Hawk Mountain Sanctuary to celebrate Earth Day with variety of nature programs

This year's Earth Day Celebration at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary will have a decidedly feathery feel, Saturday, April 24, with a full-day celebration that coincides with the peak of spring hawk migration.

"Every day is Earth Day at Hawk Mountain, but a one-day celebration is a great opportunity to get people outside and increase awareness," sanctuary spokeswoman Mary Linkevich said

Hawk Mountain programs on Earth Day meet a diverse range of interests and include a Nature Sketching Workshop from 9 to 11 am in the Common Room with artist and naturalist Dave Hughes. He will present an indoor lesson on general nature sketching and the techniques used to draw raptors, followed by a chance to practice sketching outside.

Astronomer Gary Becker will present his "Touch the Sun" program from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; "Raptors Up Close" will presented at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; a tour of the native plant garden will be held at noon and 3 p.m.; and a "Learn Your Trees Walk" will be held from 1-2:30 p.m.;

Hawk Mountain interns from Spain , Panama , Kenya and the Philippines will present a program on the tools, techniques and technology needed to study migratory raptors at 1 p.m.

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is located just off Route 895, seven miles north of the I-78/Route 61 Cabela's intersection. For information and required pre-registration for some Earth Day activities, call the visitor center at 610-756-6961 or access on the Web at www.hawkmountain.org.

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Hunters Specialties pro-staffer and turkey guide Matt Morrett of Harrisburg is today's guest of Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association member Doyle Dietz on "Experience the Outdoors," from 7:30-8 a.m. on Oldies 1410-AM. A rebroadcast will be heard Sunday from 9:30-10 a.m. on WMGH, 105.5-FM, and is available on the Web at www.wmgh.com http://www.wmgh.com/ by clicking on the "Experience the Outdoors" link.

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Seasons and bag limits for the 2010-11 seasons will be set by the Pennsylvania Game Commission board of game commissioners at its quarterly meeting, Monday and Tuesday, beginning at 8:30 a.m. both days, at PGC headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Ave., off the Progress Avenue exit of Interstate 81, Harrisburg .

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There will be a Second Amendment Rally in Washington , D.C. , Monday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Attendees will gather on the northeast corner of the Washington Monument grounds at 10 a.m. , and the entire event will take place there.

The event is sponsored and coordinated by the organization "Second Amendment March," whose stated mission is, "to galvanize the courage and resolve of Americans; to petition our elected officials against establishing anti-gun legislation; and to remind America that the Second Amendment is necessary to maintain our right to self defense."

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A trap shoot will be held, Thursday, April 22, beginning at 6 p.m. , at Orwigsburg Gun Club, Gun Club Road , off Route 443 East, Orwigsburg. For information, e-mail jafone@comcast.net.

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A Second Amendment Rally will be held, Tuesday, April 27, beginning at 10 a.m. , outside the rotunda of the State Capitol in Harrisburg . There will be nearly a dozen nationally known speakers, including several from the National Rifle Association. For information, access the Pennsylvania Firearms Owners Association at www.pafoa.org.

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Tubmill Trout Club will hold a statewide "Top Tom Spring Gobbler Hunt," Saturday, May 1-Monday, May 31, with the online registration deadline, Friday, April 30. For information, call the club at 724-235-9798 or access on the Web at www.tubmilltroutclub.org .

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This year's Empire State Lake Ontario Tournament dates have been announced. Here is the schedule: Spring, Friday, April 30-Sunday, May 9; Summer, Saturday, June 19-Sunday, July 18; Fall, Friday, Aug. 20-Monday, Sept. 6. For information and registration, access on the Web at www.loc.org or call (888) 733-5246.

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Locust Valley Fish and Game "Hunters Night Out" will be held, Saturday, May 8, beginning at 4 p.m. at Ryan Township Fire Company Hall, 945 Barnesville Drive , Barnsville. For information, call Dave Morgan at (570) 467-3047.

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First Frontier Militia, the muzzleloader arm of Bowmanstown Rod and Gun Club, will hold muzzleloader shoots Sunday, May 9, June 13, July 11, Aug. 6, Sept. 12, Oct. 9 and 10, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bowmanstown Rod and Gun Club is located on Gun Club Road, off Route 248, Bowmanstown. For information, call Roger Fisher at (610) 377-2812.

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A "Native Plant Sale" will be held, Saturday and Sunday, May 15 and 16, at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Kempton. For information and required registration, call the visitor center at (610) 756-6961.