Science / Medicine : Tours of Bald Eagle Preserve Scheduled

About 30 bald eagles from the Pacific Northwest migrate to the Big Bear Lake area each winter, making it the largest concentration of eagles in Southern California. Tours of the birds’ preserve will be given by Friends of the Big Bear Valley Preserve and the Nature Conservancy through March 15.

The 125-acre preserve is located at the eastern end of Big Bear Lake and offers habitat critical to the hunting and nesting of the endangered birds of prey, some with wingspans up to seven feet.

Tours are offered each Saturday and Sunday starting at 10 a.m. at the Big Bear ranger station. Call (714) 585-0717.

ENVIRONMENT

Oxford University professor and United Nations special adviser Norman Myers will discuss “Tropical Forests and the Mass Extinction of Species” in a program at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County on Feb. 29 at 1 p.m. Call (213) 744-3534.

“Patagonia--A World Away,” a lecture by Bob and Helen Poindexter, will focus on the abundant wildlife of the area at the Whittier Audubon Society meeting on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Call (310) 699-2021.

California’s endangered plants and animals will be the focus of a lecture series at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. On Wednesday, wildlife biologist Robert Mesta will discuss the bald eagle at 7 p.m. in the Faulkner Gallery at the Santa Barbara Public Library. Future topics include rare and endangered plants (March 5) and the desert tortoise (March 12). Locations vary, call (805) 682-4711.

MARINE SCIENCE

Families can learn about local wetlands in a one-day “Science at the Seashore” workshop at the Cabrillo Marine Museum on Feb. 29. The day begins with a tour of the museum’s exhibits, followed by a short visit to the nearby man-made salt marsh and culminating in a trip to the Upper Newport Bay and Bolsa Chica Wetlands to observe wintering flocks of sea birds found there. Reservations are required. Call (310) 548-7563.

The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary begins its 1992 lecture series on the origins of commercial uses of the sanctuary with a discussion of the oil industry on Feb. 25. Future topics will include shipwrecks (March 3), kelp harvesting (March 10), marine mammals (March 17) and commercial fishing (March 24). All lectures begin at 7 p.m. in the Fleischman Auditorium at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Call (805) 966-7107.

The Los Angeles Chapter of the American Cetacean Society continues its 1991/92 speaker series with Peter Folkens on “Why a Whale? Musings of a Scientific Illustrator,” on Feb. 25. Pinnipeds and cetaceans of the North Pacific (March 31) and sea turtles (April 28) are future topics. All are held at the Cabrillo Marine Museum at 7:30 p.m. Call (310) 548-8500.

SCIENCE FOR FAMILIES

Enrollment is open for the spring science workshops offered at the California Museum of Science and Industry in Exposition Park. Courses such as Phenomenal Physics, Kitchen Chemistry and Reptile Roundup teach children ages 5 to 13 basic scientific concepts. One-day classes begin March 7. Call (213) 744-7440.

Investigating ocean mammals in the marine mammal lab, going on tide pool explorations or joining an excursion to study the ecology of Catalina are some of the offerings of the winter/spring programs at the Orange County Marine Institute in Dana Point. Children as young as 3 years old can participate in classes with their families to learn more about the local marine environment. Programs begin Saturday. Call (714) 496-2274.