Raptor migration season in Santa Clara Valley

Keep an eye out for these birds of prey while outdoors in Santa Clara Valley.

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Look up, and you may catch some beautiful birds flying overhead.

Photo via Open Space Authority by David Mauk

Keep your eyes on the sky... 👀

November is migration season for raptors , so you may spot various birds of prey while out on your hiking adventures .

Here are some of the species that the Open Space Authority says to look out for:

🦅 Golden eagle
As lovers of grasslands + woodlands, these birds can be spotted at Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve.

🦅 Peregrine falcon
These California natives adapt well to urban environments (sound familiar? ), and are the fastest animals on earthflying up to 240 mph.

🦅 Prairie falcon
Spotted on the grasslands of Máyyan ‘Ooyákma – Coyote Ridge, these birds can be identified by the brown markings on their backs + top of wings.

There are nine more species you can spot soaring through our regionsend us a picture of your sighting for a chance to be featured in a future newsletter.

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Alyson is based in San Jose, CA, and helped launch SJtoday in February 2022. She graduated from San Jose State, where she reported on the city’s arts + culture scene for her alma mater’s paper, The Spartan Daily. You can find her scouting new South Bay eateries or thrifting around town.
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