September is the time of the year when The Greenwich Audubon Center offers several opportunities to learn about and observe the annual migration of north American birds and raptors soaring high above Quaker Ridge in backcountry. The center has a variety of activities where individuals and families can participate in educational events that honor the birds that ride the thermals on their southerly journeys to winter habitats.
Hawk Watch
Every day from 9 AM to 5 PM through November at the Center’s Hawk Watch Lawn, all are invited to come and assist official hawk counters identify and record multiple kinds of hawks, falcons, eagles, and vultures with binoculars. On average over the years, there have been 20,000 birds counted during the three month migration.
Fall Migration Bird Tours
On Saturday mornings starting on 9/6 through October, Audubon naturalists will lead bird tours through open fields, orchards, wetlands, and woodlands habitats to see warblers, thrushes, orioles, and others. The tour will also stop by Hawk Watch Lawn to see the daily count in progress. The free program is recommended for ages 6 and up, and participants must register in advance with the Audubon online ticket page. For any questions or details, contact Ryan MacLean at ryan.maclean@audubon.org or call (203) 930-1353. The September and October 4th tours are from 700 to 8:30 AM, while the rest of the October tours are from 8:00 to 9:30 AM.
Hawk Watch Fest
This is a one-day event on 9/27 for all ages that promotes raptor education and conservation, which features hawk and bird-related scheduled activities for the whole family. Participants will meet hawks and owls up close, presented by falconers and wildlife rehabilitators. Other activities include live songbird banding, hawk identification workshop, migration games, live music by birding social media star Bonner Black, and food from Happiness Is. Single-day tickets must be purchased in advance via the online ticket sales page. Adult tickets are $30, and kids 12 and under are $15. RSVP is required. For a schedule of details and questions, contact Ryan MacLean at the Audubon.
The Greenwich Audubon Center is at the intersection of Riversville Road and John Street.
