Hawk Mountain isn’t letting a global pandemic get in the way of educating visitors and bird enthusiasts.

The sanctuary announced it is hosting free webinars and will then post the virtual programs on its YouTube channel; as well as an art contest for children.

Registration is open for the virtual programs.

Upcoming virtual programs include:

• Conserving Migrating Raptors in Columbia: 11 a.m. on Friday.

• Raptors Up Close: 1 p.m. on April 15.

• Learning the Language of Birds: 11 a.m. on April 17.

• Horseshoe Crabs: Keystone to Shorebird Migration and Survival: 11 a.m. April 19.

• Rachel Carson: Inspiration, Legacy and Challenge: 2 p.m. on May 3.

For more information on these virtual program or to register, visit www.hawkmountain.org/events

Earth Day Art Contest

Children can also participate in the sanctuary’s Earth Day Art Contest on April 22.

Participants should draw, paint or color a picture of What Earth Day means to you and then take a photo of it and email it to the sanctuary at dawson@hawkmountain.org with the subject line “Earth Day Art Contest” and the age group the child is in.

The emailed entry should also include the child’s name and age, mailing address and a contact phone number.

Age groups for the contest are 3-5 years old; 6-8 years old; 9-12 years old; and 13-17 years old.

Entries will be accepted until 1 p.m. on April 21 and winners will be announced on April 22. The winners’ work will be posted on the Hawk Mountain Facebook page and displayed at the sanctuary’s Wings of Wonder Gallery in the visitor’s center when it reopens.

For more information, visit the Hawk Mountain website.