Halloween Hawks and Owls: Allegheny Front
Date: Saturday, October 31, 10:00 am
Leader: Alex Busato, busatoalex67@gmail.com, 724-963-6612
Directions: -- 245 Raptor Road, Schellsburg, PA -- From U.S-30 at Reels Corners, take PA-160 north for 4 miles into Central City. Make a sharp right at a BP gas station. When PA-160 makes a sharp left, instead go straight onto Lambert Street (SR1018). Go slowly and watch for the “rough” RR crossing. After the crossing, bear to the right and stay on Lambert Street. Lambert Street becomes Shaffer Mountain Road (SR1018). Proceed 1.4 miles out of Central City and bear right at a Y-intersection onto Lambert Mountain Road. Go 2.9 miles through State Gamelands 228 to a small four-way intersection with Fleegle Road. Go straight through the intersection. This will become a gravel road. Go 0.5 miles to a blue gate on the right. Turn through the gate and go 0.25 miles to the Hawk Watch parking lot. Do not enter if the gate is closed.
Description: Celebrate Halloween with the Allegheny Front Hawk Watch! As part of the Allegheny Plateau Audubon’s ongoing hawk and saw-whet surveys at this location, we will hope to join for a full day of raptors. During daylight hours, the Allegheny Front site provides a unique vantage point, sitting approximately 800 feet above a valley with a surreal 180 degree view. When weather conditions are right, many raptors follow the valley during migrations. Winds from the east are preferred, as they push the birds closer to the lookout for more spectacular, up-close viewing, but any clear day can result in sightings. If our outing date does not have ideal conditions, please know that the watch is open to the public any time the gate is open, typically 9-3pm daily during migration. This time of year, we will hope to see the tail end of the Accipiter-type hawks passing through, an opportunity for falcons, as well as the beginnings of Bald and Golden Eagle migration.
Shortly after dusk on some Friday and Saturday nights, volunteers at the watch also engage in the banding of Northern Saw-whet Owls, PA’s smallest owl species. Weather and availability of hawk watch staff permitting, we will hopefully be able to see this secretive species up close under the banding lights. For updates on owl banding, refer to the Allegheny Hawk Watch website or look out for club email updates closer to the event.
This is mostly a “sit” outing, so dress for conditions (much colder on the ridge than in the valleys) and bring a chair and lunch. Additional halloween goodies are encouraged (just keep your “costumes” to drab colors so as not to stand out to the passing raptors!) There is a portable restroom available on site. Given the duration of the day, feel free to come and go as you please. If we are able to stay for the owl banding in the evening, a group may form to grab dinner nearby before returning. For questions on carpooling arrangements, please contact Alex above.