The marvelous migration is on thanks to the cooler night temperatures, and the place to be to witness the magic is Holiday Beach Conservation Area.

On September 13 and 14, families, birders and nature lovers are all welcome to join the celebration!  Audubon Magazine has identified Holiday Beach Conservation Area as one of the 10 best sites in all of North America to experience the raptor migration, and guests travel from around the globe to witness tens of thousands of hawks and raptors flying overhead on their annual journey to nesting grounds in the south.

The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA), together with the Holiday Beach Migration Observatory (HBMO), will host the 2025 Festival of Hawks.

There’s a full slate of hikes and workshops all included with the entry fee of just $20 per vehicle. Experts will conduct raptor and hummingbird banding and adoptions in support of their important species and populations monitoring efforts each year.  

After a slow start, hawks are really beginning to fly through the Holiday Beach area,” said Hugh Kent, President of the HBMO. “Hopefully, their numbers will gradually increase for the Hawk Fest this coming weekend.’ 

This year’s Festival will also include a number of new children’s activities, including a woodland Critter Parade at 1:30pm at the Outdoor Classroom both days. Guests are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite woodland critter, or to make a mask at the event tent and join in. Kids can also take a chance at the Birds of a Feather Treasure Hunt and match clues to hidden birds and feathers along the trail. The program schedule is available at https://essexregionconservation.ca/hawkfest .

The Festival takes place 9am to 3pm on September 13 and 14.  The best raptor viewing time is from 9am until noon when the hawks fly low.

Holiday Beach Conservation Area is located on County Road 50, on Lake Erie near Malden Centre approximately 15km southeast of historic Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada, a half hour drive from Highway 401 and only 40 minutes from the Ambassador Bridge for those coming from Detroit.