With the coming of spring, many people celebrate this season in many different ways. For the people f Ohio, they celebrate it in an unusual but fun way; bird watching.
Not just by any birds, however, but by watching the buzzards come back from their long trip back from migration. This day is Buzzards Day, a day that celebrates the long return of these birds to their nesting grounds during the beginning of spring.
History of Buzzards Day
Buzzards are another word for turkey vultures, a species of vulture protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. Vultures such as buzzards are protected because removing birds such as scavengers can have cascading impacts within an ecosystem and human health.
Buzzards migrate from the border areas of Canada and the northern United States to South America and the Caribbean. Because turkey vultures are also migratory birds, Buzzards Day is specifically celebrated for their return before the beginning of spring.
The holiday is specifically celebrated in the state of Ohio. Hinckley, Ohio, of all places, has a local history connected to these scavengers.
In 1957, Walter Nawalaniec, a patrolman for Cleveland Metroparks, told reporter Robert Bordner of the Cleveland Press and local historian, Miss Eunice Morton of Richfield, that he tracked the bird’s appearance on this date for the past six years.
As the news spread that year, over 9,000 visitors came to see the buzzards fly into the area. It is now believed that these birds have been coming to the state of Ohio over the past 150 years due to its rocky ridges, open fields, and forests, which is an ideal place for breeding for these birds.
Buzzards Day celebrates the day by having hot pancakes and sausages, a tradition set forth by the Chamber of Commerce as a way to greet these birds and celebrate the first coming of spring.
How to Celebrate Buzzards Day
Celebrate Buzzard’s Day by eating some pancakes and sausage for breakfast or brunch. You can also participate by traveling to the Hinckley festival to see the buzzards migrate back up north from their long trip.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Buzzard, then take the time to research some engaging facts about these scavengers and share them with your friends.
Share this holiday on social media using the hashtag #buzzardday and let your friends and family know about this uniquely quirky holiday.
