HawkWatch: Birds in the Lab!

HawkWatch: Birds in the Lab! is back at the Natural History Museum of Utah on Saturday, October 31, from 12 PM to 2 PM. It's held in the Dry Caves Lab, and if you've never been, it's one of those museum spots that usually stays behind the scenes, so getting inside is half the draw.

The session is run by HawkWatch International, an organization that works to protect birds of prey and the shared environment. This particular date is part of their broader program, which they hold on the last Saturday of every month from 12 PM to 2 PM. The whole thing is built around getting a close look at raptors—hawks, owls, and the like—and spending some time with the actual things that make them what they are. You'll get to see live raptors up close and handle specimens like feathers, eggs, and claws, which is a lot more tactile than just reading about them in a book.

There are HawkWatch experts on hand to walk you through it, and they'll show you how to identify the common birds you're likely to see in your own neighborhood. From there, the conversation turns to local bird conservation efforts right here in Utah, so you'll leave with a better sense of what's happening with the birds in your own backyard.

It's free with museum admission, so if you're already planning a trip to the museum that day, it's an easy add-on. The session runs from 12 PM to 2 PM on Saturday, October 31, in the Dry Caves Lab.