May 2015

Based on the response to the launch of Bird LA Day on May 2nd, this is an event that’s long overdue! Friends of Griffith Park sponsored a hike with National Park Service Rangers in Fern Dell and were pleasantly surprised to get an additional 22 people over our original 40 RSVPs. Hike attendees constituted a broad range of age, and birding experience: novices, middle-schoolers, toddlers and third generations. All gathered early to enjoy the myriad bird songs in the Dell and learn birding and safety basics from our hike leader, Ranger Anthony Bevilacqua from the Santa Monica Mountain Recreation Center.

And, teach he did! We learned about birds, cucumber vines, squirrels, poison oak, flowers, lizards: Ranger Anthony’s knowledge and enthusiasm was boundless. Aided by long-distance binoculars, and other tools of the trade, the two Rangers helped all Griffith Park birders enjoy and appreciate the life that teems in our own backyard, aka Griffith Park.

From Fern Dell, the NPS Rangers headed over to Olvera Street, Downtown L.A. and other locations throughout the City to dispense their unlimited knowledge of our fine-feathered friends.

School kids from the hike went home to write their reports, while other hikers in the group lingered at Trails Café over a hot cuppa joe.

I headed over to Atwater Village near the L A River for more bird watching hosted by Lila Higgins, of the Natural History Museum. At the river’s edge, P-22, our famous Griffith Park Puma, stole the show with photo-ops (a P22 cut-out) courtesy of NPS Ranger, Beth Flowers.

What a wonderful day. I can’t wait “til next year!

~Dora Herrera

For more information on the first Bird LA Day…
Coverage from the LA Times
Coverage from the Daily Breeze
Coverage from the Natural History Museum