Birdland
Trails in Fallbrook lead the way to great bird watching
W
ant to get a little featherbrained in Fallbrook? Trails in wildlife preserves in and around Fallbrook make it easy to spend time enjoying the presence of our avian friends.
The Fallbrook Land Conservancy has been restoring native species at Los Jilgueros, and wildflowers are now abundant during the rainy season. Spring is an especially colorful time at this preserve. Carina Dominga photo The Los Jilgueros Preserve is located [Top] Los Jilgueros Preserve. Shane Gibson photo on South Mission Road just north Los Jilgueros Preserve Bird is the word at the easy-to-walk of Fallbrook High School between by Sandra Shrader network of looping trails totaling over Sterling Bridge Road and Peppertree two miles in the pristine Los Jilgueros Preserve, located in the Lane. Parking is readily available, and there is no entrance fee. heart of Fallbrook. The 46-acre wildlife habitat, once a working farm in the 1920s, Dinwiddie Preserve is under the stewardship of the Fallbrook Land Conservancy. More bird watching can be enjoyed on the half-mile trail The conservancy is a private nonprofit organization dedicated at nearby Dinwiddie Preserve. A 14.5-acre site also under the to preserving more than 2,700 acres of open space including the stewardship of the FLC, the preserve underwent extensive habitat 1,200-acre Margarita Peak, 10 other preserves, and over 600 acres restoration with the removal of invasive species and installation of conservation easements. of native trees and shrubs. A mix of wetlands where part of the trail is protected by The preserve, with its year-round meandering Cienega Creek, wooden planks, a creek and ponds, some open terrain grassland forested areas of oaks, willows, and sycamores in addition to hiking areas and heavily forested sections with oak trees which surrounding open fields is, as with Los Jilgueros, popular with provide a lush canopy, the preserve is home to an astounding many varieties of birds. variety of bird species. Eighty-four species have been sighted at Dinwiddie Preserve, According to ebird.org, more than 150 different kinds of birds according to ebird.org, including many of those found at the have been spotted at Los Jilgueros Preserve including the more neighboring preserve. Warblers, hummingbirds, tanagers, orioles, commonly seen mallards, ducks, grebes and coots as well as Red- woodpeckers and turkey vultures among dozens of other feathery tailed Hawks, ravens, sparrows, finches, mockingbirds, doves types which also populate the preserve. and swallows. Others include the whimsically named Western For those who want to take a quick break from bird watching, Wood-Pewee, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler and more Dinwiddie Preserve is home to the Palomares House. Constructed species too numerous to mention. in 1888 by the Palomares family during the Rancho Monserate Among the eye-catching avians which been seen and recorded era, the building is one of the oldest houses in Fallbrook. at the preserve are cormorants, Snowy and Great egrets, BlackDinwiddie Preserve is located between S. Stage Coach Lane and crowned Night herons, Green herons and Great Blue herons. Brooke Road. 76
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