Get to know local birds at HawkFest this weekend
HawkFest 2016, the first weekend-long birding festival in Lake County, will take place from Friday, Oct. 14, to Sunday, Oct. 16. Events will be held primarily at Lake Forest College and the Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve, with Saturday and Sunday morning bird walks available at various other locations.
HawkFest 2016 will provide a wide variety of activities for both new and experienced birders, with an emphasis on family-friendly activities.
Many activities are free; admission for fee events is $7 per event, or $25 for an all-access pass.
The kickoff event will be held at 7:15 p.m. at Lake Forest College, featuring raptor experts Dave Johnson and Vic Berardi, who will share the history of the hawk watches in Northern Illinois, as well as insights and stories. It is suitable for adults and older children and costs $7. Prior to the talk, there will be the opportunity to attend a buffet dinner at Lake Forest College. Tickets will be $25, including the fee for the talk. Dinner space is limited and registration is required.
Bird walks will be offered on Saturday morning at Fort Sheridan and Middlefork Savannah Forest Preserves from 7-8:30 a.m. Following that, a series of classes and workshops will be offered on the Lake Forest College campus from 9:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., featuring such skills as hawk identification and raptor photography, bird photography, birding in Lake County, and bird rehabilitation. There will be displays and exhibits in the College's Durand Hall, including informational tables by local birding groups and environmental organizations as well as live birds on display.
For additional information and to register, visit www.lcfpd.org/events/20161014 or www.lcfpd.org/events/20161015.
The Lake County Forest Preserve District will host events such as observing fall hawk migration and a walk through the Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve. There will be an opportunity to visit education stations featuring live birds and a variety of activities while learning about birds and local ecology. An evening event will be scheduled for after hours.
Beginning at 7 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16, there will be free bird walks at Illinois Beach State Park (North Unit, meeting at the picnic pavilion) and at Waukegan Beach, where participants can meet at the south end of the parking lot near the swimming beach. There will be all-day hawk watches at Fort Sheridan and at Illinois Beach State Park (North Unit). A complete schedule of events with details about registration and locations will be available on the Lake County Audubon Society website www.lakecountyaudubon.org.
"Lake County is a premier destination for birders from all around the area, and this festival will bring people together to experience what the county has to offer for fall migration," said to Professor Jeff Sundberg.
HawkFest co-sponsors include Lake County Forest Preserve District, Lake Forest College, Lake County Audubon Society, and Lake-Cook Audubon Society.