GEMS Vista Point 2019
Season Summary
Species Composition
Species composition changes over time depending on weather, seasons, and many other factors. This chart displays the composition over a time period you select.
Click on pie pieces to see more detail. If there are more than seven species, click on "Other" to see a breakdown of the rest.
Display
Many sites have a protocol that is designed to maximize finding particular species. If you select "Focus Species," only these species will be shown.
Date Selector
The control box below the pie chart lets you select a date period for the chart.
You can push the buttons "1d," "1w," or "1m" to zoom the graph to 1 day, 1 week, or 1 month.
The graph shows the overall volume seen on each day. You can drag the sliders on each side of this graph to adjust the start and end dates.
Species Composition
September 25th to December 31st
Hourly Data
The time shown in the top row is the start of the one hour period.
Select Day
Choose a date to load the hourly table for that day. Only days that have data are shown.
Daily Counts
These charts show which species are most numerous at different parts of the season. Hover your mouse over a chart to see the number for a given day. The right column shows season totals and the left side shows the maximum for a single day. Each graph is scaled so that the single-day maximum is the highest point on the chart.
Sort By
- Focus Species: Show the highest priority species at the top of the list.
- Taxonomic Order: Sort the species by their scientific classification.
- Alphabetic Order: Sort the species by their common name.
- Abundance: Sort the species with the largest number counted at the top.
Daily Counts
GEMS Vista Point 2019
Golden Eagle Migration Survey (GEMS), now in its fourth year, is an exciting collaborative, science-based effort to monitor fall migration of Golden Eagles and other raptors along the Big Belt Mountain range in southwestern Montana. This project is supported by Montana Audubon, Last Chance Audubon Society, US Forest Service and Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks. The GEMS site sits at an elevation of approximately 8100’ and provides the unique opportunity to see as many as 17 raptor species migrating at eye level or below! Prevailing southwest winds along the west slopes of the Rocky Mountains provide excellent lift for raptors, pushing them close to the mountain as they move southward. Observers have witnessed birds approaching within a few meters of the observation point, and the opportunity for photographing raptors in flight is excellent. Views of the valley floor, a backdrop of Canyon Ferry Reservoir and the Elkhorn Mountains, and migrating raptors makes this an experience not soon forgotten. Raptors are known to be key indicators of ecosystem health, and long-term migration counts are the best way to measure raptor population status and trend. The GEMS count, if conducted annually for a decade or more, will provide critical data to assess the health of Golden Eagles and other raptors inhabiting western North America and their use of the flyway along the Rocky Mountain Front.
Directions
FROM HELENA: Follow HWY 287 south to Townsend. At the stop sign in Townsend turn left on to HWY 12 (Broadway). Drive 2.4 miles to HWY 284 and turn left. Go 11.1 miles and turn right onto Duck Creek Road. Go 12.6 miles to the top of Vista Point - ~.5 miles before Duck Creek Pass. This will take 35 to 45 minutes to drive, and the road deteriorates the last three miles. In October there is often snow the last mile or so and so 4wd is recommended and chains are a great back up. There are two rock cairns on the site (right off the road). FROM BOZEMAN: Take HWY 287 north to Townsend. At the stop sign in Townsend turn right on to HWY 12 (Broadway). Drive 2.4 miles to HWY 284 and turn left. Go 11.1 miles and turn Right onto Duck Creek Road. Go 12.6 miles to the top of Vista Point - ~.5 miles before Duck Creek Pass. This will take 35 to 45 minutes to drive, and the road deteriorates the last three miles. n October there is often snow the last mile or so and so 4wd is recommended and chains are a great back up. There are two rock cairns on the site (right off the road). HIKING DIRECTIONS from Duck Creek Pass (Parking Area): From the parking area, hike north along the road ~.6 miles to a small bluff right off of the road. Note the turnoff to the right leading to the small knoll marked by two cairns.
Golden Eagle Migration Survey (GEMS)
Golden Eagle Migration Survey (GEMS), now in its 6th year, is an exciting collaborative, science-based effort to monitor fall migration of Golden Eagles and other raptors along the Big Belt Mountain range in southwestern Montana.
About the Data
All data displayed on this site are preliminary and have not yet undergone quality control. Written permission is required to use the data.
. This project is supported by Montana Audubon, the US Forest Service and individual sponsors.