Hawk Mountain Celebrates Vulture Awareness, Raptor Conservation Education Sept. 1

September 1 will be an exciting day as Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County hosts a celebration for the annual International Vulture Awareness Day and begins its weekend programs.

The International Vulture Awareness Day event will begin at 12 pm and will include a live vulture program, educational crafts and activities for children, and information on the Sanctuary’s long-term research on the social scavenging raptor.

Visitors are encouraged to head to the trails in search of a vulture soaring low over the lookouts.

On the way, visitors can take the Silhouette Trail, which features a trail-side gallery of life-size, in-flight silhouettes of 7 of the world’s 22 species of vultures and condors, including four New World species (Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Andean Condor, and California Condor) and three Old World species (Hooded Vulture, Griffon Vulture, and Egyptian Vulture). A brochure describing these will be available at the trail entrance.

In addition to the celebration event on Saturday, the Sanctuary’s fun and educational weekend programming will kick off.  

This year’s Autumn Weekend Programs will run each Saturday and Sunday through November 4. The programs are also offered on Labor Day and Columbus Day. Admission is free for members or with trail fee.

Programs offered are Hawk Mountain’s signature live raptor program, Raptors Up Close, along with Trapping and Tracking, Binoculars Basics, and Name That Raptor. These available programs cover a variety of raptor observation basics and offer guests a unique and beneficial education opportunity while visiting the Sanctuary.

Visitors will also have the chance to meet the new class of international trainees and learn from them and the staff the tools and techniques used at Hawk Mountain. For more details on the autumn programs and their schedule, visit the Weekend Programs webpage.

For information regarding these programs or any other events offered at Hawk Mountain, visit the Events webpage.

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary website or call 610-756-6961.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Sanctuary, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, visit them on Flickr, be part of their Google+ Circle and visit their YouTube Channel.  Click Here to support Hawk Mountain.