Meet Birds of Prey at Lake Erie Metropark’s 25th Annual Hawkfest
Lake Erie Metropark’s 25th Annual Hawkfest will be held Saturday and Sunday, September 20 and 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.at the Lake Erie Metropark Marshland Museum and Nature Center in Brownstown, Mich. This two-day festival celebrates the annual migration of birds of prey – hawks, eagles, falcons and vultures.
Programs include discussions on birds of prey, osprey updates and raptor rehabilitation with representatives from the Michigan State University School of Veterinary Medicine and biologists from the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. Members of the Michigan Hawking Club will bring hawks and discuss falconry. Live birds of prey will be brought out during special programs by the Leslie Science and Nature Center on Saturday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Joe Rogers on Sunday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Also, on Sunday, Reg Pettibone’s Native American Hawk Dancers will perform traditional eagle dances at 4 p.m. Kids can play educational games and make crafts. An optics tent from Wildbirds Unlimited will be available all weekend.
Each September, tens of thousands of broad-winged hawks pass over the park, which is designated as an important bird area and one of the premier hawk watching sites in North America. All together, at least 16 different species of migrating birds of prey fly overhead during the fall migration season. Hawk watchers will be counting migrating raptors, and their spotting scopes can be used to take a peek at birds in the sky. Typically, 200,000 birds of prey migrate over Lake Erie Metropark from September through November on their southward journey.
Registration is not required, and the EVENT IS FREE with park entry. For more information, contact the Lake Erie Metropark Marshland Museum and Nature Center at 734-379-5020.
GENERAL INFORMATION: Located along the Huron and Clinton rivers, the Huron-Clinton Metroparks provide a natural oasis from urban and suburban life as well as year-round recreational activities and events. A regional park system, the Metroparks consist of 13 beautiful parks covering 25,000 acres, ten spectacular public golf courses and two marinas on Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair. The parks also offer scenic nature trails, breathtaking beaches, educational activities and exciting winter sports.
For persons with special accessibility needs or who have limited English proficiency, please contact the park facility of your choice at least 72 hours in advance of your visit. A Metroparks vehicle entry permit is required to enter any Metropark and is only $30 annually for regular admission, $20 for seniors (62 and up), or $7 daily. General information can be found atwww.metroparks.com or by calling 1-800-47-PARKS.