On September 30, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County will host famous Big Year Birder Noah Strycker as part of the annual Autumn Lecture Series.

The lecture entitled "Birding without Borders" is free and will take place at 5:30 p.m. in the Hamburg Area High School auditorium on Windsor Street in Hamburg. Seating is first come first serve.

In 2015, Noah Strycker became the first person to ever see more than half of Earth's bird species in one year. During his quest spanning 41 countries and all seven continents, he saw just over 6,000 birds and set a new world record.

He was scourged by blood-sucking leeches, suffered fevers and sleep deprivation, survived airline snafus and car breakdowns and mudslides and torrential floods, skirted war zones, and had the time of his life.

Birding on seven continents and carrying only a pack on his back, Strycker enlisted the enthusiastic support of local birders to tick more than 6,000 species, including Adelie Penguins in Antarctica, a Harpy Eagle in Brazil, a Spoon-billed Sandpiper in Thailand, and a Green-breasted Pitta in Uganda.

He shared the adventure in real time on his daily blog, and now he reveals the inside story. This humorous and inspiring presentation about Strycker’s epic World Big Year will give you a real appreciation for the birds and birders of the world.

Additionally on that Saturday at 8 a.m., Strycker will offer a bird walk exclusive to Hawk Mountain members. Join him for a casual morning of birding and discussion. Registration is required, and can be done by calling the Mountain Bookstore at 610-756-6961.

Prior to the lecture, Hawk Mountain hosts a Membership Mingle for Sanctuary members of the Broadwing Club or higher.

This wine and cheese event allows Hawk Mountain's highest members the opportunity for engaging discussion with the feature presenter and fellow conservation and education professionals. The members will also enjoy reserved VIP seating for the lecture.

Noah Strycker is also the Associate Editor of Birding magazine, the author of two well-regarded books about birds, and a regular contributor of photography and articles to all major bird magazines as well as other media; he blogs regularly for the American Birding Association. has studied birds on six continents with field seasons in Panama, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Australia, Antarctica, the Galapagos Islands, and the Farallon Islands.

He also works as a naturalist guide on expedition cruises to Antarctica and Norway’s Svalbard archipelago, literally spreading the inspiration of birds from pole to pole.

His first book, Among Penguins, chronicles a field season working with Adélie Penguins in Antarctica (Oregon State University Press, 2011) and his second, The Thing with Feathers, celebrates the fascinating behaviors of birds and human parallels (Riverhead Books, 2014).

"Birding without Borders" is the second presentation of the Hawk Mountain Autumn Lecture Series.

The Sanctuary's weekend programs will also run until November 12, and the Autumn Hawkwatch continues until December 15.

Click Here to learn more about other upcoming events at Hawk Mountain.

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary website or call 610-756-6961.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Sanctuary, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, visit them on Flickr, be part of their Google+ Circle and visit their YouTube Channel.  Click Here to support Hawk Mountain.

[Posted: Sept. 12, 2017]

9/18/2017