Category: Monarch Watch

  • 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

  • Hawk Cliff Woods Migration Weekend

    The event this year will be on October 1st and 2nd, one weekend only.
    9:30 am – Thames Talbot Land Trust hike
    11:00 am – Hawk Cliff Raptor Banders presentation
    1:00 pm – Monarch Watch presentation, showing tagging of butterflies and travels to Mexico
    2:00 pm – Hawk Cliff Raptor Banders presentation

    All events are run by volunteers.

  • Hawk Cliff weekends wrapping up

    2016-09-17_0647_web
    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.