FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
BOB ROTATORI - 216-635-3263, rrr@clevelandmetroparks.com
ERIC BARNETT - 216-635-7014, ejb@clevelandmetroparks.com
They'll be back! Cheer on the world-famous buzzards as they return back to Cleveland Metroparks!
The 56th Annual �Return of the Buzzards� is on Friday, March 15 with the �buzzard watch� starting at 7 a.m. at the Buzzard Roost in Hinckley Reservation.
In 1957, Walter Nawalaniec, ranger for Cleveland Metropolitan Park System (now known as Cleveland Metroparks), told a newspaper reporter that on March 15 he had witnessed for six straight years the turkey vultures returning to Hinckley Reservation. The Cleveland Press printed the story on February 15, 1957, and one month later on March 15 at 2 p.m. the first buzzard was spotted by 9,000 buzzard enthusiasts. Since then, thousands and thousands additional visitors have witnessed the return of the buzzards to Hinckley Reservation.
Join Cleveland Metroparks newly-anointed �Official Buzzard Spotter� Sharon Hosko to welcome these remarkable birds back to Greater Cleveland. Visitors from far and wide, armed with binoculars, cameras and, most importantly, a sense of humor, flock to the Buzzard Roost in Hinckley Reservation to await the official spotting of the season's first buzzard (turkey vulture) - a sure sign of spring's return, as well! While everyone is quite confident of the day of the first spotting, the exact time depends on the birds themselves.
For members of the media for whom this information and the exact time of spotting are critical, Cleveland Metroparks has set up two on-site phone numbers for up-to-the-second buzzard bulletins. The two on-site �Buzzard Hotline� numbers are as follows:
HOTLINE #1 216-339-1699
HOTLINE #2 440-420-9816
The media are welcome to place a call for updates, information and interviews.
Please note: the Buzzard Hotline Numbers are not open for calls from the general public and are only operable on Friday, March 15.
And, for all the buzzard fans who are unable to attend the buzzard watch, like Cleveland Metroparks Facebook page or Twitter handle (@clevemetroparks) to get updated information on the buzzards' return.
Visitors are also invited to celebrate the turkey vultures' return at the Buzzard Sunday! event on Sunday, March 17 at Hinckley Reservation's Buzzard Roost from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The free event features naturalist-led hikes, live birds of prey programs, musical entertainment, puppet shows, a buzzard scoreboard, displays and exhibits, bus tours of Hinckley Reservation, EarthWords Nature Shop with unique buzzard-related merchandise, refreshments, a beer garden, and more!
The Buzzard Roost is located at the corner of State Road and West Drive in Hinckley Reservation in Hinckley Township.
For more information on Cleveland Metroparks buzzard-related activities, call 440-526-1012, 216-635-3200 or visit clevelandmetroparks.com.
Everyone is invited to celebrate the annual return of the buzzards back to Hinckley. But, just remember - �no one spots a buzzard �til the �Official Buzzard Spotter' spots one first.�
Join the fun and welcome the buzzards, Cleveland's winged harbingers of spring, back to Hinckley Reservation of Cleveland Metroparks - part of your life, naturally!
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EDITOR'S NOTE: Sharon Hosko, Manager - Brecksville Nature Center and new �official buzzard spotter� is available for advance interviews.
Call Bob Rotatori (216-635-3263) or Eric Barnett (216-635-7014) to make arrangements.
