Here's the details...
Events: Saturdays in January and February from 9AM – 12PM
Cost: None
Features: Guided Hawk Watch Event; 19 Raptor Species, including Golden Eagles and Prairie Falcons, make home in the Ramona Grasslands
Hawk Watch Highlights: The Cleveland National Forest is home to many species of birds. The most famous are the Golden Eagles (about 46 pairs) and the Prairie Falcons (upwards of 30 pairs). These birds of prey are often found in the Ramona Grasslands and San Diego River Gorge areas of the Forest. The best ways to get a glimpse of these rare birds and a variety of hawks is to attend the Hawk Watch Events hosted by the Wildlife Research Institute. The Institute is located next to the Ramona Grasslands.
What to Expect
* Bring your binoculars and cameras.
* Wear comfortable shoes.
* Educational demonstrations are provided to visitors.
* Upwards of 100+ bird watchers show up at each event.
The event is outdoors. If the weather is a little damp or cold, there will be a smaller crowd, which will give you a better opportunity for a more intimate experience. (Therefore, don’t let a little inclement weather deter you.) You will spend the first 1 – 1.5 hours standing on a hill next to the Wildlife Research Institute overlooking the Ramona Grasslands. (There are a few lawn chairs available but you may want to bring your own if you don’t want to stand.) The founders of the Institute will provide you an overview of their work and then give you an up-close look at a number of hawks, including red tail hawks and falcons. The birds are captured during the morning of the event so visitors can get a once-in-a-lifetime experience as they watch tracking devices get placed on the birds for future studies. Even with larger crowds, the guides will take their time to make sure everyone in the crowd can get a close look at these rare birds and take pictures. Guests are encouraged to ask lots of questions.
After the presentation, there will be time to visit some of the wildlife on the grounds, including owls and buffalo, review a number of displays, buy some books and gifts, and enjoy refreshments.
For the final part of the visit, guests will be asked to drive about a half-mile further north on Highland Valley Road for a better chance to see eagles, falcons, and turkey vultures in the wild. The exact location will vary. (This part of the visit is more informal.) Keep a close eye on where the guides go. Sometimes they will split up to a few different locations on the roadway depending on where they spot the wildlife and then set-up telescopes for visitors. Ideally, you should bring your own binoculars. From this point on, guests start trickling away as they get their fill of wildlife for the day.
Address:
18030 Highland Valley Road in Ramona, CA 92065. (When you turn onto Highland Valley Road, go 2.2 miles to reach the Wildlife Research Institute. You will see a couple other wildlife related signs along the way but they are not related.)
Here's the pictures...
