Hawk Watch is April 13-15

MAT-SU — Alaska birders will converge near Gunsight Mountain April 13-15 for an annual Hawk Watch event. Look for lots of parked cars, spotting scopes and birders at the pullout near Mile 119, 5.5 miles past Sheep Mountain Lodge.

April is peak time for migration of raptors, including rough-legged hawks, northern harriers, Harlan’s hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, red-tailed hawks (light and dark morphs), golden eagles, northern goshawk, American kestrel, peregrine falcon and merlin. In the past, people also have seen Swainson’s hawk and osprey migrating through this area.

The Anchorage Audubon will offer a free informal hawk watch at the Mile 119 pullout from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., April 14.

Mat-Su Birders will be on hand at 10 a.m., April 15 to continue the count. A short raptor identification talk is set for 10:30 a.m.

The Mat-Su Birders’ annual Hawk Watch Potluck barbecue also is planned at the same location.

Lodging for the weekend is available at Sheep Mountain Lodge. For reservations, call (877) 645-5121.

Sheep Mountain Lodge also will offer a lasagna dinner buffet at 6 p.m., April 14. Cost is $20 per person and includes nonalcoholic drinks and dessert. For dinner reservations, call 745-5121 by April 12.

Breakfast from 8 to 10:30 a.m., April 15 costs $9 per person and includes fresh fruit, home-baked goods, cereal, sausage, pancakes and coffee, tea or juice.

For more information, visit matsubirders.org or anchorageaudubon.org.