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Pasadena Audubon Society
Where to Bird in and around Pasadena
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SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS
- 1. SWITZER PICNIC AREA
Possibly the best variety of birds in one area. Elevation 3,300 feet.
- Directions: From Interstate 210, go north (right) on Angeles Crest Highway, State Route 2, 7 miles. Turn right at mile marker 34.2.
- Hours: Open 6am to 10pm.
- Birds and Habitats: Montane forest, chaparral, riparian, and oak woodland.
- Season: Mountain birds in winter; riparian, chaparral and oak woodland birds best in spring and fall.
- Links
- Comments: Forest Adventure Pass needed. Check fire restrictions.
- 2. MT. WILSON
Refreshing anytime of the year. Also, walk down the shaded Gabrielino Trail toward the West Fork from Red Box or to Mt. Harvard from the top for panoramic views. Elevation 5,700 feet.
- Directions: From Interstate 210, go north (right) on Angeles Crest Highway, State Route 2, 9.5 miles to Red Box Station. Turn right at mile marker 38.4.
- Hours: Park open weekends 10 to 4; but bird the surrounding area anytime.
- Birds and Habitats: Montane forest on the north-facing slopes and chaparral on the south-facing slopes.
- Season: Year round.
- Links
- Mt. Wilson Birds contributed by Mike Bradford
- Mt. Wilson
- What it looks like at Mt. Wilson this minute!
- About the Mount Wilson Observatory.
- Comments: Forest Adventure Pass needed. Check fire restrictions. Check chain requirements in winter.
- 3. CHARLTON FLAT/CHILAO RECREATION AREA
Tall coniferous trees, large oaks, small seasonal streams with willows and alders. Very beautiful. Elevation 5,300 feet. The walk to Vetter Mountain fire lookout is listed in Afoot and Afield in Los Angeles County as one of the best walks for birds and other wildlife in the mountains.
- Directions: From Interstate 210, go north (right) on Angeles Crest Highway, State Route 2, 13 miles east of Red Box Station. Turn left at mile marker 47.5 or 50.7.
- Birds and Habitat: Montane forest
- Season: Spring, summer and fall
- Links
- Where to Bird: Charlton Flat, Angeles National Forest by Jon Fisher
- Charlton Flat from Field Guide to the San Gabriel Mountains
- Chilao Visitor Center--check posted ranger program for guided bird walks
- Comments: Forest Adventure Pass needed. Check fire restrictions. Check chain requirements in winter.
- 4. BUCKHORN CAMPGROUND
Moist shaded stream, tall evergreens, open dry slopes--good mixture of mountain birds in gorgeous surroundings. Elevation 6,300 feet.
- Directions: From Interstate 210, go north (right) on Angeles Crest Highway, State Route 2, 34 miles. Turn left at mile marker 58.3
- Birds and Habitat: Montane forest
- Season: Late spring, summer and early fall.
- Links
- Comments: Forest Adventure Pass needed to park on road. Check fire restrictions.
- 5. GRASSY HOLLOW
Scenic site on a grassy slope amidst tall Jeffrey pines with views of the wilderness. A long drive, but cool and peaceful on a summer's day. Bird around the Visitor Center and up the road toward Jackson Group Campground. Approximately one-half mile further east is Lightning Ridge Nature Trail, also on the left (north) side of the road with adequate parking and restrooms. Higher and drier than the other mountain locations. Elevation 7,300 feet.
- Directions: From Interstate 210, north on Angeles Crest Highway, State Route 2, a little more than 50 miles to mile marker 77.3.
- Birds and Habitat: Montane forest
- Season: Summer
- Links
- Comments: Forest Adventure Pass needed to park on road. Check fire restrictions. Check road conditions in winter.
CANYONS IN THE FOOTHILLS
- 6. EATON CANYON NATURAL AREA
Great birding around the Nature Center, large oak terrace, some water in the stream most years
- Directions: From Interstate 210, exit on Sierra Madre Blvd., go north on Altadena Drive to the entrance on the right, just north of New York Drive.
- Hours: Closed dusk till dawn.
- Birds and Habitat: Chaparral, oak woodland, and riparian
- Season: All year. Hot in summer, go early in the morning.
- Links
- Comments: Bird walk on third Sunday of every month except July and August. Meet at the flagpole at 8:00am, bring water, binoculars, sun hats, but no dogs, contact Hill Penfold at (818)352-4954 or hpenfold@bigfoot.com. Nature Center open daily 9 to 5.
- 7. LAS FLORES CANYON AND THE COBB ESTATE
A gem. Get comfortable under the shade of the oaks in the canyon and wait till the birds come out or inspect the thickets and trees of the Cobb Estate.
- Directions: North from Interstate 210 on Lake Avenue to Loma Alta Drive. (Lake ends here.) Park and walk east to the forks in the trail. Take the middle or lower trail across the check dam to the shady oaks on the hillside or take the trails through the Cobb Estate.
Note: From the Cobb Estate Nature Trail by Professor Wheeler, 1973, "For the convenience of the nature lover and hiker two drinking fountains have been installed by the Forest Service using materials paid for by the Pasadena Audubon Society to make available water from the pipes by Las Flores Water Co. One fountain is at station 48..." This fountain still exists and has a basin full of water for birds, at least after rain. It is under the large oak tree at the top of the trail. Thanks to Tom Chester for providing the source of this information.
- Birds and Habitat: Chaparral, oak woodland, and riparian
- Season: Year round
- Links
- Comments: Check fire restrictions.
- 8. SANTA ANITA CANYON
Shaded stream with alders and oaks. Black Swift and American Dipper are specialties.
- Directions: From Interstate 210, go north on Santa Anita Avenue to Chantry Flat.
- Hours: Road closed and locked between 10pm and 6am.
- Birds and Habitat: Riparian and chaparral
- Season: Year round
- Links
- Comments: Forest Adventure Pass needed. Check fire restrictions.
RIPARIAN ALONG THE ARROYO SECO
- 9. UPPER ARROYO SECO
Shaded canyon with live oaks and white alders, and a permanent stream
- Directions: North from Interstate 210 on Arroyo which turns into Windsor. Park at the lot at the intersection with Ventura. Walk north along the trail.
- Birds and Habitat: Riparian
- Season: Year round
- Comments: Check fire restrictions.
- 10. HAHAMONGNA WATERSHED PARK
Large oak area, coastal sage scrub on hillsides, good year round. Many willows for migrants in spring. Some standing water for waterbirds in winter
- Directions: North off Interstate 210 at Berkshire Drive. Turn right, then left at the signal. The entrance is on the eastside.
- Birds and Habitat: Oak woodland and riparian
- Season: Spring and fall best
- Links
- 11. LOWER ARROYO PARK
Narrow canyon (corridor) with oaks, sycamores and chaparral shrubs and a permanent stream. Good for sparrows in fall and winter. Swifts and swallows nest under the bridge.
- Directions: South from Interstate 210 on Orange Grove, right on California, right on Arroyo. Turn left at the sign that says casting pool and roving archers.
- Hours: Dawn to dusk.
- Birds and Habitat: Riparian and chaparral
- Season: Year round
- Links
RESERVOIRS WITH WATERBIRDS
- 12. ALMANSOR PARK
Wood ducks year round, a variety of waders when the water level is not too high, and grazing waterfowl and gulls in winter.
- Directions: South from Interstate 210 on Los Robles which turns into Atlantic. Left on Mission in Alhambra, not San Marino, then right on Chapel. Immediately turn left and go east to the park.
- Birds and Habitat: Small reservoir near golf course.
- Season: Fall and winter
- Links
- 13. PECK WATER CONSERVATION PARK (PECK PIT)
Gulls and ducks in winter. Look for migrants in the trees near the restrooms, Warblers in spring in the willows. Attracts vagrants.
- Directions: South from Interstate 210 on Myrtle which turns into Peck. Entrance (difficult to find) is first right in the middle of the block on west side south of Live Oak.
- Birds and Habitat: Reservoir
- Season: Year round
- Where to Bird: Peck Pit, Arcadia by Jon Fisher
- 14. SANTA FE DAM RECREATION AREA
One of the last remnants of alluvial coastal scrub habitat. A good choice, if it isn't too hot, paved walkways throughout and a lake, but not a lot of shade. Raptors in winter.
- Directions: From Interstate 210, go east to Irwindale Avenue. Go south (right from Pasadena) to Arrow Highway. Right on Arrow to the park entrance at 15510 E. Arrow Highway, Irwindale.
- Hours: Call (818)812-6377 for hours.
- Birds and Habitat: Reservoir and alluvial coastal sage scrub
- Season: Fall, winter and spring
- Links
- Comments: Vehicle entrance fee.
SUBURBAN PARKS AND GARDENS
- 15. HUNTINGTON LIBRARY AND BOTANICAL GARDENS
Extensive garden plantings attract many species of birds; overwintering hummingbirds, orioles and tanagers
- Directions: South from Interstate 210 on Allen. Left on Orlando to the entrance on the right or 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino (626)405-2141.
- Hours: Tuesday-Friday, noon to 4:30pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10:30am to 4:30pm.
- Birds and Habitat: Suburban
- Season: Year round
- Links
- Comments: Entrance fee.
- 16. LOS ANGELES COUNTY ARBORETUM
Small lake; exotic plantings. Many peacocks.
- Directions: South from Interstate 210 on Baldwin Avenue to the entrance on the west (right) side.
- Hours: The Arboretum is open daily except Christmas from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
- Birds and Habitat: Suburban
- Season: Year round
- Links
- Comments: Entrance fee
- 17. THE PARROT PLACE
Central and eastern Temple City is a hotbed of mixed parrot roosts (street trees for overnight sleeping flocks).
- Directions: South from Interstate 210 on Baldwin. Left on Daines Ave. Key intersections to check are Persimmon and McCulloch. Also north of Live Oak Park, along Live Oak Ave. just east of Baldwin Ave., and on Lynrose, the next block south of Live Oak Ave.
- Hours: Early morning (just after sunrise) and late afternoons (before dusk) are best times
- Birds and Habitat: Suburban
- Season: Year round
- Links
- 18. DESCANSO GARDENS
Mixed habitat attracts many birds--chaparral-covered hillside, oak woodland and small lake with bird observation platform plus flower gardens
- Directions: South from Interstate 210 on Angeles Crest Highway to Foothill Blvd. Right on Foothill. Left on Alta Cañada which turns into Descanso Drive. The entrance is on the right at 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada
- Hours: The Gardens are open daily 9 am to 5 pm, closed Christmas
- Birds and Habitat: Suburban, oak woodland, and reservoir
- Season: Year round
- Links
- General information about Descanso Gardens
- Comments: Entrance fee. Bird walks on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. Meet inside the entrance at 8:00am. Contact Karen Johnson at (818)790-1687 or lv2bird@aol.com for more information.
- 19. ERNEST E. DEBS REGIONAL PARK
Much of the park is black walnut woodland, a remnant of the native habitat that once rimmed the Los Angeles Basin.
- Directions to 4700 N. Griffin Ave.
- Birds and Habitat: Suburban, watch for Spotted Dove, Lark Sparrow (absent summer), Cassin's Kingbird, Phainopepla, Lawrence's Goldfinch, White-tailed Kite (winter), Loggerhead Shrike (winter), Mountain Chickadee and other montane invaders (most winters), and wintering orioles, tanagers, etc. Check tall sycamores and eucalyptus for vagrants during migration. Cooper's, Red-shouldered, Red-tailed Hawks and kestrel all nest in the park and are easily seen.
- Season: Year round
- Links
ex-PASADENA
- Where to Bird in and near the San Fernando Valley Look here for directions to Bette Davis Park by the Los Angeles River. (from the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society)
- Pomona Valley Local Birding Locations "Although our valley is filling with people and pavement, it is surprizing that we have so many good bird places...that are accessible." (from Pomona Valley Audubon Society)
- Bird-Watching Locations in Orange County (from Sea and Sage Audubon Society)
- Birding in Ventura County Good birding is one of the Central Coast's finest recreational activities.
- Welcome to the Central Coast Birding Trail The Central Coast is strategically located on the Pacific Flyway and provides habitat to many resident and migratory birds. Maps and descriptions of four birding trails along the central California coast in the counties of Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Monterey.
- Where to Bird in Kern County With all of the ecological regions except the Coastal Redwood Forest found in Kern County - birding is extremely rewarding. (from Kern Audubon Society)
- Birding Sites in the Fresno Area (from Fresno Audubon Society)
- Maps and/or driving directions to familiar San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society [birding] haunts (from San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society)
- Eastern Sierra Birding Hot Spots Find some new areas to bird on your way north along US 395. (from Eastern Sierra Audubon Society)
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P A S A D E N A A U D U B O N S O C I E T Y
1750 North Altadena Drive, Pasadena CA 91107, (626)355-9412
URL: http://www.PasadenaAudubon.org/birdmap.html | Email: paudubon@yahoo.com
