People in interested in learning more about condors and the efforts to save them are encouraged to sign up for the Pinnacles Condor Experience, a new condor education and fundraising program presented by Pinnacles Partnership. The first portion of the program includes free lectures on the birds — some of which nest in the Pinnacles National Park in San Benito County — and the efforts to save them.
These free classes will be held at local Bay Area and Central Coast REI stores through Oct. 6. The second part of the program is a day-long learning adventure at Pinnacles National Park that focuses on the many natural wonders of the park with a special emphasis on the endangered California Condor. The educational lectures and guided hikes will be held at Pinnacles National Park on Oct. 10, Nov. 7, and Dec. 5 for a fee of $150 per person.
The free lectures at REI stores will be presented by Richard Neidhardt, a member of the condor team at Pinnacles National Park and also the board chair for the Pinnacles Condor Fund at Pinnacles Partnership. He will use his hands-on knowledge to lead classes covering the history and current status of the condor; its life cycle, behaviors, and habitat; information about the bird and its role in nature and society; and the Pinnacles Condor Program, including condor release in the wild, monitoring, concerns, and the future.
Neiderhardt and Pinnacles Partnership will also host Par“Pinnacles Condor Experience” days at Pinnacles National Park. Participants can participate in this day-long adventure for a fee of $150 per person. This educational fundraiser benefits Pinnacles Partnership and the Pinnacles Condor Fund. Participants will join birding experts, condor volunteers, and Pinnacles National Park experts in condors, birding, botany, wildlife, and geology for an eight-hour learning experience in Pinnacles National Park.
Participants will begin the condor experience adventure at 8:30 a.m. in a Pinnacles classroom. Lectures will provide details about the California Condor and other Pinnacles birds as well as geology, flora, fauna, and history of the park. Mid-day, attendees will choose between the Condor Gulch trail – a 900-foot climb to a California Condor overlook site – or a flat hike through Pinnacles riparian habitats. Each hike is composed of 15 people (per trail choice) and is guided by two or more experts who love to teach and share. These family-friendly hikes are paced for ease and enjoyment. After the hike, all participants will join again with guides and teachers for a simple meal that revisits the day’s adventures and wraps up lingering questions.
These fall programs are made possible through a donation from Hacienda de Léal, a boutique hotel in San Juan Bautista. It will provide many guest amenities including boxed lunches for the hike. Request the special “condor rate” at www.haciendadeleal.com when making a reservation for a visit to Pinnacles National Park.
The class sizes for the REI lectures will vary depending on location and pre-registration is highly recommended. During registration, participants will be able to select their choice of date, the overlook (climb) or riparian (flat) hike, and meal preference (vegetarian or meat).
Pinnacles Partnership is a 501c3 non-profit corporation supporting programs and projects at Pinnacles National Park since 2007. Learn more about its current programs and projects by visiting www.pinnaclespartnership.org.