Have you ever wondered how a park ranger prepares for duty? Or what kind of tools are carried out in the field? Or what their favorite MSHCP protected species are? Discover a behind-the-scenes peek into the world of park rangers, the stewards of RCA’s reserve lands with The Vista’s Ask a Park Ranger series.

In this installment, Riverside County Park Rangers Jonathan, Ray, and Ryan share stories about their most memorable wildlife encounter.

The Vista: What is one of the most surprising wildlife encounters you have ever had?

Jonathan: I was walking across a reserve and heard an American kestrel screaming an alarm call directly above me. This is not uncommon, but the call seemed more serious than normal. I looked up just in time to see a Cooper’s Hawk plow straight into the little falcon and the two began tumbling through the air in a ball of feathers. I had just enough time to think “poor little kestrel is lunch today,” when a small sparrow broke loose from the fray and did a mad dash straight down for a shrub. The hawk quickly disengaged from the kestrel and immediately swooped for the sparrow. It was the sparrow’s lucky day as it barely made it to the shrub and escaped. I suspect the kestrel had originally captured the sparrow and the Cooper’s hawk was trying to steal it, but I’ll never know for sure.

Ray: While conducting foot patrols of a property in French Valley, I saw two white barn owls fly out from a tree over my head without making a sound and proceed to fly above me in a circle where I was able to get a great look at them. It was my first time seeing a white owl and having that experience out in the field was special.

Ryan: One of the most frequent encounters I have when I’m hiking our properties is groups of quails getting flushed out of the brush. Although common, it surprises me every time.

Stay tuned for the next installment of the Ask a Park Ranger series to learn more about team members in the field.