On Saturday night around 30 Adults and 8 children came out to the amphitheater at the Sweetwater Campground in Bonita for the first weekend of Hawktober.
Charles Gailband is a Senior Park Ranger and licensed professional falconer with the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation. He brought out animal ambassadors Buster, the red tailed hawk; Athena the burrowing owl; and Corazon the barn owl.
Checkout my last post about the 2026 HAWKTOBER EVENTS for dates and locations
Hawktober is an annual celebration of local birds of prey, including hawks, owls, and falcons. This marks the event’s eighth year offering FREE workshops at parks, campgrounds and wilderness preserves across San Diego County.
Events are free and open to all ages, starting October 3. Explore multiple workshops to meet different birds and rangers.
Hawktober is an annual celebration of local birds of prey, including hawks, owls, and falcons. This marks the event’s eighth year offering FREE workshops at parks, campgrounds and wilderness preserves across San Diego County.
Events are free and open to all ages, starting October 3. Explore multiple workshops to meet different birds and rangers.
Special perk: Grab limited-edition Hawktober trading cards (while supplies last), complete with stats like wingspan, weight, and fun facts.
Live raptors: Meet ambassador birds like hawks, owls, and falcons up close and learn about their unique behaviors and adaptations.
Fun facts: Discover how these birds live, what they eat, how they hunt, when they’re active, and special traits like speed, camouflage, or night vision.
Bird tales: Each event features different birds—each with a name and story—shared by passionate rangers.
| DATE | TIME | LOCATION |
| SATURDAY, OCT. 3 | 10 – 11 a.m. | William Heise County Park4945 Heise Park Rd.Julian, CA 92036 |
| SATURDAY, OCT 3 | 5:30 – 6:30 P.M. | Sweetwater Campground3218 Summit Meadow RoadBonita, CA 91902 |
| SUNDAY, OCT. 4 | 10:30-11:30 a.m | San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center2710 Manchester Ave.Cardiff by the sea, CA 92007 |
| SUNDAY, OCT 4 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Stagecoach Sunday1620 S. Stage Coach LaneFallbrook, CA 92028 |
| SUNDAY, OCT. 4 | 1 -2 p.m. | Village View County Park831 E. Fallbrook StreetFallbrook, CA 92028 |
| FRIDAY, OCT. 9 | 4 -5 p.m. | Lakeside Community Center9841 Vine St.Lakeside, CA 92040 |
| SATURDAY, OCT. 10 | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Pine Valley Library28804 Old Highway 80Pine Valley, CA 91962 |
| SATURDAY, OCT 10 | 12 – 1 P.M. | Lincoln Acres County Park2717 Granger AvenueNational City, CA 91950 |
| SUNDAY, OCT. 11 | 10:30-11:30 a.m | Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Campground1942 Monument RoadSan Diego, 92154 |
| SATURDAY, OCT. 17 | 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. | Lake Morena County Park2550 Lake Morena DriveCampo, CA 91906 |
| SATURDAY, OCT. 17 | 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. | Hellhole Canyon County Preserve19324 Santee Ln.Valley Center, CA 92082 |
| SATURDAY, OCT. 17 | 5 – 6 p.m. | Dos Picos County Park17953 Dos Picos Park Rd.Ramona, CA 92065 |
| SUNDAY, OCT. 18 | 1 – 2 p.m. | Waterfront Park1600 Pacific Highway,San Diego, CA 92101 |
| SATURDAY, OCT. 24 | 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Lamar County Park3180 Bancroft Dr.Spring Valley, CA 91977 |
| SATURDAY, OCT. 24 | 4 – 5 p.m. | Fallbrook Community Center341 Heald Lane,Fallbrook, CA 92028 |
| SATURDAY, OCT. 24 | 4 – 5 p.m. | Otay Lakes County Park2270 Wueste Road,Chula Vista, CA 91915 |
| SUNDAY, OCT. 25 | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Santa Ysabel Nature Center22135 Highway 79,Santa Ysabel, CA 92070 |
| SATURDAY, OCT. 31 | 2 – 3 p.m. | El Monte County Park15805 El Monte Rd.Lakeside, CA 92040 |
Lindo Lake County Park is open from sunrise to sunset for public use. The park is approximately 55 acres in size and features a skate park, children’s playground, softball field, tennis courts, horseshoe pits, and open spaces. There are roughly 1.5 miles of ADA-friendly, multi-use paths, including a popular loop trail around the lake that’s about 1.2 miles long — perfect for leisurely walks, jogging, or pushing a stroller.
With water basins, wetlands, and lakeside habitat, the park attracts a variety of waterfowl and birds — a draw for birdwatchers and nature lovers.
Leashed dogs are welcome around the lake. Many locals use the loop trail for daily dog walks.
Stand quietly near the shallow inlets — birds often forage close to shore.
Balboa Park, the cultural heart of San Diego, offers a unique opportunity for residents to explore its world-class museums without the usual admission fees. Through the Resident Free Days program, local residents and active-duty military personnel can enjoy complimentary access to select museums on designated Tuesdays each month. Here’s how you can make the most of this fantastic offering.
First Tuesday:
Second Tuesday:
Third Tuesday:
Note: Schedules are subject to change, and some museums may have exclusions or blackout dates. It’s advisable to check the official Balboa Park Resident Free Days schedule for the most current information.
