Hawk Mountain
Created | Updated Aug 3, 2005
Every autumn, a mountain in Pennsylvania is visited by hundreds of bird-watchers to witness the annual migration of around 15,000 hawks. More than 200 species of birds can be seen by visitors to the north lookout of Hawk Mountain, including the Bald Eagle, Osprey, Red-Tailed Hawk, Marsh Hawk, and Cooper's Hawk.
In 1934, this 2,000-acre site along Blue Mountain was established as a sanctuary for migrating birds of prey - the first of its kind in the world. Hawk Mountain is located off a rural road between Kempton and Orwigsburg. Just follow the signs from Route 895, which can be reached by exiting Interstate 78 at Route 61 and travelling north to Route 895.
It's an inspiring sight open daily from 8am to 5pm. The geography in the area creates a lot of rising thermals which the birds use like a highway in the air for their ride south.
Pets, portable radios and loud noises are banned in the sanctuary because they might frighten the birds away.