Portraits of Acadia: Sara York

Sara York, Raptor Intern, watches migrating raptors on Cadillac Mountain with visitors.

NPS photo by Brady Richards

I was the SCA Raptor Intern at Acadia National Park for the summer 2024 season. A six-month collaborative internship created through the partnership of the Student Conservation Association (SCA), Friends of Acadia, and the park.

As I recently finished my undergraduate degree in Ecology and Environmental Sciences, I was looking for something that would engage my love for science and education. Once I saw this raptor intern position, I knew it would be an ideal opportunity to work with Acadia's Interpretation department. This internship taught me how to connect with visitors, explore diverse career fields within the park, and deepen my growing interest of birds!

Juvenile peregrine falcons sit in their cliff nest at Jordan Cliffs in July 2019.

Photo courtesy of Will Greene, Friends of Acadia.

Throughout the season, I assisted with the Peregrine Falcon Watch program in the summer and the Hawk Watch program in the fall. I also staffed the visitor center information desk.

The Peregrine Falcon Watch program gives visitors the opportunity to learn about and view the falcons at one of their historical nesting sites on the Precipice Trail. I taught about Acadia’s role in Peregrine Falcon recovery efforts, the importance of trail closures, and provided visitors with the unique experience of watching the growing falcon chicks throughout the summer. Check out the weekly blog I published, View from the Aerie, to learn more about these birds and see what they were up to!

American Kestrel migrates south during a Hawk Watch program in September 2024.

NPS photo by Molly Mays

In the fall, the Hawk Watch program educated visitors about the annual fall raptor migration. Located along the coastal route of the Atlantic Flyway, Acadia National Park sees over 3,000 migrating raptors pass through each year. This annual program allows the park to share this impressive migration with visitors while also recording migration data. If you are interested in learning more about raptor migration and the Hawk Watch program, be sure to look at my Riding the Winds blog.

Acadia is a place for visitors to connect with the environment. The best part of these programs was helping spark a visitor’s excitement when they have spotted a bird for the first time. Whether it be a Peregrine Falcon at their nesting site or a migrating raptor, sharing these experiences has been great!

I have been inspired working with the kind and supportive staff at Acadia this season. Initially, I had not considered a career within the National Park Service until meeting all the people here through this unique experience. Thank you to all who have helped me learn so much this season!

– Sara York, Raptor Intern

Sara talking to a visitor who is looking through a spotting scope pointed at a nesting peregrine falcon chick on the Precipice Trail.

NPS photo by Brady Richards

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