For the last few years, the HCF has worked hard to provide
an onsite education program for visitors. This work wouldn't be
possible without the efforts of many of our volunteers, including
several individuals from the Hawk Cliff Banders Association and the
St. Thomas Field Naturalists. We also need to thank our
"Sponsors" for their help in
providing funding for this program. For the Fall 2008 season we received
funding from the following sponsor(s) (Click on the sponsor image to
go to their website).
The Hawk Cliff hawkwatch is a great
location for visitors to come to learn about raptors and their
migration. We cater to school groups, and will arrange to
provide special live bird demos for the kids (if possible) depending
on the day's flight.
The program includes a full-time interpreter (when available) to
help answer visitor questions and to aid in identification of the
migrating raptors.
During the two main Hawk Cliff Weekends in mid
September there are live bird
demonstrations with informational talks. These demos are put
on by the Hawk Cliff Banders Association with assistance from the St. Thomas
Field Naturalists. You can find more details on our "
Events" page.
At the hawkwatch you'll see our new static raptor display
which includes several different species including a male
American Kestrel (at right) and a great comparison of immature
Sharpie and Cooper's Hawk (at bottom right). These displays serve as an excellent
educational tool for explaining raptor id tips to visitors.
There's also a booth that has pamphlets, handouts,
raptor field guides, and a count display board that shows daily,
monthly and year-to-date raptor counts.
Many of our volunteers also spend time mentoring some of the keener
youngsters that frequent the hawkwatch. In turn, these young people
have the chance to become volunteers in their own right, helping to
band raptors and attending programs like the Young Ornithologists
Workshops sponsored by Bird Studies Canada and the Long Point Bird
Observatory.
