Title: Hike to the Hawkwatch
Location: Green Pond Road, Rockaway Township, NJ
Link out: Click here
Description: a moderately strenuous hike to one of New Jersey’s best “Watchable Wildlife” sites!
In celebration of the Land Conservancy of New Jersey’s 30th anniversary and Natural Public Lands Day, the Conservancy will be hosting a hike to the Wildcat Ridge Hawkwatch, located off Green Pond Rd, in Rockaway Township.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Registration: 9AM
Guided Hike begins at 10am,
Free to Conservancy members
Non members — $5.00 per adult/$10 per family
Water and snacks will be provided
RSVP to bmccloskey@tlc-nj.org
Or call (973) 541-1010 x14
Join us for this one mile, 30 minute guided hike up to the overlook where a Hawkwatch volunteer will be on hand to give a short presentation. The site offers magnificent view of the New York skyline and the Rockaway River Valley. The hike is taking place during prime viewing time for spotting hawks on their annual migration, so be sure to bring your binoculars!
Located between Hibernia and Split Rock Reservoir, the Hawkwatch at Wildcat Ridge is located within the unique Farny Highlands region of the state. The Land Conservancy of New Jersey was instrumental in preserving this natural treasure. In 1999 American Tower Corporation donated fifteen acres at the top of the mountain to The Land Conservancy. The Land Conservancy then transferred the property to the State of New Jersey, connecting preserved land at Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area.
The 15 acre cliff top at the 1200 foot summit of the Flyway Spur Trail has come to be known as the Hawkwatch due to the annual spring and fall migrations of hawks from Canada to South America and back. As many as 18,000 hawks have been spotted in a season and up to 6,000 hawks are occasionally spotted passing the Hawkwatch on a single September day.
The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is celebrating its 30th anniversary as a non profit member supported organization dedicated to preserving and protecting New Jersey’s vital natural lands and drinking water resources. To date, The Conservancy has helped preserve over 18,000 acres of critical open space lands and helped towns receive more than $220 million for their land conservation projects. Accredited by the National Land Trust Accreditation Commission in 2009, The Land Conservancy joins organizations nationwide who meet the highest quality standards for protecting open space, upholding the public trust, and ensuring that our conservation efforts are permanent.
For more information and directions to the site, please visit our website at www.tlc-nj.org.
Start Time: 09:00
Date: 2011-09-24