Veracruz: 1/3 Million Migrants Wednesday

Thousands of young Swainson’s Hawks are migrating past the Veracruz raptor counting site as they make their first flight from nesting areas in the western United States and southern-central Canada to northern Argentina (photo by Paul Konrad).
At times the sky becomes a “River of Raptors” above the Veracruz, Mexico count site.

Last Wednesday was a banner day for hawk and vulture migration above Veracruz, Mexico – we all should have been there – with 354,806 birds counted including 195,527 Broad-winged Hawks, 63,047 Swainson’s Hawks, and 66,891 Turkey Vultures among 11 different raptor species – all in 1 day! There is no doubt the Veracruz count site is the busiest in the Americas and the world, or that it lives up to its name of “River of Raptors!” During the following 2 days, raptor migration numbers remained high with totals of 146,240 Thursday and 135,157 Friday!

The birds that pass by the Veracruz count site originated from nesting ranges in North America and funnel inland between the Gulf Coast to the east and mountain ranges to the west. To view all the daily observations at the Veracruz count site, and to check out daily raptor counts see HawkCount

Of course, there are exciting raptor count sites located across the United States and southern Canada as impressive numbers and diversity of birds of prey continue to migrate south daily throughout October and into November. Consider visiting a raptor counting site this fall, and find one near you at HawkCount which is operated by Hawk Migration Association of North America.

 

Wildlife

Eastern Whooping Cranes Reach 81

Whooping Cranes will soon begin migrating south from Wisconsin to wintering sites as far south as Alabama and Florida (photo by Paul Konrad).

This year’s fall count of the introduced Eastern population of Whooping Cranes is currently estimated at 81, including 19 wild-hatched Whoopers. At the beginning of October at least 63 Whooping Cranes were still in Wisconsin, 1 (possibly 2) in Michigan, and 4 in Illinois, with other Whooping Cranes in the eastern population unconfirmed during the past month. This exciting project to reintroduce Whooping Cranes has been led by the International Crane Foundation, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and a broad group of other agencies, groups, and individuals.

For more information about the introduced Eastern population of Whooping Cranes and other crane-related news from around the world, see Whooping Crane Eastern Population Update – October 2021 – International Crane Foundation (savingcranes.org)

Wildlife

New World Record Migration Flight!

If you look closely, you can see the satellite transmitter and its antennae fitted on the back of the record-breaking Bar-tailed Godwit, photographed a few days ago in western Australia by Geoff White.
A migration map showing the 2020 and 2021 migration routes taken by the record-setting Bar-tailed Godwit (courtesy of Adrian Riegen and Audubon).

September 28th an adult male Bar-tailed Godwit completed a record-breaking flight as it touched down in New South Wales, Australia after a continuous migration of more than 8,100 miles that began in western Alaska. The godwit literally flapped its wings for 239 continuous hours to set the world record for the longest continuous flight recorded for any land bird! And the record-setting godwit isn’t done yet – in the next few days, the godwit that is fitted with a solar-powered satellite transmitter is expected to end its migration in New Zealand. Read more

Wildlife

Steiner Ring It Up Promotion Through December

GREELEY, Colo. (October 14, 2021) – Steiner Optics known for its best-in-class optical clarity in riflescopes and binoculars offers hunters and shooters free Steiner rings and scope covers with the purchase of any Predator 4, T5Xi, or M-Series riflescope during the holiday “Ring It Up” promotion. Those who spend $250 or more on Steiner binoculars get a free bino bib. The promotion runs from October through December 31st, 2021.

Steiner relied on their experience in developing rugged and durable optics for the military and law enforcement to create the Predator 4 riflescope series. Predator Diamond lens coating applied to every air-to-glass surface delivers industry-leading light transmission for superior clarity and contrast giving hunters a major advantage in low-light.

All three models feature a second focal plane, Press Illuminated E3 Reticle, calibrated with ballistic holdover compensation for traditional, magnum, and varmint loads out to 400 yards.

The Steiner T5Xi riflescopes bring unmatched clarity, accuracy, and self-assurance to any situation. Manufactured in Colorado, the rugged U.S. construction offers long-lasting durability with a variety of zoom and objective sizes along with a selection of different reticles in which to choose. Read more

Optics

Pope & Young’s Updated Position Statement on the Use of Tracking Dogs

October 13, 2021 – Pope and Young, America’s leading bowhunting organization recently updated their position statement on the use of tracking dogs. Pope and Young has always promoted the fair and ethical pursuit of games species, and as an organization constantly reviews stances on the wide variety of issues that can impact fair chase, and the harvest and recovery of game.

TRACKING DOG POSITION STATEMENT (Amended 9-30-21)

The Pope and Young Club recognizes that the use of tracking dogs to locate a wounded animal is becoming an increasing popular tactic and is being legalized in many jurisdictions. The Club supports the philosophy that it is the responsibility of an ethical hunter to expend all reasonable effort in recovering a wounded animal.

To the same degree, though, the Club believes it important that a hunter learn and master the traditional practices of blood trailing and tracking. These skills are inseparable components of a well-rounded hunter and are important woodsmanship values of the overall experience. Further, the Club is concerned that certain technologies and practices can be used as a crutch and actually supplant the basic skills expected and desired of a bow hunter.

As such, the Pope and Young Club will accept record book entries recovered with the use of trained tracking dogs with the following conditions/provisions:

1. The use of a tracking dog(s) must meet ALL state or provincial laws in the jurisdiction you are hunting that governs the use of tracking dogs for wounded animals.

2. The dog must meet all local requirements concerning training and/or licensing.

3. The recovery must be completed within 48 hours of the initial shot and the hunter MUST be present.
4. The dog may be used to recover a dead big game animal only. If the animal is found alive, the use of a tracking dog must be abandoned immediately.

The final determination of eligibility for entry of all animals found alive and later taken will be at the Records Committee’s discretion. Read more

Hunting

Steiner H35 Nighthunter Thermal Handheld

GREELEY, Colo. – Steiner Optics introduces the H35 Nighthunter thermal handheld monocular with exclusive Quantum Vision™ computing technology. Steiner’s Nighthunter Thermal Handheld delivers exceptional performance on the darkest of nights with crisp, clear images in a durable and reliable thermal optic.

The heart of Nighthunter H35 is Quantum Vision, a perfect combination of a state-of-the-art 640×480 thermal sensor, outstanding 1280×960 resolution LCOS display, and a proprietary Steiner computational algorithm. This technology increases the limits of hardware by boosting the thermal signal with automatic calibration for fast, smooth, and uninterrupted viewing even in changing thermal conditions allowing the user to view into the night with no lag.

View and record the action live through built-in Wi-Fi and the Steiner Connect app, available on both Apple and Android, or connect directly to an external display through Micro HDMI. Users can also record video or take pictures directly on the unit with 16 GB of internal storage. Read more

Optics

Michigan: nearly $1.6 million in grant funding available for fisheries and aquatic resources

Project preproposals are due Nov. 12

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is offering nearly $1.6 million in funding for a variety of activities tied to improving state fisheries and aquatic resources, including fish habitat conservation, dam removal and repair, resource assessment studies and providing access to recreation.

Distributed through three themes – aquatic habitat conservation, dam management, and aquatic habitat and recreation in the Au Sable, Manistee and Muskegon river watersheds – Fisheries Habitat Grant funding is available through an open, competitive process to local, state, federal and tribal governments and nonprofit groups. Read more
Fishing

EOTECH Vudu 3.5-18×50 SFP Rifle Scope a Top Choice for Big Game Hunters

Ann Arbor, MI – The EOTECH Vudu 3.5-18×50 Second Focal Plane scope may well be the perfect optic for big game hunting. The ideal choice for tack-driving precision, the Vudu 3.5-18x features EOTECH’s XC™ High-Density (HD) glass providing ridiculously clear, sharp-edged images up close, far away and at all points in-between.

The Vudu 3.5-18x provides true color representation that lets a hunter see the difference between similar colors, even at a distance. This ability is especially advantageous when that once-in-a-lifetime elk is standing against a background of brown and tan terrain.

The Vudu 3.5-18’s HC1 reticle provides easy-to-use sub-tensions for precise elevation and windage holds. The scope also features a unique sleep mode that automatically shuts off the illumination after two hours. Battery life is exceptional and is rated at 500 hours of run-time when set at the middle brightness setting, and the scope is powered by (1) easy to find CR2032 battery. Read more

Optics

Primary Arms Optics – Sponsor of Shooter Symposium

HOUSTON, TEXAS – Primary Arms Optics has announced its platinum-level sponsorship for Shooter Symposium 2021, which is to be held October 14th to 17th at The Ranch in Eagle Lake, Texas.

Held annually, Shooter Symposium is one of America’s preeminent training events, bringing together a team of the country’s leading instructor for three days of world-class tactical education. This year’s instructors include Chuck Pressburg, Jamey Caldwell, Bill Blowers, Jared Reston, Dan Brokos, Alex Hartmann, Mike Pannone, Aaron Cowan, Robert Vogel, Craig Douglas, Steve Fisher, Kerry Davis, and John Dufresne. Subjects include everything from close-quarters and edged combat to competitive pistol to NVG operations, making this one of the most comprehensive training opportunities of the year. Read more

Firearms

Kahr Firearms Group Debuts the “United We Stand” 1911

Greeley, PA: It is said that a “..house divided against itself will not stand.” This wisdom has been repeated by America’s leaders from the founding of our nation, including such patriots as Ben Franklin. This belief has never been truer than today, when Americans seem deeply divided. In these troubled times, Auto-Ordnance calls for Americans to stand together with the new “United We Stand” customized 1911. The slide of this artfully engraved pistol carries the Bible verse Matthew 12:25, saying “Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them ‘every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand’”. The aluminum grips are engraved “In God We Trust”, and depict united hands binding our nation together. The right slide reminds us that “United We Stand”.

It was not so very long ago that these words cemented our nation together in the shadow of the 9/11 terror attacks. The United We Stand 1911 starts as an Auto-Ordnance stainless pistol made entirely in the United States.

The finish is Black Armor Cerakote with a clear coating. It features an adjustable trigger, skeletonized hammer, full-length recoil guide rod, extended beavertail grip safety, extended magazine release, and a checkered slide stop lever. TruGlo night sights with forward swept rear are standard. The ejection port is flared to aid in reliable function. Both mainspring housing and front strap are machined checkered at 20 lines per inch. Each pistol’s 5″ match grade barrel is chambered in .45 ACP. One 7 round magazine is included, SKU# 1911TCAC5N.

Firearms
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