by Carolyn Chase
hanks to an educational grant to the Iron Mountain Conservancy
by the Trust for Public Lands, HawkWatch International founder and migrating
bird expert Steve Hoffman will be making two presentations this month in
the San Diego County:
and
Steve will also use this as a opportunity to
meet with local raptor experts with designs on planning a research and monitoring
program in this productive but threatened area.
Steve is also a close personal friend of mine.
I was proud to serve on HWI's Board of Directors and have fond memories
of rafting on the Rio Grande and hiking up 9,000 feet in the Goshutes to
count migrating birds of prey.
I highly recommend you attend this event -
and take your kids! You will be able to see local raptors that were saved
from accidents, but cannot be released into the wild. The birds include
a redtail hawk, great horned owl, kestrel, screech owl and barn owl.
HawkWatch International (HWI) is
a non-profit, member-based organization which conducts migratory raptor
monitoring and education programs in the Western United States. HWI's mission
is to protect birds of prey and the ecosystems that support them for the
benefit of raptors, humanity and the earth. The two important facets of
their work are the scientific research and environmental education.
HWI field studies are currently maintained
at six sites in five western states. Each year, an average of 30,000 raptors
of 18 species are observed, with roughly 3,000 captured, banded and released.
When banded birds or their bands are encountered again, clues are provided
that enable scientists to determine raptor movements, habitat use and factors
that threaten or contribute to their survival.
Like most serious environmental problems, the
effects may not be noticeable over a year or two, but can be discovered
and dealt with if studied over time. HWI has monitored and counted raptor
populations for more than fourteen years, maintaining the type of data that
is necessary to discover long-term trends in raptor populations and health.
For more information about HawkWatch, or join or "Adopt-a-Hawk"
please phone (800) 726-HAWK.
This is first in a lecture series entitled
"Our Heritage Our Home." Future presentations will include experts
on vernal pools, cultural history and tracking local wildlife. Biologist
Fred Sproul, local organizer of the event, puts it this way: "I was
in denial for ten years after moving here from the green, green Midwest.
But then I took a couple of classes and discovered that right here we have
the highest number of bird species of any county in he United States! Once
you become aware of the incredible resources that are still left here, you
love them and realize just how valuable they are. More often than not, when
I drive into Ramona I can still see a golden eagle perching on a telephone
pole. This is a valuable resource, and we can still do something to save
it."
To get to the event at Ramona Elementary School,
from Main street in Ramona turn south on 8th St. Go three blocks and look
for signs. The building is at the junction of F and 8th.
