With days getting shorter and nights getting cooler, wildlife are getting on the move with their annual migrations. In Yellowstone National Park, the passage of raptors through the skies is an annual fall ritual.
On Saturday, September 10, you can learn more about the raptors that pass through the park during some time spent in the Hayden Valley with a ranger.
Yellowstone interpretive ranger and raptor enthusiast Katy Duffy will begin the day with a talk at the Fishing Bridge Visitor Center at 9 a.m. Saturday to help you identify various raptors. Then the group will move to the Hayden Valley to see hawks and other birds of prey in action.
You can either plan to take in the talk by meeting at the visitor center, or catch up with Ranger Duffy at 11 a.m. at the turnout that is 6.6 miles south of Canyon Junction and 9 miles north of Fishing Bridge Junction. Each end of this turnout will have a sandwich board indicating that it's the program location. Also look for a uniformed ranger with a spotting scope.
Observation of raptors will occur from 11 a.m. through 2 p.m.
Both programs are free and open to the public. You should plan on bringing binoculars, water, snacks, and a lawn chair for comfortable viewing of raptors.
For more information, please call Katy Duffy at 307-344-2754.