5th Annual Open House and Campout- Event Schedule

Hi Mountain Condor Lookout Project 5th Annual Open House/ Campout
Saturday, October 14th, 2006

Schedule of Activities:

Birding Field Trip 8am-11:30am
Hi Mountain to Hi Valley, Santa Lucia Wilderness Area, Los Padres National Forest. Meet at Hi Mountain Lookout. Habitats: chaparral, blue oak woodland, riparian woodland, rocky outcrops. Strenuous hiking conditions and steep slopes. Bring water and snacks. Some poison oak along the trail. Advanced registration requested: contact Al Schmierer 805-772-2026

Arrival and set up for campers 11:30 – 1pm

Picnic lunch 12 noon - 1pm
Bring your own lunch. The Hi Mountain Lookout Interpretive Center will be open. Information fair with Natural history exhibits, booths, and Condor info. Please sign guest register. Raffle tickets, condor pottery, and Hi Mt. merchandise for sale.

Afternoon activities and field trips 1pm-late afternoon

Welcoming comments and introductions.

Morning birding field trip report by trip leader.

“Hi Mountain Lookout Project Year in Review” and recognition of staff, interns and volunteers- Steve Schubert, Volunteer Coordinator, Morro Coast Audubon Society and Paul Andreano, Project Volunteer.

“Updates on the Condor Recovery Program”- brief updates on 2006 recovery activities from Arizona and California agency staff.

Raffle drawing and fundraiser- prize donations. Event announcements.

“Geographical landmarks- a 360* view from the Pacific coast to the Sierras”- Kevin Cooper, U.S.F.S. Wildlife Biologist.

Condor radio tracking demonstration.

Volunteers training session, practicing with radio telemetry.

Natural history field trip: Geology, native plants and birding. Easy stroll along the ridge top road.

Late afternoon sit down chat with condor biologists and staff…reminiscing about experiences in ‘Condor Country’.

Sunset watch, dinner and socializing. Stove and oven heating are available at the lookout facilities. Participants are encouraged to bring a potluck dish to share. Note: no campfires are permitted for cooking or during the overnight campout, but small propane bar-b-ques are OK.

Evening guest speakers 7pm-??
California Condor research and recovery program topics:

“2006 Field Research Season Highlights”- A slide show and discussion by the 2006 Hi Mt. Interns.

“Arizona Condor reintroduction efforts”- A Powerpoint presentation by Chris Parish, The Peregrine Fund Condor Project Director.

“Lead reduction efforts in the Arizona range of the California condor”. A Powerpoint presentation and discussion by Kathy Sullivan, Condor Coordinator AZ Game and Fish Department.

“Telescope observations of the evening skies”- interactive astronomy presentation with Noll Roberts, a Cuesta Physics student in collaboration with GNAT (Global Network of Astronomical Telescopes).

Optional Hi Mountain Campout
Camping sites are available for Friday and/or Saturday nights for staff and volunteers at ‘Cypress Hill’ near the lookout. Other vehicle camping sites are located on the ridgeline near the entrance gate – views overlooking the Santa Lucia mountains and the coast - and at the U.S.F.S. Hi Mountain Campground, located one mile down the road from the lookout. Picnic tables and outhouses are at the campground- bring your own potable water.

For additional information about the open house event and driving directions to Hi Mountain Lookout, see our website at:
http://www.condorlookout.org

Driving directions and maps are at:
http://www.condorlookout.org/directions.html

Download/print a copy of the event flyer (pdf) at:
http://www.condorlookout.org/archives/06_Open_House_Flyer.pdf