Description:

We hope to see some mountain species - Green-tailed Towhee, Fox Sparrow, White-headed and Hairy Woodpeckers, Violet-green Swallows and others.

We will bird various locations along Angeles Crest Highway. All drivers will need a Forest Adventure Pass or America the Beautiful card.

Meet: We will convene in the parking lot of the Whittier Community Center and carpool/caravan, leaving at 6:30 am. If you want to meet us, meet at Red Box parking area at 7:30 am and we can carpool from there. (Red Box is at the intersection of Angeles Crest Highway and the road to Mount Wilson.)

Bring: Bring a lunch, water, birding equipment and whatever makes you comfortable (chair?).

Trip Leader:  Larry Schmahl. Please RSVP to larschmahl@aol.com.

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 in-person only.

NEW LOCATION! This year our meeting location has changed.

• Address: First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier.

• Entrance: The entrance is on Washington Ave.

• Parking: Parking is available in the parking area behind the church and along Washington Ave.

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

Description:

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

Nancy Fluharty, Development Director, and Allyson Brooks, Community Engagement Manager of the Sierra Hills Foothills Conservancy will be our speakers for the May 21, 2026 meeting. 

They will talk about the high impact work they have been doing. They will present virtually. 

The grasslands, foothills, and forests between Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Parks provide land for farms and ranches, a home for native plants and wildlife, and a source of clean water. Sierra Foothill Conservancy honors our natural and cultural heritage by protecting these resources and ensuring that present and future generations will continue to experience and enjoy the land in this region.

SFC is a non-profit land trust, rooted in the local community, protecting open spaces for preservation and for future generations.

About the Presenters

Allyson Brooks grew up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Shaver Lake where she developed a passion for everything outdoors; from land conservation and studying biology to physical activity. Most of the endeavors that Allyson has chosen throughout her life remain to involve science, conservation, immersion in the outdoors, and movement. She was a whitewater river guide on the Kings River for four years. She was a zookeeper and environmental educator. She has taught science to all levels of students, including Junior College Biology. Unfortunately, Allyson and her family lost her childhood and current home during the Creek Fire of the Sierra Nevada in 2020. This devastation has sparked an interest in helping to protect the mountains that she loves by volunteering as the volunteer coordinator for Creek Fire recover efforts (erosion control, fuels reduction, plantings, etc.).

Allyson received her master’s degree in a combination of Biology and Education and her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, Ecology Option from the California State University, Fresno.

Allyson has been the Community Engagement Manager for Sierra Foothill Conservancy for 8 years. It is her dream job! She runs the education, outreach, and volunteer programs, assists in development, is highly involved in Tribal partnerships, and is a land steward. Some of her duties include running SFC’s youth field trip program, all hikes and classes, events, volunteer days, outreach presentations, coordinating all docent activity and involvement, Tribal relationships, community partnerships, educational partnerships, grant-writing, fundraising, and stewardship tasks such as fence-building and repair, trail maintenance, preserve maintenance, rangeland program assistance, and any other on-the-land tasks necessary for ecological stewardship of SFC properties.

Allyson lives with her two incredible children. She loves cycling, hiking, camping, puzzles, and anything she can do outdoors, especially with her family and friends! She joined the SFC team in 2018 and is thrilled to be a part of protecting the land that she considers home!

Nancy Fluharty was born and raised in Mariposa, CA where she spent her childhood exploring the foothills and learning about the local plants and wildlife. She moved back to Mariposa in December of 2015 after spending fifteen years in education. She is thrilled to call the foothills home once again and feels honored to be part of SFC - a dynamic, meaningful organization. She is passionate about conservation because of the unique balance and sustainability it offers to local working landscapes, and looks forward to helping build even stronger ties between community members and the land. In her free time Nancy enjoys making pottery, hiking, trail-running, reading, and spending time with her husband and two kids. In addition to serving as Sierra Foothill Conservancy’s Development Director, Nancy assists with SFC's outdoor and youth education programs and community conservation initiatives.

Program Format

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

In person: NEW LOCATION! This year our meeting location has changed.

• Address: First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier.

• Entrance: The entrance is on Washington Ave.

• Parking: Parking is available in the parking area behind the church and along Washington Ave.

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

Description:

Please arrive promptly at 3:00 PM. Entry fee is $5.00 on weekend days and free with Orange County Park annual pass.  Suggest you ask for a park map at entry kiosk, these are free. Note - cell phone reception is poor in the most of park. 

Turn left on first road after kiosk and follow around curve to park in Lot C; We likely will see sparrows such as Chipping on Sycamore Hill and others such as Lincoln's and Song Sparrows just north of park in more natural areas (no lawns). In some rare events, Bald Eagles chased by Red-tailed Hawks have been seen here and Pine Siskins (also rarely) in trees surrounding Lot C. Some birders have reported Rufous-crowned & Vespers sparrows along early parts of Horseshoe Loop trail. Depending on scouting trip finds and eBird reports, we may stop in other locations between Lot C and P or skip horseshoe loop trail entirely. 

Eventually, group will drive to Lot P and walk around north most trail to check for Costa's and Black-chinned Hummingbirds under Rooster Rock and in purple flowers of the Santa Yerba plants; possibly Cactus Wren may be found in Prickly Pear stands near the Santa Yerba. We will break for a late lunch-dinner and around 5:30 to 5:50 PM. Likely will see Night Hawks at east most end of park and hear poorwills there as well.  Although trip is over at 7 PM, park closes at 9:00 PM if anyone wants to stay later to look / listen for owls (Great Horned, Barn, and Western Screech owls are resident here.)

Remember to bring usual items such as sun screen, bug repellant, hats, food, water, chairs, and a light sweater. Please email me at JPMTCC@yahoo.com or text me at (714) 244-8063 if you plan on attending. More updates at April meeting.

Meet: We will meet at Irvine Regional Park, parking lot P.

Bring: Bring your usual birdwatching stuff, water, lunch, chairs, sunblock, hat etc.

Trip Leader:  Jim McNamara

Description:

Our April field trip will be to Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, which is located north of Palm Springs.

Big Morongo is a great place for migrant flycatchers and warblers as well as interesting local residents. It can get hot, so be prepared for warm weather. Bring water, a lunch, a hat, and sunscreen. We will bird Big Morongo and Covington Park and have lunch in the park. We should be back in Whittier between 3:00 and 4:00.

Meet: Leave Whittier Community Center at 6:00 AM/meet at the preserve parking area at 8:00 AM

Bring: Bring your usual birdwatching stuff, water, lunch, chairs, sunblock, hat etc.

Trip Leader:  Steve Huber

Program Topic

Deanna Woirhaye will present "Moments in Nature: How I became a certified Naturalist."

With so much hardship and violence in the news lately, Deanna Woirhaye, an award-winning photographer in Whittier's art scene, feels it's vital to remember that beauty and peace still endure. Whether by stepping directly into nature or exploring the world through art, one can find the tranquility we desperately need to recharge. In her upcoming presentation, Deanna will share her interest in bringing more well-being into her community through the art of photography, the pathway that led to Deanna's becoming a certified California Naturalist.

Program Format

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

In person: NEW LOCATION! This year our meeting location has changed.

• Address: First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier.

• Entrance: The entrance is on Washington Ave.

• Parking: Parking is available in the parking area behind the church and along Washington Ave.

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

Please check back for details

Program Topic

California Condors - Back from the Brink: An introduction to this magnificent, critically-endangered species including a brief overview of the California Condor Recovery Program

This presentation will include natural history details about the critically-endangered California condor from their emergence during the Pleistocene through their decline and their eventual status as “extinct in the wild”.  The Condor Recovery Program, which has successfully reintroduced California Condors into the wild, will be discussed including captive breeding efforts, how the wild flock is managed, and ongoing threats.

About the presenter

Maria Montag is the Board President of Friends of California Condors Wild and Free, a non-profit that works in partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), who manage the two National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) northwest of Los Angeles that protect the historic nesting sites of the critically-endangered California Condors; Bitter Creek NWR and Hopper Mountain NWR.

She is also a USFWS Maintenance Volunteer performing defensible space activities on refuge. 

While not a trained biologist, she is an avid student of these birds and welcomes the opportunity to share her love of these fascinating birds with you today.

Program Format

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

In person: NEW LOCATION! This year our meeting location has changed.

• Address: First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier.

• Entrance: The entrance is on Washington Ave.

• Parking: Parking is available in the parking area behind the church and along Washington Ave.

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:

Bolsa Chica is one of the great local birding spots. Ducks, shorebirds, and waders can be found in abundance. Gulls, terns, and pelicans are regular, as are raptors that nest on the bluffs.

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

Bring: Bring your usual birdwatching stuff, water, lunch, chairs, sunblock, hat etc. Be sure to bring chairs, since our planned lunch place doesn’t have chairs.

Trip Leader:  Jim McNamara

Program Topic

Sandra von Arb, field biologist and co-author of the Dragonflies of California with Kathy Biggs will speak about Whittier’s Wonderful Dragonflies.

About the presenters

Kathy Biggs has been a nature lover all her life. When she built a wildlife pond in the backyard in 1996, dragonflies arrived and she found her true passion. Wanting to share her passion, she developed websites for her wildlife ponds, and California Dragonflies. As her interests grew, she developed a Southwest Dragonflies website and recently Dragonflies and Damselflies of Colima, Jalisco and Nayarit, Mexico.

The websites matured and grew into Kathy's becoming the author of California’s first Dragonfly Guide, Common Dragonflies of California, the Southwest’s first dragonfly guide, Common Dragonflies of the Southwest, also a Dragonfly Color and Learn Book with illustrations by Tim Manolis. She has developed a  completely interactive eGuide, Dragonflies of the Greater Southwest and her latest publication Dragonflies (Anisoptera) of California which she co-authored with Sandra von Arb. 

Kathy surveys for dragonflies in California and the greater southwest. She manages the eGroup CalOdes and is a member of several other Odonate groups. She tracks flight data and distribution for California and the greater southwest. Kathy is a member and Vetter for Odonata Central, iNaturalist and also for Sandra's Western Odonata Facebook page. She loves to teach about the Dragonflies.

Sandra von Arb has been a professional wildlife biologist focusing on sensitive and endangered species in northern California, southern Oregon, and northern Illinois for 30 years. She is a co-founder of Biodiversity Education and Research Foundation (BEAR Fdn) whose mission is to foster ecological stewardship through science and education. She discovered her passion for dragonflies surveying for the endangered Hine's Emerald Dragonfly in northern Illinois over 10 years ago. She brought that passion back to California and Kathy Biggs took her under her wing as a mentor which eventually led to co-authoring the guide book Dragonflies (Anisoptera) of California.

Program Format

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

In person: NEW LOCATION! This year our meeting location has changed.

• Address: First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier.

• Entrance: The entrance is on Washington Ave.

• Parking: Parking is available in the parking area behind the church and along Washington Ave.

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

Program Topic

Cristhian Mace, Natural Areas Biologist with the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, will be our speaker.

The 2025 Eaton Fire and subsequent winter storm surges dramatically reshaped Eaton Canyon Natural Area, altering more than 190 acres of habitat at the wild land urban interface. 

Mace will share how fire and flooding, long-standing ecological forces in the San Gabriel Mountains, are unfolding under modern pressures such as climate change, invasive species, and heavy recreational use. 

Drawing on post fire baseline studies using vegetation assessments, iNaturalist, and eBird, the presentation will highlight early signs of native plant and wildlife recovery alongside areas heavily impacted by sedimentation , channel migration, and erosion. These findings are guiding restoration priorities, invasive species management, and long term monitoring efforts that incorporate traditional ecological knowledge and community science, offering lessons for protecting bird habitat and biodiversity across Southern California fire adapted landscapes.

The presentation will be given in person.

Program Format

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

In person: NEW LOCATION! This year our meeting location has changed.

• Address: First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier.

• Entrance: The entrance is on Washington Ave.

• Parking: Parking is available in the parking area behind the church and along Washington Ave.

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

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.

NEW LOCATION! This year our meeting location has changed.

• Address: First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier.

• Entrance: The entrance is on Washington Ave.

• Parking: Parking is available in the parking area behind the church and along Washington Ave.

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

Description:

November’s field trip will be to Ken Malloy Regional Park in the Harbor City area of Los Angeles. This park was recently famous for the long running Swallow-tailed Kite that took up residence there earlier this year. Alas, the kite is gone but other excellent birds can be found there. The park has the usual lawns, large trees, a large cattail lined pond and a more wild area on the east side and north sides.

Meet: We will depart from the Whittier Community Center parking lot at 7:00 AM.

Bring: Bring a lunch, water and whatever makes you comfortable. There are restrooms at the park. We will be walking on flat trails and walkways.

Trip Leader:  Larry Schmahl, larschmahl@aol.com

Program Topic

Robb Hamilton will speak about local “patch” birding in the Colorado Lagoon in Long Beach.

“Patch birding” develops a different mindset — focusing on one local spot, which may not be much of a well-known “hotspot,” rather than driving long distances looking for birds where all the other birders go. This allows birders to achieve good coverage throughout the year, and across multiple years, to capture inter-annual variability. 

Robb will share his work on the illustrated checklist in eBird for the Colorado Lagoon, and demonstrate the useful information it provides for birders who are not familiar with the location.

Robb has been working on establishing baseline conditions before the major change of completing the open channel between the lagoon and Alamitos Bay, so that he can evaluate the extent to which the new channel and associated landscaping/restoration affects the birdlife in the lagoon.

Program Format

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

In person: NEW LOCATION! This year our meeting location has changed.

• Address: First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier.

• Entrance: The entrance is on Washington Ave.

• Parking: Parking is available in the parking area behind the church and along Washington Ave.

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:

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 Huber

RSVP: Let me know if you are coming (stevekhuber@hotmail.com).

Program Topic

Journey to California's Channel Islands, often called the "Galapagos of North America"will be presented by Tim Lopez, Interpretive Park Ranger and Environmental Educator at the Whittier Area Audubon's Meeting on Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. at First Friends Church, Fellowship Hall, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier, CA. 90601.(562)698-9805 The speaker will present virtually but it will be a hybrid meeting where it can be watched live on a screen in the meeting room as well. The parking lot is in the alley off of Philadelphia St. behind the Church or there is street parking. 

This presentation explores the natural and cultural history of these remarkable islands--where unique wildlife, ancient Chumash heritage, and dramatic landscapes come together. From towering sea cliffs to hidden kelp forests, discover why the Channel islands are one of the most biologically diverse and culturally rich places in the United States., and learn how their story continues to shape our understanding of wild places.

Tim Lopez is a park ranger and storyteller from Southern California. His work has taken him from the historic sites and old growth forests of New York City to the remote beauty of the Channel islands. With a background in education and storytelling, Tim specialized in connecting people to the natural world through history, and personal narrative. Whether guiding a hike, facilitating a workshop, or sharing stories on stage, stimulating brings a passion to landscapes, wildlife, and the human stories that shape our parks.

Program Format

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

In person: NEW LOCATION! This year our meeting location has changed.

• Address: First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier.

• Entrance: The entrance is on Washington Ave.

• Parking: Parking is available in the parking area behind the church and along Washington Ave.

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