Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, located along the Appalachian flyway in eastern Pennsylvania, was founded in 1934 as the world’s first sanctuary for raptors. With 2,500 acres of land dedicated to conservation, the sanctuary is connected to an important migratory pathway that thousands of birds pass through daily in peak fall migration.

Here, data was collected and utilized to help ban the use of DDT in the 1970s and helped save our eagle species. Research continues to this day on several different species of raptors and other important animals that call the mountain their home.

Join a Hawk Mountain raptor-care specialist and educator who covers the history of the sanctuary and its longest-running raptors point count survey; the intricate landscape of the Kittatinny Ridge and how it funnels 17 diurnal species during the annual fall migration, including some that travel to South America for the winter. They also discuss adaptations of raptors and why they make such important apex predators in several forest biomes—and offer a chance to meet a raptor up close.

Patron Information

• If you register multiple individuals, you will be asked to supply individual names and email addresses so they can receive a Zoom link email. Please note that if there is a change in program schedule or a cancellation, we will notify you via email, and it will be your responsibility to notify other registrants in your group.
• Unless otherwise noted, registration for streaming programs typically closes two hours prior to the start time on the date of the program.
• Once registered, patrons should receive an automatic email confirmation from CustomerService@SmithsonianAssociates.org.
• Separate Zoom link information will be emailed closer to the date of the program. If you do not receive your Zoom link information 24 hours prior to the start of the program, please email Customer Service for assistance.
• View Common FAQs about our Streaming Programs on Zoom.