Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County will host its annual Spring Equinox Celebration March 21 with a variety of programs to celebrate nature’s renewal.

Programs will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will focus on the return of Pennsylvania’s native plants and wildlife after a long winter. Bird-friendly, shade-grown coffee and cocoa will be served throughout the day.

“The last few months have been long and cold and this is the perfect excuse to get outside and enjoy the longer days, warmer temperatures and emerging wildlife," says Hawk Mountain President Jerry Regan.

A live raptor demonstration will be held at both 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and a volunteer naturalist will identify birds at the feeder windows from 11 a.m. through 3 p.m. The first 20 visitors who sign up that day can take part in a guided “Signs of Spring” walk at 12:30, and children from noon to 2 pm can create a clothespin dragonfly or a broad-winged hawk mobile.

Trail admission fees apply for non-members who wish to hike to scenic overlooks and cost $6 adults, $5 seniors and $3 children ages six to 12. As always, members are admitted free.

Celebrating 80 years in raptor conservation, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is the world's first refuge for birds of prey and an international center for raptor conservation. The 2,500-acre Sanctuary, 8-mile trail system, and Visitor Center is open to the public year-round.

A modest trail fee or annual membership dues supports local to global conservation programs, including public education, professional training and scientific research.

For more information, visit the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary website. 

3/16/2015