Bird the Wilderness Park with us!

Posted on by friendsofthewildernesspark

The Friends of the Wilderness Park are planning to offer more educational events for those who would like to know more about the natural history of the CHWP.

Our first offering is a collaboration with the Pomona Valley Bird Alliance to bird this diversity hotspot (990 species of organisms on the Friends’ iNaturalist CHWP Biota project, 133 species on eBird). We will take a holistic approach, observing the birds as well as the natural history they are  associated with on this 2-3 hour walk.

This is a great opportunity to learn about using eBird and iNaturalist to share your observations of birds and other wildlife. If you’re interested, please download the apps to your phone before you come to the Park, as cell phone reception in the Park is spotty at best.

Meet at the entrance gate to the park at 7:00 AM.  Parking is free for 6 hours for Claremont residents in the south parking lot at Mills and Mount Baldy Road and $5.00 for nonresidents at the north and south lots.  Bring water, sunscreen, sturdy shoes and binoculars.  Limited to 15 participants. To participate, register here.

Questions? Contact Scott Marnoy to RSVP at gopherus2@gmail.com

Location: Claremont Hills Wilderness Park main entrance
Mills Avenue and Mt. Baldy Road, Claremont, CA 91711 

    Difficulty:  Strenuous-2-3 miles on gravel roads with elevation gain.

    2025 City Nature Challenge CHWP BioBlitz results

    Posted on by friendsofthewildernesspark

    Thank you to everyone who participated in the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park BioBlitz this year! Unfortunately, Saturday, whihc would normally be our biggest day, was rained out, but nonetheless during the BioBlitz…

    • 92 observations were made
    • 73 different species were observed
    • 12 observers participated (2 were new iNaturalist users)
    • 5 new species (3 plants and 2 insects) and one new insect family were added to the Biota of the CHWP project (this number might grow or shrink with new IDs)

    Here are just a few of the special “first finds” made in the park during the 2025 CNC BioBlitz:

    Graceful Bedstraw (Galium porrigens)


    Photo by @carolblaney

    One of these was Graceful Bedstraw (Galium porrigens), which was most recently documented in 1971. Galium species are called “Bedstraw” because their fine hook-like hairs that cling to each other so the plants don’t mat down easily when used as a mattress.

    Menzies’ Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii)


    Photo by @nvhamlett

    This charming plant is frequently included native wildflower mixes. It was last documented in the CHWP in 1963.

    Pacific Sanicle (Sanicula crassicaulis)


    Photo by @nvhamlett

    Pacific Sanicle had never previously been documented in the CHWP. The species name, Sanicula, is the dimnutive of the Latin sanare, “to heal”, and native peoples did use this plant for medicinal purposes, including using a poultice of the leaves to treat rattlesnake bites and other wounds. The alternative common name “Snakeroot” probably refers to this use.

    Alfalfa Looper (Autographa californica)


    Photo by @nvhamlett

    Loopers are so called for the way the caterpillars arch their backs as they crawl along in a looping manor. The caterpillars can cause damage not only to alfalfa, but also peas, sugar beets, beans, mint, and spinach. In most cases, control is needed only where insecticides applied for other pests have reduced natural enemy populations.

    If you’re curious, you can see all of the BioBlitz observations here.

    These observations are a big help to park managers at the city of Claremont, who use such data to make decisions about endangered species and invasive ones. For those of us fascinated by diversity, seeing these new species is also great fun and great learning.

    Many, many thanks to @nvhamlett, @carolblaney, @keirmorse, @kwnaturalist, @alexiam068, @jeremyflores, @mskeschner, @moonlightrunner, @stephnjamie, @csuen, @scottmarnoy, @tonyjeremy4140 for contributing observations and making the BioBlitz a big success!

    Northern Harrier Hunting in Johnson’s Pasture

    Posted on by friendsofthewildernesspark

    In the winter, you can often see Northern Harriers in the Wilderness Park. Unlike other hawks that hunt from on high, these unusual hawks fly very low over the ground, looking and listening for rodents. They have a disk-shaped face looks and functions much like an owl’s, with stiff facial feathers helping to direct sound to the ears, and they rely on hearing as well as vision to capture prey.

    Last week one was hunting in Johnson’s Pasture and stayed in the same area for more than an hour, allowing your intrepid photographer to snap enough photos that some of them came our more or less in focus.

    Here you can see how close they fly to the ground at times.

    The Northern Harrier flying very low over the side of Johnson’s Pasture Road. ©Nancy Hamlett.

    In the Wilderness Park, you can often look down on them and spot the distinctive white patch on the rump.

    The Northern Harrier flying low showing its white rump patch while a cyclist rides by on Webb Canyon Road. ©Nancy Hamlett.

    This Northern Harrier must have been a female, as the females are brown above (males are grayish) and pale with brown streaks below.

    Another view of the Northern Harrier hunting showing the brown color above and the distinctive white rump patch. ©Nancy Hamlett.

    If you see one of these in the Park, take a few minutes to watch it. They’re awesome! They’re not likely to be here too much longer for this year. Although some are sighted in LA County throughout the year, most of the Northern Harriers migrate to the very northern US and Canada for the summer.

    For more information on Northern Harriers, check out All About Birds.