[Posted by Chuck Almdale]

On Saturday, 18 April, we’re going to visit Bear Divide Bird Banding location in the San Gabriel Mtns. above Sylmar, located on the mountain ridgetop between Fwys #14 & #210. The site was embedded in a cloud when we visited last year and the banding station was closed, yet we found another twenty or so people, bundled up, standing around in the fog, hoping to see birds. It became a bit of a party, as when a crowd of birders gather at a rare bird stake-out spot, hoping for a glimpse of a lifer and chattering away while they wait. We located and identified about two dozen species in the fog, including ravens croaking like foghorns in the misty distance, and Wrentits bip-bip-bipping away.

When it’s fog-cloudy, they call off the banding because 1) most of the birds know enough to fly above the fog if it’s not too high, and (in my opinion) 2) it’s cold, fingers get cold, it’s harder to manipulate the tools and the live birds and thus the fun dissipates faster than the fog.

This year, the road up the north slope is closed due to washout and collapse repairs, so we must use the route up the south slope.

Trip reservation necessary
Contact leader: Armando Martinez 310-428-6845 or email armando.martinezmarquez@gmail.com.
If our plans change as they can due to fog/cloud, we’ll need to contact you.

For Carpooling
Contact Armando as above for the north valley carpooling meeting location.
Time: Arrive 6:45 – 7 am. We leave here at 7 am.
Bring: Binoculars, clothing layers, water, snack.

Carpooling:
We recommend gathering at the carpool location as parking can be limited at the banding location. We also recommend that that all visitors read the banding station’s page: https://beardividebanding.com/visit/. Their primary purpose is banding birds, and cooperation from visitors is needed to get the job done in a manner friendly to both birds and birders. They are also happy to take donations. $5-10 per person is suggested. SMBAS is not covering these donations.

Weather Predictions: NWS camp 9, then “hourly weather forecast” is “somewhat reliable” for predictions for this area.

Driving yourself?
Try to arrive by 7:30am at the banding location. You’ll have to figure it out yourself how long that will take you on a Saturday morning. Expect it to take at least 20 minutes to travel up Little Tujunga Canyon Road to the banding site.
Using an in-car GPS routing system? Don’t let it send you on the northern route using Hwy #14 and Placerita Cyn. Rd. or Sand Canyon Rd. The section of Little Tujunga Cyn. Rd. north of Bear Divide is closed due to repairs. You can’t get through that way.
General directions: Exit #210 Fwy at exit #8 Foothill Blvd. Turn north (left), go approx. .2 mile to Osborne St. and turn left. Osborne becomes Little Tujunga Cyn. Rd. Continue uphill roughly 10 miles of winding road to the Bear Divide Fire Station and picnic grounds access road (Santa Clara Truck Trail) and turn left. Bear to the right to large dirt parking area on right and park out of the way.
Altitude: ~1700 ft., might be overcast and foggy, might be sunny.

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Alternative in case of thick clouds:
Depending on the fog, we may use the option of birding at Wilson Canyon in Olive View, NE of Sylmar. This spot is often very birdy, especially in spring. If it’s clouded in at the divide there may be extra birds downslope at Wilson Canyon. There is a $5 parking fee which you pay by putting cash into an envelope and then into a slotted box. No credit card or telephone payments possible.
Address: 14450 Olive View Drive, just east of Olive View Hospital.
Directions: Take #210 Fwy to exit #2 Roxford St. Turn north, follow the eastward curve where it becomes Olive View Dr., continue past Olive View-UCLA Medical Center on north side of road to the park entrance road on left (signed). Pay your $5 fee and continue up the hill on the narrow paved road. At the top it becomes dirt. Turn left. In about 1/10 mile, it curves to the right and ends at a large dirt parking area. Meet here, if we decide to come here. You can always come here on your own, by the way. It’s a great birding spot. And…if you ever feel like hiking over the mountain ridge, start from here and end up in Placerita Cyn.; it’s fire roads and trail all the way.

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