2012 Hawk Watch begins

Date: August 10, 2012

Acadia Hawk Watch Begins Bar Harbor, ME - Acadia National Park will begin its 18th annual Hawk Watch season on Sunday, August 19, 2012, on the top of Cadillac Mountain. Every fall thousands of birds of prey, including falcons, hawks, ospreys and eagles, migrate through Acadia to destinations south. Everyone is invited to join Hawk Watch to see and learn more about these fascinating birds.

Hawk Watch will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily through October 9, weather permitting. Park rangers and volunteers will help visitors find and identify birds passing by, and provide natural history information on raptors and related topics. Data collected on raptors will contribute to a regional and national picture of hawk populations generated from similar sites all over the United States through Hawk Migration Association of North America. Numbers seen on Cadillac vary greatly, depending on weather patterns. Clearing days with northerly winds after the passage of a cold front are often particularly productive. On average 2,500 raptors are sighted annually in the fall at the Hawk Watch.

Visitors and local residents are encouraged to visit often and become part of the cadre of "regulars" who contribute greatly to the overall count. This event provides rewarding memories and allows everyone in the family to participate in citizen science, as well as enjoy the thrill of experiencing birds of prey and their natural history. The site is located on the Cadillac North Ridge Trail, 200 yards from the Cadillac Summit parking lot. More information about Hawk Watch can be found at www.nps.gov/acad/naturescience/hawkwatch.htm. Daily hawk counts will also be posted in the park at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, Sieur de Monts Nature Center, and Park Headquarters. For further information, including visiting with a large group or to volunteer, call or email Angi King Johnston at [phone] or [e-mail].