WILDLIFE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
WINTER 2002
wild news
HAWKWATCH 2003
Winter 2003
GRASSLANDS UPDATE
WRI Headquarters
Acquisition Fund
The acquisition of the 10-acre WRI Headquarters in the
Ramona Grasslands is as functional as it is symbolic.
Functional in its location at the very heart of the 7000 acre
grassland, and symbolic in being the first, small step in
creating a Grassland Preserve.
$100,000.00 Donation to WRI
Golden Eagle “mantels” its prey, a California ground squirrel
T
he Wildlife Research Institute’s Hawk Watch is held
in the Ramona Grasslands each Winter every Saturday
and Sunday, 9AM until Noon, December 28th – March 2nd.
Meet at the corner of Highland Valley Road and Highland
Valley Court west of Ramona off Highway 67. You will
observe Wintering and Resident Hawks, Owls, and
Eagles. Learn from a WRI Wildlife Biologist identification
and life histories of birds of prey. You can see up to 13
different species of raptors. Hawkwatch is free to the
public and rewarding for all ages.
Only heavy rain
cancels.
Bring
binoculars and scopes if
you have them. Partial
support for this year’s
educational Hawkwatch
program was provided
by a grant from The
San
Diego
Foundation.
Dave Bittner, WRI Exec Director with Red Tailed Hawk
IN THIS ISSUE
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2
3
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4
Hawkwatch 2002-2003/Grasslands Update
WRI Auction Fundraiser Event
Montana Golden Eagle Migration Study
Eco-tour/MT Trapping Station and the Blacktail Ranch
Top 10 Wish List
We are thrilled to announce a generous contribution of
$100,000.00! As we go to press, a close friend of the WRI
from Mexico has made an anonymous contribution, which
will go a long way to support the Ramona Grasslands
Project. We are forever grateful and hope others will be
inspired to keep the momentum going until the Grassland
Preserve becomes a reality.
Matching Funds
Our County Supervisor Dianne Jacob offered a challenge
grant of $25,000 and this new contribution has met the
challenge.
Cagney Property Acquisition
The Nature Conservancy is nearing completion of the
first major grasslands acquisition, the 417-acre Cagney
property. The preservation and restoration of this critical
parcel will serve as a cornerstone of the Ramona Grasslands
Wildlife Area. Also, the Department of Fish and Game and
US Fish & Wildlife awarded an $825,000 grant to help
preserve habitat in the grasslands for endangered species.
A grant totaling $1.5 Million was awarded to the county
from the state to restore habitat in the Santa Maria Creek.
Regina Wilson, WRI Grant Writer was influential in
working with TNC to make these cooperative grants
happen.
Burrowing Owl Project
Wal-Mart has awarded a grant to WRI to buy materials to
construct Burrowing Owl boxes on our Headquarters
property. This project will need some volunteer labor for
the building and installation. If you are interested and good
with a shovel, we could use your help. Call 760-7893992 to volunteer.
WILDLIFE RESEARCH INSTITUTE, Inc.
P.O. Box 2209
Ramona, CA 92065
760-789-3992
A not-for-profit organization dedicated to wildlife, land acquisition, education and research.
Wild News, a publication of WRI
Editor: Leigh Bittner
WRI FUNDRAISER
On October 15, Don and Gayle Kovacic opened
their home for a great cause: wildlife conservation.
The fundraising event was held poolside with Mt.
Woodson as a backdrop. There was gourmet food,
great music and both a silent and live auction to add
to the fun and excitement.
In the weeks before the event, our local businesses
generously donated items and services for the
auction: everything from golf packages to Bed and
Breakfast to Eco-tours and Ski Trips to Barn Owl
boxes and Gift Baskets.
In the months before the event, a talented group of
wildlife enthusiasts donated their time and creativity
in planning and preparation. We thank them all…
but most of all we want to thank you, the
community supporters who bought tickets, shared
good humor and bid on the auction items.
With your help, we raised $24,000!!
We warmly thank all of the businesses that
supported our fundraiser. We encourage you
to patronize them to show your appreciation.
Angus Asphalt
Blacktail Ranch Montana
Carmel Mountain Golf Club
Centered Touch Massage
Designer Stone of Ramona
Diamond “D” Feed Supply
Elam’s Hallmark-Ramona
Falcon Gallery of Julian
James Hubbell Galle ry
Joe Garcia Gallery
Kahoots
Livery Feed and Ranch Supply
Random Oaks Bed and Breakfast
Patti’s Hallmark-San Diego stores
Mary’s Secret Garden of Poway
Monte Vista Ranch Bed and Breakfast
Mt. Woodson Golf Club
The Nature Conservancy
North Star Ski Lodge-Tahoe
San Diego Natural History Museum
San Diego Zoo
San Vincente Golf Club
Scripps Aquarium
Seasons in the Garden of Ramona
Sky Valley Farm Gourmet Soaps
Stephan’s Tree Service
Snow Construction of Santee
Susi Torre-Bueno (Botanical Tours)
Utilities Helicopter
Warner Springs Golf Club
Photos from the WRI Fundraiser Dinner and
Auction
Carol Angus auctioning a James Hubbell original
County Supervisor, Dianne Jacob addresses the crowd regarding the
Ramona Grasslands
Auction photos by Carolyn Dorroh
MONTANA GOLDEN EAGLE
MIGRATION STUDY
The Montana Golden Eagle Migration study just
completed its third year at our Roger’s Pass Trapping
Station in Western Montana, south of Glacier National
Park. Set in the heart of Lewis and Clark Trail country
on the Continental Divide Roger’s Pass is a migratory
route for birds of prey from Alaska and Canada into the
United States.
Rob Domenech, project Biologist, banding Northern Goshawk at WRI
Trapping Station above Roger’s Pass in Montana.
Our trapping station is located on US Forest Service
Land at an elevation of 6400’. From September 1
through November 1, 2002, our biologists banded and
tagged 27 Golden Eagles and 70 other Hawks and
Falcons. Rob Domenech, Project Leader, Sharon Fuller
and Noel Nies were the biologists who braved 55mph
winds, two foot snows, freezing temperatures and sharp
talons to conduct this research.
However, they did
enjoy elk, moose, antelope, black bear, herds of mule
deer and white-tail deer, against a backdrop of fir trees
and sub-alpine forest. Grizzly Bear are also there but
fortunately or unfortunately, we never crossed paths.
Dr. Jeff Lincer, preparing to release a banded Rough-legged Hawk at
Roger’s Pass, Montana.
The main purpose of this project is to document the
mortality of raptors nesting in Canada and Alaska and
wintering in the Western United States.
We are
currently using patagial tags and USFW leg bands, but
our goal is to put satellite transmitters on the Golden
Eagles to glean more data. However, we are not yet
funded for this expansion. The technology is there, but
we need $50,000 per year to support it. At our current
research level the cost is $12,000 per year.
BLACKTAIL RANCH
ECO-TOUR
OCTOBER 2003
At
this
year’s
Fundraiser Auction,
one of the unique
opportunities was a
week’s stay at the
Blacktail Ranch with
an opportunity to
“work”
at
the
trapping station as we capture, tag and release Golden
Eagles and Hawks.
The Blacktail Ranch is an 8,000-acre jewel, located at
the base of the Continental Divide, where the Rocky
Mountains meet the prairie, in Wolf Creek, Montana.
The South Fork of the Dearborn River flows through the
center of the ranch feeding the rich meadows and the
deep, lush aspen groves. The Blacktail Ranch adjoins
the Helena National Forest, the largest piece of roadless
area in the lower 48. Tag Rittel and Sandra Renner,
host their guests with warm hospitality, great ranch
meals and generosity of spirit and it is still a working
Montana Ranch first homesteaded by Tag’s grandfather
in 1886.
The Blacktail Ranch is
rich
with
archaeological
sites
including an extensive
cave system dating to
the Ice Age, a Sun
Wheel, a Medicine
Wheel and numerous
tipi rings from more
recent native visitors.
The Ranch museum
houses artifacts from
the cave and the
Ranch and all of these
sites can be toured
during
your
stay.
After exploring miles of hiking trails, bird watching,
horseback riding, fishing or just sitting on the front
porch, they have a hot tub and sauna awaiting you at
the end of the day.
WRI Headquarters
“TOP TEN” Wish List
We are looking for new or like-new items to support our
headquarters; here are a few items that we currently need.
Special thanks to Angus Asphalt for donating all of our
office desks and furniture and Home Depot for the folding
tables. Donations are tax-deductible, but always consult
your tax advisor first.
Kitchen Table/chairs
Chest Freezer
Vacuum Cleaner
Plain Paper Fax
Well Service
Riding Lawn Mower
Picnic Tables
Conference Table
Lumber
Drywall
Land Acquisition
Announcement
It was a very Merry Christmas for TECC!!
On September 30, 2002, The Escondido Creek
Conservancy and the County of San Diego closed
escrow on 345-acre Derbas Property between Lake
Hodges and the Escondido Creek. It had been slated to
become an 84-lot development. This property holds
the last and only nesting pair of Golden Eagles
west of I-15, except for Camp Pendleton. The
Golden Eagle research and testimony by WRI’s
Director, Dave Bittner, was instrumental in
protecting this endangered wildlife habitat. WRI
is currently working with TEEC to develop a longterm protection plan for the Golden Eagles on the
Derbas Property.
NEW!! AVAILABLE AT WRI HEADQUARTERS:
State of the Art…
KOWA SCOPES AND BINOCULARS
SPECIAL DISCOUNTS FOR WRI MEMBERS!
CALL 760-789-3992 FOR INFORMATION.
Wildlife Research Institute, Inc.
18030 Highland Valley Road
P. O. Box 2209
Ramona, CA 92065