The Buzzards Return to Hinckley

Let Capistrano keep its wimpy swallows. Here in the wilds of Northeast Ohio, we have buzzards to mark the return of spring. The giant carrion eaters — a.k.a. Mother Nature's clean-up crew — return to Hinckley annually in mid-March; today they'll be celebrated throughout the town with a flock of related activities. At the Hinckley Reservation, for instance, you'll find hikes, bus tours, storytelling, live music, and a "Birds of Prey" program featuring our fabulous feathered friends. The free fun runs from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the park's Buzzard Roost, at the corner of State Road and West Drive in Hinckley Township. For a schedule and more information, call 440-526-1012 or visit clemetparks.com. Meantime, if all the outdoors doings pique your appetite, head over to Hinckley Elementary School (1586 Center Rd.) from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for the Chamber of Commerce's popular pancake breakfast. Cost is $6 for adults and $4 for kids 10 and under, and includes craft show admission too; for more breakfast info, call 330-278-2066. — Terry Jozwiak