Hawk Mountain Sanctuary’s annual Autumn Migration Hawkwatch in Albany Township takes place daily from Aug. 15 through Dec. 15.
Visitors can join the sanctuary counters as they monitor the southbound raptor migration from the famous North Lookout. Sanctuary staff, trainees and volunteers will be stationed at the lookouts to help visitors spot and identify raptors, including broad-winged hawks, kestrels, vultures, ospreys, bald eagles, and more. An average of 18,000 raptors pass the Sanctuary each autumn.
Daily counts are posted throughout the season at hawkmountain.org/count. Visitors are welcome to spend the day at the North Lookout.
Come equipped with binoculars and a full daypack to make the most of the day. Visitors with small children or limited mobility may prefer the South Lookout, which can be accessed via the ADA accessible Silhouette Trail. Trail fees apply for non-members: $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $5 for children ages 6-12; ages 5 and younger are free.
Members are admitted free. The sanctuary is located in Albany Township. 90th anniversary The 2,500-acre Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is the world’s first refuge for birds of prey and an international center for raptor conservation.
Its Sanctuary is open to the public year-round by trail-fee or membership, which in turn supports the organization’s raptor conservation mission and local-to-global research, training, and education programs. This year the Sanctuary celebrates 90 years since founder Rosalie Edge leased the land in 1934 and hired the first curator Maurice Broun, who started counting the migrating raptors while he was stationed at North Lookout. Hawk Mountain now maintains this longest-running raptor count in the world, offering invaluable data as well as a model for hawkwatches around the globe.
Hawk Mountain hosts the annual Birds and Brew on Saturday, Aug. 10 from 5 to 8 p.m.
Event proceeds directly support the Sanctuary’s global conservation research and educational programming. This event also acts as a kickoff for the autumn migration season. Attendees will enjoy unlimited tastings from more than 20 local breweries, wineries, and distilleries, along with a dinner, a commemorative 6-ounce glass, and live music entertainment performed by the band Six to Midnight.
Pre-registered admission is $65, and designated drivers and those under 21 can attend and receive food and non-alcoholic drinks for $35. This event is tented and will take place rain or shine. “What better way to celebrate 90 years of raptor conservation but by attending the coolest fundraiser of the year,” event coordinator Tammy Jandrasitz-Bodey said in the release.
“Guests are not only supporting Hawk Mountain with their ticket fee, but will have the opportunity to spend the evening on the Mountain enjoying spirit tasting, good food, and music in the beautiful Amphitheater alongside the hardest working staff in raptor conservation,” said Jandrasitz-Bodey. “We’ve sold out this event every year, so don’t wait to purchase your tickets!” This year, the dinner is provided and partially sponsored by The Brickhouse in Orwigsburg, and an ice truck will be provided by Country Beverage. Other top business sponsors who make this event possible include lead sponsor Explore Schuylkill, Evans Delivery, Cozen O’Connor, Baker Tilly, MRD Lumber, and Wisler Pearlstine, LLP.
For sponsorship information, contact Tammy at [email protected]. For details about the event and to purchase tickets, visit hawkmountain.
org/birdsandbrew . Also, 90th anniversary limited edition Birds & Brew T-shirts will be available while supplies last. Shirts can be preordered for $20 by contacting Tammy at jandrasitz@hawkmountain.
org or 610-756-6000 ext 215. In addition, this fall will bring the entirely free Autumn Lecture Series, weekend programs, including Raptors Up Close, How We Study Migrating Raptors, and Name that Raptor, plus a wide variety of other walks, talks, and workshops for all ages and interests. View the full program calendar at hawkmountain.
org/events ..
