About the Hi Mt. Lookout Project
In the heart of the range of the reintroduced California condor sits Hi Mountain Lookout, a retired USFS fire lookout that has been restored back to life. Situated at 3198′ on the crest of the Santa Lucia Mountains, Hi Mountain is located in the Los Padres National Forest between Lopez Lake to the south and Pozo to the northeast, in San Luis Obispo County. Huff’s Hole, a historic condor and peregrine falcon nesting site, lies to our immediate southwest and is now a designated critical habitat area for California Condors. Standing on Hi Mountain, the view is a vast, magnificent piece of condor country.
The Hi Mountain Condor Lookout Project is a joint venture between the Morro Coast Audubon Society, the US Forest Service, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (with the Ventana Wildlife Society and Cal Poly Biological Sciences as collaborators) to monitor movements of the endangered California condor population from the strategically placed Hi Mountain Lookout.
Recently, following a decade of vandalism and neglect, the Lookout underwent an amazing transformation. It is now a functional field-research station and interpretive center staffed by volunteers, students, and condor biologists. Once again, the Hi Mountain Lookout is enlisted for active duty, now in the name of endangered species conservation and field ecology. Condors tagged with radio transmitters are often recorded flying north and south past Hi Mt., and the Lookout has long been a strategic location for condor telemetry. The condors originate from release sites in the Ventana Wilderness (near Big Sur) and the Sespe and Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge areas in Ventura County. Though we have often tracked the Ventana birds on “through trips”, we usually track Hopper birds to our southeast as they make excursions up to Cuyama Valley, Caliente Peak, and Lion Canyon.
Organizations that contribute to this project
Morro Coast Audubon Society (MCAS)- The MCAS has a long history at Hi Mountain and provides major funding for the restoration of the Lookout and internships. MCAS will continue to manage the Hi Mountain Lookout, opening its doors as a research station and tracking base to the various groups involved in the project.
US Forest Service (USFS), Los Padres Ranger District- The USFS built the Hi Mountain Lookout when fire lookouts were still important fire fighting tools. The USFS has long been an advocate of the California Condor and been instrumental in its recent reistablishment in California. The Lookout is owned by the USFS, who’s staff help maintain the building and site.
US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)- The USFWS operates the Hopper Mt. NWR Complex, and dilligently managse and monitors condors in California. They have provided funding, training, equipment, resources and support for the Hi Mountain Lookout Project
Biological Sciences, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo- Lead by faculty advisor Dr.F.X.Villablanca , research students and interns act as volunteer staff for the Lookout and contribute radio telemetry data when onsite. The Cal Poly Wildlife Club has generated student interest and volunteers for the Lookout Poject, as well as donating time and materials.
Ventana Wildlife Society (VWS)- The VWS releases, manages and monitors California Condors on the Central Coast. They are based in beautiful Big Sur California. Many of the Ventana condors can often be seen at the Pinnacles National Park, near King City.
