Black and white aerial photo with major vegetation communities labeled. The reserve supports a diverse assemblage of animals. Common mammals include coyotes, brush rabbits, and bobcats. Abundant birds are the wrentit, brown towhee, turkey vulture, raven, red-tailed hawk, and scrub jay. Reptiles of interest are the orange-throated whiptail, rosy boa, and San Diego horned lizard.
Rattlesnakes are common, especially the red diamond rattler.
Mountain lions frequently pass through the field station. Click on the photo to view a larger image. The red imaging layer of IR color film is exposed by reflected IR energy at wavelengths somewhat longer than those in the visible red band. IR photographs are particularly useful in showing vegetation. The spectral reflectance of vegetation increases abruptly in the photographic IR region.