Program Topic

Scott Rashid has been studying small owls for more than 30 years. His presentation, "Small Mountain Owls" covers the natural history of the Northern Pygmy, Northern Saw-whet, Flammulated, and Boreal Owls that inhabit the mountains of the west. During the presentation, he will be discussing teach species courtship activities, vocalizations, nest site preferences, preferred prey, egg laying, young, and post fledgling activities.

Scott has had the Northern Pygmy-Owls, Flammulated Owls, and Northern Saw-whet Owls nesting in the same tree in different years. which shows that in Colorado these three specie prefer the same habitat. 

During the presentation, we will see images and videos of each species' that only Scott has found as he has documented the first Flammuated Owl nest and Boreal Owl nest in the history of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: the meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier. Please wear a mask.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Join us for our beginner bird walk in Sycamore Canyon.

This bird walk will be a very slow walk into the Sycamore Canyon Preserve. We will stop frequently to listen and observe the birds around us. Bring binoculars if you have them!

Meet at the entrance gate to the Sycamore Canyon trail. The trail is located adjacent to Rose Hills Cemetery gate 17, but note that the trail is not in the cemetery! The entrance to Sycamore Canyon is a driveway just southwest of the entrance to the cemetery.

Leader: Steve Huber

Meet: We will convene in the parking lot of the Whittier Community Center and carpool/caravan, leaving at 7:00 AM. 

Bring: Your usual birdwatching stuff, sack lunch, water, hat and a thirst for adventure. 

Trip Leader:  Jim McNamara

Program Topic

Bruce Everett will be sharing his photos and stories of the Puente Hills Habitat.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: the meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier. Please wear a mask.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Join us for our beginner bird walk in Sycamore Canyon.

This bird walk will be a very slow walk into the Sycamore Canyon Preserve. We will stop frequently to listen and observe the birds around us. Bring binoculars if you have them!

Meet at the entrance gate to the Sycamore Canyon trail. The trail is located adjacent to Rose Hills Cemetery gate 17, but note that the trail is not in the cemetery! The entrance to Sycamore Canyon is a driveway just southwest of the entrance to the cemetery.

Leader: Linda LeRoy

Steve Huber will lead our annual Tim and Lloyd Bulmer Bird Walk beginning at Legg Lake in Whittier Narrows Recreation Area.

This tradition began with an invitation to a local journalist, the late Bill Bell, from his neighbor, the late Thelma Bulmer, a past chapter president, as a way to show our city that yes, indeed, Whittier has wild birds. Let’s see who is in town for the winter!

Meet: at the Santa Anita Legg Lake parking lot (Whittier Narrows Area D Parking Lot on Santa Anita Ave.)

Program Topic

This is your chance to show your favorite photos from this year. Bring a thumb drive with your photos and some holiday goodies to share. (Kindly limit your photos to 25.)

Program Format

In person only.

The meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier.

The program is free and open to the public.

Join us for our beginner bird walk in Sycamore Canyon.

This bird walk will be a very slow walk into the Sycamore Canyon Preserve. We will stop frequently to listen and observe the birds around us. Bring binoculars if you have them!

Meet at the entrance gate to the Sycamore Canyon trail. The trail is located adjacent to Rose Hills Cemetery gate 17, but note that the trail is not in the cemetery! The entrance to Sycamore Canyon is a driveway just southwest of the entrance to the cemetery.

Leader: Larry Schmahl

Description: Join us for a trip to Santa Fe Dam Recreation area.  We will walk the nature center area looking for Cactus Wren, California Thrasher and Gnatcatcher and other alluvial fan scrub habitat residents.  We will make additional stops to look for wintering sparrows and warblers, Vermillion Flycatcher and Rock Wren.  We should be able to find ducks, geese and cormorants around the lake. 

Meet: We will leave the Whittier Community Center parking lot at 7:00 AM. Alternatively, meet us in parking area #1 (the first lot after the entrance) at 7:30 AM.  There is a $12 per car entrance fee ($5 for seniors). 

Bring: Lunch, birding equipment, sunblock and water. 

Trip Leader:  Steve & Liz Huber are leading; let me know if you are coming (stevekhuber@hotmail.com).

Program Topic

Citizen Science in Mindo, Ecuador will be presented by Whittier Audubon member, Susana Guerrero. Last summer, Susana participated as a citizen science volunteer in Mindo, Ecuador on a bird banding project. Susana has participated in previous citizen science projects involving avian studies, this is her fifth. She will present photos taken while participating on the project and share details about her experience.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: the meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier. Please wear a mask.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Join us for our beginner bird walk in Sycamore Canyon.

This bird walk will be a very slow walk into the Sycamore Canyon Preserve. We will stop frequently to listen and observe the birds around us. Bring binoculars if you have them!

Meet at the entrance gate to the Sycamore Canyon trail. The trail is located adjacent to Rose Hills Cemetery gate 17, but note that the trail is not in the cemetery! The entrance to Sycamore Canyon is a driveway just southwest of the entrance to the cemetery.

Leader: Steve Huber

Description: The West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail is a little park, located at 4624 Shadeway Road in Lakewood. It is a lesser-used park and is well maintained with flat clay paths that run in parallel to the concreted section of the San Gabriel River. There is ample parking. This park is about 1.2 miles long, less than 30 yards wide and spans the area between E. Carson St. and Del Amo Blvd. eBird reports 123 species for the year.

Meet: We will meet in the parking lot of the Whittier Community Center and carpool/caravan, leaving at 6:30 AM. 

Bring: Your usual birdwatching stuff, sack lunch, water, hat and a thirst for adventure. 

Trip Leader:  Jim McNamara

Program Topic

The presentation highlights updates about the Habitat Authority's restoration, preservation, wildfire preparedness and how it serves the local communities. Now in its 30th year as an agency, its financial challenges will be discussed as well, along with information about Measure PH which was unanimously put on the November election ballot by the Habitat Authority's Board of Directors for consideration by voters.

https://www.habitatauthority.org/measureph/

Bios

Michelle Mariscal is the ecologist for the Puente Hills Habitat Preservation Authority (Habitat Authority). She has a Master’s degree in Ecology from the University of California Riverside. Her responsibilities include coordinating the ecological activities of the Puente Hills Preserve and helping to monitor the long-term sustainable health of the Preserve’s natural resources in balance with recreation.

Andrea Gullo is the Executive Director of the Habitat Authority. She has 29 years' experience in natural land management, and previously worked for several park agencies including California State Parks. She holds a Master's degree in Urban Planning from UCLA. She has served as President and Board Member for several local and national nonprofit organizations. At the Habitat Authority, she is responsible for managing and/or supervising all agency activities.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: the meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier. Please wear a mask.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Join us for our beginner bird walk in Sycamore Canyon.

This bird walk will be a very slow walk into the Sycamore Canyon Preserve. We will stop frequently to listen and observe the birds around us. Bring binoculars if you have them!

Meet at the entrance gate to the Sycamore Canyon trail. The trail is located adjacent to Rose Hills Cemetery gate 17, but note that the trail is not in the cemetery! The entrance to Sycamore Canyon is a driveway just southwest of the entrance to the cemetery.

Leader: Linda LeRoy

We will depart from the Whittier Community Center at the SE corner of Mar Vista and Washington Ave. at 6:30 AM.

We should arrive in the Playa del Rey area about 7:20. Parking will be at the Del Rey Lagoon  parking lot provided the gates are open. The parking lot is on Pacific Ave. We will be arriving at the rising tide. We will visit the lagoon, the breakwaters, Ballona Creek and the salt pans. Perhaps a visit to the nearby Ballona Freshwater Marsh will also be possible. Birds may include Yellow-crowned Night Heron, rocky shorebirds, Royal and Caspian Terns, and three species of cormorants plus others. Restrooms are at the Del Rey Lagoon Park.

Bring: Binoculars, a scope if you have one and lunch and water. Dress in layers.

RSVP: Please call or text Larry Schmahl at 562-714-1843 if you plan to attend. Limit 18 people.

Trip Leader:  Larry Schmahl

Program Topic

"Raptor Quest: Chasing America's Raptors" will be presented by Author and Photographer, Scott Harris.  Harris will present his program remotely but can be watched live on the screen at the Community Center as well as virtually.

Scott Harris spent 17 months chasing 53 raptors across 34 states--his version of a Raptor Big Year. The program will be about his adventures, misadventures, successes and failures. From 36-degree days, to ones over 100 degrees, to just getting on the bird just in time, to the frustrations of missing one by minutes. It's about the birds--of course--but it is also about the people he met, the things he learned and why he's already working on his next adventure.

Scott Harris will present a program of photographs of raptors and his journey to find 53 of the Raptors that call the Lower 48 States home. It took him 17 months and more than 100,000 miles of travel across 34 States. 

He is the author of a brand new book, "RaptorQuest, Chasing America's Raptors."

Harris is retired and lives with his wife in South Carolina.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: the meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier. Please wear a mask.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Join us for our beginner bird walk in Sycamore Canyon.

This bird walk will be a very slow walk into the Sycamore Canyon Preserve. We will stop frequently to listen and observe the birds around us. Bring binoculars if you have them!

Meet at the entrance gate to the Sycamore Canyon trail. The trail is located adjacent to Rose Hills Cemetery gate 17, but note that the trail is not in the cemetery! The entrance to Sycamore Canyon is a driveway just southwest of the entrance to the cemetery.

Leader: Jim McNamara

Once again this year, we will be heading to higher elevations to the San Gabriel Mountains. We plan to make various stops including Grassy Hollow and Guffy Campground on Blue Ridge Road.

IMPORTANT: Drivers will need an Adventure Pass or America the Beautiful Pass to park and use amenities where we will be stopping.  Adventure Passes are $30 for the year and $5 for the day.  The most reliable and easy place to purchase an Adventure Pass are the Big 5 Sporting Goods stores - check the Angeles National Forest website for other locations.  

Meet: We will convene in the parking lot of the Whittier Community Center and carpool/caravan, leaving at 6:00 AM sharp.

We should be back in Whittier between 4:00 and 5:00.

Bring: Bring your usual birdwatching stuff, sack lunch, water, hat and a thirst for adventure. 

Trip Leader: Larry Schmahl

To cap off our Chapter year, join us at the Community Center to share food and photos.

Bring an appetizer, main dish, or dessert to share. Bring your own plate, utensils, and cup.

If you would like to share your favorite photos from this year, bring a thumb drive with up to 25 photos.

The program is open to the public and is free.

The program will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier.

Join the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation as they unveil their newest natural area!

• Opening Ceremony: 10 AM - 11 AM

• Event Activities: 11 AM - 8:30 PM

Join us for our beginner bird walk in Sycamore Canyon.

This bird walk will be a very slow walk into the Sycamore Canyon Preserve. We will stop frequently to listen and observe the birds around us. Bring binoculars if you have them!

Meet at the entrance gate to the Sycamore Canyon trail. The trail is located adjacent to Rose Hills Cemetery gate 17, but note that the trail is not in the cemetery! The entrance to Sycamore Canyon is a driveway just southwest of the entrance to the cemetery.

Leader: Steve Huber

We be visiting the burrowing owl preserve next to the Chino Chaffey College campus and then on to the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park.  We will finish the day with lunch at the wetlands. 

Meet: We will be leaving the Whittier Community Center at 7:00 AM.  Alternatively, meet us at the College Park Avenue parking lot at Ruben Ayala Park at 7:45 AM. 

Bring: Your birding equipment, cameras, water and lunch if you are joining us.

Trip Leader: Steve Huber

Program Topic

Larry and Jennifer Schmahl will share stories and pictures from their recent nature tour of Northern Ecuador.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: the meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier. Please wear a mask.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Join us for our beginner bird walk in Sycamore Canyon.

This bird walk will be a very slow walk into the Sycamore Canyon Preserve. We will stop frequently to listen and observe the birds around us. Bring binoculars if you have them!

Meet at the entrance gate to the Sycamore Canyon trail. The trail is located adjacent to Rose Hills Cemetery gate 17, but note that the trail is not in the cemetery! The entrance to Sycamore Canyon is a driveway just southwest of the entrance to the cemetery.

Leader: Larry Schmahl

Bear Divide is a low, narrow, pass or saddle within the San Gabriel Mountains just above Soledad Canyon. It is home to amazing morning flights of migrating birds in the spring from March through May with the height of migration usually towards the end of April. Thousands of migrating birds have been known to funnel over the narrow divide daily, sometimes so close an observer feels the need to duck or dodge. 

The Moore Lab of Zoology at Occidental College runs a regular count to quantify the numbers and identities of birds migrating through Bear Divide. As this is on public lands, the public is welcome to watch and participate. By 9 or 10 AM, the show is usually over. Clear days after a storm front are best, fog or winds in the wrong direction tend to shut migration down though.

Our field trip is timed to hopefully experience spectacle at the height of north bound migration. 

Meet: We will convene in the parking lot of the Whittier Community Center and carpool/caravan, leaving at 5:30 AM sharp.

We should be back in Whittier by 12:00 noon.

Bring: Be prepared for anything. Cold, wind, rain, heat. No need for a lunch as we will be done before then. 

Trip Leader: Larry Schmahl

Program Topic

John Beynon, past President of the Whittier Area Environmental Coalition (WAEC) will speak about the origins of  Earth Day and how Whittier celebrates it. The talk will be presented live at the community center, and you can join in person or online.

Beynon graduated with a decree in architecture from MIT in 1959.  He worked for UNESCO for 32 years, stationed in Paris and Bangkok. He was the lead architect of an international team tasked to introduce low-cost innovations in school design. During his final six years with UNESCO, he served as director of development cooperation in Education. Tasks included leading multi-disciplinary teams to assess and plan national educational systems including the Palestinian Authority and Bosnia Herzegovina. 

Since retirement in 1996 he headed the United Nations Association Chapters in Boulder, Colorado and Whittier. With the Whittier Chapter, the Whittier Area Environmental Coalition , WAEC was formed. WAEC is open to all Whittier Area organizations contributing to protect the environment. The Whittier Area Audubon Chapter is one of those organizations. The main event of the WAEC is the Earth Day event which will take place earlier in the week.

Program Format

Hybrid meeting - It is your preference: Join in person or online.  

In person: the meeting will take place at the Whittier Community Center, located at 7630 Washington Ave. Whittier. Please wear a mask.

Online: please RSVP here and we will send you a link to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.