raptor ridge on cannon road

Raptor Ridge History

AHLF and The Raptor Institute

AHLF was founded 30 years ago and exists to serve our great community in providing environmental education, conservation and access to the lagoon and the surrounding trails. Our environmental education is creating a new generation of people with reverence, joy and appreciation for the land, the water and nature. In 2020, we embarked on this new educational expansion, Raptor Ridge on Cannon Road.

Our esteemed Academy of Environmental Stewardship program has featured the Raptor Institute (a local San Diego environmental non-profit) for the since 2011. The Raptor Institute has been a valued partner as an edutainer bringing live birds of prey into our 3rd grade adaptions program, as well as many events, birthday parties and outreaches we have held at the Foundation. The Raptor Institute looked to re-home their birds at the Discovery Campus.

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About the Raptor Institute

Founded in 2011, The Raptor Institute was a federally recognized 501(c)3 California non-profit corporation based in San Diego. They focused their education and research on raptor species native to California and the desert southwest. It was their goal that through community outreach and education they can help to expose people to the wonders of nature in their local communities. The respect for nature that is fostered among audiences will directly impact their desire to protect local habitat and wildlife in and around their community.

Due to the changes and restrictions in the educational world brought on by the Pandemic, The Raptor Institute was unable to continue on with its highly regarded in person outreach programs partnered with the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation to re-home 4 of their birds, and take over their educational programming.

We successfully raised the initial funds to build the habitats, train with the Raptor Institute and bring the raptors onsite through a Giving Tuesday and End of Year Campaign in 2020. We will continue providing opportunities for donors to sponsor these raptors to help cover the ongoing expenses.

become a raptor intern

All volunteers who wish to work with our raptors must be over 18 years old and are required to complete one month of volunteering at the Discovery Campus at a minimum of 4 hours per week.

Upon successful completion, they may begin feeding and caring for the birds for an additional three months before learning how to handle the birds. With sufficient experience and training, interns will eventually be able to handle the birds independently and provide educational presentations with the birds.

If you are interested in beginning this program, please email our Discovery Center Director, Samantha Passovoy samantha.passovoy@aguahedionda.org