Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County invites visitors of all ages to welcome the spring season at its annual Spring Equinox Celebration on March 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Trail fees apply for non-members but indoor events are free.

Held on the Saturday closest to the equinox, the event will celebrate nature’s renewal with complimentary hot chocolate and bird-friendly coffee, live raptor programs, a guided walk, and kid’s crafts.

In addition, a volunteer naturalist will be stationed at the bird feeder windows to help identify the growing number of birds and small mammals that visit.

M&T Bank’s live Raptors Up Close! program begins the day at 11 a.m., followed by a guided “Signs of Spring” nature walk at 12:30 for the first 20 visitors that sign up. From noon to 2 p.m., children make and take home a spring-themed craft. The day concludes with a second live raptor program at 2 p.m..

“With longer days and warmer weather, this event is a great excuse to get the family outside. We've already seen butterflies on the trail, dozens of wood frogs in the pond, painted turtles, and some of the early native plants are starting to push up,” says spokesperson Mary Linkevich, the director of communications at the Sanctuary.

"We also have our new Accessible Trail, so more people than ever can make the short walk to the South Lookout. No matter the weather, the view is always amazing," she adds. The 900-foot-long leads to the closest overlook and includes bench seating along the way.

The 2,500-acre Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is the world’s first refuge for birds of prey and is open to the public year-round by trail-fee or membership, which in turn supports the nonprofit organization’s raptor conservation mission and local-to-global research, training, and education programs. Trail fees cost $9 adults, $7 seniors and $5 children ages 6 to 12.

To learn more about programs, initiatives and other special activities, visit the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary website or call 610-756-6961.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Sanctuary.

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