Fish and Wildlife Taking Advisor Applications Through Today

Big Bear, Ca July 13, 2011 12:00 pm – In Big Bear, all residents and visitors are stakeholders in the health and vitality of the fish and wildlife in the Valley.  Much of the allure of our resort community is the abundant fishing and the chance to see eagles and other wildlife.  Big Bear and other California residents have an opportunity to serve as advisors to the state Fish and Wildlife Strategic Vision Committees and to participate in making policies about our resources, however they must apply before the end of the day today.  The Strategic Vision Advisory Group will include representatives of a wide range of organizations involved in creating a joint vision for the state’s fish and wildlife resources.  The group’s main purpose is to coordinate and identify spokespersons for interested groups in order to include them in the Strategic Vision process.  Those interested in applying can access the application online at http://www.vision.ca.gov/stakeholder_advisory.html.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Long Run Recording Live Album at Concert

Big Bear, Ca June 22, 2011 3:00 pm – The Eagles tribute band The Long Run returns to Big Bear for Saturday evening’s Music in the Mountains concert at the Discovery Center.  The Long Run has been entertaining Big Bear for several years.  This year’s show is a special performance that will be recorded for The Long Run’s first-ever live concert album.  Internationally known announcer Larry Huffman will be the MC with proceeds from the event benefiting the Discovery Center’s children’s programs and the Lighthouse Project Peace Gardens in the Bear Valley Schools.  Children 12 and under attend the concert for free.  The music starts at 7:00 pm with the gates opening at 5:30.  Tickets can be ordered online at nationalforestassociation.org and picked up at will call, or purchased at the Discovery Center and at the gate.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Healing the Forest with Music at the Discovery Center

Big Bear, Ca May 14, 2011 3:00 pm – Music in the Mountains is the National Forest Association’s annual concert series benefiting the youth programs at the Big Bear Discovery Center.  Four concerts will be offered during the 2011 season.  On June 25 at 7 pm, experience the music of the Eagles with the The Long Run.  July 16 at 7 pm, the Journey tribute band DSB will be appearing.  July 30 the Big Bear Mountain Music Festival begins at 4:00 pm featuring the Misfit Cowboys, Sligo Rags, and Salty Suites.  The season concludes on Labor Day Weekend, with Jim Curry’s Tribute to the Music of John Denver.  Community supporters for the music series include Coldwell Banker, The Tim Wood Group, and the Lighthouse Project, with sponsorships by the City of Big Bear Lake, Northwoods Resort, Big Bear Mountain Resorts, and the Big Bear Lake Resort Association.  Tickets are available at the Discovery Center’s Adventure Outpost and online at nationalforestassociation.org.  Proceeds from the music events support youth service and learning forest restoration projects, in addition to after school science and forest stewardship programs offered by the Discovery Center.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Eagles Seen in the Big Bear Valley

Big Bear, Ca March 13, 2011 3:00 pm – The bald eagles that visit Big Bear during the winter months are one of the spectacular sites around the lake.  These large birds enjoy the plentiful fish and ducks available in our lakes because the water is not often completely frozen.  Each winter since 1979, the US Forest Service has conducted counts of the eagles seen in the area.  For one hour, on specific Saturday mornings between December and March, volunteers spread out around Big Bear Lake and Baldwin Lake, watching for our national bird, and recording where and when they see the eagles.  This year 2 bald eagles were seen in December, 5 in January and February, and 3 were recorded last Saturday in the final count of 2011.  72 volunteers participated.  In the next few weeks, the bald eagles will be returning north to Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Canada, where they spend their summers.  The residents and visitors of Big Bear will look forward to their return next winter.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Forest Service Needs Volunteers To Count Eagles

Big Bear, CA, March 9, 2011, 8:00am – Volunteers are needed to help the Forest Service count bald eagles in the next winter bald eagle count in the San Bernardino Mountains this Saturday. Concurrent Bald Eagle counts are held at Big Bear Lake and Baldwin Lake. Volunteers will be stationed at vantage points around the lakes, where they map and note any eagle observations during a 1-hour period. Through this method, the Forest Service gathers information about eagles in the area and changes in population numbers. There is no experience needed to be a volunteer. The final Eagle Count for this winter will be March 12. Volunteers should dress warmly and bring binoculars and a watch. Big Bear Lake area volunteers will meet at 8:00 a.m. this Saturday at the Big Bear Discovery Center. Contact Marc Stamer at 909-382-2828 for more information.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Eight Bald Eagles Spotted in Latest Eagle Count

Big Bear, Ca, February 15, 2011, 12:00pm -

On Saturday February 12th, the third bald eagle count of the winter was conducted by local, Federal, and State biologists, and volunteers around lakes in the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains. A grand total of 8 eagles (5 adults and 3 juveniles) were observed at the lake areas during the one-hour count.  Five eagles (2 adults and 3 juveniles) were observed in the Big Bear/Baldwin Lake area. Two adult eagles were observed at Lake Hemet, and one adult eagle was observed at Lake Perris. In the Big Bear area, 82 volunteers participated in the eagle census. The Forest Service and State Recreation Area biologists would like to thank those volunteers for their participation. The next eagle count will take place on Saturday, March 12th.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Help Count Bald Eagles With The Forest Service

Big Bear, Ca, February 7, 2011, 12:00pm -

Volunteers are needed to help the San Bernardino National Forest Service count bald eagles in the annual winter bald eagle counts on February 12th and March 12th. Concurrent bald eagle counts are held at Big Bear Lake and Baldwin Lake. Volunteers will be stationed at vantage points around the lakes, where they map and note any eagle observations during a 1-hour period. Through this method, the Forest Service gathers information about eagles in the area and changes in population numbers. There is no experience needed to be a volunteer. Volunteers should dress warmly and bring binoculars and a watch.  Big Bear area volunteers will meet at 8:00 a.m. Saturday at the Big Bear Discovery Center.  Contact Marc Stamer at 909-382-2828 for more information.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Season’s Final American Bald Eagle Count Indicates Five of Area’s Eleven Eagles Wintering in Big Bear Valley

Big Bear Valley, CA — The fourth and final eagle count of the season took place on March 13, with an impressive 62 volunteers showing up at the Big Bear Discovery Center to assist biologists of the San Bernardino National Forest. Within the local forest’s American Bald Eagle census area, which includes Lake Arrowhead, Big Bear Lake, Baldwin Lake, Lake Gregory, Lake Hemet and Silverwood Lake, a total of eleven eagles (nine adults and two juveniles) were spotted on Saturday morning and, of those, five eagles (including the two juveniles) were counted within the Big Bear Valley. Counts have been conducted in our area since 1978, to contribute to the national Mid-Winter Bald Eagle Census to assess recovery of the federally-protected species. This winter’s counts resulted in four eagles wintering here in the Big Bear Valley in December, six in January, nine in February and five for this month, making for an average of six; heavy snows during last winter prompted cancellations of the December 2008 and February 2009 counts, though we still averaged six for the 2008/2009 season. American Bald Eagles wintering here tend to migrate out of the San Bernardino mountains in late March, heading back to their summer homes in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Alberta, Canada; in the meantime, eagle habitats along Big Bear Lake’s North Shore are closed to the public but these areas, including the Big Bear Municipal Water District’s boat launch ramps, will re-open April 1st.

Final American Bald Eagle Count of the Season Slated for Saturday

The Big Bear Valley’s American Bald Eagle population has fluctuated over the last 22 years, during which time biologists from the San Bernardino National Forest have conducted counts during the winter months. Since the late ’70s, Big Bear’s eagle population has soared to as many as 35-40 and dropped to as little as six or seven in our area; during the most recent eagle count in February, there were nine eagles wintering in the Big Bear Valley and, surrounding the mountain lakes of the San Bernardino National Forest, a total of 15 eagles. The Forest Service’s radio tracking of American Bald Eagles has indicated that some of the same individual eagles return to the San Bernardino mountains each year, though they tend to move between Big Bear, Arrowhead and Silverwood Lakes—these same eagles have also traveled to Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Canada for the summer season. For those interested in observing the eagles, which tend to stay here through early April, the final eagle count of the season takes place this Saturday, March 13. Volunteers need not have experience, but are asked to bring binoculars and a watch and dress warmly. The Big Bear-specific eagle count begins at the Big Bear Discovery Center, on Big Bear Lake’s North Shore, at 8am; following a briefing by biologists, volunteers will scout for eagles along Big Bear Lake and in the Baldwin Lake area (until about 10am).

Next Page »