AGUA HEDIONDA LAGOON FOUNDATION / RAPTOR RIDGE
RAPTOR RIDGE ON CANNON ROAD
Raptor Ridge was established in 2021, and brings 4 native raptor species to the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation’s Discovery Center to provide a new form of concentrated education about these birds of prey as well as outreach opportunities. Learn about the ambassadors, private tours, educational outreach opportunities, donor and sponsorship giving levels, and the history of the exhibit below.
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Meet our Raptors
Applegate Family Peregrine Patio
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Celerity, Peregrine Falcon (Female)
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Diet: Smaller birds
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Age: Unknown (Injured 2016 as an adult)
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Lifespan: 10-20 years in the wild, 20-30 years in captivity
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Injury: Broken right wing, never healed properly
Kulchin’s Kestrel Corner
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Blue, American Kestrel (Male) ~ Currently off exhibit
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Diet: Insects, small rodents, and small birds
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Age: About 5 years
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Lifespan: 5-10 years in the wild, 15-20 years in captivity
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Injury: Imprinted on the person who found him
Phoenxy’s Owl Island
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Who, Great Horned Owl (Male)
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Diet: Small mammals
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Age: 9 years
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Lifespan: 10-20 years in the wild, 20-30 years in captivity
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Injury: Blind in right eye
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Tecolote, Western Screech Owl (Male)
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Diet: Small mammals and large insects
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Age: Unknown (Injured 2017 as an adult)
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Lifespan: 5-10 years in the wild, 15-20 years in captivity
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Injury: Blind in left eye and partially blind in right eye
Tecolote Thursday’s
Come and meet our Western Screech Owl every Thursday @ 3:00pm during Tecolote Thursday’s
Falcon Feeding Fridays
Every Friday at 3:00pm enjoy an opportunity to see the falcons do what they do best – be carnivores! A Raptor Specialist or intern will answer any questions you may have about the falcons, and watch them up close and personal enjoying their dinner!
Special
Raptor Ridge Experience: Available Until December 31, 2023
Tour Raptor Ridge at the Discovery Center with a Raptor Specialist and meet all 4 of our raptor ambassadors up close and personal. Learn about their behavior, habitat, and species-specific information as well as their personal impairments which is why they call the Agua Hedionda Discovery Center home. The tour is approximately 45 minutes and includes up to 4 people. Petting, holding or feeding the raptors is not permitted.
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Cost: $125
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Maximum 4 people
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Milton's pizza and beverages (wine/beer/non-alcoholic) provided after tour
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Must be scheduled for a weekday after 1pm
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Advance registration is required. Please email emily.bonds@aguahedionda.org with your preferred date to book.
Private Tours: $250, $150 for Members of AHLF
Tour Raptor Ridge at the Discovery Center with a Raptor Specialist and meet all 4 of our raptor ambassadors up close and personal. Learn about their behavior, habitat, and species specific information as well as their personal impairments which is why they call the Agua Hedionda Discovery Center home. The tour is approximately 45 minutes and includes up to 4 people. You will be allowed to take a photo with one raptor of choice (at a safe distance). Petting, holding or feeding the raptors is not permitted.
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Maximum 6 people
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Additional guests $25 each
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Add libations of your choice and charcuterie at the end of the tour on Newell's Terrace - $50 for four people
Educational Outreach Opportunities
Book an outreach for your classroom, meeting, festival, event, educational gathering and more!
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30 minute raptor presentation (Youth) ~ $150
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Includes presentation with 2 live raptors (1 owl and 1 falcon)
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Price listed is for presentations inside North County San Diego
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Any presentations outside of this area include an additional fee of $1/mile and $20/hour driving time
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1 hour raptor presentation (Adult) ~ $200
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Includes presentation with 2 live raptors (1 owl and 1 falcon)
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Price listed is for presentations inside North County San Diego
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Any presentations outside of this area include an additional fee of $1/mile and $20/hour driving time
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30 minute owl pellet dissection ~ $150
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Price includes owl pellet lesson and activity lead by a raptor specialist, including all supplies
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This activity priced for up to 20 students, additional students may be added for $5 each
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Price listed is for presentations inside North County San Diego
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Any presentations outside of this area include an additional fee of $1/mile and $20/hour driving time
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1 hour presentation with raptors and owl pellet dissection ~ $250
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Includes presentation with 2 live raptors (1 owl and 1 falcon)
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Price includes owl pellet lesson and activity lead by a raptor specialist, including all supplies
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This activity priced for up to 20 students, additional students may be added for $5 each
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Price listed is for presentations inside North County San Diego
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Any presentations outside of this area include an additional fee of $1/mile and $20/hour driving time
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30 minute virtual presentation ~ $80
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Includes virtual presentation with 2 live raptors (1 owl and 1 falcon)
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This presentation is limited to 25 students
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*Maximum for four presentations per day for multiple class visits
*10% discount for back-to-back classroom presentations
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Looking for a virtual opportunity if you’re not local to San Diego? Consider booking a Pop-In with our raptors! Visit our Virtual Pop-In page here for details, pricing and reservations.
Donor and Sponsorship Opportunities
Give a Hoot Donor (Outreach Donor): $5,000
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Plaque by Outdoor Amphitheater, private encounter with 4 raptors and name announced at every assembly (virtual or live) for the year sponsored.
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2023 – Your Business or Name Here!
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Habitat Enhancement Donor (leashes, perches, enrichment tools, traveling habitats): $3,000
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Plaque with name recognizing contribution displayed near Raptor Ridge
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2023 – Your Business or Name Here!
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Happy Bird Visits (Annual Veterinarian Sponsorship): $2,000
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Plaque with name recognizing contribution displayed near Raptor Ridge
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2021/2022 – Bill Milligan
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2023 – Your Business Name Here!
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Food Donor (6 months Food Supply): $1,200
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Plaque with name recognizing contribution displayed near Food Freezer
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2023 - Your Business or Name Here!
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Flight Donor: $500
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One Engraved Commemorative Bricks
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Contributing Donor: $100
Become a Raptor Intern
Internship Information
All volunteers who wish to work with our raptors must be over 18 years old and are required to complete one month of volunteering at the Discovery Center at a minimum of 4 hours per week.
Upon successful completion, they may begin feeding and caring for the birds for an additional three months before learning how to handle the birds. With sufficient experience and training, interns will eventually be able to handle the birds independently and provide educational presentations with the birds.
If you are interested in beginning this program, please email our Discovery Center Director, Samantha Passovoy samantha.passovoy@aguahedionda.org
History
AHLF and The Raptor Institute
AHLF was founded 30 years ago and exists to serve our great community in providing environmental education, conservation and access to the lagoon and the surrounding trails. Our environmental education is creating a new generation of people with reverence, joy and appreciation for the land, the water and nature. In 2020, we embarked on this new educational expansion, Raptor Ridge on Cannon Road.
Our esteemed Academy of Environmental Stewardship program has featured the Raptor Institute (a local San Diego environmental non-profit) for the since 2011. The Raptor Institute has been a valued partner as an edutainer bringing live birds of prey into our 3rd grade adaptions program, as well as many events, birthday parties and outreaches we have held at the Foundation. The Raptor Institute looked to re-home their birds at the Discovery Center.
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About the Raptor Institute
Founded in 2011, The Raptor Institute was a federally recognized 501(c)3 California non-profit corporation based in San Diego. They focused their education and research on raptor species native to California and the desert southwest. It was their goal that through community outreach and education they can help to expose people to the wonders of nature in their local communities. The respect for nature that is fostered among audiences will directly impact their desire to protect local habitat and wildlife in and around their community.
Due to the changes and restrictions in the educational world brought on by the Pandemic, The Raptor Institute was unable to continue on with its highly regarded in person outreach programs partnered with the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation to re-home 4 of their birds, and take over their educational programming.
We successfully raised the initial funds to build the habitats, train with the Raptor Institute and bring the raptors onsite through a Giving Tuesday and End of Year Campaign in 2020. We will continue providing opportunities for donors to sponsor these raptors to help cover the ongoing expenses.