All eyes will be on the skies this September as local birders and nature lovers take in one of North America’s greatest migrations at Holiday Beach Conservation Area.
Tens of thousands of hawks and raptors will be flying overhead on their annual journey to nesting grounds in the south.
Essex Region Conservation (ERCA) together with the Holiday Beach Migration Observatory (HBMO) will host the 2024 Festival of Hawks Sept. 14-15. It’s HBMO’s 50th Anniversary of the great Hawk Count, and experts will conduct raptor and hummingbird banding and adoptions in support of their important species and populations monitoring efforts each year.
On Sept. 14 at 2 p.m., this milestone anniversary will be celebrated with cake at the outdoor classroom! Free educational programs will complement the ongoing banding and live hawk display throughout the event.
Local experts will share information on a wide range of birding and nature-related topics.
These include HBMO’s Bob Pettit providing expertise on identifying hawks in flight; a peak migration bird hike with birding expert Jeremy Bensette; Pelee Wings offering free optic cleanings and demonstrations; Henry’s camera store offering “Nature Photography tips and choosing the right gear!” with special guest Ted Kloske; taking part in various beginner bird and family butterfly hikes; purchasing delicious lunch options from Scotty’s BBQ and Catering; a “birders breakfast” (purchase coffee, tea, hot chocolate cold drinks and bagels from ERCA snack shack); Native Trees and Plants (NTP) selling native plants; Just Fishin’ Friends at the Trout Pond to share casting tips with guests and a chance to visit multiple artwork booths featuring a variety of wildlife and nature themed displays.
“Holiday Beach Conservation Area has been identified as one of the 10 best sites in all of North America to experience the raptor migration,” notes Danielle Breault Stuebing, ERCA’s director of communications & outreach. “Whether an expert birder or nature-loving family, there’s something for everyone at the annual Festival of Hawks.”
On the evening of Sept. 14, tickets are available for a special “Owl Prowl” to learn about the owls of Ontario, their adaptations, calls and behaviours. Participants will take a guided walk through the woods, looking and listening for owls.
“When circumstances are just right and we’re able to call in an owl, it’s really an extraordinary experience,” Breault Stuebing adds. Tickets must be pre-purchased at https://essexregionconservation.ca/owlprowl.
The Festival runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. All daytime programs are free with the festival admission fee of $20 per vehicle. The final list of programs is available at https://essexregionconservation.ca/hawkfest .
The best raptor viewing time is from 9 a.m. until noon when the hawks fly low.
The Holiday Beach Conservation Area is located on County Road 50, on Lake Erie near Malden Centre in Amherstburg.
Festival of Hawks happening this weekend
Special to the RTT
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