Field
Trip Schedule
Upcoming
Field Trips
Trip
Reports 08-09
Trip
Reports 09-10
Trip
Reports 10-11
Trip
Reports 11-12
Field
Trip Waiver Forms
2-way
radios
|
Antelope
Valley Hawk Trip |
photos
taken by Glenn Price on a previous Hawk Trip |
|
|
|
Ferruginous
Hawk |
Ferruginous
& Red-tailed Hawks |
Burrowing
Owl |
| |
|
|
|
Sunday,
January 15th — 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. |
|
Trip
Leaders: Pete Bloom & Scott Thomas |
| |
|
In
the fall and winter months, migratory raptors flood
into the Antelope Valley and upper desert regions. Red-tailed
Hawks are a sure bet with many others such as Prairie
Falcons, Rough-legged and Ferruginous Hawks, American
Kestrels, Northern Harriers, and even Golden Eagles
are good possibilities.
Unlike most birding trips, this one offers close-up
views of the raptors because Pete, Scott, and Jeff are
going to be banding those they catch and we will be
there to watch, ask questions and photograph them. Very
early risers may also see owls.
Directions:
We will meet at Ave. A and Hwy. 14 in the Antelope Valley.
From Orange County, take the #5 Fwy. north to #14 (Antelope
Valley Fwy.); exit on #14 and drive north approximately
45 miles (through Lancaster) until you reach Avenue
A. Turn left on Avenue A and park.
Bring:
Warm clothes. (Morning temperatures
can be very chilly!) Dress in layers; bring lunch, a
map, and a full tank of gas. Don’t forget your
binoculars, scopes, and cameras! We will be out until
at least 2:00, rain or shine.
Trip
info: See trip information below the
photos. |
Pete
Bloom with a Red-tailed Hawk |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Red-tailed
Hawk |
Prairie
Falcon |
Ferruginous
& Red-tailed Hawks |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Ferruginous
Hawk |
Prairie
Falcon |
Prairie
Falcon |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Burrowing
Owl |
Burrowing
Owl |
Burrowing
Owl |
| |
Trip
Information: Depending
on the location of Pete and Scott's banding operations,
our group will be directed to drive to a location close
to the banding area. There we will wait for Pete and Scott
to bring the raptors they plan to band so that we can
watch the banding operation, get close views of the birds,
take pictures of them, and talk with Pete and Scott about
them. They will be able to tell us the approximate age
& sex of the birds, what they eat (their prey), their
general migration route, whether they are spending the
winter in the Antelope Valley or are en route to some
other wintering ground, their general health, where they
nest, and a whole lot of other interesting information.
During the day, we may change our location several times.
Though the primary focus on this trip will be to see the
raptors, we will also be looking at other birds as well,
so be sure to bring your binoculars and a scope if you
have one. In the winter in the Antelope Valley, one often
sees raptors perched on the telephone poles which give
them a good vantage point since there are few trees. With
a scope, we can often spot various raptors within sight
of our stopping location. We'll also be looking for small
birds such as Horned Larks, Mountain Bluebirds, Loggerhead
Shrikes, and various other species.
If the weather is warm enough, you may wish to sit outside
your car to watch for the birds and wait for the banders
to bring us the birds they have caught for banding. Folding
chairs can come in handy. Be sure to bring plenty of warm
clothes because it can be chilly out there. (Restroom
facilities are few and far between, so go slow on the
coffee. Usually, we drive back to the nearest town to
use their restroom facility sometime during the morning.)
If you plan to bring children with you on this trip, be
sure to bring activities with you that will occupy them
while they're waiting.
Inclement Weather: We
will be out in the field until at least 2 PM, rain or
shine. If bad weather is predicted, the trip may need
to be cancelled. It's up to you to check the weather
beforehand. Contact Nancy Kenyon the day before the
trip, or check this webpage, to find out if the trip will
run as scheduled. |
| |
|
|
| Nancy
Kenyon, Field Trip Chair
- 949-786-3160;
|
|
|
