HawkWatch International

Black Hawk Up - Festival at Tubac HawkWatch
2025-03-13 - 2025-03-18 | Tubac HawkWatch, 31 Calle Iglesia, Tubac, AZ, United States
Thursday 03/13 – Sunday 03/18, 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
It’s peak week at the Tubac HawkWatch! Join HWI and the Tubac Nature Center for a week celebrating spring migration. This is a family-friendly event with free activities in the park to coincide with the peak flight of the Common Black Hawk migration. You can expect to hawkwatch alongside experts daily, shop birdy merch and optics, and meet live Raptor Ambassadors.
On Optics Days, you can shop and try out the latest binoculars with the best optics dealers, including Kowa, Swarovski, Zeiss, Lecia, and Vortex. Don’t forget to stop at HawkWatch International, Tubac Nature Center, and Tucson Bird Alliance for some bird merch!
Festival Schedule
Thursday, March 13th: Kid’s Day

HawkWatch International Tabling
8:00 AM-9:00 AM: Family Walk with Nature Scavenger Hunt
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM: Owl pellet dissection
10:00 AM-10:30 AM: Meet Pancho, the Tumacacori National Historical Park mascot
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Owl pellet dissection
11:30 AM-12:30 PM: Raptor Ambassador Meet and Greet

Friday, March 14th: Nonprofit Day

HawkWatch International Tabling
11:00 AM-1:00 PM: Raptor Ambassador Meet and Greet
1:00 PM: “Tips for IDing Birds” with Luke Safford, Director of Engagement at Tucson Birding Alliance, at the Tubac Community Center

Saturday, March 15th: Optics Days

HawkWatch International Tabling
7:15 AM: Bird walk with Tubac Nature Center and Tucson Bird Alliance, Register Here
9:00 AM-11:00 AM: Raptor Ambassador Meet and Greet
11:00 AM: Bird walk with Tubac Nature Center and Tucson Bird Alliance, Register Here
11:00 AM: “Everything you wanted to know about the Common Black Hawk but were afraid to ask!” from Peter Collins, site founder, at the Tubac HawkWatch
3:00-4:00 PM: Reading with Raptors at the Tubac Community Center

Sunday, March 16th: Optics Days

HawkWatch International Tabling
7:15 AM: Bird walk with Tubac Nature Center and Tucson Bird Alliance, Register Here
11:00 AM: Bird walk with Tubac Nature Center and Tucson Bird Alliance, Register Here
11:00 AM-1:00 PM: Raptor Ambassador Meet and Greet
1:00 PM: “Why we watch hawks and how we use count data to assess population trends” by Dr. Dave Oleyar, HWI’s Director of Long-term Monitoring & Community Science, at the Tubac Community Center

Monday, March 17th: Optics Days

7:15 AM: Bird walk with Tubac Nature Center and Tucson Bird Alliance, Register Here
11:00 AM: Bird walk with Tubac Nature Center and Tucson Bird Alliance, Register Here

Tuesday, March 18th: Optics Days

7:15 AM: Bird walk with Tubac Nature Center and Tucson Bird Alliance, Register Here
11:00 AM: Bird walk with Tubac Nature Center and Tucson Bird Alliance, Register Here

Accommodations
For a list of hotels and restaurants, click here
Can’t Attend the Festival but Still Want to Visit the Site?
HWI counters will be at the site daily from February 15th through April 30th. Tubac Nature Center will also be tabling for the whole month of March, which you can learn more about here.
This festival is sponsored by Tubac Nature Center, HawkWatch International, Tucson Bird Alliance, and Kowa Optics

Kid's Day at the Tubac HawkWatch
2025-03-13 08:00 - 12:30 (America/Denver) | Tubac HawkWatch, 31 Calle Iglesia, Tubac, AZ, United States
Do you have a young naturalist in your life? Join HawkWatch International, Tubac Nature Center, and Tucson Bird Alliance at the Tubac HawkWatch this spring break for a day of fun activities! We will have birding and nature activities, including a session on how to use binoculars, owl pellet dissections, nature journals, and a meet and greet with our live Raptor Ambassadors! Register as early as 7:45 AM on the 13th
Schedule

HawkWatch International Tabling
8:00 AM-9:00 AM: Family Walk with Nature Scavenger Hunt
We’ll walk right from the park along the Anza Trail looking for items on our nature scavenger list. This is a great way to get your children’s eyes open to the amazing world along the trail. We’ll end up back at the park in time for the rest of the day’s activities.
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM: Owl pellet dissection
We will have actual owl pellets that kids will be able to dig into which shows what owls have eaten. Very hands on. This booth is provided by HawkWatch International and Tucson Audubon. Space is limited to only 20 kids so sign up at registration if your child is interested.
10:00 AM-10:30 AM: Meet Pancho
Pancho is the mascot from Tumacacori National Historical Park. He makes a great photo op. You can’t miss him. He’s big, red and has very, very large binoculars.
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Owl pellet dissection
We will have actual owl pellets that kids will be able to dig into which shows what owls have eaten. Very hands on. This booth is provided by HawkWatch International and Tucson Audubon. Space is limited to only 20 kids so sign up at registration if your child is interested.
11:30 AM-12:30 PM: Raptor Ambassador Meet and Greet
Meet a live ratpor and learn what makes a bird a raptor, why raptors migrate, and how humans can help keep raptors safe.

Riverton Library Program
2025-03-20 16:00 - 17:00 | Riverton Library, 12877 S 1830 W, Riverton, UT, 84065, United States
Ever wonder what makes a raptor different than other birds? Come by the Riverton Library and find out! Meet our live raptor ambassadors and ask our educators all your burning raptor questions.
This is a family friendly event, no tickets or registration required!
This event is made possible by Salt Lake County ZAP and the generosity of supporters like you.

Bird Walks at the Butte
2025-03-26 17:00 - 18:30, 2025-04-09 17:00 - 18:30, 2025-04-23 17:00 - 18:30 | Red Butte Garden, 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, United States
Have you ever tried to get into birding but weren’t sure how? Want to learn how to identify a bird by its song? Join one of our experts for a guided birding walk around Red Butte Garden to learn more about local birds and how to identify them.
Registration for this program is handled by our partner, Red Butte Gardens. Click here to register: https://redbuttegarden.org/plan-your-garden-visit/online-classes-virtual-resources/adult-education/bird-walk-at-red-butte-garden-with-hawkwatch-international/

Raptor Meet & Great at the Natural History Museum of Utah
2025-03-29 12:00 - 14:00, 2025-05-30 12:00 - 14:00 | Natural History Museum of Utah, 301 Wakara Way, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, United States
While you learn about Mesozoic dinosaurs like the Utah Raptor, stop by and meet their modern day relatives: birds of prey! What traits to dinosaurs and modern raptors share? Where do these birds live? What threats do they face? Learn all of this and more with paid admission to the NHMU. Find admission information on their website or in person.
This event is made possible by Salt Lake County ZAP and the generosity of supporters like you.

Loveland Living Planet Raptor Encounters
2025-04-05 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-05-03 13:00 - 15:00 | Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, 12033 Lone Peak Pkwy, Draper, 84020, United States
Join HawkWatch International for a drop-in program at the aquarium! Check out their newest raptor exhibit and meet some of our Raptor Ambassadors up close.
This program is free with admission.

Reading with Raptors at the Herriman Library
2025-04-15 15:30 - 16:30 | Herriman Library, 5380 W Main St, Herriman, 84096, United States
Join HawkWatch International at the Herriman Library for Reading with Raptors! During this program, children meet one of HWI’s Raptor Ambassadors while reading a storybook that matches the bird they’ve just met. They’ll learn about raptors and enjoy a great story. Free and no registration is necessary!
This program is made possible by Salt Lake County ZAP and the generosity of supporters like you.

Earth Day at Westminster College
2025-04-26 12:00 - 14:30 | Westminster University, 1840 S 1300 E, Salt Lake City, 84105, United States
Free and open to the public: In this free hands-on science and STEAM event, kids will participate in a variety of Earth Day projects on the Westminster University campus. The activities will extend from the Richer Commons in the center of campus (in front of the Meldrum Science Center) to the Westminster beehive and orchard and then to the stream. The event will feature special guests including Woodsy Owl with the US Forest Service and live birds with HawkWatch International. We will be joined by the Brighton Institute, Great Salt Lake Institute and Cottonwood Canyon Foundation. In case of rain, all activities will be moved inside the Meldrum Science Center.

The Great Salt Lake Bird Festival
2025-05-15 - 2025-05-18 | UT
REGISTRATION OPENS MARCH 2025: https://www.daviscountyutah.gov/greatsaltlakebirdfest
Hosted by Discover Davis, HawkWatch International will be hosting a variety of field trips throughout the festival as well as selling merchandise Friday and Saturday.
Each year hundreds of attendees flock to the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival to experience one-of-a-kind field trips, participate in hands-on learning workshops, and enjoy opportunities to listen to world-renowned keynote speakers and expert field trip guides. But most importantly, for four days, passionate birders get together and celebrate the beautiful array of birds that migrate to our region, while sharing unforgettable moments and experiences.
At the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival, you can expect to see hundreds of different species of birds, rare access to property and areas that are typically closed off to the public, and to top it all off, attendees experience the beautiful outdoor playground Utah offers.

Raptors at the West Valley Library
2025-05-15 16:00 - 17:00 | West Valley Library, 2880 W 3650 S, West Valley, 84119, United States
Ever wonder what makes a raptor different than other birds? Come by the West Valley Library and find out! Meet our live raptor ambassadors and ask our educators all your burning raptor questions.
This is a family friendly event, no tickets or registration required!
This event is made possible by Salt Lake County ZAP and the generosity of supporters like you.

HWI at Sailfest
2025-06-07 13:00 - 15:00 | Great Salt Lake Marina, 13312 W 1075 S, Magna, 84044, United States
After a phenomenal collaboration last year, the Great Salt Lake Yacht Club and Grow the Flow are once again hosting Sailfest on June 7th. This free, day-long festival will include live music, booths, and a sailboat regatta to bring attention and resources to the race to restore Great Salt Lake. HWI will be there from 1-3 PM with a Raptor Ambassador.
This event is appropriate for all ages, and we hope you invite your friends, family, and frenemies!

Visit this page for more information: https://growtheflowutah.org/gsl-sailfest/

When: June 7th, 2025, 10am-4pm (main activities from 12-4pm)
Where: The Marina at Great Salt Lake
What: A sailboat race and festival featuring free fun for all ages

Raptors at the Salt Lake City Library
2025-06-07 15:00 - 16:00 | Salt Lake City Public Library, 210 E 400 S, Salt Lake City, UT, 84111, United States
Ever wonder what makes a raptor different than other birds? Come by the Salt Lake City Library and find out! Meet our live raptor ambassadors and ask our educators all your burning raptor questions.
This is a family-friendly event, no tickets or registration required!
This event is made possible by Salt Lake County ZAP and the generosity of supporters like you.

UNP Partners in the Park: Jordan Park
2025-06-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Jordan Park, 1060 S 900 W, Salt Lake City, 84104, United States
Learn about education opportunities, connect with resources, enjoy food, music, and time with friends and neighbors at these FREE community events!
You can learn more here: https://www.partners.utah.edu/partners-in-the-park/
This event is made possible by Salt Lake County ZAP and the generosity of supporters like you.

Raptors of the Great Salt Lake: An Antelope Island Adventure
2025-06-12 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-06-14 10:00 - 14:00 | Antelope Island State Park, 4528 West 1700 South, Syracuse, UT, 84075, United States
An Antelope Island Adventure awaits! Join HawkWatch International’s team for a day of hawkwatching, bird watching, and exploring one of Utah’s most famous state parks. From American Kestrels to Burrowing Owls, learn more about the work your trip is supporting right on the Island as well as the broader conservation challenges in the Great Salt Lake ecosystem. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to see other fan favorites like the American Bison.
Meeting Location: Parking lot outside the Antelope Island ticket booth
Time: 10 am-2 pm (please arrive 10–15 minutes early)
What’s Included: Boxed lunch and transportation around the island in a private, 15-passenger van
Group Size: 20 people max (10 per van)
Ticket Price: $85
Register Now
Are You a VIP (Very Interested Person)?
This field trip is offered as part of Wings Across the World and can be purchased as a stand-alone experience or as part of our Very Interested Person (VIP) Package, which includes:

One field trip on Thursday, 6/12
One field trip on Saturday, 6/14
A ticket to the Wings Across the World Fundraiser on Friday, 6/13

Purchase your $550 VIP pass here.
Terms & Conditions
1. Full payment is required to reserve your spot and is subject to HawkWatch International’s Field Trip and Tour Policies.
2. This trip is limited to 20 people to ensure an intimate, high-quality experience for everyone.
3. In the event of poor weather or other suboptimal conditions in the area, we may choose alternate locations for the field trip as a substitute. Refunds are not available.

Night Owls: Following Flammulated Owls in Northern Utah
2025-06-12 18:00 - 23:00 | Shooting Star Saloon, 7350 E 200 S, Huntsville, 84317, United States
Step into the nocturnal world of owls with HawkWatch International scientists! Join us at Snowbasin Ski Resort for a rare opportunity to search for and trap Flammulated Owls, small and elusive raptors of the night. Learn about the research behind their migrations and habitat use while experiencing the magic of owling in the Wasatch Mountains.
Meeting Location: Parking lot of the Shooting Star Saloon in Huntsville
Time: 6-11 pm (arrive 10–15 minutes early)
What’s Included: Dinner at the Shooting Star Saloon and transportation to the site
Trip Size: 10 people max
Ticket Price: $200

Register Now

Are You a VIP (Very Interested Person)?
This field trip is offered as part of Wings Across the World and can be purchased as a stand-alone experience or as part of our Very Interested Person (VIP) Package, which includes:

One field trip on Thursday, 6/12
One field trip on Saturday, 6/14
A ticket to the Wings Across the World Fundraiser on Friday, 6/13

Purchase your $550 VIP pass here.
Terms & Conditions
1. Full payment is required to reserve your spot and is subject to HawkWatch International’s Field Trip and Tour Policies.
2. This tour is limited to 10 people to ensure an intimate, high-quality experience for everyone. The minimum number of participants is 3. In the event the minimum is not reached, we will refund your payment.
3. In the event of poor weather or other suboptimal conditions in the area, we may choose alternate locations for the field trip as a substitute. Refunds are not available.

Legends of the Cliffs: Nesting Raptors with Don Paul
2025-06-14 08:00 - 15:00 | South Weber Park and Ride, 7750 S Frontage Rd, South Weber, 84405, United States
Spend a field trip exploring the ecology of some of Utah’s most charismatic raptors. Explore areas along the Weber River and the surrounding landscape in Morgan and Summit counties. Our primary interest will be observing nesting and foraging diurnal and nocturnal raptors in their habitats. Bald and Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, Swainson’s Hawks, Turkey Vultures, Ospreys, American Kestrels, and Great Horned Owls will be our primary focus. We will be on the lookout for Prairie and Peregrine Falcons, Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks, and the Northern Harrier. The guides will explain and help identify nesting strategies, behavior, and predator/prey relationships as we observe them in the field.
Meeting Location: South Weber Park and Ride
Time: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM (please arrive 10–15 minutes early)
What’s Included: Boxed lunch and transportation
Ticket Price: $120
Register Now
Your Guides
Don S. Paul
Don is a career wildlife biologist having served 34 years in several positions for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and five years as Great Basin Bird Conservation Region Coordinator for the Intermountain West Joint Venture. He served five years on the Waterbird Conservation Council of the Americas. He is a past president of the Utah Chapter of the Wildlife Society and past Chair of the Linking Communities Project. He is published in both scientific and popular conservation literature. His career emphasis takes two directions, conservation biology with emphases in international community conservation linkages and avian conservation with experience in large-scale landscape bird monitoring. He is currently President of AvianWest Inc., an avian conservation consulting business.

Melissa Halvorsen
Melissa credits her love of animals to early years spent following her biologist father around in the field whenever she wasn’t in school. After pursuing a B.A. in English from Weber State University, she began working as an interpretive ranger for the National Park Service. It was doing this work that helped her realize she could unite her love of storytelling and the natural world by working as an informal environmental educator. Since then, she has worked for Utah State Parks, Ogden Nature Center, Alpine School District, and most recently, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium as the Engagement and Learning Manager. Melissa has certifications in Environmental Education from Utah State University and Instructional Design from the University of Utah. Melissa is excited to share HawkWatch’s mission with the world and hopes to reach new audiences with creative approaches to teaching and learning.
Are You a VIP (Very Interested Person)?
This field trip is offered as part of Wings Across the World and can be purchased as a stand-alone experience or as part of our Very Interested Person (VIP) Package, which includes:

One field trip on Thursday, 6/12
One field trip on Saturday, 6/14
A ticket to the Wings Across the World Fundraiser on Friday, 6/13

Purchase your $550 VIP pass here.
Terms & Conditions
1. Full payment is required to reserve your spot and is subject to HawkWatch International’s Field Trip and Tour Policies.
2. This tour is limited to 8 people to ensure an intimate, high-quality experience for everyone.
3. In the event of poor weather or other suboptimal conditions in the area, we may choose alternate locations for the field trip as a substitute. Refunds are not available.

Crepuscular Creatures: Exploring Antelope Island by Day & Night
2025-06-14 16:00 - 23:00 | Antelope Island State Park, 4528 West 1700 South, Syracuse, UT, 84075, United States
For those looking for the ultimate raptor experience, this special field trip crosses from day into night! Join HawkWatch International scientists at Antelope Island to search for both diurnal and nocturnal raptors, including American Kestrels, Golden Eagles, and Burrowing Owls. If conditions allow, we may also attempt to trap Burrowing Owls to support ongoing conservation research.
Meeting Location: Parking lot outside the Antelope Island ticket booth
Time: 4-11 pm ( please arrive 10–15 minutes early)
What’s Included: Dinner and transportation around the island
Trip Size: 10 people max
Ticket Price: $300

Register Now
Are You a VIP (Very Interested Person)?
This field trip is offered as part of Wings Across the World and can be purchased as a stand-alone experience or as part of our Very Interested Person (VIP) Package, which includes:

One field trip on Thursday, 6/12
One field trip on Saturday, 6/14
A ticket to the Wings Across the World Fundraiser on Friday, 6/13

Purchase your $550 VIP pass here.
Terms & Conditions
1. Full payment is required to reserve your spot and is subject to HawkWatch International’s Field Trip and Tour Policies.
2. This trip is limited to 10 people to ensure an intimate, high-quality experience for everyone.
3. In the event of poor weather or other suboptimal conditions in the area, we may choose alternate locations for the field trip as a substitute. Refunds are not available.

Birds and Yoga
2025-06-15 10:00 - 12:00 | Fairmont Park, 1040 E Sugarmont Dr, Salt Lake City, 84106, United States
Join us for a free yoga session alongside our Raptor Ambassadors at Fairmount Park! Yoga is a great way to practice mindfulness, get in a good workout, and ground ourselves in the present moment. During this 1-hour outdoor class, we will provide a bird-themed yoga practice from certified yoga instructor Shana Helps and a chance to meet our Raptor Ambassadors. You’ll even have the chance to take a picture with our birds at the end of the program!
We recommend coming five to ten minutes early to get settled before the program begins.
This class is free, with a suggested donation of $10 to support the care of our Raptor Ambassadors.
REGISTER HERE
This event is made possible by Salt Lake County ZAP and the generosity of supporters like you.

Raptors at the Bingham Creek Library
2025-06-16 19:00 - 20:00 | Bingham Creek Library, 4834 W 9000 S, West Jordan, UT, 84081, United States
Ever wonder what makes a raptor different than other birds? Come by the Bingham Creek Library and find out! Meet our live raptor ambassadors and ask our educators all your burning raptor questions.
This is a family-friendly event, no tickets or registration required!
This event is made possible by Salt Lake County ZAP and the generosity of supporters like you.

Bird of Prey Show at Alta
2025-06-19 13:00 - 14:00 | Our Lady of the Snows Center, 10185 E Hwy 210, Alta, 84092, United States
Spend an hour in the mountains with live Raptor Ambassadors! Join us for a free show at the Our Lady of the Snows Center. Our team of expert educators will share the important roles these creatures play in our ecosystems and how you can participate in conserving these raptors, and you’ll meet two of our Raptor Ambassadors.
No registration is required for this event.
This event is made possible by Salt Lake County ZAP and the generosity of supporters like you.

Raptors at the Anderson-Foothill Library
2025-06-23 11:00 - 12:00 | Anderson-Foothill Library, 1135 S 2100 E, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, United States
Ever wonder what makes a raptor different than other birds? Come by the Anderson-Foothill Library and find out! Meet our live raptor ambassadors and ask our educators all your burning raptor questions.
This is a family-friendly event, no tickets or registration required!
This event is made possible by Salt Lake County ZAP and the generosity of supporters like you.

UNP Partners in the Park: Parkway Park
2025-06-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Parkway Park, 405 Parkway Blvd, West Valley City, 84119, United States

Educator Workshop at the Natural History Museum
2025-06-30 11:00 - 13:00 | Natural History Museum of Utah, 301 Wakara Way, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, United States
Join HawkWatch International and NHMU for an exciting educator workshop. Birding is experiencing a surge in popularity, especially among young people, and for good reason! Birds are the most accessible wildlife since they live everywhere, including amongst humans. Every student can find a bird in their community (even if it’s a Pigeon or a Starling), and the longer people look, the more birds they find. Birds are a natural source of phenomena students can use to engage with science practices and cross-cutting concepts. In this workshop, we’ll go over some birding basics and then discuss how birding easily lends itself to teaching disciplinary core ideas from the SEEd Standards for any grade. All educators will leave with hands-on lesson plans for their classes and 2 hours of relicensure credit.
This workshop is open to all Utah public school teachers and educators.
For more information, click here: https://nhmu.utah.edu/educators/birding-classroom-educator-workshop

Raptors at the Magna Library
2025-07-02 19:00 - 20:00 | Magna Library, 2675 S 8950 W, Magna, 84044, United States
Ever wonder what makes a raptor different than other birds? Come by the Magna Library and find out! Meet our live raptor ambassadors and ask our educators all your burning raptor questions.
This is a family-friendly event, no tickets or registration required!
This event is made possible by Salt Lake County ZAP and the generosity of supporters like you.

Raptors at the Salt Lake City Sprague Branch
2025-07-07 15:30 - 16:30 | Salt Lake City Library Sprague Branch, 2131 1100 E, Salt Lake City, 84106, United States
Ever wonder what makes a raptor different than other birds? Come by the Salt Lake City Sprague Branch and find out! Meet our live raptor ambassadors and ask our educators all your burning raptor questions.
This is a family-friendly event, no tickets or registration required!
This event is made possible by Salt Lake County ZAP and the generosity of supporters like you.
