FORT WASHINGTON, Pa.,
Sept. 23, 2017
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams
Dunn today joined birding enthusiasts and supporters of
Fort Washington State Park in
celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Militia Hill Hawk
Watch.
"What a milestone for both Fort
Washington State Park and the dedicated volunteers who staff
the Militia Hill Hawk Watch," the secretary told celebration
attendees gathered on the park grounds. "It is hard to believe we
are just minutes from Philadelphia
and yet hundreds of migrating raptors are heading south overhead. I
commend you on your 30th year of documenting these
flights and fueling public interest in them."
Since Sept. 1, and through
Oct. 31, volunteers have been daily
monitoring southern migrations at the Montgomery County park, where visitors
utilizing two observation areas can glimpse all 16 species of
raptors migrating along the Atlantic Coast.
"Public interest in observing raptors and other migrating bird
species from two observation areas never has been stronger at
Fort Washington State Park," Dunn
noted. "This would never be possible without the dedication of the
volunteers before me. You staff the observation decks; keep the
all-important numbers; and infect future volunteers with your
passion and commitment."
Militia Hill Hawk Watch prides itself in counting migrating
raptors as they move southward on their annual journey as far as
Central and South America. Founded
in 1988, it operates from 9 AM to 5
PM daily, with dedicated volunteers providing valuable count
data to the Hawk Migration Association of North America. The group delights in
introducing visitors to the beauty of the state park and the many
birds, other animals and insects that can be seen during their
visit.
"I'm so glad we are celebrating 30 seasons of an amazing annual
gathering that started with a card table and a few chairs in 1988,"
said Militia Hill Hawk Watch site coordinator Rich Conroy. "The combination of hawk migration
and sharing with people what is going on in the sky above us, and
where these birds are headed, always leaves me feeling wonderfully
connected to our world beyond Militia Hill."
Militia Hill is one of many count sites throughout Pennsylvania which provide invaluable avian
migration information through concerted citizen-science effort.
The Militia Hill Hawk watch has had an impressive tabulation of
raptor species and numbers since 1988. The average season count is
11,088 raptors with a total of 321,553 in its past 29 years.
All 16 species that migrate along the East Coast are observed on
a regular basis. The hawk watch's most spectacular day occurred on
Sept. 15, 2013, when 18,055
broad-winged hawks migrated over Militia Hill.
Organizers welcome and encourage volunteers in the effort.
Volunteer compilers will be on duty every day --- for a total of 61
days.
With an elevation of only 330 feet, and no large, nearby body of
water, Militia Hill has no strong geographic features of importance
to migration, and yet all East Coast raptor species are seen above
the park grounds.
Detailed records of raptor observation and weather conditions
are reported daily to the Hawk Mountain Migration Association of
North America. They can be
accessed at www.hawkcount.org.
MEDIA CONTACT: Terry
Brady, 717-705-22265; tbrady@pa.gov
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SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources