Winter is a great time to see raptors.   Bald eagles are nesting, northern hawks and falcons are visiting for the winter, and they’re all easy to see against the snow!

Lauri Shaffer found these birds near her home in Montour County, but Pittsburghers don’t have to go that far.

Come see western Pennsylvania’s winter raptors in the comfort of a tour bus with the National Aviary’s Bob Mulvihill.  All ages and experience levels are welcome.

National Aviary Bus Tour: Winter Raptor Survey
When: Two tours: Wednesday, January 31 + Saturday, February 3.   9am-4pm.
Cost: $95 nonmembers; $85 members (includes lunch and pocket Raptor field guide)
To register: Audrey.Beichner@aviary.org or 412-258-9463

Join National Aviary Ornithologist, Bob Mulvihill, for a brand new winter adventure: the Hawk Migration Association’s annual raptor census. You’ll see up to ten different raptors including winter-only species like the Rough-legged Hawk and Northern Shrike. We’ll also visit Goddard State Park to see a Bald Eagle Nest!

I’m planning to join the tour on Wednesday January 31.  In addition to the bald eagle nest at Goddard State Park, here’s what we hope to see:

Rough-legged hawks, below, only visit Pennsylvania in winter. They nest in the arctic.

Northern harriers are hawks of open country with owl-like faces, the better to hear mice on the ground.  This one might have dinner beneath his feet.

And did you know that one of our target birds, the northern shrike, is a predatory songbird? Here’s a photo.

Sign up soon for the Raptor bus tour.  There’s a lot to see in winter!

(photos by Lauri Shaffer)

p.s. I’m not promising a snowy owl but you never know — we might get really lucky.  Becky Shott found this one last week.