St. Thomas Field Naturalist Club

Category: Hawk Cliff Weekend

  • Hawk Cliff Woods Migration Weekend

    Saturday and Sunday, Sept 27 & 28, 2025 10 a.m to 3:30 p.m. above photo by Rob Paterson

    Note: new location at Hawk Cliff Woods north meadow entrance at 43277 Dexter Line, Union, ON.

    Celebrate the spectacular fall migration of hawks and other raptors and Monarch butterflies at this free outdoor event hosted in partnership with St. Thomas Field Naturalist Club, Hawk Cliff Raptor Banders, and volunteers of Monarch Watch. Learn about migrating raptors and Monarch butterflies, their lives, and conservation challenges and opportunities!

    Sunday and Saturday Program

    10:00 AM: Hawk Talk by the Hawk Cliff Raptor Banders
    Be awed and inspired by the hawk and raptor conservation work of the Hawk Cliff Raptor Banders! Learn about some of our local hawks and raptors, their migrations, and the banding work completed by volunteer banders. Live wild birds are responsibly handled under permit during this presentation, pending weather and wind conditions.

    11:30 AM: Raptor Presentation by the Canadian Raptor Conservancy
    Get ready to be educated and entertained with the Canadian Raptor Conservancy! Learn about the natural history, size, prey species, range, and relationship to humans of a variety of birds of prey up close and personal. This demonstration showcases domestically produced, professionally trained birds in free-flight – you won’t want to miss it.

    1:00 PM: Monarch Presentation
    Learn about the amazing journey and life of the Monarch butterfly, and some of the great conservation work being done to protect our small but mighty friends. Live butterflies are responsibly handled under permit during this presentation, pending weather conditions.

    2:00 PM: Hawk Talk by the Hawk Cliff Raptor Banders
    Be awed and inspired by the hawk and raptor conservation work of the Hawk Cliff Raptor Banders! Learn about some of our local hawks and raptors, their migrations, and the banding work completed by volunteer banders. Live wild birds are responsibly handled under permit during this presentation, pending weather and wind conditions.

    Information supplied by Thames Talbot Land Trust

  • Raptor counter viewing stand grand opening

    photo by Gardner Walker

    On October 1st the Raptor counters viewing platform was officially opened. On hand were Eva Visscher, donors Karen and Eric Auzins, the man who put so many hours into seeing his vision to completion Bob Johnstone and Central Elgin Mayor Sally Martyn. The viewing platform consists of concrete anchor blocks all the way around and filled with packing chips and dust. The platform is elevated and protected with wooden railing. The entrance is graded for easy access.

    Hawk Cliff Knoll sign for raptor identifying.

    There is an identification board beside the viewing stand designed by Eva Visscher who took the time from her university studies to enhance the site and allow people to see images of raptors they might be able to see flying overhead.

    All Bob’s hard work would not have seen completion if not for the generous donation of Karen and Eric Auzins. The land owner Steve Ivan and Central Elgin with the help of mayor Sally Martyn. The stand should be around for many years and maybe assist in drawing new hawk counters to the location.

    Joe Konecny of North Shore Beacon did a wonderful story on the opening. The same story also featured in the October 5th issue of the Aylmer Express.

    Dave Brown, the official counter at Hawk Cliff Hawk Watch has a great article on the Hawk Cliff Hawk Watch here.

    Many thanks to Bob for all the hard work.

    Fellow members St. Thomas Field Naturalist Club.

    Photo by Gardner Walker
    Raptor counters enjoying the new platform
    photo by Gardner Walker

  • Hawk Cliff weekends wrapping up

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    Immature sharp-shinned hawk ready to depart after brief rest.

    The weather on Saturdays was wet to say the least. Last Sunday saw about 150 people attend the Raptor Bander and Monarch Watch demonstrations. This year saw the addition of a parking lot on the recently acquired Hawk Cliff Woods property by Thames Talbot Land Trust.
    The trust had a large tent set up for the talks, which really worked well for the rainy days.
    The Land Trust will be having their dedication and official opening of Hawk Cliff Woods at 12:30 on Sept 19th. All are welcome.

  • Annual Hawk Cliff weekends start Saturday

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    The annual autumn migration of raptors has begun and the St Thomas Field Naturalist Club and the Hawk Cliff Raptor Banding Station Committee will be showing raptors at 11 am and 2 pm. Saturday and Sunday weekends of September 13, 14 and 20, 21st. The raptor banders will be bringing live birds for the public to see and hear pertinent specs about each species on display. Kestrel, Merlin, Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s hawks are most likely. Northwesterly winds will produce the most raptor sightings. The majority of birds ride the thermals and follow the northern shore of Lake Erie to cross at the Detroit River.
    Ann and Bruce will be tagging and doing presentations on Monarch butterflies.
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    The club will have local nature books for sale. There is a portable washroom. Hawk Cliff Rd. is at the very end of Fairview Rd. (Regional Rd 22), the gravel road just south of Dexter Line. Take care parking, some areas have steep drop offs. The lands on either side of Hawk Cliff Rd. are private lands and the cliff face is eroding. For more information on hawk migration go to www.hmana.org.
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