Eaton Canyon’s Annual ‘A Day In Nature’ Event Secretly Attended By Screech Owl For Over 5 Hours

On Saturday, June 22, the Eaton Canyon Nature Center hosted its 2024 ‘A Day In Nature’ event. Over 20 booths from various local organizations, such as Caltech, the Angeles National Forest, the Sierra Club, and the Pasadena Audubon Society, were set up to help engage locals with San Gabriel Valley area organizations. In addition to the various groups, there were several booths containing works from local artists, including pottery, painted concrete, and murals. The Michael C. Long auditorium was transformed into an art gallery to showcase works by artist Jose Ramirez who paints the Los Angeles Basin at night as viewed by those in the San Gabriel Mountains. The art gallery will remain open periodically throughout the summer.

The event also included the 4th Saturday in which the Nature Center’s “B.A.R.K. Ranger” program was active, an effort to improve dog owner responsibility within Eaton Canyon. With park temperatures ranging from 95°F to 100°F and ground temperatures exceeding 140°F, the conditions posed significant risks to canines. These ground temperatures can damage and burn the pads of dog’s feet. Dogs also do not sweat, and can only cool themselves through panting. The combination of hot air and ground temperatures means many dogs can experience heat exhaustion which can be fatal.

At about 9:45 am during the event, several people watched an owl fly through the Nature Center’s lobby and land on a perch up in the rafters. Staff were immediately notified and identified the animal to be a Western Screech Owl, a native to Eaton Canyon. For the following 5 hours, the motionless owl peacefully watched over the event as hundreds of people streamed through, buying gifts, creating arts and crafts, and observing the Nature Center’s animal ambassadors, all the while oblivious to what was above them. Owls are typically nocturnal animals who sleep during the day and hunt at night, so it’s possible this one got scared out of its normal resting spot. Due to the presence of over a dozen taxidermies within the Nature Center, the owl was not at all out of place and could have easily been missed by most patrons.

Towards 3:00 pm as the event was wrapping up, staff and volunteers were able to safely remove the owl from the Nature Center. It was last seen flying away towards a large Coast Live Oak tree just outside the patio.

The Nature Center’s next major event will be held in November 2024.

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