03/02/2011 | 25m 48s | Video has closed captioning.
Huell travels to Orange County to the Starr Ranch Sanctuary, owned by the California Audubon Society. He gets a special tour of the facility and takes a close look at their “Owl Cam” which is amazing.
Aired: 03/02/11
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>> "VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION] >> THE ADVENTURE STARTED OUT HEADING DOWN A BUSY HIGHWAY IN ORANGE COUNTY, PAST LOTS AND LOTS OF HOUSES.
BEAUTIFUL AND TYPICAL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SUBURBAN LANDSCAPE.
AND THEN WE GOT TO THE TOP OF A HILL AND MADE A RIGHT TURN.
AND ENTERED A WHOLE 'NOTHER WORLD.
IT WAS LITERALLY LIKE GOING BACK IN TIME.
IN FACT, THE FURTHER DOWN THE LITTLE ROAD WE TRAVELED, THE MORE REMOVED WE FELT FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF TODAY'S CALIFORNIA.
WE WERE ENTERING OLD CALIFORNIA, AN EXPRESSION I'D END UP USING MANY TIMES DURING THE DAY.
IT DOESN'T GET ANY PRETTIER THAN THIS.
I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE STUMBLED UPON A REAL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TREASURE HERE.
I HAVE A FEELING WE HAVE.
HERE TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE WE ARE, 'CAUSE I'M NOT SURE I KNOW WHERE WE ARE.
PETE, INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO EVERYBODY.
>> I'M PETE DESIMONE.
I'M THE MANAGER OF AUDUBON CALIFORNIA STARR RANCH SANCTUARY HERE IN SOUTHEAST ORANGE COUNTY.
>> THE STARR RANCH SANCTUARY.
>> S-T-A-R-R. >> OK. IS THAT THE STARR?
ARE WE ON THE STARR RANCH?
>> YOU'RE RIGHT PRETTY MUCH IN THE CENTER OF THE ORIGINAL 10,000 ACRES.
AND AUDUBON HAS 4,000 SINCE 1973.
>> OK, SO WAS THERE A FAMILY NAMED STARR?
>> YEP.
>> WAS THAT THEIR RANCH HOUSE?
>> EUGENE AND APPLIN STARR ACCUMULATED THIS RANCH BACK IN THE TWENTIES AND THIRTIES AND PASSED AWAY IN THE SIXTIES.
BECAME A FOUNDATION AND A PORTION WAS GIVEN TO AUDUBON BACK IN 1973.
>> NOW DID THEY LIVE HERE WHEN IT WAS AN ACTIVE RANCH?
>> THIS WAS THEIR VACATION HOME.
IT WAS A WORKING RANCH.
I MEAN, HE HAD SOME CATTLE ON HERE AND THERE WERE COWBOYS.
AND YOU'LL SEE, THERE'S AN OLD RANCH SET UP DOWN THE ROAD.
BUT, NO, HE JUST CAME OUT HERE.
HE LIVED AT THE JONATHAN CLUB IN LOS ANGELES.
>> OH, GOSH.
HE WAS RICH.
>> YEAH, HE HAD A SMALL OIL COMPANY.
AND THIS IS WHERE HE CAME TO HANG OUT, RIDE HORSES, HUNT, WHATEVER.
>> OH, WOW.
WELL, IT'S BEAUTIFUL NOW.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT COULD HAVE BEEN EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL BACK THEN.
'CAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE ANY DEVELOPMENT AROUND HERE, AND YET WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF DEVELOPMENT.
>> YEAH, WE'RE IN THE HEART OF A MAJOR CANYON, BELL CANYON IN THE SOUTH PART OF THE COUNTY.
AND IT'S REALLY WONDERFUL, 'CAUSE IT'S PROTECTED.
IT COMES OUT OF THE CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST THROUGH STARR RANCH THROUGH CASPERS PARK, EMPTIES INTO SAN JUAN CREEK AND INTO THE OCEAN.
AND IT'S PRETTY WELL ISOLATED.
BACK, OH, PROBABLY THE THIRTIES, FORTIES, THEY CREATED THAT, AND THERE'S AN OLD REMNANT OF AN AQUEDUCT, JUST KIND OF A SHALLOW TRENCH THAT RUNS ALL THE WAY DOWN PROBABLY 300 YARDS TO THE SMALL ORANGE GROVE.
AND THEY PUT BOARDS IN THERE, BACKED UP THE WATER, IT'LL FLOOD THE AQUEDUCT AND IRRIGATE THE ORANGE TREES.
>> SO THEY HAD A CITRUS GROVE HERE.
THIS WAS A WORKING RANCH.
>> YEAH, WORKING RANCH, YOU KNOW, BIG PEN, YOU KNOW, COWS, SMALL COWS.
>> WHAT DO YOU USE THIS FOR TODAY?
>> THIS IS WHERE THE FIELD CREW AND THE FIELD CREW LEADER, WHO DOES SANDY'S RESTORATION WORK ON HABITAT RESTORATION-- >> I THOUGHT MAYBE YOU LIVED HERE.
>> NO, WE LIVE IN THE OLD COOK HOUSE DOWN THE ROAD.
>> ALL RIGHT, THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
THIS IS KIND OF THE CIVILIZED PART OF THE RANCH, THE BUILT UP PART OF THE RANCH.
LOOK AT THIS RIGHT DOWN HERE.
WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS CREEK DOWN HERE?
>> THIS IS BELL CREEK.
BELL CREEK, YEAH.
>> THIS GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN.
BOY, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.
WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE HERE.
BOY, LOOK ALL THE OAK TREES.
AND THESE ARE, WHAT IS THIS-- >> SYCAMORES.
>> SYCAMORES.
>> YEP.
>> BOY, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.
>> IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG TO LEARN YOUR TREES HERE.
THERE'S ONLY TWO OR THREE OF THEM.
>> OLD SYCAMORES.
>> AND THE OCCASIONAL AUBURN.
>> WELL, WAIT A MINUTE, THERE'S AN EVERGREEN TREE.
>> AH, THE HEADQUARTERS HERE HAS SOME EXOTICS THAT THEY PLANTED.
BUT AS SOON AS YOU GET ON THE RANCH, IT'S PRETTY MUCH WATER.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO RIGHT NOW, IS GET OUT ON THE RANCH.
THE STARR RANCH, WHICH IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE AUDUBON SOCIETY, I THINK WE'RE ALL IN FOR A REAL TREAT.
AND THIS IS A TOTAL SURPRISE, NOT ONLY FOR ME BUT I THINK FOR MOST PEOPLE WHO COME THE FIRST TIME.
>> YEAH, IT COULD BE.
MORE WORD'S GETTING OUT THAT WE'RE HERE AND WE OFFER A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS AND ADULTS TO COME OUT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GREAT PUBLICITY FOR US.
MAYBE MORE FOLKS WILL BE ABLE TO GET OUT HERE, GET THIS-- >> WELL, YOU WANT THEM TO COME BUT YOU DON'T WANT TOO MANY OF THEM TO COME.
>> YEAH, IT'S FOR THEIR SAFETY, TOO.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO LOVE IT TO DEATH, EITHER.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO LOVE IT A LITTLE BIT RIGHT NOW.
BEFORE WE GOT STARTED, WE FOUND PEOPLE.
GIVE US A WAVE, PEOPLE.
THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE AT THE STARR RANCH.
AND HERE'S YOUR WIFE, PETE.
COME ON IN.
YOUR NAME IS?
>> SANDY DESIMONE.
>> OK. NOW YOU'RE HERE WITH PETE ALL THE TIME.
>> YES.
>> AND YOU WANTED TO INTRODUCE US TO SOME PEOPLE HERE.
>> I DID.
WE HAVE THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, RESEARCH AND EDUCATION SCOTT GIBSON.
OUR [INDISTINCT], LISA BURRELL, OUR TWO RIGHT RIPARIAN INTERNS KAITLIN AND RACHEL.
>> RIPARIAN INTERNS.
>> YEAH, THEY WORK IN THE CREEK.
AND OUR FIVE FIELD CREW ARE HARD WORKING UP ON THE HILL, SO THEY'RE NOT HERE.
THEN WE HAVE THE ORANGE COUNTY CONSERVATION CORE CREW.
>> HANDS UP.
>> WHOO!
>> AND THEIR SUPERVISOR RODNEY IN THE BACK.
>> AND THEY DO ALL KINDS OF WORK HERE ALL YEAR ROUND, DON'T THEY?
>> THEY DO TILL JUNE, ON A GRANT, YEAH.
>> ALL RIGHT, AND THERE'S A LOT TO DO ON THIS RANCH.
>> OH, YEAH.
THEY HELP WITH THE FLOOD DAMAGE AND RESTORATION AND WEED CONTROL.
WE DON'T USE CHEMICALS HERE SO IT'S HARD WORK.
>> THEY WORKIN' Y'ALL HARD TODAY?
>> YEAH.
[LAUGHTER] >> ALL RIGHT, SO THAT'S IT.
THAT'S--THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE JUST ON A REGULAR BASIS.
BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE WHERE WE'RE GOING, ARE WE?
>> PROBABLY NOT LIKELY.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE LEAVING CIVILIZATION.
WE'RE LEAVING YOU ALL BEHIND.
IF YOU DON'T SEE US BY SUNSET, SEND SOMEBODY OUT LOOKING FOR US, OK?
SEE Y'ALL LATER.
GIVE US A WAVE.
AND PETE, YOU AND I ARE GONNA START OFF FROM THE SANCTUARY OFFICE AND HEAD DOWN THE ROAD AND SEE WHAT THIS STARR RANCH IS ALL ABOUT.
WERE THESE CUT OUT AS WHAT KIND OF ROADS?
WAGON ROADS?
>> WE LOOKED AT AERIALS BACK IN THE FORTIES.
A LOT OF THESE ROADS WEREN'T IN.
AROUND THE WHOLE RANCH IS ABOUT 18 MILES IN ROADS.
AND THE ONLY PAVEMENT IS PRETTY MUCH RIGHT UP TO THE BRIDGE.
AND NOW AS WE GO OUT ON THE RANCH, IT'S ALL ROADS THEY GRADED PROBABLY IN THE FORTIES AND FIFTIES.
AND THAT WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN, TOO.
>> BOY, WHEN THE WATER COMES UP, YOU'RE REALLY CUT OFF, AREN'T YOU?
>> YEAH.
IT WAS PRETTY INTENSE.
>> LOOK DOWN THERE, CAMERON, TO YOUR LEFT.
WOW, THAT'S GREAT.
>> YEAH, REALLY BEAUTIFUL RIGHT NOW.
>> THIS IS WILD COUNTRY, ISN'T IT?
>> IT REALLY, THIS IS OLD CALIFORNIA.
THIS IS, YOU DON'T SEE TOO MANY PLACES LIKE THIS ANYMORE.
>> AND THEN IT KINDA OPENS UP.
>> YEAH, IT'S BELL CANYON-- >> LOOK OVER TO YOUR RIGHT, CAMERON.
UP ON THE RIDGE TOP OVER THERE.
IS THIS ALL PART OF THE RANCH, AS FAR AS WE CAN SEE UP THERE ON THE TOP OF THE-- >> EXACTLY.
NOW YOU'RE GOING TO CATCH A VIEW OF A FEW HOUSES THAT ARE FROM THE SOUTH END OF BELL CANYON.
BUT OTHERWISE, EVERYTHING YOU SEE IS STARR RANCH.
>> ANOTHER CREEK.
THIS JUST-- DOES THIS JUST KEEP SWITCHING BACK AND FORTH?
>> YEAH, SAME CREEK.
>> OH, LOOK DOWN HERE TO YOUR RIGHT, CAMERON.
OH, WOW.
BOY, YOU GOTTA HAVE A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TO BE UP HERE, DON'T YOU.
>> CREEK CROSSINGS ARE NOT NORMALLY AS BAD AS THE ROADS.
'CAUSE ADOBE CLAY OUT HERE.
AND THAT GETS A LITTLE BIT MOIST.
IT'S LIKE DRIVING ON A FROZEN LAKE.
>> NOW WE'RE GOING UP.
AND YOU SAID MAYBE WE'RE GOING UP.
>> YEAH, SO FAR, SO GOOD.
LET ME SEE HOW THE ROAD LOOKS.
THIS IS PRETTY GOOD, BUT THERE'S A COUPLE OF TOUCHY AREAS, WE'RE GONNA TURN AROUND, GO BACK IN.
>> OH!
BOY, I'M GLAD--OH!
>> HEY, HEY.
>> YOU GOTTA KEEP MOVING, THOUGH.
THAT'S THE SECRET.
>> YEAH, YEAH.
WELL, THIS IS A LITTLE LOOSE.
AND FIXING IT NOT TOO LONG AGO.
>> BOY, THESE ARE BIG OLD OAK TREES, TOO.
>> OH, THERE'S SOME REALLY NICE ONES IN THE CANYON.
>> WOW.
OH, MY GOSH.
LOOK OVER HERE TO THE RIGHT.
OH, MY GOSH.
THIS IS SPECTACULAR.
WHAT CANYON IS THIS OVER TO OUR RIGHT?
>> THAT'S BELL.
IT RUNS NORTH AND SOUTH.
>> ALL THE WAY TO THE OCEAN.
>> INTO SAN JUAN CREEK AND THEN THAT DRAINS IT TO THE OCEAN.
ALONG THE ORTEGA HIGHWAY.
>> WHAT IS SO AMAZING IS TO REALIZE THAT ALL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA USED TO LOOK LIKE THIS, BACK IN HERE.
>> YEP.
>> HERE WE GO.
UP THE HILL.
WHOA!
UP HILL, I COME IN A COVERED WAGON IN OLD CALIFORNIA.
[LAUGHTER] >> THIS IS OLD CALIFORNIA.
WE HAVE STOPPED.
WE'RE OUT OF THE CAR, AND LOOK AT THIS PANORAMIC VIEW.
AND I THINK THE CLOUDS REALLY ADD TO IT.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT OVER HERE, PETE?
WHAT IS THIS BIG MOUNTAIN RIGHT OVER HERE?
>> THAT'S SANTIAGO PEAK.
IT'S SADDLEBACK MOUNTAINS.
THOSE ARE THE SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS.
AND SADDLEBACK IS THE MAJESTIC PEAK, AND THE OTHER PEAK WITH THE TOWERS ON IT TO THE LEFT, AND SANTIAGO PEAKS, THAT'S WHAT WE CALL SADDLEBACK.
>> AND THIS IS WHERE WE CAME FROM DOWN IN HERE.
>> YEP.
THAT'S BELL CANYON.
>> AND THEN HERE ARE ALL THESE HOUSES, WHICH REALLY POINTS UP HOW YOU ARE CIRCLED AND COMPLETELY SURROUNDED.
>> WELL, NOT QUITE, NOT QUITE.
WE GOT MOSTLY THE HOUSES ARE ON THE WESTERN SIDE.
NATIONAL FORESTS TO THE NORTH.
CASPERS PARK TO THE SOUTH.
>> WHAT NATIONAL PARK IS-- >> CLEVELAND.
CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST IS MOST OF THE AREA.
SANTIAGO PEAK AND OUT ACROSS TO THE NORTHEAST.
>> NOW IS THIS THE RANCH WE'RE STANDING ON RIGHT HERE?
>> WE'RE A LITTLE WEST OF CENTER ON THE RANCH RIGHT NOW.
>> BUT THIS IS THE ORIGINAL RANCH RIGHT HERE.
>> YEAH.
>> WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED OUT HERE?
WHY IS THIS CLEARED OFF LIKE THIS?
>> OH, THEY DID A LOT OF DISKING AND DRY FARMING FOR CATTLE FEED.
NOT FARMING FOR AGRICULTURE, JUST FOR THE COWS.
AND SO A LOT OF THE AREAS THAT WERE FLAT LIKE THIS, YOU CAN SEE HISTORICAL PHOTOS OF THEM JUST BEING TILLED AND GROWING CATTLE FOOD.
>> BOY, THIS IS--NOW THE PEOPLE, WHEN THEY VISIT THE RANCH, DO THEY COME UP HERE LIKE THIS?
>> WE TRY TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE UP HERE AS POSSIBLE, YEAH.
>> AND WHAT DO THEY DO WHEN THEY GET UP HERE?
>> KINDA THE SAME THING YOU DID, WOW!
IT'S PRETTY NICE.
>> JUST KINDA TAKE IT ALL IN.
>> YEAH.
>> I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT AUDUBON IS DOING WITH ALL THIS.
>> IT'S A COMBINATION OF THINGS, BETWEEN PROTECTING WHAT WE HAVE HERE AND RESTORING SOME OF THE HABITATS.
IT'S ALSO REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT OLD CALIFORNIA USED TO BE LIKE.
AND THE COASTAL SAGE BRUSH HABITAT IS NOT FOUND TOO MANY OTHER PLACES IN THE WORLD, AND OURS IS FOUND HERE, IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD.
AND WE BUILT ON A LOT OF IT.
SO THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR WHAT'S LEFT.
>> JUST OPEN SPACE LIKE THIS.
>> YEAH.
>> NOW ARE THERE ANIMALS OUT IN HERE?
>> THERE SURE ARE.
YOU DON'T GET TO SEE 'EM ALL, BUT THERE'S DEER AND COYOTES AND MOUNTAIN LIONS AND BOBCATS AND GREY FOX.
THOSE ARE THE BIG ONES.
AND THEN POCKET GOPHERS AND MICE.
>> AND BIRDS, 'CAUSE THIS IS AN AUDUBON.
>> YEAH.
>> PUT IN A PLUG FOR THE BIRDS.
>> IT'S A LITTLE QUIET RIGHT NOW, BUT WE HANG AROUND LONG ENOUGH, WE'LL HEAR SOME OR SEE SOME.
>> NOW TRUTH IN ADVERTISING-- WE WERE GONNA GO UP AND GET THAT BIG PANORAMA FROM UP ON TOP OF THIS KNOLL RIGHT HERE.
THIS IS THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN, RIGHT?
>> YEAH, ACTUALLY RIGHT OVER TO THE TOP OF THAT, IT'S A LITTLE HIGHER.
>> BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, THERE'S NO WAY IN HECK WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THE CAR UP THERE AFTER THESE WINTER RAINS.
>> YEAH, I'VE BEEN HERE 25 YEARS AND I THINK BY NOW I KNOW HOW FAR I CAN PUSH THE LIMITS ON ROAD CONDITIONS.
AND EVEN IF YOU HAVE A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE GONNA GET THERE.
>> SO THIS REALLY IS ROUGH COUNTRY BACK HERE.
>> OH, YEAH.
>> ALL THE TIME.
>> YEAH, YEAH.
ACTUALLY, THE ROADS ARE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE RIGHT NOW.
BUT WE TRY TO KEEP THEM OPEN FOR OUR USE, FOR RESEARCHERS, FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
BUT THE RAIN, IT KIND OF RULES THE DAY.
IT'S WET.
>> BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU WONDER HOW IN THE WORLD THOSE EARLY PIONEERS EVER MADE IT ACROSS ALL OF THIS.
>> I KNOW EXACTLY--THERE'S, IF WE COULD GET THERE, THERE'S WHAT WE CALL THE FOX RANCH, ABOUT ANOTHER 2 MILES BACK.
MR. FOX GREW APRICOTS BACK THERE BACK WHEN THERE WERE NO ROADS.
AND THERE STILL ARE A LIVING, PRODUCING APRICOT TREE WITH NO IRRIGATION.
IT'S AMAZING.
AND I ALWAYS LOOK AT THAT AND THINK, HOW DID THIS GUY, EVEN IF THESE ROADS WERE HERE, HOW DID HE GET THAT TO MARKET?
I MEAN, AND I DON'T THINK THESE ROADS WERE HERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT, THIS IS PRETTY CUSHY, YOU KNOW.
>> WELL, THEY WERE A HEARTY BUNCH BACK THEN.
>> OH, YEAH, YEAH.
A LOT OF HORSES AND MULES AND WAGONS AND STUFF.
BUT, WOW.
I MEAN, IT'S TOUGH ENOUGH TO WALK IT, LET ALONE MOVE PRODUCE.
>> I THINK WE GOT A GOOD DAY TODAY, DIDN'T WE?
>> OH, NAILED IT, IT'S BEAUTIFUL OUT.
>> AND YOU KNOW WHAT, ALL THESE HOMES OVER HERE, AT FIRST YOU THINK OF THEM AS A NEGATIVE THING, AND THEN YOU REALIZE THAT BECAUSE THOSE HOMES ARE THERE, YOU APPRECIATE THIS EVEN MORE.
>> YEAH, I THINK YOU CAN SAY THAT, YEAH.
AND IT IS WHAT IT IS.
THERE WAS NOTHING OUT THERE IN 1985 WHEN WE CAME OUT HERE.
>> NOTHING.
>> THERE WAS A LITTLE PUMP STATION OUT ON THE PLAN OF TRABUCO, AND A LITTLE BIT OF COTO DE COZA WAS BUILT.
BUT NO, THIS IS ALL OVER THE LAST 20, 25 YEARS.
>> WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF GROWTH OVER HERE.
NOT MUCH GROWTH HERE.
NOT EVER GOING TO BE ANY GROWTH HERE.
>> NO, THE CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST AND US AND CASPERS PARK REPRESENTS 160,000 ACRES OR SO.
>> IT'S GOING TO REMAIN JUST LIKE IT IS.
>> YEAH, YEAH.
>> WELL, WE HAVE COME TO A SUDDEN STOP BECAUSE SCOTT IS BLOCKING THE ROAD.
WHICH MEANS HE HAS SOMETHING TO SHOW US.
NOW FIRST OFF, YOUR NAME AGAIN IS... >> SCOTT GIBSON.
>> OK, AND YOUR KIND OF WORK WITH EDUCATION WITH ADULTS AND CHILDREN.
>> AND KIDS, YEAH.
WE DO A LOT OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES HERE.
>> OK. NOW WHAT ARE YOU SHOWING US HERE?
>> WELL, WHAT I'M DOING HERE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE, THIS IS CALLED A SCENT STATION-- >> A WHAT?
>> A SCENT STATION.
>> SCENT.
>> YEAH.
AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY WE CALL IT A SCENT STATION HERE IN A MINUTE.
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY A TECHNIQUE THAT WE USE TO MONITOR LARGE MAMMAL ACTIVITY IN PLACES WHERE IT'S NICE AND DRY, LIKE IT IS HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
>> WHAT IS THIS WHITE... >> THE WHITE STUFF IS GYPSUM POWDER.
SO YOU CAN BUY IT, PUT IT IN YOUR GARDEN, IT LOOSENS UP GARDEN SOIL.
AND IT'S NOT TOXIC, SO WE ACTUALLY USE IT 'CAUSE IT'S A REALLY GOOD TRACKING MEDIUM.
SO IT RECORDS THE TRACKS REALLY WELL.
>> THOSE ARE ANIMAL TRACKS, LOOK.
>> THOSE ARE ACTUALLY ANIMAL TRACKS.
>> WHAT ARE THESE DOWN HERE?
>> SO WE HAVE, THIS IS COYOTE TRACKS.
WE HAVE A COYOTE GOING ACROSS, AND YOU CAN SEE, HE ACTUALLY SHOVED THE ROCK AROUND THERE.
>> SO HE SHOVED THAT ROCK.
>> HE DID.
AND THE REASON THAT HE SHOVED THE ROCK AND THE REASON THAT WE CALL THEM SCENT STATIONS IS BECAUSE I ACTUALLY PUT A SCENT LURE ON THE ROCK SO IT ATTRACTS THE LARGE MAMMALS TO THE ROCK.
>> NOW THERE'S SOME OTHERS.
>> THERE IS SOME OTHER ONES THERE.
AND YOU CAN SEE IF YOU-- >> LOOK RIGHT OVER HERE, CAMERON, THIS IS GREAT.
>> AND THE RELATIVE SIZE OF THE TWO TRACKS, YOU CAN SEE THIS IS A MUCH BIGGER TRACK THAN THAT ONE.
AND THAT'S-- >> WHAT IS THAT?
>> THAT'S OUR SMALLER DOG.
THAT'S THE GREY FOX.
SO WE HAVE TWO SPECIES OF DOG HERE, COYOTES AND GREY FOXES.
>> SO THIS JUST POINTS OUT TO WHAT, THE KIDS?
WHEN THEY SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
>> THAT PROVES THERE ARE ANIMALS AROUND HERE.
>> IT DOES.
AND OUR, THE WAY THAT WE DO EDUCATION PROGRAMS, WE'RE BIOLOGISTS BY TRADE, SO WE WANT TO SHOW PEOPLE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS.
SO WE ACTUALLY GO OUT HERE AND SHOW THEM THE REAL RESEARCH TECHNIQUES THAT WE WOULD USE TO STUDY LARGE MAMMALS.
>> WOW.
I BET THE KIDS LOVE THIS, AND I BET THEY'RE OOHING AND AAHING.
>> THEY ARE.
AND IT'S NOT JUST KIDS.
I THINK EVEN THE ADULTS COME OUT HERE AND OOH AND AAH OVER THIS AS WELL, SO.
>> NOW DO YOU EVER SEE EVEN BIGGER TRACKS IN THE GYPSUM?
>> WE DO, WE DO.
>> LIKE COUGAR TRACKS.
>> WE GET MOUNTAIN LION TRACKS FAIRLY OFTEN.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY, UNFORTUNATELY, ON THE ROAD TODAY TO SHOW YOU.
>> NO, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY, FORTUNATELY TO SHOW US.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE MOUNTAIN LION TRACKS.
>> WELL, IT'S AN INTERESTING-- >> BUT THIS IS THEIR HOME.
>> IT IS THEIR HOME HERE.
>> AND IT WAS THEIR HOME, LOOK, WOULD THERE BE MOUNTAIN LIONS ALL OUT IN HERE?
>> OH, WELL, THEY'RE VERY TERRITORIAL ANIMALS.
>> ALL OUT IN HERE, LOOK AT THIS.
THIS IS WILD COUNTRY OUT HERE.
LOOK OVER HERE, CAMERON.
THIS IS ALL WILD COUNTRY OUT HERE.
>> AND WE ARE IN BELL CANYON, WHICH IS KNOWN TO BE A MAIN NORTH-SOUTH CORRIDOR HERE FOR MOUNTAIN LIONS.
SO WE KNOW THEY MOVE THROUGH HERE, AND WE GET A LOT OF TRACKS AND SCAT.
>> WELL, WAIT A MINUTE, LOOK.
LOOK AT THIS, CAMERON.
THERE'S--YOU'VE GOT GYPSUM ALL UP AND DOWN THE ROAD HERE.
>> WE DO, WE DO.
WHEN WE DO THE PROGRAM, WE USUALLY TRY AND PUT OUT AT LEAST SIX OR SEVEN SCENT STATIONS TO TRY AND GET A GOOD WIDE VARIETY OF TRACKS.
>> SO THERE'S NO WAY AN ANIMAL CAN CROSS THE ROAD AND NOT GET... >> AND A LOT OF THESE GUYS HAVE PRETTY GOOD SENSE OF SMELL, SO THEY'RE SMELLING THIS STUFF FROM A LONG WAY AWAY AND ACTUALLY COMING TO SMELL THE ROCK.
SO, YEAH.
>> WELL, LET'S TAKE ONE MORE LOOK AT THIS.
LOOK AT THIS ROCK.
THIS IS FASCINATING.
A COYOTE ACTUALLY PUSHED THIS PROBABLY WITH HIS NOSE.
>> HE DID.
AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A SCENT STATION ON ANOTHER TRAIL WITH A CAMERA ON THERE.
WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF GOOD VIDEO FOOTAGE OF GREY FOXES AND COYOTES PUSHING THE ROCK AROUND, AS WELL.
SO THEY ACTUALLY WILL KIND OF RUB THEIR NECK AND THEIR BODY.
AND WE'VE EVEN SEEN THEM ROLL AROUND IN IT BEFORE.
>> IN THE GYPSUM.
>> OH, YEAH.
WELL, THEY'RE ROLLING AROUND ON THE SCENT ON THE ROCK, JUST LIKE YOUR DOG AT HOME WOULD DO THAT IF IT FOUND SOMETHING DEAD IN THE YARD.
>> WE HAVE LEFT THE GYPSUM AND SCOTT HAS BROUGHT US TO THE--WHAT IS THIS CREEK AGAIN?
>> THIS IS BELL CREEK.
>> BELL CREEK.
AND THERE'S A REASON WHY WE'RE STANDING HERE.
>> THERE IS A REASON.
NOT ONLY DO WE DO STUFF WITH THE ANIMAL TRACKS, WE DO A LOT OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
WE ACTUALLY, THIS IS AN AREA WE DO RESEARCH IN.
WE ACTUALLY DO RESEARCH ON THE AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES, THE BUGS THAT LIVE IN THE CREEK.
>> WITH THE KIDS.
AND THE ADULTS.
>> AND FOR RESEARCH AS WELL, AND THEN WE TURN THAT INTO AN EDUCATION PROGRAM.
SO ADULTS AND KIDS WILL ACTUALLY COME OUT HERE AND WE'LL TAKE THEM OUT.
AND WE WILL SHOW THEM HOW WE DO RESEARCH ON AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES.
AND WE CAN ACTUALLY USE AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES AND THE BUGS THAT ARE HERE TO TELL US ABOUT HOW CLEAN THE CREEK IS.
AND SO THEY'LL ACTUALLY GO OUT HERE, THEY'LL CATCH THEIR BUGS, IDENTIFY AND RANK THEM BY HOW MUCH POLLUTION THEY CAN TOLERATE AND WHAT WE HAVE HERE.
>> WOW.
>> YEAH.
>> AND WHAT OTHER KIND OF THINGS HAPPEN OUT HERE?
>> WE DO A LOT OF OTHER STUFF, ACTUALLY.
WE DO A LOT OF PROGRAMS AT NIGHT WHERE WE TAKE PEOPLE OUT AND CALL FOR OWLS AND COYOTES.
>> YOU GO OUT HERE AT NIGHT?
>> WE DO.
WE HAVE A FLAT BED GMC TRUCK WITH BENCHES IN THE BACK AND WE'LL DRIVE-- >> THERE'S NO LIGHT BACK THERE.
>> THERE'S NO LIGHT, AND THAT'S PART OF THE ATTRACTION.
FOR ORANGE COUNTY, TO GET OUT HERE AND NOT SEE ANY LIGHT, YOU GET TO SEE THE STARS, NICE FULL MOON IF YOU HAVE A FULL MOON.
SO THAT'S GREAT.
>> SEE, THIS IS, AS PETE WAS TELLING US, THIS IS OLD CALIFORNIA.
>> THIS IS OLD CALIFORNIA AT ITS FINEST, YEAH.
>> I MEAN, YOU THINK ABOUT IT.
LOOK OVER HERE, CAMERON.
THIS IS THE WAY THE PIONEERS WOULD HAVE FOUND IT WHEN THEY WERE COMING THROUGH HERE 150, 200 YEARS AGO.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND WE HAVE A VERY NICE POSITION HERE IN BELL CANYON WHERE WE'RE PROTECTED BY THE CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST.
>> OH, YEAH.
AND HOW DO THE KIDS AND THE ADULTS REACT TO WHAT WE'VE SEEN TODAY?
>> OH, IT'S AMAZING WHEN THEY COME DOWN HERE.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY'RE TRAVELING BACK IN TIME, JUST TO BE COMING DOWN OUR ACCESS ROAD.
AND THEN, NOT VERY MANY PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GET TO PLAY IN A PRISTINE CREEK.
SO TO COME OUT HERE AND DO THIS TYPE OF STUFF, IT'S A REAL EXPERIENCE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
>> WELL, I'D LIKE TO PLAY IN THE CREEK.
LOOK OVER HERE, CAMERON.
LOOK AT THE WATERFALL COMING DOWN.
BUT I GOTTA TELL YA, THE WATER'S A LITTLE COLD.
>> IT'S A LITTLE COLD THIS TIME OF YEAR.
>> WE'LL JUST LOOK AT THE CREEK RIGHT NOW.
AN OLD CALIFORNIA CREEK WITH COLD WATER RUNNING IN IT.
LAST STOP, WE'RE COMING FROM OUT BEHIND THE HISTORIC CITRUS TREE THAT'S BEEN HERE ON THE STARR RANCH FOR, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THESE HAVE BEEN HERE?
>> OH, 40, 50 YEARS.
>> YEAH, A LONG TIME.
>> YEAH.
>> BUT WE'RE LOOKING NOT AT CITRUS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE STARS OF THE SHOW RIGHT HERE.
>> COULD BE.
>> WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT, PETE?
>> WELL, WE'VE GOT SOME BARN OWLS THAT HAVE NESTED IN THE CAVITY UP IN THAT EUCALYPTUS TREE.
BIG LIMB PULLED OUT YEARS AGO AND CREATED A GIGANTIC CAVITY.
AND BARN OWLS, WHICH ARE FOUND THROUGHOUT THE CANYON AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY ARE FAIRLY COMMON, HAVE DECIDED TO USE IT.
AND A FEW YEARS AGO, I PUT A CAMERA UP ON THERE, AND IT'S BEEN GREAT.
IT'S ON THE INTERNET AND PEOPLE CAN WATCH IT... >> SO THAT'S A CAMERA UP THERE POINTING DOWN INTO THE... >> INTO THE CAVITY.
AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT I CAN MOVE AND PAN TO-- >> SO WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT?
IS THIS ON THE INTERNET?
>> YEAH, IT'S ON THE INTERNET RIGHT NOW.
AND RIGHT NOW THERE'S SEVEN CHICKS, AND BOTH ADULTS ARE IN THERE.
>> SO YOU SEE THE WHOLE-- >> YOU SEE THE WHOLE THING.
I MEAN, EVERYBODY'S NOT POSITIONED SO YOU CAN SEE THEM ALL THE TIME, BUT COME EVENING, IT GETS DARK, THE MALE TAKES OFF, GOES HUNTING.
THE FEMALE'S IN THERE.
HE'S STARTING TO BRING THE FOOD BACK.
HE CATCHES A MOUSE, SMALL RABBIT.
SHE BRINGS IT IN, TEARS IT UP AND FEEDS--THE OLDEST CHICK IS NOW TWO WEEKS OLD.
>> IS THIS A BIG HIT ON THE INTERNET?
>> IT'S, YEAH, I THINK SO.
AND WHAT'S REALLY NICE ABOUT IT, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO COMMENT ON THE SITE ARE INTERESTED IN THESE BIRDS.
THEY'RE INTERESTED IN WILDLIFE.
AND THERE'S A REALLY WONDERFUL INTERACTION AMONG ALL THESE FOLKS WHO JUST CARE ABOUT THIS STUFF.
AND WANT TO LEARN ABOUT IT AND JUST ENJOY WATCHING IT.
>> IT'S STREAMING LIVE RIGHT NOW, 24/7.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, YEP, YEP.
>> SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE CHICKS GROW UP AND FLY AWAY AND YOU'RE JUST LOOKING AT A HOLE IN THE TREE?
>> WHAT NORMALLY HAPPENS, AT ABOUT 8 WEEKS, 7 1/2, 8 WEEKS OF AGE, THEY CAN FLY.
AND THEY START TAKING OFF, AND THE PARENTS WILL FEED THEM.
THEY'LL BE LOOKING FOR THE PARENTS TO CATCH SOME FOOD, AND THEY'LL CHASE THEM AROUND AND GET IT.
AND THEN THEY MAY ROOST.
THE CHICKS MAY ROOST IN THERE.
AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THEY'RE DISPERSING.
AND THEN, HISTORICALLY, THE ADULTS COME BACK AND THEY START ROOSTING IN IT AND AS IN LAST YEAR, THEY HAD A SECOND COLLECTION OF EGGS.
>> SO THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING GOING ON UP THERE.
>> USUALLY SOMEBODY MAY JUST BE SITTING IN THERE, BUT IT'S NOT TOO OFTEN THAT IT'S EMPTY.
IT'S A GREAT SPOT FOR THEM.
>> YOU KNOW, THAT IS WONDERFUL, 'CAUSE THAT CONNECTS PEOPLE WITH THE STARR RANCH ITSELF.
>> YEAH.
>> AND WITH WILDLIFE.
>> YEAH.
>> LET'S STAND OVER HERE, 'CAUSE THIS IS SO PRETTY RIGHT HERE.
YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS, LOOK AT THIS.
THIS HAS JUST BEEN SUCH A SURPRISE.
I THINK IT IS TO MOST PEOPLE.
WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE WEB ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW SO THAT PEOPLE CAN CALL YOU AND YOUR WIFE AND SET UP A PROGRAM WHERE THEY COME OUT AND DO ALL OF THESE THINGS, TRACK ANIMALS AND LOOK IN THE STREAMS AND ALL KINDS OF, NIGHT TOURS, A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.
>> WE'RE A FULL SERVICE SANCTUARY.
>> AUDUBON IS TO BE CONGRATULATED FOR HAVING THE WISDOM TO ACQUIRE THIS PROPERTY YEARS AGO.
>> THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR.
>> SAVED IT FROM DEVELOPMENT, SAVED IT FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF CALIFORNIANS TO SEE WHAT OLD CALIFORNIA WAS ALL ABOUT.
>> THERE YOU GO.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
>> MY PLEASURE.
THANKS, HUELL.
>> WHAT WAS IT YOU WERE TELLING US RIDING DOWN IN THE CAR ABOUT WHEN PEOPLE COME HERE AND APPRECIATE IT AND UNDERSTAND IT.
>> WELL, I THINK AN IMPORTANT PART OF IT IS WHETHER YOU LIKE TO HIKE OR BIRD WATCH OR ANYTHING, THAT THIS OPEN SPACE AND PRESERVATION AREAS LIKE THIS JUST CONTRIBUTES TO QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYBODY; WHETHER YOU LIVE IN THE CITY OR IN THE COUNTRY OR WHATEVER.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND IT'S KIND OF SPECIAL.
THERE'S NOT MUCH LEFT OF IT IN THE WORLD.
THIS IS--SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HABITAT IS VERY UNIQUE.
>> IT'S VERY SPECIAL.
WE GOT IT RIGHT HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR ALL OF US TO VISIT AND ENJOY.
WE'VE HAD AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL SPRINGTIME AFTERNOON HERE AT THE STARR RANCH.
>> BEAUTIFUL, PEACEFUL, NICE WAY TO GET AWAY FROM THE CITY.
I MEAN, AS YOU'RE DRIVING UP, YOU SEE ALL THE HOMES AND THE HOUSES AND YOU THINK, THERE'S NO WAY THIS COULD BE HERE.
AND YOU DRIVE OVER THAT FIRST LITTLE CREEK AND HERE YOU ARE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL PRESERVE.
>> WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY.
COME ON AROUND HERE, KIDS.
LET'S GET EVERYBODY IN AND TURN AROUND AND LOOK AT THE CAMERA.
THIS IS OLD CALIFORNIA.
>> YEAH.
THAT'S WHY-- >> THIS IS THE WAY ALL OF THIS AREA USED TO LOOK.
>> RIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO TELL MY KIDS AS WELL AS WE WERE DRIVING HERE.
THIS IS WHAT IT USED TO LOOK LIKE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] >> WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY, I'M HUELL HOWSER AND WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY WE HAD ON STARR RANCH IN ORANGE COUNTY.
TRUST ME, THE STARR RANCH IS WELL WORTH A VISIT.
AND, OF COURSE, THE OWL CAM, WELL, YOU GOTTA GO ON THE WEB AND CHECK OUT THE OWLS AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE UP TO.
AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO ON THIS PARTICULAR ADVENTURE AGAIN, OR SHARE IT WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS, OF COURSE IT'S AVAILABLE ON DVD.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL 1-800-266-5727, AND WE'LL BE GLAD TO SEND IT TO YOU RIGHT AWAY.
>> "VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.
