From the early mornings on the
hawkwatch platform to the crimson sunsets over the Chesapeake Bay, I
have enjoyed each day working at the Kiptopeke Hawkwatch this season.
I feel honored to have had the opportunity to work with Coastal
Virginia Wildlife Observatory educating people of all ages about
raptor migration.
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| Early morning on the hawkwatch platform, and Anna is on the lookout for raptors. Photo by Katie Garst. |
I always had fun talking with people on
the hawkwatch platform. From the long-time hawkwatch volunteers to
the people who had only just developed an interest in raptors in the
short time since they walked onto the platform, I enjoyed sharing my
enthusiasm for birds with everyone on the hawkwatch platform.
Visitors' excitement when they got to see a migrating raptor helped
to make my time on the hawkwatch platform pass by quickly. Nothing
can compare to helping a young visitor see a Peregrine Falcon for the
first time or to assisting visitors in spotting a Golden Eagle flying
high over the platform.
The Kiptopeke Hawkwatch is not only a
special place because of all of the migrating birds and Monarch
Butterflies passing through. It is also special because of the
people involved. The CVWO board members and Hawk Counter, the
hawkwatch volunteers, and the Kiptopeke State Park staff were
wonderful people to work with and learn from during my time at the
hawkwatch. As I leave Kiptopeke in search of my next adventure, I
hope to return to the Eastern Shore of Virginia to visit the
Kiptopeke Hawkwatch in future seasons. Until then, I will enjoy reading Anna's daily reports of the migrating raptors seen at the Kiptopeke Hawkwatch through the end of November on hawkcount.org.
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| Anna (center right) and hawkwatch volunteers enjoying the sunset after spending the day counting migrating raptors. Photo by Steve Thornhill. |
Thank you all for a wonderful season!
-Katie
