Birds of prey are set to take over Rancho San Vicente in South San Jose on November 14, as Santa Clara County Parks and the Peninsula Open Space Trust team up for Raptor Fest, a free celebration running from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event features a sit-and-listen educational presentation by Master Falconer Kenny Elvin, with a flight demonstration possible depending on conditions, and booths from a roster of Bay Area wildlife nonprofits.
Attendees can register in advance for the free event, which includes two presentations. Raptor Fest showcases the raptors that share the park's landscape.
The day will include educational presentations meant to highlight how birds of prey fit into the health of the local ecosystem. The event also features booths for wildlife nonprofits dedicated to protecting Bay Area species.
The park’s hillsides are habitat for several raptors that visitors may recognize from the presentation: the Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance’s local guide identifies golden eagles and turkey vultures in the area, along with uncommon prairie falcons and American kestrels. The guide also describes open grassland and oak woodland as part of the landscape, giving the event a local setting for discussing how birds of prey use the park.
Wildlife Groups Set Up Shop at the Park
The POST event page lists six organizations as booth hosts at Rancho San Vicente: the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, the Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Center, the Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance, the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA, the Predatory Bird Research Group at UC Santa Cruz, and the Talon Ecological Research Group. That lineup spans rescue and rehabilitation work, academic raptor research, and regional conservation efforts, all converging for the single Saturday event.
Rancho San Vicente’s protected status followed a development threat. In 2009, the Peninsula Open Space Trust bought the 966-acre property from private developers who had planned a luxury housing development, then transferred it to the county for parkland. The property is also described as a key link in a 15-mile greenbelt extending from Los Gatos toward Highway 101 near Morgan Hill.
Raptor Fest is an annual November tradition at Rancho San Vicente within Calero County Park, highlighting the role raptors play in keeping the park's ecosystem healthy.
One of the event’s research partners, UC Santa Cruz’s Predatory Bird Research Group, monitors peregrine falcons in the San Francisco Bay Area, including tracking young birds’ movements, survival and productivity. The group’s work also includes studying contaminants in wildlife, such as lead poisoning in eagles and rodenticides in raptors. Its research and monitoring programs connect the event’s public education to ongoing efforts to understand threats to California birds of prey.
What's Different From Last Year
At the 2025 edition of Raptor Fest, held Nov. 14, the program included two presentations by Master Falconer Kenny Elvin, with attendees asked to register for only one session. Free shuttle transportation was required because of limited parking at the event site, and a flight demonstration might be included depending on conditions. Last year's program offers a reference point, not a guarantee of this year's schedule.
The 2026 event is scheduled for Nov. 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Rancho San Vicente, with partner booths and advance registration. Its program includes a sit-and-listen educational presentation by Master Falconer Kenny Elvin; a flight demonstration may be included depending on conditions.
