Hawk Mountain
Created | Updated Mar 5, 2002
Every autumn, a mountain in Pennsylvania is visited by hundreds of bird-watchers to witness the annual migration of some 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 traveling north to Route 895.
It's an inspiring sight open to all daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The geography in the area creates a lot of rising thermals which the birds use to ride south like a highway in the air.
Pets, portable radios and loud noises are banned in the sanctuary because they might frighten the birds away.