sodergren Treasurer: Angela Matz Membership Secretary. John Weeks Past-president: Brian Millsap Treasurer: Art Slaughter DIRECTORS DIRECTORS Southern Hemisphere: Nick Mooney Vic Berardi Outside North America: Ruth Tingay Susan Fogleman Eurasian: Frabrizio Sergio Laurie Goodrich Wayne Greenstone North American #1: Steve Hoffman Kirk Moulton North American #2: Gary Santolo Paul Roberts North American #3: Laurie Goodrich Kim Van Fleet At large #1: Jemima Parry-Jones Steve Hoffman At large #2: Clint Boal At large #3: Mike Collopy SPECIAL ADVISORS At large #4: Carol McIntyre David Hussell Will Weber At large #5: John Smallwood At large #6: Dan Varland RPI Project Manager: Ernesto Ruelas Inzunza RPI Data Manager: Jason Sodergren Editor, Journal: Cheryl Dykstra Webmaster: Jason Sodergren Editor, Book Reviews: Joelle Gehring Editor, Journal: Carolyn Hoffman Editor, Wingspan: Petra Bohall Wood Development Director: David McNicholas Webmaster: Carl Marti COMMITTEE CHAIRS COMMITTEE CHAIRS Conferences: Dan Varland Awards: Allen Fish Conservation: Steve Sheffield Conference: Laurie Goodrich Education: Kate Davis Education & Conservation: Gil Randell Membership: Ted Swem Finance: Art Slaughter Nominations: Judith Henckel Fund-raising: Steve Hoffman Resolutions: open Membership: John Weeks Scientific Program: Jim Bednarz Publications: Paul Roberts Eurasian Committee: Ruth Tingay RPI: Iain MacLeod Awards: Petra Bohall Wood Web Site: Jason Sodergren Awards Subcommittees Watch-site Council: Will Weber Anderson: open Koplin: Patricia Hall Cade/Hammerstrom: Clint Boal ii Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is proud to welcome The Raptor Research Foundation and the Hawk Migration Association of North America to eastern Pennsylvania Mission: To conserve birds of prey worldwide by providing leadership in raptor conservation science and education, and by maintaining Hawk Mountain Sanctuary as a model observation, research, and education facility. Visit us at www.hawkmountain.org iii TABLE OF CONTENTS EVENT PAGE NUMBER General Information ........................................................... 1 Special Events ................................................................ 2 Field Trips ....................................................................... 4 Meeting At a Glance ........................................................... 7 Scientific Program Daily Schedule ................................... 9 Thursday, 13 September ................................................. 9 Friday, 14 September .................................................... 12 Saturday, 15 September ............................................... 14 Abstracts ........................................................................... 17 General Session ............................................................ 18 American Kestrel Symposium ....................................... 36 State of North America’s Birds of Prey Symposium ...... 43 Poster Abstracts ........................................................... 48 Conference Sponsors ...................................................... 55 Index .................................................................................. 60 iv GENERAL INFORMATION About the Lehigh Valley Business Center (open 24 hours) Located in east-central Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Valley Computer, printer, copier, and fax machine are is located less than an hour north of Philadelphia and available in the hotel business center just across from is an easy two-hour drive from New York City. The the Lincoln Room on main floor. region lies south of the Kittatinny Ridge, the southern- Meals during Conference most ridge of the central Appalachians and a key raptor and songbird migration flyway. It is the largest Conference registration fee includes coffee breaks and Wednesday and Thursday night receptions. Lunch and Important Bird Area in Pennsylvania extending from New Jersey to just shy of the Maryland border. dinner are not included but the Holiday Inn Americus restaurant and several other restaurants are available With the Appalachian Trail and many hawk watch within walking distance and range from fast food to sites located along its precipice, hundreds of thousands fine dining. Route 00 is a very busy highway, so please of people annually visit the ridge for outdoor cross only at the traffic light. Guests can schedule the recreation. hotel shuttle to cross the street and arrange pick-up at For more about outdoor recreation and other visitor a later time. A list of restaurants in the area is provided activities, please call the Lehigh Valley Convention and in the registration material. For special needs or a Visitors Bureau at -800-747-056 or visit the front shuttle trip consult the hotel staff. desk. Breakfast Buffet Conference Breakfast Buffet ($45) will allow attendees Climate to pre-pay for quick access to a sumptuous help-your- East-central Pennsylvania enjoys mild weather during self breakfast during the busy morning rush, from September, with daily highs reaching the 70s and 80s. 6 to 8:30 am, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Only Nights can be cooler. It is always best to dress in layers attendees who have pre-paid will be served. Breakfast during field trips, as mountaintop areas may be five to will be served in the Foyer and seating is available in ten degrees cooler. the Roosevelt Room. Tickets for buffet will be in your registration packet and will need to be handed Travel from Hotel to servers. Others may eat in the hotel dining room The Holiday Inn Conference Center provides free or at adjacent sites. Some tickets may be available at shuttle between 6am-pm for hotel guests to nearby registration. attractions, restaurants, and the airport. Contact the front desk to arrange trip, but schedule all airport transfers well in advance to ensure availability. Shuttle meets in the lobby. For more information on shuttle or taxi service, visit the front desk. Conference Venue and Lodging The Holiday Inn Conference Center Lehigh Valley offers 73 spacious guest rooms and two Jacuzzi Suites. The Americus restaurant seats 00 guests and The Tap Room hosts music several nights a week. Other amenities include outdoor pool, fitness center, and concierge service with a visit specialist to help plan day trips. All meeting activities will be held on the main floor in Presidential Ballroom or Foyer behind the front desk. General Information Sponsors and Vendors Scientific Program RRF and HMANA encourage all meeting attendees to All paper and poster sessions will be held in the visit the Sponsors and Vendors displays in the Lincoln Presidential Ballroom of the Holiday Inn. Room Room and main hall. Lincoln Room exhibits will be assignments are shown on the Schedule of Papers. open Wednesday 6 to 9 pm, Thursday 9:30 am to 9 pm, Friday 9 am to noon, and Saturday 9 am to pm Program Presenter Previewing A list of Sponsors/Vendors is located in the front of All presenters should bring their digital presentations this booklet. We thank them for their support of the on memory sticks. Please upload your PowerPoint meeting. slides in Meeting Room 0 on the main floor of hotel the evening before the