The Lehigh Gap Nature Center in Slatington held its 24th annual Migration Festival on Saturday with a family bird walk, an Insect safari, and monarch butterfly tagging, a live bird presentation, and an autumn migration walk.

Musical entertainment was provided by guitarist/singer Joe Lazorik.

Throughout the day, attendees could observe exhibits on bird and butterfly migration, hawk counting by the Bake Oven Knob hawk counters, an interactive VR exhibit developed by Lehigh University and learn about the historical significance of Lehigh Gap.

LGNC members were selling artwork, jewelry and other homemade items at the front of the Osprey House. The LGNC’s executive director, Chad Schwartz, was happy with the turnout and the event.

“As you saw, the parking lot was full, so we had a great turnout today, even though the bridge (on Route 873 in Slatington) was out,” he said. “We’ve done this festival every year, even through the pandemic, virtually in 2020. This was a family-friendly event, as we love seeing kids getting interested in animals and nature while enjoying the interactive displays.

“We are in peak foliage season right now, and the LGNC is the only place that connects both the Appalachian Trail and the Delaware and Lehigh (D&L) trails.”

Schwartz also mentioned that the hawk count at Bake Oven Knob has surpassed 14,000 hawks, and the count has been ongoing since 1961. He invited nature lovers to attend the free winter event coming up on Dec. 6 at the LGNC, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Haley D’Agnostino, wildlife education and care manager at the Wildlands Conservancy in Emmaus, presented several birds to event attendees. The birds were all injured by vehicles on the road and then kept in captivity. Attendees learned interesting facts about from D’Agnostino about the birds, which included a falcon, a hawk and an owl.

“We love getting interactive with kids at events like these,” D’Agnostino said. “A young attendee knew an interesting fact that many in the audience didn’t know today. It’s awesome to see youth getting excited about nature and wildlife.”

For more information on the LGNC, visit https://lgnc.org/. For more information on the Wildlands Conservancy in Emmaus, check out its events page at wildlandspa.org/events.