Date: 1/21/25 11:17 am From: Doug Jenness <dougjenness...> Subject: [AZNMbirds] Santa Cruz Flats Raptor Count
Jan.21, 2025
On 18 January, 22 volunteers participated in the 20th one-day count of
wintering raptors at the Santa Cruz Flats.
Despite the very dry conditions at the Santa Cruz Flats, we tallied *526*
raptors, which was above our 20-year average of 448. Both our Red-tailed
Hawk and American Kestrel totals were above average, and the Northern
Harrier total was about average. We had a 20-year high for Cooper’s Hawk
(11). Notably our average for this species in the last three years (10) is
much higher than our average for the previous 17 years (3.5). We tied for
our highest number of Peregrine Falcons (7) and Turkey Vultures (13). We
reported 2 “Harlan’s” Red-tailed Hawks. For the first time, the most
Crested Caracaras came from the two northern sections of the count area—41
of a total of 52.
The results of this year’s survey are noteworthy considering that in
January 2022, Arizona’s mandated Drought Contingency Plan went into effect.
This multistate plan, ratified by the Arizona state legislature in January
2019 and by the U.S. Congress in April 2019, reduced water from the Central
Arizona Project to farmers in Pinal County by 60% for 3 years and 100%
after that if water levels drop further at Lake Mead. This has resulted in
farmers reducing acreage for cultivation, planting fewer crops on the land
that is cultivated, or growing less-water thirsty crops such as grass for
hay. It was hard to know what the impact this stiff water reduction mandate
would have on wintering raptors. Based on the last three years’ raptor
counts it doesn’t appear to be appreciable.
