NPS Photo

Strix the Wonder Owl with her biggest fan - Sarah.

Check the Migrating Hawks from Hawk Ridge in Duluth, Minnesota

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Effigy Mounds

Schedule for 2011

Throughout The Day

Binoculars and spotting scopes are provided to assist raptor enthusiasts in identifying as many as eleven raptor species. 

 A raptor banding station is staffed where migrating raptors are lured, banded, and released. The releases occur at the Effigy Mounds Visitor Center, so event participants can appreciate sharing the same air space with migrating birds.

Kid's Activities

A variety of FREE "hands on" activities, such as drawing hawk silhouettes, falconry knot bracelets and making owl masks will run from 10:00am - 12:00pm and 1:30pm - 3:30pm each day. So enjoy yourself & go WILD!!!

Formal Program Presentations

Saturday, October 1st

9:00 ″ Video "American Eagle" This hour long video contains photography of three-time Emmy-winning wildlife cinematographer, Neil Rettig. This intimate portrait of North America's most recognizable aerial predator features nesting, feeding, and everyday struggles of the Bald Eagle.  
Location: Visitor Center Auditorium

10:00 ″Hawk ID for Beginners" Mike Havlik. This program will give you the basics on identifying different hawks in flight. Take this opportunity to learn some key field marks in a fun atmosphere, and create your own ID guide. Location: Visitor Center Auditorium  

11:30 "Birding in Iowa" Pat Schlarbaum

1:00 "Live Bird Presentation" by Linda Bethke 

2:30 "What Do the Birds Have To Teach Us?" by Mike Havlik

Sunday, October 2nd

10:00 ″Osprey Reintroduction″ Pat Schlarbaum. This presentation will cover recent activity in the state of Iowa to bring back the Osprey. Location: Visitor Center Auditorium

11:30 ″Big Owls Hoot, Little Owls Toot″ Mike Havlik. This program will feature legendary presenter Mike Havlik for a fun and factual look at owls! Owls hold a special place in our lives, dating back to Greek mythology. Get to know some of these nocturnal predators, their incredible adaptations to night hunting, and find out why they have such a strong presence in our myths and legends.

1:00 p.m. "Life of Raptors" by Linda Bethke

2:30 p.m. "Bird Monitoring" by Jon Stravers

Image credit: Dave Kester for Trapping, Banding and Posing This Red Tail for NPS Photographer

"Dave" the Wonder Hawk

We appreciate your feedback and ideas regarding HawkWatch, ourpresentations and kid’s activiites. Please talk to a HawkWatch Volunteer, and let us know what you think.

HawkWatch is co-sponsored by the Upper Iowa Audubon Society, Effigy Mounds National Monument, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Diversity Program and National Audubon’s Upper Mississippi RiverCampaign. It is powered by the boundless energy of volunteers, and operated on a shoe-string budget...

...All of which add up to an event filled with enthusiasm & fun.