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Nature Resources for Los Angeles and Southern California

Articles

• California Condor Releases in Arizona--Notes from the Field. by Thorn Lord.
• California's Ecological Reserves. by Kari Lewis © 2001. PDF format.
• California's lands managed for the wildlife, maintained for the future. by Kari Lewis © 2001. PDF format.
• Putting the fire back into habitat recovery and maintenance. by Patrick Moore © 2001. PDF format.
• Return to the Wild. by Jane Hendron. About the California Condor.
• Special protection for special places. by Colleen Flannery © 2001. PDF format.
• Wind In Their Wings: The Condor Recovery Program. by Joanna Behrens and John Brooks.
• You can see a bald eagle. By Bob Mallette.

Birds

• Bald Eagle Viewing Opportunities in California. "The best time of the year to see bald eagles in California is during the winter, mainly from December to March. By December or January, hundreds of migrating eagles have arrived on their wintering grounds in California, having flown hundreds or thousands of miles from breeding areas in states and provinces in the north. These winter visitors join hundreds of year-round resident bald eagles of California. On some midwinter statewide surveys, more than 1,000 bald eagles have been counted in California. The largest concentration of wintering eagles is found in the Klamath Basin, on the California-Oregon border.
  
  Outside of the Klamath Basin, there are relatively few areas in California that support dependably large wintering concentrations. Wintering bald eagles that are alone or in small groups may be seen near lakes and rivers, even open rangelands, in any county of California from time to time, such as when they are on the move during migration or in search of foraging grounds. Winter concentrations diminish from February to April, as resident bald eagles return to their nesting territories in California and winter visitors depart for their nesting areas to the north.
  
  The places where you are most likely to see the eagles in numbers are at reservoirs and lakes. At some of the better wintering areas, a dozen or two dozen or more bald eagles can be seen in a day, and in the Klamath Basin, hundreds. At many of these areas, listed below, the public is afforded good opportunities to see bald eagles from viewing sites or on guided tours during the peak wintering months. Some facilities charge fees for tours, and reservations must often be made well in advance." 
  • Big Bear Lake Bald Eagle viewing. Big Bear Discovery Center.
  • Cachuma Lake Recreation Area. Bald Eagle viewing area.  
  • Live video of nesting bald eagles on Santa Catalina Island, California (late winter through summer).
• California Condor (Also see articles above) 
  • California Condor. From Audubon California. "The magnificent California Condor, among the rarest and most imperiled birds in the world, was famously rescued from the brink of extinction in the late 1900s. Around 200 birds currently survive, roughly half in captivity and half in the wild.
    
    Once found throughout the Southwestern U.S. into Mexico (as well as pockets in New York and Florida), by the early 1900s they were largely confined to the rugged mountains and foothills of Central and Southern California, where they remained until 1987. In that year, the last free-flying wild bird was captured and integrated into an existing captive breeding program. At the time of his capture, this male was one of only 27 living California Condors, whose numbers had dipped to as low as 21 in 1981-82.
    
    From 1987 to 1992, no California Condors flew free in the California skies. In 1992 captive-bred condors were released into the wild at Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge north of Ventura, with additional captive-reared birds added to the flock each year thereafter.
    
    Audubon's relationship with the California Condor has been complex and at times controversial, but has been effective at both the field research level and when focused on pushing for legislation to list the species as Endangered; advocating for land acquisitions around the horseshoe-shaped southern edge of California's Central Valley; and supporting public outreach and education through its magazine and other publications."
  • California Condor from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
    • Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge information on the California Condor.
  • California Condor, (Gymnogyps californianus). Species profile from USFWS.
  • California Department of Fish and Game California Condor page. Comment:  Content rich natural history of the California Condor.
  • Defenders of Wildlife California Condor page.
  • Google Image search for California Condor.
  • National Parks Conservation Association. California Condor page.
  • Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County California Condor Page.
  • San Diego Zoo Animal Bytes page on the California Condor.
  • Ventana Wildlife Society Condor Videos. "These videos are of California Condors released by Ventana Wildlife Society in Big Sur, California. The footage was provided by Pandion Entertainment, Inc. during a shoot to film condors feeding on a deer carcass."

Blogs

• California Native Plant PR. Blog about California native plants.

Books

• Books about Los Angeles, CA nature from Amazon.com.

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Environment

• Invasive, Nuisance, and Exotic Species. "This page provides links to information on plants and animals that are not native to California and through a conscious act or by accident have found their way into California. Many of these organisms have thrived in one or many of California’s vast variety of habitats. In this process they have almost invariably had a detrimental effect on the native species that they have out competed for the existing resources or have preyed upon."  
• Threatened and endangered species. Includes all of California.
  • Endangered, threatened, and rare plants in California.
  • Endangered, threatened, and rare animals in California.
  • Protected animals. "The classification of Fully Protected was the State's initial effort in the 1960's to identify and provide additional protection to those animals that were rare or faced possible extinction. Lists were created for fish, mammals. amphibians and reptiles, birds and mammals. Please note that most fully protected species have also been listed as threatened or endangered species under the more recent endangered species laws and regulations...Fully Protected species may not be taken or possessed at any time and no licenses or permits may be issued for their take except for collecting these species for necessary scientific research and relocation of the bird species for the protection of livestock."

Fish

• Grunion. "Along southern California’s sandy beaches, from March through September, one of the most remarkable life cycles in the sea is completed; the California grunion comes ashore to spawn. The grunion has been known to many southern Californians for more than 70 years, but there are still those who are skeptical of its existence. To be invited out in the middle of the night to go fishing with only a gunny sack and light for equipment does sound a little ridiculous, but in reality this is the most popular method..." 

Forests

• Angeles National Forest. "The Angeles National Forest is located within an hour's drive for more than 20 million people who live in the Greater Los Angeles area, and provides a wealth of recreation opportunities."
  • Hiking in Azusa Canyon. Rugged Mountains and foothills form a spectacular backdrop to a community where people have lived for more than 6,000 years. From the snow covered peak of Mt. San Antonio towering over 10,000 feet, the San Gabriel river drains a watershed of more than 600 square miles.
    
    The undeveloped areas of river flood plain create corridors of wetlands for wildlife, fish, including steelhead trout. Tributary streams are lined with willow, cottonwood, sycamore and alders. Higher up are mountain forests, home to bobcats, mountain lions and bears.
    
    This not only provides a diverse and spectacular back drop to the city, but a destination for recreation, mountain biking, hiking and fishing."
  • Hikes in the San Gabriel Mountains and the Angeles National Forest.
  • San Gabriel Mountains recreational information from eTreking.com.
• Cleveland National Forest. "The Cleveland National Forest is the southern-most National Forest in California. Consisting of 460,000 acres, the forest offers a wide variety of terrains and recreational opportunities...The Cleveland National Forest is a very special place in southern California. The forest is a haven for wildlife and plants. The wild shrub and tree-covered mountains are remnants of a landscape that at one time covered most of southern California. With the settling of missions, towns, cities, and suburbs, populated areas now surround the mountains. Natural areas for plants and animals have become smaller and smaller, and in some cases, have disappeared. In December 1999, the Cleveland National Forest completed the Southern California Mountains and Foothills Assessment. This assessment discusses habitat and species conservation issues."
• Los Padres National Forest. " Los Padres National Forest encompasses nearly two million acres in the beautiful coastal mountains of central California. The forest stretches across almost 220 miles from the Big Sur Coast in Monterey County to the western edge of Los Angeles County."
• San Bernardino National Forest. "The San Bernardino National Forest (a part of the Pacific Southwest Region), from desert floor to alpine peaks, from flowering cactus to eagles soaring above tall pines, will be managed to allow future generations to discover and appreciate this natural world at the doorstep of urban southern California." 

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Hiking

• Dan's Hiking Pages. "My name is Dan Simpson and love to hike! Since I live in Azusa, California, at the mouth of the San Gabriel Canyon, the San Gabriel Mountains / Angeles National Forest is my primary hiking venue. Thus, the San Gabriels are the focus of this site." 

Museums

• Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. "Human beings are connected -- to each other, to communities, to other species, and to the Earth. As humans increasingly influence natural systems, it is critical that we understand these relationships. This understanding, in the context of the history of the Earth and its inhabitants, guides our approach to investigation and interpretation. By integrating our global research and extensive collections with engaging learning experiences that reveal all aspects of our work, we provoke curiosity and deepen understanding of our natural and cultural worlds. This dynamic learning laboratory and forum for the exchange of ideas is a new model that sets the standard for museums of the future. We inspire the widest possible audience to enjoy, value and become stewards of the living Earth."
• Page Museum La Brea Tar Pits. The Page Museum is located at the Rancho La Brea Tar Pits in the heart of Los Angeles. Rancho La Brea is one of the world’s most famous fossil localities, recognized for having the largest and most diverse assemblage of extinct Ice Age plants and animals in the world. Visitors can learn about Los Angeles as it was between 10,000 and 40,000 years ago, during the last Ice Age, when animals such as saber-toothed cats and mammoths roamed the Los Angeles Basin. Through windows at the Page Museum Laboratory, visitors can watch bones being cleaned and repaired. Outside the Museum, in Hancock Park, life-size replicas of several extinct mammals are featured."  

Online Discussions

• Los Angeles Environment Discussions.
• Los Angeles Nature Discussions.
• Los Angeles Outdoor Discussions.

Organizations

• Los Angeles and Southern California nature and wildlife organizations directory from InfoLACA.com.

Photographs

• California Condor Photographs from the San Diego Zoo.
• Results of a Google image search for California Condor.
• Starr Ranch Sanctuary. Also see Star Ranch listing under sanctuaries below.

Plants

• Blogs. See above section on blogs.
• California Native Plant Society San Gabriel Mountains Chapter.
• Manual of California Vegetation. "The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) is an organization of amateurs and professionals united by an interest in the plants of California. Its chief aims are to preserve the native flora and to add to our knowledge of it. Its members participate in monitoring rare and endangered plants, fostering public education, supporting legislation that protects native plants, and providing expert testimony to government bodies. In 1974 CNPS published Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, the first of five successive editions, which have documented the occurrences of rare species. In 1985 CNPS entered into a formal partnership with the California Department of Fish and Game to continue a process of rare plant monitoring. Over time, more information became available about habitats and plant communities with rare species." 
• Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. "Featuring more than 500 plants and illustrated with 450 color photos, California Native Plants for the Garden is a comprehensive resource that will appeal to every gardener who has an interest in California’s unique flora. Authored by three of the state’s most experienced native plant horticulturalists, this beautiful reference book describes the best California species for gardens and provides detailed advice on their cultivation, from landscape design and installation to watering, pruning, and pest control. Regardless of where you live or your level of horticultural expertise, California Native Plants for the Garden will help you succeed in growing California’s remarkable plants."

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Publications

• The Paintbrush. Published by the California Native Plant Society San Gabriel Mountains Chapter.  

Recreation Areas

• Big Bear Lake Discovery Center. "The Discovery Center is an innovative non-profit that helps over 200,000 people every year build personal, life-long connections to their National Forest. As a Gateway to adventure, the Discovery Center introduces visitors to the wonders of the Forrest and ensures they will enjoy them responsibly."
• Cachuma Lake Recreation Area. Bald Eagle viewing area.  
• Eaton Canyon Natural Area. "Eaton Canyon Natural Area, supervised and maintained by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, is a 190-acre zoological, botanical, and geological wonderland situated at the base of the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains. With its hiking trails, wildlife, rocks and minerals, and plants, there is something for everyone to enjoy. It is also the gateway to Heninger Flats, Idle Hour Campground, and Mount Wilson.
  
  Visit our Nature Center, where you'll find information, displays, a gift shop, and offices. There is no admission to the park, which is open from sunrise to sunset daily. We ask only that you leave it the way you find it, and take nothing away but photos and pleasant memories."    
• Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. "Santa Monica Mountains rise above Los Angeles, widen to meet the curve of Santa Monica Bay and reach their highest peaks facing the ocean, forming a beautiful and multi-faceted landscape. Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is a cooperative effort that joins federal, state and local park agencies with private preserves and landowners to protect the natural and cultural resources of this transverse mountain range and seashore.
  
  Located in a Mediterranean ecosystem, the Santa Monica Mountains contain a wide variety of plants and wildlife. The mountains also have an interesting and diverse cultural history which begins with the Chumash and Gabrielino/Tongva peoples and continues today in 'L.A.'s backyard.'"   

Sanctuaries

• Starr Ranch Sanctuary. " Our mission is to stimulate, coordinate, and perform scientific research on the biology and conservation of the unusual Mediterranean climate ecosystems at Starr Ranch and to extend our science to the local community in the form of unique education programs and conservation activism. Starr Ranch Sanctuary is a 4,000 acre preserve owned and operated by the National Audubon Society. Topo map of Starr Ranch Sanctuary (10677 bytes) It is located in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains in the mild and semiarid Mediterranean climate of southeastern Orange County, California, approximately 60 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
  
  The Ranch lies in unincorporated Orange County and is bordered by the Cleveland National Forest on the north and east, the Ronald W. Caspers Regional Park on the south and the developments of Dove Canyon and Coto de Caza on the west. The larger community of Rancho Santa Margarita is 3 miles northwest of the Sanctuary, and the city of San Juan Capistrano is 10 miles to the southwest."  

Video

• Ventana Wildlife Society Condor Videos. "These videos are of California Condors released by Ventana Wildlife Society in Big Sur, California. The footage was provided by Pandion Entertainment, Inc. during a shoot to film condors feeding on a deer carcass."

Web Cams

• Mount Wilson Observatory, Mt. Wilson, California. Images from the 150-Foot Solar Tower. Comment:  Spectacularly beautiful view of Mount Wilson. This is what all Web cam images should look like.
• Wrightwood, California Web cams.

Wildlife

• California Fish and Game South Coast Region (9). "The Mission of the Department of Fish and Game is to manage California's diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public.
  
  The Department of Fish and Game maintains native fish, wildlife, plant species and natural communities for their intrinsic and ecological value and their benefits to people. This includes habitat protection and maintenance in a sufficient amount and quality to ensure the survival of all species and natural communities. The department is also responsible for the diversified use of fish and wildlife including recreational, commercial, scientific and educational uses."  Comment:  This Web site has many wildlife and nature resources including photographs, species range maps, and more.     

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