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Bear Divide Banding Station Trip Report: April 18, 2026
[By Chuck Almdale; photos by Armando Martinez, Trish Oster & Chris Tosdevin]
North of the San Fernando Valley in the mountains above Olive View and San Fernando, a small group of very experienced bird banders are doing their work. Anyone can go and watch them. They do this at Bear Divide near the Fire Station just off Little Tujunga Canyon Rd., Tuesday through Saturday, from dawn to 10 am, from late March through early May.
Birders can also stand on the ridge road and try to identify birds as they fly by. Some zoom past, others land in the treetops and bushes, perhaps to rest a moment, then launch themselves down the the northern slope. There are also several roads and paths that you can walk or set off on a long hike.
Although we all arrived at different times, we all managed to watch the banders do their work. They had mist nets set up at two nearby locations. The banding station consisted of a couple of vehicles at the end of the large parking area and blocked off from the spectators by several tables, leaving the banding area within. From a “clothesline” hung several white cloth bags, each containing one bird. One by one the birds were weighed, removed from their bag, measured, banded on one leg, and brought over to the spectators for closeup viewing and photos.
(Trish Oster 4-18-26)
(Trish Oster 4-18-26)
(Trish Oster 4-18-26)
(Trish Oster 4-18-26)
Then the bird would be released to continue its journey north.
(Armando Martinez 4-18-26)
Larger birds such as woodpeckers and thrushes can fly into a mist net and wind up getting banded, but most of the birds are the smaller passerines. As the banding season progresses, the mix of captures changes. Today it was mostly Lazuli Buntings, Lesser Goldfinches and several warblers.
The last bird we saw banded was a Rufous Hummingbird, a female with a completely green back and a bit of rufous on the flanks and tail. We got to see close up the famous notched tail feather which differentiates the Rufous from the very similar Allen’s. It’s the R2 feathers, second from the center on the 10-feather tail.
Among the warblers were the Nashville Warbler. Notable among their field marks are the gray head, yellow breast and belly, a non-gray throat – either yellow or pale – and a complete white eye ring.
(Trish Oster 4-18-26)
(Trish Oster 4-18-26)
They also have a rufous crown patch, rarely seen unless they’re displaying in aggression or in courting, or when the bander gently blows on their crown.
Bear Divide Banding Station (Trish Oster 4-18-26)
After we saw the crown, the bird was released and off it went, heading north.
(Armando Martinez 4-18-26)
There were also MacGillivray’s Warbler, the least commonly-seen (by me) of the ten regularly-visiting warbler species in Southern California. They also have a yellow breast and belly, but the head is a darker gray than the Nashville, the throat is also gray, and the eye ring is broken front and rear. They’re a whopping 3/4th-inch larger than the 4.5″ Nashville.
(Trish Oster 4-18-26)
After we watched the banding for a while, a class of students arrived to witness the procedure, and we moved aside to let them move to the front, although we returned later after the students left. Most of us wandered over to the ridge road to watch the birds arrive and leave. Identifying passerines in flight is not the easiest task. Most went unidentified and uncounted (by our group). Fortunately some landed, such as flycatchers, orioles and Black-headed Grosbeaks, and the resident birds were continually busy.
(Trish Oster 4-18-26)
Some of us drove up the “truck road” from the banding station to a pull-out spot about 1/2 mile from the banding site. Here we saw and heard various birds: a nesting Red-tailed Hawk, many Acorn Woodpeckers, Ravens and a Red-tailed Hawk overhead, several singing Canyon Wrens, House Finches and Lesser Goldfinches, and one hard-to-find Black-Chinned Sparrow that landed briefly in a tree. The sparrow was too briefly seen to photograph, but one of the Canyon Wrens approached us, singing all the while.
(Armando Martinez 4-18-26)
As we had scattered into various frequently-moving groups, many of the birds reported were seen by only one or a few people. I did my best in putting together the list below from reports I received at the time, and later from eBird trip lists. A total of 56 identified species is pretty good, I think, for this chaparral location. Below this trip list is the list amassed for April by those doing a regular point count, which shows 49 species.
Angeles NF–Bear Divide, Los Angeles, California, US
Apr 18, 2026 7:45 AM – 11:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling, 0.5 mile(s)
56 species (+1 other taxa) 209 total birds
Checklist Comments: Field Trip of Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society. Visit to the banding station. Mostly standing on hill edge watching migrating birds fly past. Many local resident birds present. Also drove .5 mile to small woods patch about 500 ft. higher. List includes birds seen by: Chuck Almdale (if not otherwise noted), Jean Garrett, Armando Martinez, Trish Oster, Lu Plauzoles, Chris Tosdevin & Kathleen Waldron.
| Angeles NF–Bear Divide, Los Angeles, California, US | ||
| Mountain Quail | 2 | Heard only, .5 miles from BDBS |
| California Quail | 1 | Fire Station helicopter pad |
| Band-tailed Pigeon | 10 | Fly-bys |
| Eurasian Collared-Dove | 2 | Reported by: Lu Plauzoles |
| Mourning Dove | 4 | Fly-bys |
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | 2 | Reported by: Armando Martinez |
| Anna’s Hummingbird | 5 | |
| Rufous Hummingbird | 1 | In hand, banded |
| Allen’s Hummingbird | 5 | |
| Rufous/Allen’s Hummingbird | 4 | |
| Turkey Vulture | 4 | |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | Fly-by |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2 | One flew to nest, settled down gently & slowly as if onto eggs or chicks |
| Acorn Woodpecker | 8 | Granary tree, many holes .5 miles from BDBS |
| Northern Flicker | 3 | Heard calling; 2 by Lu Plauzoles |
| American Kestrel | 1 | Reported by: Kathleen Waldron |
| Olive-sided Flycatcher | 1 | Reported by: Jean Garret |
| Western Wood-Pewee | 1 | Reported by: Jean Garrett |
| Hammond’s Flycatcher | 2 | Reported by: Armando Martinez |
| Western Flycatcher | 3 | |
| Ash-throated Flycatcher | 1 | Reported by: Armando Martinez, Jean Garrett |
| Western Kingbird | 2 | |
| Western Warbling Vireo | 2 | Reported by: Armando Martinez |
| California Scrub-Jay | 18 | |
| Common Raven | 9 | |
| Tree Swallow | 2 | |
| No. Rough-winged Swallow | 3 | |
| Wrentit | 8 | All heard singing |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | 1 | Reported by: Armando Martinez |
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | 1 | Reported by: Armando Martinez |
| Canyon Wren | 3 | 1 seen, 2 more heard |
| Northern House Wren | 4 | 1 seen, 3 more heard |
| Bewick’s Wren | 2 | 1 seen, 1 more heard |
| Western Bluebird | 5 | 3 flyby, 2 more Reported by: Armando Martinez |
| Hermit Thrush | 1 | |
| Phainopepla | 3 | |
| House Finch | 16 | |
| Lesser Goldfinch | 4 | 2 fly-by, 2 singing |
| Chipping Sparrow | 3 | Passing by, landed in bush |
| Black-chinned Sparrow | 1 | Flying, landed in tree, not breeding male. |
| .5 mi. from BDBS, previously reported this area. | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco | 2 | Passing by, landed in bush |
| California Towhee | 3 | |
| Spotted Towhee | 2 | Reported by: Lu Plauzoles |
| Hooded Oriole | 2 | 1 reported by: Kathleen Waldron |
| Bullock’s Oriole | 2 | Reported by: Kathleen Waldron |
| Orange-crowned Warbler | 2 | 1 in hand by banders |
| Nashville Warbler | 2 | In bander’s hands |
| MacGillivray’s Warbler | 4 | Some in bander’s hands |
| Northern Yellow Warbler | 1 | Reported by: Armando Martinez |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | 3 | 1 landed in tree, 2 rpt by: Armando Martinez |
| Black-throated Gray Warbler | 3 | |
| Townsend’s Warbler | 1 | Reported by: Armando Martinez |
| Hermit Warbler | 2 | Reported by: Armando Martinez |
| Wilson’s Warbler | 1 | Heard only |
| Western Tanager | 2 | Passing by, landed in trees |
| Black-headed Grosbeak | 2 | Passing by, landed in tree |
| Lazuli Bunting | 24 | Fly-bys. 9 reported by: Armando Martinez |
A group of birders, perhaps associated with the banders, is maintaining a point count at Bear Divide (link to list). Their count began on 15 March 2024 with a total of seven species. Below is the count so far for April 2026 for northbound birds, which includes 8 dates, beginning on the 8th and ending on the 21st, showing 4,230 birds in 49 species and 6 groups (e.g. passerine sp., warbler sp.).
On the Banding Station website is a lot of interesting and useful information, including the following:
Photography Etiquette
Photography is generally allowed if it does not interfere with normal banding processes and as banding volume permits. We will provide as many up-close photo opportunities as possible while birds are safely held in the appropriate holds as time and safety allows. To minimize handling time, please be ready for photos when approached by a bander. The Bear Divide Banding Station follows the North American Banding Council’s Photographic Guidelines. Below is a summary.
- Do not photograph or post publicly on social media or otherwise photos that depict birds in inappropriate holds or appear to be showing signs of stress including, but not limited to, closed eyes, gaping or open bills, fluffed or rumpled plumage, or flapping wings as it is important to us to avoid any instances of misrepresentation or misinterpretation of banding efforts. If you are unsure if your photo is appropriate to share, please check with the Bander-in-Charge.
- Refrain from taking images of birds in mist nets, during net extraction, or during processing, unless permission is obtained from the Bander-in-Charge
- Only take photographs or videos when approached by a trained bander with birds in the appropriate photographer’s grip intended for public display and engagement
- Avoid ALL flash photography
- We reserve the right to ask for the removal or deletion of inappropriate photos that do not meet our station’s or the NABC’s photographic standards.
Fresh from The Guardian; a study of bird song and sex!
[Posted by Lucien Plauzoles]
The Guardian, which has become a universal English language daily via the internet, we read this interesting article from British researchers.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/19/hidden-world-of-female-birdsong-book
Rattlesnake Season
[by Chuck Almdale]
I was birding with a friend in O’Melveny Park near Granada Hills in the San Fernando Valley back on March 30, and we met a trailside rattlesnake. It was not happy to see us.
A little more detail. We had stopped to check out a hillside bushtop singing bird, which turned out to be a Rufous-crowned Sparrow – a good bird – and our Merlin app confirmed the insect-like (to my ears) song ID. Meanwhile, down the brushy slope behind us, some park maintenance person had turned on a sprinkler. After 10-20 seconds and the sprinkler not changing its sound one whit, I decided to look around to see where this sprinkler was. The sound was unusually steady, a high ssssssssss, there was no sign or sound of water falling anywhere, and downslope there was only brush. What park sprinkles their untamed hillside bushes at 11 AM? And the sprinkler seemed close. But it didn’t sound like a rattlesnake. Well…maybe a little.
It turned out to be a rattlesnake all right, coiled up, in the shade of a bush about two feet the other side of the trail, and when I saw him in my binos, it was staring straight at me. That sssssss sound really didn’t sound like any rattle I’ve ever hear from a rattlesnake, as it was seamlessly constant – not rattley – and higher pitched than the typical rattle, but it didn’t look like it was hissing. We looked at it a bit, then continued down the trail, mentioning the snake to passersby and suggesting they keep their eyes open. Three other groups had also seen rattlesnakes that day, further up the trail. I’ve birded in O’Melveny dozens of times, and never seen a rattlesnake. In nearby Placerita Canyon, I’ve seen them several times.
Rattlesnakes gather in underground or rockpile dens for the winter. When they emerge in spring and you’re in the area, it might seem like they’re everywhere. So I’ve heard and read, and I suspect that is what was going on.
Because rattlesnakes are now out and about, people have been bitten, and two people in our area have died, I thought I’d assemble a few tips and comments.
Tips from California Fish & Wildlife (link)
- Stay alert when outdoors.
- Wear sturdy boots and loose-fitting long pants. DO NOT wear sandals or flip-flops in brushy areas.
- Stay on well-used trails. Avoid tall grass, weeds, and heavy underbrush.
- Check rocks, stumps or logs before sitting down.
- Shake out sleeping bag and tent before use.
- Let others know where you are going, when you plan to return, and carry a cell phone. Hike with a companion when possible.
- DO NOT grab “sticks” in water. Rattlesnakes can swim.
- DO NOT let dogs off leash. Dogs are at increased risk when sniffing the ground near brushy areas.
- DO NOT try to touch or handle a snake, dead or alive. Dead rattlers may still inject venom shortly after death.
Tips from other sources
- Don’t pick up or get close to snakes. A 10 ft. distance is minimum.
- Make sure you can see where you plan to step or put your hands (e.g. when climbing rocks).
- Step on, not over, large rocks or logs.
- Avoid hiking alone so that you have help in case of an emergency.
- Scan the ground ahead of you as you walk, jog, or ride.
- Listen for the buzz of a rattlesnake’s rattle warning you it is there.
- Most bites result from trying to catch, drive off or kill the rattlesnake. Avoid it and go on your way.
Project RattleCam has livestreaming and archived videos of rattlesnakes.
Comments
A California study found two-thirds of rattlesnake bites were on the hand or arm, and 80 percent of victims were young men. Most bites occur from handling or accidentally touching snakes. [Sonoma Co. Parks]
In the unlikely event that you are bitten by a rattlesnake, remain calm and have someone call 911 immediately. Keep the affected limb below your heart. Don’t use a tourniquet or try to remove the venom yourself. If you are alone, call 911 or walk calmly to the nearest phone. Avoid running, but seek medical care as soon as you are able is vital. [East Bay Regional Parks]
A startled rattlesnake may NOT rattle before striking defensively. They also may not deliver an envenomed bite – a ‘dry bite’ may be used as a warning because venom creation and use can be energetically expensive for the snake. However, all bites from a rattlesnake should be treated as a venomous bite until appropriate medical attention is provided.
- Rattlesnakes are sensitive to ambient temperature and adjust their behavior accordingly. In warmer weather, you may see one basking in the sun to raise it’s body temperature.
- In Spring and Summer – Most active at dawn, dusk, and night to avoid overheating.
- In Fall and Winter – Inactive, and some may go into brumation (a state of dormancy with periods of activity), for several months in rock crevices, rodent burrows, or thick vegetation.
- Often multiple rattlesnakes may gather and establish dens during the colder months. These are often in rocky crevices where heat is retained, but may be found underneath homes or man-made structures. [Calif. Fish & Wildlife]
Rattlesnakes are important mid-level predators. They help with population and disease control by eating rodents that carry diseases like Lyme disease and plague, and which would otherwise over-reproduce and eat down all of our crops and native plants. And by eating those small rodents, they also package that energy into a nice big snake-shaped sausage for top predators like mountain lions or owls to eat. And, rattlesnake venoms are currently being studied for drug development. There’s a drug that’s been on the market for decades now that is derived from rattlesnake venom. If you know someone who’s had a heart attack or gotten a stent in their heart or been treated for being at a high risk for blood clots, they might have been treated with this drug. We haven’t been able to synthetically develop anything in a lab that is nearly as good. [Cal Poly News]
If you see a rattlesnake out in the wild, like on a hiking trail, just give it space. Stay 10 feet away from it and let it move along its way because you’re in its house. If rattlesnakes are in someone’s yard or in their house or that sort of thing, the evidence-based best approach is to relocate that rattlesnake. Best thing to do is call a professional. There’s also a website called freesnakerelocation.org where people can find a relocation service in their area.
Partial closure 405 N in Sepulveda pass 4/18/26
[Posted by Chuck Almdale]
The northbound 405 through the Sepulveda Pass between Skirball Center and Ventura Blvd. will be reduced to three lanes, 10pm Friday 4/17 through 5am Monday, 4/20. Also closed are: northbound off-ramp to Getty Center Drive, Skirball Center on-ramp to 405 N. Supposedly the southbound lanes will not be affected, but web sources didn’t agree on this.
If you’re planning on coming on our trip to Bear Divide banding station in the mountains above Sylmar, north of the San Fernando Valley, please take this possible slowdown into account, especially if you’re planning on arriving at the carpool meetup spot 6:45-7:00 am.
I’m not certain that three open lanes at 6:30-7:00 am on the northbound 405 constitute massive tie-ups, but there will be slowing at the least.
Death Valley Sage
[by Chuck Almdale]
National Public Radio (NPR) recently did a report of the very rare Death Valley Sage (Salvia furneria).
Most of the report focused on the work of botanist Naomi Fraga of the California Botanic Garden. For more than 15 years she has been trying to collect seeds from this plant, which will then be put into a vault for safekeeping, similar to the giant Svalbard (Norway) Global Seed Vault containing the seeds of important crop plants from around the world. She did collect many seeds from many other plants, but so far she’s empty handed with Salvia funeria. In 2026 the desert really bloomed, hope springs eternal, and she trying again.
Read the report, see the photos and listen to the 5-minute interview.
https://www.npr.org/sections/the-picture-show/2026/04/01/nx-s1-5749446/botanist-search-seeds-rare-death-valley-sage
Other web pages on Salvia funeria: Calscape, CNPS, Wikipedia
Read Naomi Fraga’s bio: https://naomifraga.com/naomi/
The California Botanic Garden where Naomi works, has their own website https://www.calbg.org/, well worth a look for anyone interested in native plants. You can:
- Visit their garden Tue-Sat 8am-7pm (what’s beautiful today)
- Become a member, get free admission to the garden,discounts on purchases, and more
- Volunteer
- Buy native plants
- Learn about the seed bank and buy seeds from over 6,000 California plant species
- Get their very interesting 12-page monthly Oak Notes newsletter
- Take classes & attend events
- Attend Seminar series’
- Donate to help
California Botanic Garden
1500 N. College Ave., Claremont CA 91711
909-625-8767 | info@calbg.org
