{{Short description|Wild bird sanctuary in Pennsylvania, US}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{primary sources|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox protected area | name = Hawk Mountain Sanctuary | image = Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, PA - North Lookout.jpg | image_caption = Birdwatching at the North Lookout | map = Pennsylvania | relief = yes | map_width = 240 | map_caption = Location of ''Hawk Mountain Sanctuary'' in [[Pennsylvania]] | location = [[Berks County, Pennsylvania|Berks]] and [[Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania|Schuylkill]] counties, [[Pennsylvania]], U.S. | nearest_city = [[Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania]] | coordinates = {{coord|40|38|27|N|75|59|32|W|region:US|notes=<ref name="gnis">{{cite gnis |id=1176665 |name=Hawk Mountain Sanctuary |access-date=2009-01-18}}</ref>|display=inline, title}} | area = {{convert|2600|acre|ha km2}}<ref name="hmau">{{cite web |url=http://hawkmountain.org/index.php?pr=About_Us |title=About Us |work=Hawk Mountain website |access-date=2009-01-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125134516/http://hawkmountain.org/index.php?pr=About_Us |archive-date=2009-01-25 }}</ref> | established = 1934<ref name="hmh">{{cite web |url=http://hawkmountain.org/index.php?pr=History |title=History |work=Hawk Mountain website |access-date=2009-01-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126230333/http://hawkmountain.org/index.php?pr=History |archive-date=2009-01-26 }}</ref> | visitation_num = 60,000 | visitation_year = 2008 | visitation_ref = <ref name="hmau" /> | governing_body = Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association<ref name="hmh"/> | url = http://www.hawkmountain.org | module={{designation list |embed=yes |designation1=NNL |designation1_date=1965<ref name=nnl/> |designation2=Pennsylvania | designation2_free1name = Location| designation2_free1value = Hawk Mountain Road, at path to North Lookout|designation2_date=September 14, 2019<ref name="PAHMDB">{{cite web|url=http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/apps/historical-markers.html |title=Pennsylvania Historical Marker Search |work=Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission |publisher=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | format=Searchable database | access-date=2020-07-03}}</ref> }} }}
'''Hawk Mountain Sanctuary''' is a wild bird sanctuary in [[Albany Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania|Albany Township]] and [[East Brunswick Township, Pennsylvania|East Brunswick Township]], located along the Appalachian flyway in eastern [[Pennsylvania]]. The sanctuary is a prime location for the viewing of [[kettle (birds)|kettling]] and migrating [[bird of prey|raptors]], known as [[hawkwatching]], with an average of 20,000 [[hawk]]s, [[eagle]]s and [[falcon]]s passing the lookouts during the late summer and fall every year.
The birds are identified and counted by staff and volunteers to produce annual counts of migrating raptors that represent the world's longest record of raptor populations. These counts have provided conservationists with valuable information on changes in raptor numbers in [[North America]].
The property was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 2022.<ref>[https://www.pennlive.com/life/2022/04/hawk-mountain-and-its-unique-history-and-legacy-earn-it-a-spot-on-national-register-of-historic-places.html?outputType=amp news article]</ref>
==Setting== The sanctuary is located on a ridge of [[Hawk Mountain]], one of the [[Blue Mountain (Pennsylvania)|Blue Mountain chain]]. The Visitor Center houses a shop and facilities with parking nearby. A habitat garden next to it is home to native plants that are protected by a deer fence. The {{convert|1|mi|km}} Lookout Trail runs from the Visitor Center to a number of raptor viewing sites along the ridge, the most popular being the close by South Lookout (elevation {{convert|1300|ft|m|disp=sqbr}}) and the North Lookout (elevation {{convert|1521|ft|m|disp=sqbr}}) with a 200 degree panoramic view that extends to {{convert|70|mi|km}}. Nine trails of varying difficulty are available to hikers and linked to the [[Appalachian Trail]].{{citation needed|date = February 2015}}
Located in the sanctuary is [[Schaumboch's Tavern]], listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1979.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
== History == The area was a popular site for shooting hawks, either for sport or to prevent depredations on domestic fowl or game birds. In 1934, [[Rosalie Edge]] leased {{convert|1400|acre|ha}} of property on Hawk Mountain and hired wardens to keep the hunters away.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Elgin|first=Ben|date=December 9, 2020|title=Nature Conservancy Hooked Corporate America on an Empty Climate Solution|language=en|work=Bloomberg Green|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2020-nature-conservancy-carbon-offsets-trees/|access-date=2020-12-09}}</ref> The wardens were [[Maurice Broun]] and his wife Irma Broun, bird enthusiasts and conservationists from [[New England]]. Almost immediately, there was a noticeable recovery in the raptor population. In 1938, the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association was incorporated as a non-profit organization in Pennsylvania, and Edge purchased the property and deeded it to the association in perpetuity.{{citation needed|date = February 2015}}
In 1965, the sanctuary was designated a [[National Natural Landmark]],<ref name=nnl>{{cite web |title=National Natural Landmarks: Hawk Mountain Sanctuary |url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nnlandmarks/site.htm?Site=HAMO-PA |publisher=[[National Park Service]]}}</ref> and in 2022 it was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>{{NRHPweekly}}</ref>
Famous visitors to the sanctuary include [[Rachel Carson]].<ref>Broun, Maurice. ''Hawks Aloft: The Story of Hawk Mountain.''</ref>
Through [[Sarkis Acopian]]'s philanthropy, the sanctuary was able to open the Acopian Center for Conservation Learning in 2001, where students come from all over the world to participate in work-study internships, learning about [[ornithology]], [[environmental science]], [[biology]], and related fields.{{citation needed|date = February 2015}}
==Migration timetable== The peak migration time at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary varies among the various species. Time periods given here are those when the raptor has historically been counted on half or more days. Species of raptor are listed in chronological order of the start of their period of likely observation.<ref name=hmrm>{{cite web | url=http://www.hawkmountain.org/index.php?pr=Raptor_Migration | title=Raptor Migration | work=Hawk Mountain website | access-date=2009-01-18 | archive-date=January 25, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125134528/http://hawkmountain.org/index.php?pr=Raptor_Migration | url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Broad-winged hawk]]: late August to late September * [[American kestrel]]: late August to early October * [[Osprey]]: late August to early October * [[Bald eagle]]: early September * [[Northern harrier]]: early September to early November * [[Sharp-shinned hawk]]: early September to early November * [[Red-tailed hawk]]: early September to early December * [[Cooper's hawk]]: late September to late October * [[Merlin (bird)|Merlin]]: early October * [[Peregrine falcon]]: early October * [[Red-shouldered hawk]]: early October to early November * [[Golden eagle]]: early November * [[Rough-legged buzzard|Rough-legged hawk]]: early November to early December * [[American goshawk]]: late November
==Gallery== <gallery heights=150px mode=packed> Flickr - Nicholas T - Far View.jpg Flickr - Nicholas T - Basin.jpg File:Overlook - Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, PA.jpg|Overlook view of Hawk Mountain River of rocks at the Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania 2007.jpg|River of rocks File:John Denver bench.jpg|John Denver Bench at South Lookout </gallery>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Hawk Mountain Sanctuary}} *[http://www.hawkmountain.org The official website of Hawk Mountain]
{{Protected Areas of Pennsylvania}} {{National Natural Landmarks in Pennsylvania}} {{authority control}}
[[Category:Bird observatories in the United States]] [[Category:Bird sanctuaries of the United States]] [[Category:National Natural Landmarks in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Berks County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Nature centers in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Nature reserves in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Berks County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Raptor migration sites]] [[Category:Raptor organizations]] [[Category:Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area]]