Bird Watching in Idyllwild
Idyllwild bird watching, often referred to as "birding" has captured the interest of young and old alike. Idyllwild locals and visitors come from all over Southern California to participate in watching birds and the annual Idyllwild Bald Eagle count.
For those of you who do not know, the Bald Eagle has long been regarded as a sacred bird by many Native Americans. The Bald Eagle nearly became extinct due to hunting and pesticides such as DDT which was banned in the United States back in 1972. Since then, the fate of the Bald Eagle continues to improve with it's classification as a federally protected species. Because of this, the annual Idyllwild Bald Eagle count is conducted by the Idyllwild Forest Service biologists. Eagle Counts are made a few times during the course of a winter at seven lakes in San Bernadino and San Jacinto Mountains, including Lake Hemet near Idyllwild. Birders brave the cold temperatures with the hopes of catching a glimpse of the Bald Eagle pair that lives at Lake Hemet, a 15 minute drive from Idyllwild. Unlike most Eagles, the Lake Hemet pair are full-time residents.
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