Bird enthusiasts will flock to Holiday Beach Conservation Area for the Festival of Hawks.
The festival is this Saturday and Sunday, marking the Holiday Beach Migration Observatory's 50th anniversary.
The Essex Region Conservation Authority will mark the occasion with cake in the outdoor classroom at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
That evening, those who go can learn more about Ontario's owl species during a special Owl Prowl. The "intimate" experience includes a guided walk through the woods to look and listen for owls.
"Holiday Beach Conservation Area has been identified as one of the ten best sites in all of North America to experience the raptor migration," said ERCA Director of Communications and Outreach Danielle Breault Stuebing. "When circumstances are just right, and we're able to call in an owl, it's really an extraordinary experience."
The best time to view hawks is between 9 a.m. and noon.
Other events include different beginner bird and family butterfly hikes, a native tree and plant sale, and the opportunity to get casting tips from Just Fishin' Friends at Trout Pond.
The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. this weekend at the conservation area on County Road 50. All daytime programs are free, with the festival admission of $20 per vehicle.