Mike Tyner Honored in the Congressional Record

It gives us great pleasure to announce that our Mike Tyner has been honored in the Congressional Record by a statement made on December 12, 2012 by Congressman Sam Farr.

"Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to rise today to honor the memory of Mike Tyner. Mike gave his life to help endangered species flourish, and his life is a reminder that we can all play a part in devoting ourselves to making the world a healthier and more beautiful place."

You can read the entire text here.

Read More

Mike Tyner Memorial Event - May 19 @ Hi Mt.

Saturday, May 19th, 2012
Hi Mountain Lookout, Los Padres National Forest

Brother, son, cousin, biologist, friend, student, teacher, mentor. Mike Tyner dedicated his life to the understanding and protection of nature. He died on November 30th, 2011, while protecting the birds that he loved in Big Sur. Mike graduated from Cal Poly SLO with a degree in Ecology and Systematic Biology in 2003. He got his start in field biology at the Hi Mountain Condor Lookout, and eventually became the field supervisor for the Ventana Wildlife Society’s Condor Recovery Program.

Mike was an avid birder, botanist, naturalist, and a beloved friend to many.  He was a positive and influential force in the world, spreading his love and enthusiasm for nature to all of those that he touched. Mike is gone, but he will never forgotten, especially not at Hi Mountain.  Please come celebrate his life with us on Saturday May 19th at one of Mike’s favorite places…..the Hi Mountain Condor Lookout.

Read More

Open House 2011 Schedule

Hi Mountain Condor Lookout Project will celebrate its 10th Anniversary on

Saturday, October 1st, 2011

Schedule of Activities:

Bird Watching Field Trip 9:00am - 11:30am

Pozo to Hi Mountain (elev. 3,199 ft), Los Padres National Forest

Meet 9am at Pozo Ranger. Car pooling from Pozo is recommended. Easy hiking conditions.

Habitats: grassland, riparian woodland (at Salinas River crossing), oak woodland & chaparral

Field trip leader: Michaela Koenig, Hi Mtn. Lookout Project volunteer and past student intern

NOTE: advanced registration is required for participation in the birding field trip. Contact Steve at s_schub1@ msn.com or phone #805 528-6138

Lookout Volunteer Service Project: repaint the water cistern; meet with Kevin Cooper, 10am at the lookout

Kids activities meet with Hannah Tillmann, Cal Poly student intern, beginning 11:00am Condor biology / radio tracking demonstrations, making plaster-of-paris animal tracks, afternoon nature hike on the lookout road down to the gate and back

Picnic lunch 11:30am – 12:30pm

-tour the Hi Mountain Lookout facilities and Interpretive Center

- sign guest register

Welcoming comments 12:30pm

Introductions of Hi Mountain Lookout staff, volunteers, and student interns

Steve Schubert, Volunteer Coordinator, Morro Coast Audubon Society


Morning birding field trip report by trip leader

Updates from the California Condor field staff

Afternoon activities and field trips:

Geographical landmarks - a 360 degree view from the Pacific coast to the Sierra Nevada - and demonstration of the original Hi Mountain Lookout firefinder

Kevin Cooper, USFS Wildlife Biologist

Condor radio tracking demonstrations by lookout staff and volunteers

Kids nature hike along Hi Mountain Lookout Road

Native plant identification walk and geology overview on Hi Mountain Lookout Road along the crest of the Santa Lucia Mountains by Dr. Dirk Walters and Dr. David Chipping

Saucelito Canyon Vineyards wine serving, compliments of Nancy Greenough

Sunset watch and dinner (wear layered clothing)

Gas stove and oven in the lookout facilities are available for cooking and heating food. Participants are encouraged to bring a potluck dish to share with their friends and guests.

Note: no campfires are permitted for cooking or the overnight campout.

Evening program: 7pm Powerpoint slide show presentations by the 2011 Cal Poly student interns - biological field research projects, remote wildlife camera photography and summer internship experiences - followed by a landscape and wildlife photography multimedia presentation by Steve Schubert

Telescopes will be set up in the evening for astronomy observations

Optional Hi Mountain Campout

Camping sites are available Saturday night at ‘Cypress Hill’ near the lookout. Other vehicle camping sites are located on the ridgeline near the entrance gate on Hi Mountain Rd.,with a view overlooking the mountains and coast, and also at the USFS Hi Mountain Campground located one mile down the road from the lookout. There are picnic tables and outhouses 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 www.condorlookout.org and view photos of past open house events at the Hi Mountain Lookout Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/Hi-Mountain-Lookout

Please contact Steve Schubert at s_schub1@ msn.com or phone # (805) 528-6138 to RSVP if you are planning to attend the open house event and the number of people in your group.

Read More

Open House 2010 Schedule

Hi Mountain Condor Lookout Project
9th Annual Open House/ Campout
Saturday, October 9th, 2010
Schedule of Activities:

Bird Watching Field Trip 9:00am - 11:30am Pozo to Hi Mountain (elev. 3,199 ft.)
Meet at Pozo Ranger Station. Habitats: grassland, riparian woodland at Salinas River crossing, oak woodlands & chaparral Car pooling recommended. Easy hiking conditions.
Field trip leaders: Peter Dullea, Hi Mtn. Lookout Project Volunteer and Jeremy Pohlman, Cal Poly Student Intern NOTE: advanced registration required for the field trip; contact Steve at s_schub1 AT msn.com or phone #805 528-6138

Lookout Service Project: repair and repaint the kiosk- Girl Scout Troop 40146

Kids activities 11:00am - 12 noon Condor biology/radio tracking, making plaster animal track casts

Picnic lunch 12 noon - 1pm

-visit the Hi Mountain Lookout Interpretive Center - sign guest register

-Auction bidding

Welcoming comments 1pm

Introductions

Morning birding field trip reports by trip leaders

Hi Mountain Lookout Project year in review and recognition of staff , interns, and volunteers Steve Schubert, Volunteer Coordinator, Morro Coast Audubon Society

Auction of donation items - annual fundraiser

Afternoon activities and field trips:

Geographical landmarks- a 360 degree view from the Pacific coast to the Sierra Nevada
Kevin Cooper, USFS Wildlife Biologist

Condor radio tracking demonstrations by staff and volunteers

Kids nature hike along Hi Mountain Lookout Road

Native plant identification walk along Hi Mountain Lookout Road on the crest of the Santa Lucia Mountains

Geology overview and walk - the Coast Range

Live music - The Booker Tease band

Saucelito Canyon wine serving and cheese tasting

Sunset watch and dinner (wear layered clothing)

Gas stove and oven are available for cooking and heating food at the lookout facilities. Participants are encouraged to bring a potluck dish to share with their friends and guests. Note: no campfires are permitted for cooking or during the overnight campout.

Evening program: Astronomy observations 7pm

Optional Hi Mountain Campout
Camping sites are available Saturday night at ‘Cypress Hill’ near the lookout. Other vehicle camping sites are located on the ridgeline near the entrance gate - with a view overlooking the mountains and coast - and at the USFS Hi Mountain Campground, located one mile down the road from the lookout. There are picnic tables and outhouses 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 www.condorlookout.org and photos of past open house events at our Facebook page

Please contact Steve Schubert at s_schub1 AT msn.com or at phone # (805) 528-6138 to RSVP if you are planning to attend the open house event and the number of people in your group. Thank-you.

Read More

8th Annual Hi Mountain Campout and Open House

8th Annual Hi Mountain Condor Lookout Campout and Open House Event
Saturday, October 10, 2009 (all day event)
Hi Mountain Lookout, San Luis Obispo County, Los Padres National Forest

Come and discover one of the largest and most endangered flying birds of North America. California Condors re-introduced into the wild are radiotracked from Hi Mountain Lookout, flying between Big Sur in Central California and the Sespe Condor Sanctuary in Southern California. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about condors and the effort to return these magnificent birds back to the wild. The Hi Mountain Lookout Project is a collaboration between Morro Coast Audubon Society, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service, Cal Poly Biological Sciences Department, Ventana Wildlife Society, and Pinnacles National Monument.


Hi Mountain Lookout has been restored as a biological field research station and visitor center. The interpretive visitor center has condor and other local wildlife displays and an extensive library of local natural history references.

The open house event will include condor radiotracking demonstrations, native plant identification, bird watching, and a local geology walking stroll. Volunteers and staff will be participating in a number of work projects throughout the day.

Join us for a potluck dinner, complimentary serving of wine by staff from Saucelito Canyon Winery and cheese tasting,live band music, and enjoy the sunset watch. Overnight camping is optional.

There will be Hi Mountain hats and other merchandise for sale and a fundraising auction, with the proceeds supporting our lookout project.

Read More

8th Annual Hi Mountain Condor Lookout Campout and Open House Event

8th Annual Hi Mountain Condor Lookout Campout and Open House Event
Saturday, October 10, 2009 (all day event)
Hi Mountain Lookout, San Luis Obispo County, Los Padres National Forest

Come and discover one of the largest and most endangered flying birds of North America. California Condors re-introduced into the wild are radiotracked from Hi Mountain Lookout, flying between Big Sur in Central California and the Sespe Condor Sanctuary in Southern California. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about condors and the effort to return these magnificent birds back to the wild. The Hi Mountain Lookout Project is a collaboration between Morro Coast Audubon Society, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service, Cal Poly Biological Sciences Department, Ventana Wildlife Society, and Pinnacles National Monument.

Hi Mountain Lookout has been restored as a biological field research station and visitor center. The interpretive visitor center has condor and other local wildlife displays and an extensive library of local natural history references.

The open house event will include condor radiotracking demonstrations, native plant identification, bird watching, and a local geology walking stroll. Volunteers and staff will be participating in a number of work projects throughout the day.

Join us for a potluck dinner, complimentary serving of wine by staff from Saucelito Canyon Winery and cheese tasting,live band music, and enjoy the sunset watch. Overnight camping is optional.

There will be Hi Mountain hats and other merchandise for sale and a fundraising auction, with the proceeds supporting our lookout project.

Read More

Benefit 7/19 @ Saucelito Canyon Winery, Edna Valley

*Note: This event is not being held at the Hi Mountain Lookout. It is being held at the Saucelito Canyon Winery tasting room in the Edna Valley of San Luis Obispo

What: Condor Benefit Mixer

When: Sunday July 19th, 3-8pm

Where: Saucelito Canyon Winery tasting room in the Edna Valley of San Luis Obispo, off of Hwy. 227 (Broad St.) on Biddle Ranch Rd.

Why: To benefit ongoing Condor research at the Hi Mountain Lookout and enjoy some wonderful, local wines

For details, click on the flyer to your left. Hope to see you there

Read More

Hi Mt. MCAS Program with Dr. Villablanca 11/17

Monday, November 17th
7 pm El Chorro Regional Park, at the SLO Botanical Garden Education Building

The California Condor Tracking Program with Dr. Francis Villablanca: Morro Coast Audubon Society has provided funding to assist California Polytechnic State University in hiring summer interns to take part in the California Condor telemetry program at the Hi Mountain Condor Lookout. The three interns from summer 2008 gave a brief summary of their work at the September MCAS Community Program. Dr. Francis Villablanca, the interns’ advisor at Cal Poly, will take a more in-depth look at tracking efforts, successes and setbacks in the condor recovery program, and related matters. You will come away with a greater understanding of Central California studies and activities oriented toward protecting this species, still among the most endangered of all North American wildlife. Francis Villablanca, PhD, is a professor of Biology at Cal Poly, where he teaches courses in Ornithology and Mammalogy, among others. He has been a presenter at the Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival, Dune Quest, and other natural history venues in the area. As always, all ages are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

Read More

2008 Hi Mt. Open House Event Schedule

Bird Watching Field Trip: 9:00am - 11:30am (Pozo Valley to Hi Mountain)
Meet at Pozo Ranger Station. Carpooling recommended. Habitats: grassland, riparian woodland at Salinas River crossing, valley oak, blue oak and coast-live oak woodlands, chaparral. Easy hiking conditions and car pooling. Advanced registration requested: contact Steve at s_schub@webtv.net or #805 528-6138. Leader: Peter Dullea, Hi Mtn. Project Volunteer.

Picnic lunch: 12 noon

Bring your own picnic lunch, or, “Condor Special” sack lunches are now available. If you are coming up to join us and want to travel lightly, think about reserving a delicious Condor Sack Lunch Special! Includes a scrumptious Margarita Mercantile sandwich (choice of turkey/jack cheese, ham/cheddar cheese or all cheese (1/2 or whole on french roll)) - you add the condiments, a bag of chips or pretzels, soda or water, and a homemade brownie. 1/2 Sandwich lunch $7 each, Full sandwich lunch $9 each. Call Marcelle with your preferences before Friday Oct. 9th at noon to reserve: 927-1017 (wk.) or 927-3359 (h) or email: marcelle@digitalputty.com (subject “reserve sack lunch”)

• Hi Mountain Lookout Interpretive Center open - please sign guest register

• Raffle tickets for sale for annual fundraiser

Welcoming comments: 12:30
Introductions, morning birding field trip report (interesting sightings), Hi Mountain Lookout Project year in review and recognition of staff, interns, and volunteers. Updates on the California Condor Recovery Program and Condor staff. Speakers: Steve Schubert, Volunteer Coordinator, Morro Coast Audubon Society, Dr. Francis Villablanca, Cal Poly, SLO, and Cal Poly student interns.

Raffle drawing for donated prizes (annual fundraiser): 1:15pm

Afternoon activities and field trips:

• Condor radio tracking demonstration

• Geographical landmarks - a 360 degree view from the Pacific Coast to the Sierra Nevada. Geologic features observed from the Lookout - the Rinconada and San Andreas Fault Zones. Speakers: Kevin Cooper, USFS Wildlife Biologist, Steve Schubert, MCAS.

• Native plant identification walk - along the crest of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Leader: Dr. Dirk Walters, San Luis Obispo Chapter, California Native Plant Society.

• Animal vocalizations workshop - learn to recognize and imitate common birds and mammals of the Santa Lucia Wilderness. Speaker: Kevin Cooper, USFS, Los Padres National Forest Wildlife Biologist.

• Feathers Workshop - Learn all about feathers with renowned artist, biologist, and taxonomist John Schmitt. Presenter: John Schmitt, contributing artist to National Geographic Field Guide to Birds.

• Volunteers training session - radio telemetry, facilities use, and scheduling.

• Meet with Hi Mountain Lookout staff - Late afternoon sit down chat with condor biologists and staff and reminiscing about experiences in ‘Condor Country’.

Sunset watch and dinner:
Gas stove and oven are available for cooking and heating food in the lookout facilities. Participants are encouraged to bring a potluck dish to share with their friends and guests. Note: no campfires are permitted for cooking or during the overnight campout (wear layered clothing).

Evening guest speakers: 7pm

• “Summer at Hi Mountain” - Cal Poly summer 2008 student internship slide show.

• “Trapping and banding birds of prey, Central Mongolia (2007) and South Texas (2008)” - Raptor research slide show by Paul Andreano, past Hi Mtn. Lookout Intern.

Astronomy observations: after dark
Telescopic observations of the evening skies, sponsored by members of the Central Coast Astronomical Society.

Optional Hi Mountain Campout:
Camping sites are available for Friday and/or Saturday nights at ‘Cypress Hill’ near the lookout. Other vehicle camping sites are located on the ridgeline near the entrance gate - with a view overlooking the mountains and coast - and at the USFS Hi Mountain Campground, located one mile down the road from the lookout. There are picnic tables and outhouses at the campground- bring your own potable water. No open campfires permitted and smoking in enclosed vehicles only.

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

Please contact Steve Schubert at s_schub@webtv.net or at # (805) 528-6138 to RSVP if you are planning to attend the open house event and the number of people in your group

See you there!

Read More

Welcome to our 2008 Interns and Volunteers

With the beginning of the Summer 2008 tracking season, we would like to welcome 4 new individuals to the Hi Mt. Lookout staff. Congratulations to Cal Poly students Shannon Murphy, Patrick White, Karlien Lang, and Sara Silverberg for being chosen to staff the Lookout this summer! We wish you a productive, safe, and fun summer on the mountain. Keep us posted on your progress and adventures. Welcome aboard!

L to R: Pat White, Shannon Murphy, Karlien Lang

Read More

The Preegrine Falcons of Morro Rock- by Steve Schubert

Here’s a chance to support the Lookout Project and learn something about Peregrine falcons at the same time. Steve Schubert, Hi Mt. Volunteer Coordinator, has authored a book that is now available for purchase online. Forty percent of sales proceeds for Steve’s book ordered online by August 1, 2008 will be donated to the Hi Mountain Condor Lookout Project!

The Peregrine Falcons of Morro Rock: - A 40-Year History - 1967- 2007 by Steve Schubert. Paperback, 44 pages, with color and black and white photographs. Art work by John Schmitt.

From Amazon.com:

The peregrine falcons of Morro Rock, located along the coast of Central California, have been admired and observed by travelers and visitors from around the world, and is one of the most well-known peregrine falcon nesting sites in North America. This 40-year history chronicles the yearly efforts of nest site attendants and endangered species management techniques - captive breeding, double clutching, captive hatching of thin, fragile wild eggs, and fostering falcon chicks into the wild nests - that has assisted in the recovery of a once imperiled species

Paperback copies may be ordered through Amazon.com or CreateSpace.com at the following links:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/143484823X
http://www.createspace.com/3338535

Read More

CALL FOR HELP! Summer ‘08 Internship Fundraiser

Hi Mountain Lookout needs YOUR help for summer ‘08! We are soliciting matching funds needed by end of April.

Cal Poly’s Biological Science Department has funding for one summer intern to staff Hi Mountain for summer 2008 (tracking Calif. Condors, opening the Hi Mountain Interpretive Center, educating the public about condors & the recovery program and providing a presence at the Lookout). We need to fund a second intern. We need to raise $2500.00. THE GOOD NEWS: we already have $1500.00!

IF you can help, please send a check, in any amount you can afford, to:
Morro Coast Audubon Society (check made out to “*MCAS/Hi Mtn Lookout S’08*”)
P.O. Box 1507, Morro Bay, CA 93443-1507

Thanks in advance of any help you can give! Questions? Contact Marcelle Bakula, fundraising volunteer, by email:marcelle@digitalputty.com (please put “Hi Mtn.” in subject line).

Thank you for your continuing support of the Hi Mt. Condor Lookout Project

Read More

Open House 2007 Schedule

Hi Mountain Condor Lookout Project 6th Annual Open House/ Campout Saturday, October 6th, 2007

Schedule of Activities:

Birding Field Trip 7:30am-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 in the Santa Lucia Mountains. Bring water and snacks. Some poison oak along the trail. Advanced registration requested: contact Steve at s_schub@webtv.net or #805 528-6138 Leader: Alan Schmierer, Morro Coast Audubon Society field trip chairperson (for more details and information, contact field trip leader at aaschmierer@yahoo.com)

Bird Watching Field Trip 9:00am - 11:30am Pozo Valley to Hi Mountain, 3,199 ft. elev. Meet at Pozo Ranger Station. Habitats: grassland, riparian woodland at Salinas River crossing, valley oak, blue oak and coast-live oak woodlands, chaparral Easy hiking conditions and car pooling. Advanced registration requested: contact Steve at s_schub@webtv.net or #805 528-6138

Picnic lunch 11:30am - 12 noon
-Hi Mountain Lookout Interpretive Center open - please sign guest register
-Raffle tickets for sale

Welcoming comments and introductions 12 noon
-Morning birding field trip reports by trip leaders
-Hi Mountain Lookout Project year in review and recognition of staff and volunteers Steve Schubert, Volunteer Coordinator, Morro Coast Audubon Society
-Updates on the California Condor Recovery Program Condor staff
-Raffle drawing for donated prizes- annual fundraiser Afternoon activities and field trips
-Geographical landmarks- a 360 degree view from the Pacific coast to the Sierra Nevada Kevin Cooper, USFS Wildlife Biologist
-Condor radio tracking demonstrations by condor staff and volunteers
-New volunteers training session - practicing with radio telemetry, facilities use, and scheduling Meet with Hi Mountain Lookout staff
-Native plant identification walk Leader: Dr. Dirk Walters, San Luis Obispo Chapter, California Native Plant Society
-Geology overview and walk Leader: Dr. David Chipping, Geology Professor, Cal Poly, SLO
-Animal vocalizations workshop Speaker: Kevin Cooper, USFS, Los Padres National Forest Wildlife Biologist
-Late afternoon sit down chat with condor biologists and staff, reminiscing about experiences in ‘Condor Country’

Sunset watch and dinner A gas stove and oven in the lookout staffing facilities are available for cooking and heating food. Participants are encouraged to bring a potluck dish to share with their friends and guests. Note: no campfires are permitted for cooking or during the overnight campout.Evening guest speakers 7pm

California Condor and Raptor Research powerpoint slide talks
-Estelle Sandhaus, Conservation and Research Coordinator, Santa Barbara Zoo “Condor nest guarding and monitoring efforts in Southern California”

-Paul Andreano, Santa Cruz Predatory Predatory Bird Research Group and past Hi Mtn. Lookout Intern “Trapping and banding birds of prey and life among the nomads in Mongolia, Summer 2007″

Astronomy -Telescopic observations of the evening skies
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 - with a view overlooking the mountains and coast - and at the USFS Hi Mountain Campground, located one mile down the road from the lookout. There are picnic tables and outhouses at the campground- bring your own potable water.

Driving directions are here. Please contact Steve Schubert at s_schub@webtv.net or at # (805) 528-6138 to RSVP if you are planning to attend the open house event and the number of people in your group. Thank-you.

Read More

Website Update

Howdy folks, in case you haven’t noticed our site has been updated. Condorlookout.org is now being powered by Wordpress, and although the content hasn’t changed much, the functionality of the site has evolved tremendously. For years now I’ve been trying to find a way to allow our staff, interns, and volunteers to easily add content to this site, without having to learn web page coding. It is now possible.

As you can see, our home page is now set up in “blog” format, and our staff can publish to this page via email or by logging in right here. Photos can still be uploaded to the Photo Archive, once you’ve set up an account there. The static pages (top tabs) won’t change, and house the content from our old site. Additionally, all the list-serv posts, essays, field notes, species lists, announcements, and Hi Mt. senior projects from our old “text archive” are now accessible right here, either through the Archive page, the Archive categories/months links, or by using the search bar (at top right). Play around with it and let me know how it works for you! Paul Andreano

Read More

In Memory of Brian Walton

Hello all,
Below is a message written by Dr. Eric Johnson, retired Ornithology Professor, Cal Poly, SLO, in memory of recently deceased Brian Walton, Director of the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group......

Brian had a strong attachment and love for the Hi Mountain and Huff’s Hole area. Brian found and reported nesting peregrine falcons at Huff’s Hole in the early 1970’s, at a time when the species was very endangered and extremely rare throughout it’s range in the West. For several years a nest watch was set up by the Forest Service to protect and monitor this peregrine site, and I was hired as one of the full-time nest guards at Huff’s Hole in 1978, my first introduction to the Hi Mountain-Huff’s Hole area.

At the time, in the late 70’s, Hi Mountain Lookout was still an active Forest Service fire lookout. For several years in the late 1970’s volunteers from Morro Coast Audubon Society conducted a yearly Huff’s Hole peregrine falcon nest watch, staffing and occupying Hi Mountain Lookout before the Forest Service lookout would come on duty each year during the fire season.

Over a period of several years Brian Walton and his SCPBRG staff conducted innovative endangered species management techniques at the Huff’s Hole and Hi Valley peregrine falcon and prairie falcon nesting cliff sites, by removing and captive-hatching thin, fragile peregrine eggs (and encouraging double clutching at the wild nest), cross-fostering young peregrines into nests with prairie falcons, and setting up a hack box release site for young peregrines.

Indirectly, the very concept of the Hi Mountain Lookout Project -now functioning as biological field research station and interpretive center- would never have come about without Brian’s influence and the history of events that took place at Huff’s Hole near Hi Mountain…a legacy of his efforts and involvement which began there more than three decades ago.

Brian attended and spoke to the group at the annual Hi Mountain Lookout Project open house event in October, 2005. We were very pleased that he was able to visit and see all the work accomplished at the lookout since he had last visited there many years ago. He spoke about the special connections with people and places that can develop and will be maintained over a lifetime, and lives that are changed and career paths established at a place as special as Hi Mountain.

On July 17th several SCPBRG staff made a memorial climb to the top of Morro Rock. Brian Latta repelled down to the southside peregrine eyrie and collected eggshell fragments. The event was also attended by several of Brian Walton’s family and friends. The memorial event in Brian’s honor was written about in the local newspapers.

Steve Schubert Volunteer Coordinator, Hi Mountain Lookout Project www.condorlookout.org

Eric Johnson’s message:
To the group: I am informed by Jamey Eddy that Brian Walton, Director of the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group, suffered a massive stroke and died yesterday, June 15.
Brian was a graduate of Cal Poly in the early 70’s. He was a student in my Ornithology class, and did his senior project with me on Cooper’s Hawks in SLO County. He subsequently obtained a Master’s degree from San Jose State, where Dick Mewaldt made him work on Song Sparrows in the hope that Brian would learn to look on ‘dicky birds’ as more than just raptor food!

At Santa Cruz, Brian and his group were directly responsible for the recovery of the Peregrine Falcon on the Pacific coast, from California to Washington, and in the Cascades and the Sierra. Many of you worked for him as nest monitors, at Morro Rock, Diablo Canyon, the Big Sur coast, and especially Huff’s Hole.

Brian’s program of captive breeding, fostering, nest manipulation (double-clutching), and hacking Peregrines was his life’s work, and if you see a Peregrine you probably owe Brian a ‘Thank You’. More recently he and his people have been actively involved in the recovery of the U.S. population of Aplomado Falcons.

Brian had a special place in his heart for the Peregrines of Morro Rock, and swore that as long as he had anything to do with it the Rock would always fledge Peregrines. As far as I can recall he was true to his word.

Brian encountered health problems when in his early 30’s (Type I Diabetes) but tried never to let that interfere with his work. He finally underwent a combined kidney and pancreas transplant, which was successful for years.

Brian was devoted to birds of prey, and a Conservationist who indeed truly made a difference. He will be sorely missed.
Eric Johnson, Stuart, VA

Read More

5th Annual Open House Press Release

For Immediate Release

Hi Mountain Lookout 5th Annual Open House and Condor Campout October 14-15, 2006

The Hi Mountain Lookout (near Pozo) has been restored as a California Condor research and interpretive center. Come visit the Lookout and discover one of the world’s most endangered and largest birds, the California Condor. The day will include condor tracking demonstrations, native plant and birding walk, a geology talk, potluck dinner, evening slide presentations, guest speakers, and astronomy. Guests are invited to stay the night near the Lookout and take in the amazing views from the coast to the Sierras.

For an event schedule and driving directions to Hi Mountain
Lookout, visit http://www.condorlookout.org or call Steve Schubert 805-528-6138

Read More

Summer '05 Field Season

Since the inception of the Hi Mountain Lookout Project 9 years ago,
Morro Coast Audubon Society has had a rewarding and successful
collaboration with several organizations and many hard working staff and
volunteers. The rehabilitation of an old abandoned fire lookout into a
functioning biological research station and interpretive visitor center
has been a source of great satisfaction and pride for all involved in
the project.

This upcoming 2005 summer field season marks our 4th season of field
operations and demonstrates the breadth of these collaborative efforts.
MCAS has funded the purchase of a heavy security gate and signage that
will be installed by the U.S. Forest Service, providing staff time and
labor. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s condor staff will be
providing our interns and volunteers onsite field training in radio
tracking, note taking, and condor nest watching at Hopper Mountain
National Wildlife Refuge in Ventura County. The Ventana Wilderness
Society (VWS) near the Big Sur Coast continues to provide condor
movement information through GPS (global positioning systems) tracking,
with exact location data relayed to satellites in earth orbit by
transmitters attached to the wings of free-flying condors. Other VWS
condors equipped with radio transmitters are tracked from Hi Mountain
Lookout as they occasionally fly north and south through SLO CO on their
long flights from Big Sur country to Hopper Mountain refuge, and back
again. Hi Mountain Lookout staff also radio track condors released at
Pinnacles National Monument, in cooperation with the National Park
Service. One more example of our collaborative efforts: Dr. Francis
Villablanca through the Biological Sciences Department at Cal Poly has
recently obtained funding to hire and supervise 5 student interns, who
will be working in shifts staffing Hi Mountain Lookout (along with our
volunteers) full-time this summer! The focus of this student internship
will be on conducting several biological research projects at Hi
Mountain, including California Condor radio tracking, studying
ecological community dynamics by surveying resident and nesting birds,
live-trapping small mammals, conducting vegetation sampling, and
analyzing Geographical Information Systems (GIS) information- in study
plots set up within chaparral, oak woodland and riparian habitats. All 5
of these college students will be speaking and giving power point talks
about their research methodologies and findings, presented to professors
and their student peers at Cal Poly, following their summer internship
experiences at Hi Mountain Lookout.

Learn more about the Lookout Project at www.condorlookout.org

Visit the lookout this summer, tour the facilities and visitor center,
and participate in condor radio tracking demonstrations.
New volunteers are encouraged to get involved. Please contact me in
advance to make arrangements for a visit.

Steve Schubert
MCAS Volunteer Coordinator,
Hi Mountain Condor Lookout Project

Read More

Condor Sightings in SLO Co.

Hi all,

During the last ten days, 3 different observers with good descriptions have reported 2 condors flying together at the following locations: Santa Rosa Creek Rd. and Cypress Mountain Rd. intersection (12 miles east of Cambria), east Cuesta Ridge near the towers, and at Beartrap Mountain in the La Panza Range (historic condor nesting location). We will use the telonics to radio track condors at Hi Mountain Lookout this weekend, beginning a new field research season.

Steve Schubert

Read More

2004 Year in Review

Hi all,
Here is a summary of the activities and accomplishments of the Hi
Mountain Lookout Project during 2004:

January-
Planning session at Cal Poly- 8 staff and volunteers, revising and
updating the Volunteer User Manual (revisions were completed by end of
2004 and the handbook will be distributed to all volunteers).

Morro Bay Natural History Museum Condor Exhibit Open House (the VWS
condor exhibit in the auditorium was on display for several months). Hi
Mtn. Project volunteers and collaborators were recognized at the evening
reception.

8th Annual Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival. ‘Condor Country’ van field
trip. USFWS Condor Recovery Program/Hi Mountain Project power point and
slide talk presentations.

February-
Morro Bay Natural History Museum Monday morning “Mind Walk” lecture
series: Condor Recovery Program and Hi Mountain Lookout Project slide
talk by Steve Schubert

March-
Work Weekend- 20 staff and volunteers. USFS contractor John Porter
conducted lookout safety improvements and lightning
protection/electrical grounding. MCAS funded the $2,700 labor and
materials costs.

April-
Annual Huff’s Hole peregrine falcon nesting survey. A condor was found
perched at a cave entrance there on the cliffs! Note: One evening
several months later 8 condors roosted overnight on these cliffs.
Possible future nesting attempts here will be closely monitored.

Cal Poly Ornithology field trip to Hi Mtn., led by Dr. Villablanca

May-
Cuesta College Community Programs “Condor Country” van field trip to the
lookout, led by Steve Schubert

June-
VHF Ham Radio Contest and Cal Poly Amateur Radio Club Field Day campout
at the lookout

Hiring of summer interns Jeremy White, Amy Millan, and Jenn Yost.
Internship funded by USFS and Cal Poly Bio. Sci. Dept., supervised by
Kevin Cooper and Dr. Francis Villablanca

Workday at the lookout- 9 staff and volunteers

July-
The three Hi Mtn.interns received field training and condor monitoring
experience at Hopper Mountain NWR, assisted by USFWS staff

August-
Planning meeting at Cal Poly attended by Hi Mtn. staff and volunteers,
USFWS, USFS, VWS, and Pinnacles NM staff

October-
3rd Annual Open House event and campout
~45 in attendance

Cal Poly Mammalogy field trip and campout at Hi Mtn., led by Dr.
Villablanca
December-
Completion of storage shed construction and shelving, by Kevin Cooper
and Tom Murphey, USFS

Ongoing activities-
Website (www.condorlookout.org) management and improvements by Paul
Andreano

Staffing of lookout by volunteers and training sessions for newly
recruited volunteers

Cal Poly senior project student research

Look for coverage of the Hi Mountain Lookout Project in an upcoming
issue of AUDUBON magazine and a KSBY TV interview (after the roads dry
up and accessibility to the lookout improves for the camera crew). The
lookout project has also been nominated for a San Luis Obispo County
environmental award, submitted by Dick Parker, MCAS President.

“Thank-you” to all who have contributed to our collaborative efforts!

Steve Schubert, Volunteer Coordinator

Read More

Lichens at Hi Mt.

Hello all,
This weekend I attended the thirty-third annual banquet and program of the California Native Plant Society, San Luis Obispo Chapter. The guest speaker spoke to an audience of about 60 persons about lichens of San Luis Obispo County, a departure from the usual lecture topics about flowering and other vascular plants. Charis C. Bratt, a Lichenologist from the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden, began her presentation by talking about California Condors! She was a condor observer in the Santa Barbara backcountry in the 1970’s (she gives her ‘hello’ to Jan Hamber). While condors were sometimes away from the observation area days at a time, and having a lot of free time to look around, she first began (at the age of 50) to take notice of the lichens growing nearby. Now she is a world renowned lichenologist, consulted and visited by other lichen experts, and sometimes brings them to SLO Co. to study and collect the locally diverse lichen flora. After beginning the slide talk by mentioning that Diablo Canyon is internationally known for the lichen growth there and the Los Osos stabilized dunes are home to the endemic popcorn lichen, what really got my interest was a 5 minute discussion about Hi Mountain. The location is one of her favorite sites for viewing, photographing, and collecting lichens for study. Other lichen sites of interest she mentioned in ‘condor country’ in SLO CO were Caliente ridge, Castle Craggs and Pine Mountain. I enjoyed the talk.

Steve Schubert

Read More