Based in San Diego Country, the Wildlife Research Institute is an amazing organization that works to protect wildlife and its habitat.
Every year they invite the public to the grasslands of Ramona (north of San Diego) for a Hawk Watch. WRI played a key role in keeping these grasslands free from development and, in doing so, has protected an area rich in wildlife — and a popular wintering ground for hawks and eagles.
We attended a hawk watch several years ago and it was a relatively small affair. We attended again last weekend and were impressed at how many people were there, including lots of families. In a region where it seems people care only about expanding highways, it’s nice to see that in fact that there are plenty of folks who want to see nature preserved.
WRI works with another organization, Project Wildlife, to rehabilitate injured animals. The staff brought along a few of their rescued birds for show and tell. These birds are unable to survive out on their own.
Here we have a Peregrine Falcon — the fastest bird on the planet.
And here’s a screech owl — this little guy is mostly blind and has bad hearing.
And below is a red-shouldered hawk.
We also saw a ferruginous hawk and a red-tailed hawk … not to mention a golden eagle out in the grasslands.
We also saw a curious coyote in the distance, possibly wondering what all the commotion was about.
If you’re in the San Diego area, check out the Hawk Watch. These events happen every Saturday in January and February.
Playwright, author of the environmental novel The Tourist Trail and co-founder of Ashland Creek Press.