SAN BERNARDINO: Volunteers are needed to help count bald eagles for the annual winter bald eagle counts in and near the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains! Come join us for the fun and excitement in seeing one of our beautiful national birds!
Concurrent Bald Eagle counts are held at Big Bear Lake, Lake Arrowhead, Lake Silverwood, Lake Perris, and Lake Hemet. Volunteers are stationed at vantage points around the lakes, where they watch for bald eagles during a 1-hour period on the count mornings. Volunteers record their observations on maps and data sheets.
This is a wonderful opportunity to catch a glimpse of our breath-taking national symbol.
Brief orientations are conducted prior to the count so volunteers know where to go and what to do.
During the February count, fifteen eagles were seen, including 10 at Big Bear Lake, 1 at Lake Arrowhead, 2 at Silverwood Lake, and 2 at Lake Hemet. Some of the sites have been conducting eagle counts since 1978.
The last bald eagle count for this winter is scheduled for Saturday March 8. No experience is needed. Signing up ahead of time is unnecessary – just show up at the designated time and location, dress warmly, bring binoculars and a watch.
- Big Bear Lake area volunteers will meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Forest Service’s Big Bear Discovery Center on North Shore Drive for orientation. Contact Drew Farr at dpfarr@fs.fed.us or 909-382-2816 or Robin Eliason at reliason@fs.fed.us or 909-382-2832 for more information. Please call 909-382-2832 for cancellation due to winter weather conditions – an outgoing message will be left by 6:30 am on the morning of the count if it has to be cancelled. Contact the Discovery Center 909-382-2790 for information about Eagle Celebrations.
- Lake Arrowhead/Lake Gregory volunteers will meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Skyforest Ranger Station for orientation. Contact Drew Farr at dpfarr@fs.fed.us or 909-382-2816 for more information. Please call 909-382-2832 for cancellation due to winter weather conditions – an outgoing message will be left by 6:30 am on the morning of the count if it has to be cancelled.
- Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area volunteers should plan to meet at the Visitor Center at 8:00 a.m. for orientation. Contact Kathy Williams or Mark Wright for more information about volunteering or taking an eagle tour at 760-389-2303 between 8:00 and 4:00; or email: khwilliams@parks.ca.gov.
- Lake Hemet volunteers should plan on meeting at the Lake Hemet Grocery Store at 8:30 a.m. for orientation. Contact Anne Poopatanapong at apoopatanapong@fs.fed.us or 909-382-2935 for more information.
- Lake Perris State Recreation Area volunteers should plan to meet at the Lake Perris Regional Indian Museum at 8:00 for orientation. Contact the office for more information at 951-940-5600.
About the U.S. Forest Service:
The mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation’s clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2 billion per year. The agency has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of the 850 million forested acres within the U.S., of which 100 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live. Learn more at https://www.fs.usda.gov/sbnf
Source: US Department of Agriculture Forest Service
