🦅11.4 Raptor Station: 2024 Fall Full Report

Brutal Weather, Delayed Raptors
This fall, migration faced extreme weather disruptions. An unusually long summer delayed raptor arrivals. When temperatures finally dropped, persistent fog from the Western China Autumn Rain arrived—low visibility, low raptor counts. No raptors in heat, no raptors in fog. It was the toughest fall season in recent years. Still, every raptor counts. And every person holding the line in fog and sun counts even more. Respect to those who stayed on the mountain.

Stats: 71 Days, 5 Sites, 108 People, 9,229 Raptors
From August 25 to November 4 (71 days), 108 volunteers and stationed observers covered five monitoring sites. Total recorded: 30 species, 9,229 raptors.

Main sites:

• Dutongyan (Chongzhou, Daping Village): 62 effective days (9 lost to weather), 24 species, 4,705 individuals.

• Niuxinshan (Pengzhou): 23 days, 27 species, 4,073 individuals.

Interesting pattern: Raptors favor low-altitude urban-facing sides during fall. On Oct 10, a "thousand-raptor day" at Dutongyan saw most raptors come from lower elevations. Niuxinshan (980m) recorded nearly as many raptors as Dutongyan (1,600m) in just one-third of the time—likely due to differing flight corridors. The two sites, 60km apart, show minimal overlap.

Top 5 Species This Fall

1. Crested Honey Buzzard – 2,162

2. Common Buzzard – 1,518

3. Besra – 676

4. Crested Goshawk – 397

5. Eurasian Sparrowhawk – 376

Honey Buzzards still led, but only made up 25% of total, down from 60.75% in spring. Fall’s ID rate dropped to 60% (vs. 92.5% in spring). Reasons: poor visibility, longer distances, more novice observers, and fewer daily migrants slowed learning.

No Honey Buzzard Peak in September—Spring Prediction Failed
We started early to catch the Honey Buzzard peak. It never came. Their biggest day was only 292 birds on October 1—versus 500+ on Sept 12 last year. The September heat may have pushed the peak back and reduced overall numbers.

Honey Buzzard Age-Sex Data (New This Fall)
Started age-sex tracking at Dutongyan:

• Total identified: 580

• Juveniles: 405 (69.8%)

• Females: 91

• Males: 87

Most adults crossed in September. After October, juveniles dominated.

Common Buzzards Take Over in Late Fall
They arrived late September. By early October, overlap with Honey Buzzards created the overall migration peak.

• Oct 1: Niuxinshan hit 1,185 (first thousand-raptor day).

• Oct 10: Dutongyan hit 1,079 (second).

Many Common Buzzards winter near Chengdu, often lingering at sites.

“Small Hawks” Dominate October
Besras and Crested Goshawks migrated over extended periods. Eurasian Sparrowhawks arrived later than in spring—late September onward. October became “ID bootcamp” for Accipiters. Other species over 50 birds:

• Northern Goshawk – 98

• Black Kite – 93

• Grey-faced Buzzard – only 18 (vs. 144 in spring)

Missing: Black Baza
Only 56 recorded. Likely weather-related underreporting. On Oct 9, when Dutongyan was fogged in, forest police saw 300+ at lower elevations nearby.

Stellar Season for Eagles
10 species, 103 individuals. All expected species showed up—except White-tailed Eagle. Highlight: Rare Rufous-bellied Hawk-Eagle adult recorded 3 times at both Dutongyan and Niuxinshan. It circled between the two sites, giving extended views. Easily the MVP of the season.

Top three eagle species:

• Greater Spotted Eagle – 22

• Crested Serpent Eagle – 21

• Booted Eagle – 20

Spotted and Booted Eagle counts halved from spring. Serpent Eagles held steady.

• Oct 27: Niuxinshan logged 30+ eagles, including a record-breaking 17 Short-toed Eagles in a day.

• Total Short-toed Eagles: 19 (spring: 2)

• White-shouldered Eagle: 7 (over half were adults)

• Steppe Eagle: only 2—rarest eagle this season

• Mountain Hawk-Eagle: 8

• Bonelli’s Eagle: 1

After official monitoring ended, one Golden Eagle was spotted by Prof. Zhong—first record at the site. Longmen’s flagship eagle finally appeared.

Anti-Poaching: Progress, but Not Done
Gunshots were fewer than in spring—thanks to tougher enforcement and more dispersed migration. Dutongyan recorded zero gunfire for the second season in a row.

Local police and forest agencies are now coordinating enforcement and patrols. During peak Honey Buzzard season in early October, patrols were active.

Key case:

• Two poachers caught in Dayi’s Yutang Town this spring—charged and awaiting trial.

• 10 Crested Honey Buzzards were confiscated.

• Both suspects were local villagers hunting for food.

• No more gunfire heard in that area this fall.

Another poaching group was reportedly arrested this fall. Awaiting official updates.

Poaching Trends Mirror Honey Buzzard Trends
More Honey Buzzards = more gunshots
Lower altitude flights = more risk
Gunfire peaked during early October’s raptor boom.