Visitors are invited to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary this fall to experience one of North America’s greatest wildlife spectacles during the annual autumn migration hawk watch, held daily through Dec. 15. Alongside this, the sanctuary will also host a free autumn lecture series, weekend programs, guided walks, workshops and special family friendly events throughout the season.

Each autumn, sanctuary staff, trainees and volunteers monitor the southbound raptor migration from Hawk Mountain’s renowned north lookout while helping visitors spot and identify migrating birds of prey, including broad-winged hawks, kestrels, vultures, ospreys, bald eagles and more. An average of 16,000 raptors pass over the sanctuary each autumn.

Daily migration counts are posted throughout the season at hawkmountain.org/count, allowing bird enthusiasts everywhere to follow the migration in real time.

Hawk Mountain maintains the longest-running raptor count in the world, offering invaluable scientific data while serving as a model for hawk watches around the globe. For more than 90 years, this annual count has helped scientists track changes in raptor populations, migration patterns and conservation needs while inspiring generations of visitors to experience the wonder of migration firsthand.

Visitors are welcome to spend the day at the north lookout enjoying sweeping views as migrating raptors pass overhead. Guests are encouraged to bring binoculars and a full-day pack to make the most of their visit.

Those with small children or limited mobility may prefer the nearby south lookout, accessible via the ADA-accessible silhouette trail.

Trail fees apply for non-members: $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and $5 for children ages 6-12; children ages 5 and younger are admitted free. Hawk Mountain members receive free trail admission year-round; visit hawkmountain.org/give/membership to learn more about becoming a member.

Hawk Mountain’s free autumn lecture series brings together authors, scientists, educators and local experts to explore the history, science and conservation of birds and the natural world. Lectures are held through November, with most taking place in the Hawk Mountain Visitor Center Gallery.

The 2026 autumn lecture series includes the following.

• Maurice Broun and Earl L. Poole: A Friendly Rivalry, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 27: Local journalist Bill Uhrich explores the fascinating relationship between Hawk Mountain’s first curator and hawk counter, Broun, and pioneering ornithologist Poole. Drawing from journals and historic bird records, the presentation highlights how their work helped document migration along the Kittatinny Ridge and shaped bird conservation in Berks County.

• Discovering Hawk Mountain Wildlife, Sept. 12: Educator Dan Jenkins shares wildlife camera footage captured throughout the sanctuary while introducing participants to the natural history of Pennsylvania’s native wildlife.

• The Return of the Oystercatcher: Saving Birds to Save the Planet, Oct. 10, in the outdoor amphitheater: Acclaimed author Scott Weidensaul discusses inspiring global bird conservation success stories from his newest book, demonstrating how restoring bird populations can help heal ecosystems around the world.

• Ornitherapy and Forest Bathing: Natural Pathways to Wellbeing of Mind, Body and Spirit, Nov. 14: Renowned birder and author Holly Merker explores how nature-based practices, such as forest bathing and ornitherapy, can improve physical and emotional well-being, while offering practical ways to connect with nature through places like Hawk Mountain Sanctuary.

Visitors can explore the full schedule at hawkmountain.org/events.