Cheer on the world-famous buzzards as they return to their summer roosts in Hinckley Reservation heralding the start of spring. Join Cleveland Metroparks on Sunday, March 15 for the Annual Return of the Buzzards at the Buzzard Roost in Hinckley Reservation in Hinckley Township starting at 7 a.m. until the first buzzard is spotted. This year we will surprise the returning buzzards with a few Buzzards of our own. All families with the last name of �Buzzard� from Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania have been invited to join in on the celebration for a Buzzard Family Reunion.
So, grab your binoculars and search the skies with Cleveland Metroparks �Official Buzzard Spotter� 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 to await the official spotting of the season's first buzzard (turkey vulture), but remember, �no one spots a buzzard �til the �Official Buzzard Spotter' spots one first.�
In 1957, Walter Nawalaniec, ranger for Cleveland Metropolitan Park System (now known as Cleveland Metroparks), told a newspaper reporter that for six straight years on March 15 he had witnessed 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, over a hundred-thousand visitors have witnessed the return of the buzzards to Hinckley Reservation.
Continue the celebration of the turkey vultures' return at the Buzzard Sunday! event from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The free event features a buzzard scoreboard, naturalist-led hikes, live birds of prey programs, displays and exhibits, Buzzard Bean Bag Toss for kids, bus tours of Hinckley Reservation, refreshments and Cleveland Metroparks Nature Shop with unique buzzard-related merchandise.
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 or 216-635-3200.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
SUE ALLEN - 216-635-3338,
sja@clevelandmetroparks.com
MARJORIE THOMAS - 216-635-3204,
?met@clevelandmetroparks.com
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