Braddock Bay Raptor Research celebrates spring migration

Braddock Bay Raptor Research celebrates spring migration

A Bald eagle, a Broad-winged hawk and a Turkey vulture are just three of the raptors that will help celebrate spring migration over Braddock Bay April 15 to 23. Braddock Bay Raptor Research (BBRR) is sponsoring its 18th annual celebration of Bird of Prey Week (BOP) in and around Braddock Bay Park, its lodge and its hawkwatching platform.

Throughout the week, there will be numerous opportunities for people to get a close-up view of some of the majestic birds. There will be weekday programs for kids, and two full weekends of hikes, tours, presentations and activities for the whole family.

The festival will have a lot more weekend programs, as well as evening programs during the week. The weekends will include demonstrations about how hawks and owls are captured, banded and released as part of an ongoing migration research project. There will be tours of the research facilities and walks along several interpretive trails. One of the trails, the Owl Migration Trail, offers opportunities to find owl pellets and roosting owls.

The celebration of hawks will open on Saturday, April 15 with a full day of raptor hikes, tours and presentations and last until April 23, when things wrap up with the HawkOut 2006. See the full schedule online at www.bbrr.org.

Special programs for school children will take place during the weekdays from 1 to 3 p.m. Hawks for Kids features games and craft activities, storytelling, a visit from one of the live birds of prey and the Incredible Hawk, BBRR's mascot.

The festival will finish up with a bang on Sunday with the 18th annual HawkOut! celebration. The picnic/cookout from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. includes live birds of prey presentations, kids' games, booths featuring local birding and conservation organizations, local wildlife artist displays and food.

To find the Braddock Bay Park and hawkwatching platform from Rochester: Drive north on Route 390. Take exit for Lake Ontario State Parkway west (towards Hamlin Beach). Exit at East Manitou Road. Turn right on East Manitou Road. Drive a few hundred feet to marker for Braddock Bay Park. Turn left onto Braddock Bay Park entrance road. Continue driving, stay to the right and go past the Hawkwatch platform on the left, past the pavilion and lodge to the parking area. Good outdoor shoes or boots work best at Braddock Bay Park in the springtime.

From Irondequoit and other northeastern suburbs: Cross O'Rorke Bridge. Stay straight on Lake Ontario State Parkday (west). Drive several miles to the exit for East Manitou Road and Braddock Bay Park. (Then continue as above).

From Brockport and other northwestern suburbs: Take Route 19 north to Lake Ontario State Parkway. Go east on parkway to East Manitou Road and Braddock Bay Park exit. Turn left on East Manitou Road. (Then continue as above).