Buzzard Day crowd flocks to welcom buzzards’ annual return

by Chris Studor

For many, it was the chance to see old friends after a long winter, and for others it was their first time to see what Hinckley’s claim to fame – Buzzard Day – was all about. 

There was something for everyone on March 16, as the aroma of sausage and pancakes lured folks to the Hinckley Preparatory Academy. Welcoming guests in the school hallway was a display of buzzard drawings the students from the academy had drawn for the big day.

Some began the celebration a day early by waiting – binoculars in hand – for the first buzzards to arrive at the Buzzards Roost on West Drive in the Hinckley Reservation of the Metroparks.

Perhaps the most popular legend surrounding the return of the buzzards each spring goes back to the period soon after the War of 1812. The ledges of Hinckley provided a perfect home for wild animals, which were swooping down to farms below and wiping out entire herds of livestock. A hunt was organized on Christmas Eve with local hunters surrounding about a five-mile area near the center of the township. Hunters took down bears, wolves, deer and other wild animals and later in the evening roasted a bear. The following morning the goods were divided up but plenty of carcasses were left behind. It is said the spring melt provided a feast for the buzzards, who return each spring expecting the same feast. Another popular legend is that a Metroparks ranger pointed out the return of the buzzards each spring to reporters, and the rest is history.

This was the 68th year for the annual pancake breakfast and Buzzard Sunday celebration, which offered more activities than ever before. In keeping with tradition, volunteers offered hungry guests stacks of pancakes along with the “secret” Buzzard Sausage. Known locally as the Sausage King, Dale Chorba was at the helm in the kitchen. He said Five Star Meats makes the special ingredient sausage only for Buzzard Day. President of the Chamber of Commerce, Mark Staron, said the sausage pre-sale was “terrific,” with more than 95 boxes of sausage sold.

The cafeteria was full with spillover tables in classrooms nearby. Boy Scouts from Troop 3520 ran from table to table delivering more food and cleaning up, along with Girl Scout helpers from Troop 1451. Guests also enjoyed placemats provided by the Hinckley Historical Society featuring photos of Hinckley landmarks and information on the upcoming Hinckley Bicentennial on July 19 this summer. All proceeds from Buzzard Day go to supporting Chamber of Commerce Scholarships and the Hinckley Bicentennial.

Nearby, the Lenhard family was enjoying their breakfast with George Lenhard saying his family has been attending the pancake breakfast for 60 years, In fact, George said he cooked sausage for three years.

Chris Wolny, president of the Highland Board of Education, was busy feeding his three hungry boys, Noah, Finn and Tristan, commenting, “Here I am, still coming at age 51 and my wife, Sharon, was the first person in line this morning for the pancake breakfast.”

After guests enjoyed their pancake and sausage feast, there was plenty to do in classrooms throughout the building and in the school’s gymnasium. Hinckley businesses passed out information about their services and offered games and prizes for the children. Hinckley police officers and township firefighters were on hand to give safety tips and make friends with the younger crowd. There was also a live buzzard demonstration, and other birds of prey were on display, courtesy of the Medina Raptor Society.

Greeting shoppers at the gymnasium entrance were Olivia Althen, principal of Hinckley Preparatory Academy, and fourth- and fifth-grade teacher Dixie Casal. They passed out mini bottles of bubbles and plenty of other goodies for the youngest guests in attendance.

Among the most popular stands were side-by-side booths for the Hinckley Women’s Club (HWC) whose members sold used books and gave out club information and the Hinckley Bicentennial booth. HWC members Ann Marie Brobst, Pat Fordosi and Kathy Screck hardly had a chance to sit down as they offered a plethora of items for sale to support and celebrate the upcoming Bicentennial. Offerings included Bicentennial T-shirts, mugs, glasses, wooden nickels, a free Color Me Hinckley Bicentennial coloring book with drawings by Laurie Kessler, and an updated Hinckley History book Hinckley Past Portal Bicentennial 1825-2025 and more. 

The ladies were also taking orders for Bicentennial stained-glass plaques designed by Hinckley resident Mark Staron Jr. and made by Hinckley’s own Jim Ascherl of Ascherl Studios. The plaques feature a buzzard flying over Bronger’s cabin.  The HWC members were constantly taking orders for personalized engraved brick pavers, which will be on permanent display at the Hinckley Historical Bicentennial Plaza. Various paver sizes are available which you may request be engraved with a family name, memory or message. 

For some vendors at Buzzard Day, it was a family affair. Angelina Sheetz of Hinckley and her three daughters, Alyssa, Rosemary and Evelyn, were selling homemade bath bombs, air fresheners and soups, which the mom and daughters make from scratch. 

“We are raising funds so that we can attend horse riding camp this summer,” the girls said.

Proudly offering her second book, Hinckley author Leslee Sambor was selling both her debut book, Don’t Tell Zina, and her new children’s book That Beautiful Bird, illustrated by Abby Watson, which tells the story about what happens when a beautiful hummingbird flies into an ugly buzzard and learns what being beautiful really means.

Buzzard Day is a day to celebrate all things Hinckley and is a day most residents wouldn’t miss for the world. Take it from Matt Bowden who drove all the way from Erie, Pennsylvania, for the first time “to see what Buzzard Day was all about.”“I can’t believe all the people who come out for this,” said Bowden. “It’s great to have something like this in a community where everyone comes together.”  

Photo caption: Chris Wolny and his three hungry sons, Noah, Finn and Tristan, take down some pancakes at Buzzard Day. Photo by Chris Studor