Unlike seeing any other bird soaring above, the ultimate goose-pimple experience has to be witnessing California condors riding the thermals in the wild. Is it because they are big? Or because there are so few of them? Or just because they are awesome? Whatever the reason, if you want to watch them fly free and unencumbered, here’s your chance SoCal.
To commemorate National Wildlife Refuge Week this October, the good folks at Friends of Condors Wild and Free have been offering a series of field trips to the public to see the majestic birds at Hopper Mountain Wildlife Refuge and Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge. These locations usually off-limits to the public so naturally the interest in joining the tours is high.
According to Martin Fletcher, president of the nonprofit group, this year’s tours (dated Oct. 17 for Hopper and Oct. 24 for Bitter Creek) filled up even before they sent out a notice to their regular mailing list.
But there is hope bird lovers. Fletcher explains in an email:
Due to this incredible interest we have been able to get FWS (Fish and Wildlife Services) to give us a couple more tour dates though the timings have not yet been set. Sign up to our membership and you will receive notice of our tours. There is no membership fee or fee for the tours.
If you want in on this special wildlife experience, get cracking and sign up. The condors are waiting for you.
