outdoors

Migrating raptor count

Migratory raptor season is upon us! This year the Panama Audubon Society, Peregrine Fund and Canopy Tower are teaming up for the "Ocean to Ocean Raptor Count 2006." Whether or not you can participate in the bird count, you are urged to look to the sky above you and notice the migrating hawks, kites and vultures that will be circling on the thermals this time of the year.

The count began on October 2 and will continue until November 12 in most sites, except it will go an extra week, through November 19, on Ancon Hill. The other counting sites are Cerro Gunn (at Clayton, managed by the Peregrine Fund), Semaphore Hill (with the Canopy Tower in charge) and Loma Flores in the Colon community of Escobal.

The Peregrine Fund and Canopy Tower are offering food and lodging for volunteers at the Clayton and Semaphore Hill respectively. The volunteers will have to sleep at the sites. Anyone interested in the former site should contact Magaly Linares of the Peregrine Fund by email at mlinares@fondoperegrino.org or by phone at 317-0064; or at the latter site by contacting the Audubon Society's Rosabel Miró by email at rosabelmiro@mac.com or by phone at 232-5977.

Even if you can't participate as an official counter, come up to the top of Ancon Hill to enjoy the site of thousands of migrating raptors.

Also in this section:
People take to the Clayton woods to save the Las Cruces Trail
Don't forget to appreciate the flowers
Bird count volunteers needed