Charlie Hutchinson and her mother, Diana Hutchinson, of Trabuco Canyon were among the families who came to the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday to join a scavenger hunt to learn why pine trees are disappearing from the area, how wild cucumbers spread and how chaparral habitat survives in the summer.
The one-hour “Do Plants Migrate” scavenger hunt was the latest event in the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary’s 90th anniversary programming this year. The sanctuary is holding one or two free family scavenger hunts each month in addition to adult-oriented programs such as lectures and art classes.
Participants check off their finds during the “Do Plants Migrate?” scavenger hunt and hike at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday, September 29, 2019 in Modjeska Canyon in unincorporated Orange County, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)
A detail of the participants check sheet during the “Do Plants Migrate?” scavenger hunt and hike at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday, September 29, 2019 in Modjeska Canyon in unincorporated Orange County, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)
Joanna Capelle of Lake Forest points out birds to Charlie Hutchinson of Trabuco Canyon during the “Do Plants Migrate?” scavenger hunt and hike at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday, September 29, 2019 in Modjeska Canyon in unincorporated Orange County, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)
Charlie Hutchinson, in pink, and he mother Diana Hutchinson both of Trabuco Canyon look skyward for a hawk during the “Do Plants Migrate?” scavenger hunt and hike at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday, September 29, 2019 in Modjeska Canyon in unincorporated Orange County, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)
Oslyn Szatkowski, left, of Lake Forest and Tristin Workman, right, of Orange share a laugh during the “Do Plants Migrate?” scavenger hunt and hike at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday, September 29, 2019 in Modjeska Canyon in unincorporated Orange County, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)
An Acorn Woodpecker is seen during the “Do Plants Migrate?” scavenger hunt and hike at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday, September 29, 2019 in Modjeska Canyon in unincorporated Orange County, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)
Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary Naturalist Julie Williams points out cactus during the “Do Plants Migrate?” scavenger hunt and hike at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday, September 29, 2019 in Modjeska Canyon in unincorporated Orange County, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)
A small lizard is seen during the “Do Plants Migrate?” scavenger hunt and hike at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday, September 29, 2019 in Modjeska Canyon in unincorporated Orange County, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)
Aaron Szatkowski of Lake Forest takes in the scenery during the “Do Plants Migrate?” scavenger hunt and hike at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday, September 29, 2019 in Modjeska Canyon in unincorporated Orange County, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)
Pryce Trainor of Mission Viejo leads the way down a short stretch of the Harding Truck Trail during the “Do Plants Migrate?” scavenger hunt and hike at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday, September 29, 2019 in Modjeska Canyon in unincorporated Orange County, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)
Abby Titus of Buena Park holds gopher snake Julius Squeezer with the help of Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary Naturalist Julie Williams during the “Do Plants Migrate?” scavenger hunt and hike at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday, September 29, 2019 in Modjeska Canyon in unincorporated Orange County, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)
Henry the Tortoise, a desert tortoise gets some attention during the “Do Plants Migrate?” scavenger hunt and hike at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday, September 29, 2019 in Modjeska Canyon in unincorporated Orange County, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)
Pierce Trainor of Mission Viejo meets gopher snake Julius Squeezer during the “Do Plants Migrate?” scavenger hunt and hike at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday, September 29, 2019 in Modjeska Canyon in unincorporated Orange County, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)
Pierce Trainor of Mission Viejo looks skyward during the “Do Plants Migrate?” scavenger hunt and hike at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday, September 29, 2019 in Modjeska Canyon in unincorporated Orange County, Calif. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)
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Julie Williams guided the participants on a hike to look for items they could check off on their illustrated sheets — pine cones, flying birds and animal tracks. When the items were found, Williams would lead a talk about them.
Participants also checked out the cactus, saw a small lizard sunning on a rock, watched for hawks and got up close with Henry the tortoise.
Can plant migrate? Yes, said Marcella Gilchrist, site manager at the 12-acre center that is owned and operated by Cal State Fullerton. It’s home to three trails, about 90 species of birds, 250 types of plants and lots of wildlife.
“The key is seed dispersal,” Gilchrist said. “Nature uses wind, water, and animals to disperse seeds away from the plant and into new areas for colonization. An example would be that trees along the creek have boat shaped seeds so they can float down river and colonize an area that has been wiped out by flooding.”
Tucker Wildlife Center is at 29322 Modjeska Canyon in Silverado. For more information, call 714-649-2760 or visit www.tuckerwildlife.org/
