SPECIAL EVENT : An Ecological Tour Reserved for the Night

When night falls and the kids are snapped into their Dr. Denton’s, there’s a whole world of interesting critters just getting moving. Families can get a closer look at these nocturnal folk on Owl Prowl, a monthly naturalist-led night tour of the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve.

Co-sponsored by the Orange County Department of Harbors, Beaches and Parks and the California Department of Fish and Game, the program allows a rare look at owls, raccoons and other denizens of the night that make their homes on the 750-acre reserve.

Beginning at 7 p.m., participants accompany two biologists on a wildlife survey of the reserve during a ride along Back Bay Drive, while a staff naturalist describes the habits and habitat of the animals and birds sighted. Owl Prowl is limited to 20 participants, and early reservations are suggested. This month’s event is sold out; the next Owl Prowl is Nov. 9.

Other reserve-sponsored programs include an evening campfire at nearby Newport Dunes. According to Reserve naturalist John Scholl, the family-oriented event, which begins at 7:30 p.m., features nature-themed skits, songs, slide shows, “lots of audience involvement and all the marshmallows you can eat.” The Dunes is also the site of the User Friendly Kayak Tours, held every Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m.

At Back Bay, morning canoe tours will be offered Oct. 12, 19 and 26. Families can also view a wide array of migratory birds during naturalist-led hikes along the Upper Bay (scheduled for this Saturday and Oct. 19), or take part in a special Family Nature Discovery program on Oct. 26.

Admission fees to these programs are nominal, but some require a onetime donation of $11 to the California Wildlife Campaign, a fund to improve wildlife habitat and educational programs statewide. For information, call (714) 640-6746, Wednesday through Saturday.