Located in Berks County, Pennsylvania, this privately held land exists for the purpose of allowing and observing the migration of raptors as they make their way South in the Fall and North in the Spring. Thousands of these birds of prey pass over this area, brought here because of thermals that allow for lower-energy travel. We had been here before deep in the off-season (late Winter), and were very happy with the solitude, the hiking/climbing, and the views. This trip was made in the height of the raptor migration season, and, although we were there on a weekday, many others had the same idea, sitting at the best viewing points, often for many hours, to see and count the birds as they passed overhead.
Hawk Mountain encourages all who visit to help in their annual bird counts in an effort to track species, and the numbers seen are tallied daily. Click here to see up-to-date totals. There is a nominal trail charge.
Temperature – 50 degree F.
Weather – Mostly cloudy with occasional bursts of clear sunshine.
Trail Surface – Sometimes smooth and often very rocky with some moderate climbs that require some hand-gripping.
Flora – Oaks, beeches, maples all in various fall hues that made for some pretty spectacular colors.
Fauna – We saw Turkey Vultures, some sharp-shinned hawks, and some buteos that were too far away to be properly identified as well as the ubiquitous chipmunks. These latter were sinewy compared to the sunflower-fed layabouts in our yard.
A Buteo much closer than we saw any!
Facilities – A really nice central building with bathrooms, a gift shop, and other raptor resources. This center is surrounded by a deer-proofed native plant and bird area that is wonderful with a blind, a small marsh, and, while we were there, caterpillars looking for secure cocooning spots.
Other People Seen – Many, including at least two busloads of school children who were doing their jobs, commenting loudly on EVERYTHING so that we old people could purse our lips and look with concern at the Youth of Today.
This is a great place to go, whether during migration season or during the very quiet offseason when you can hear the sound that two trees make rubbing together in the wind.