John Morgen: Over 900 hours spent as Blue Sky docent

By Pat Kumpan

John Morgen has an affinity for wildlife and the great outdoors, reason enough to dedicate time to animals and nature after completing his 40-year career with UNISYS in Rancho Bernardo.

Blue Sky docent John Morgen

The Powegian has logged an average of 900-plus hours as a docent for more than three years at Blue Sky Ecological Reserve in Poway.

After he retired in 1999, Morgen learned he did not make a good couch potato, he said.

“My daughter Dawn (Oswald) with the City of Poway recommended that I volunteer at the reserve,” Morgen said. “She talked me into it.

He grew up on a farm in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and adds, “I’m still playing in dirt — and loving it.”

Little did he know that his interest in wildlife would take on a whole new meaning, due in large part to the educational aspects, learning about flora and fauna at Blue Sky.

He also cares for injured or orphaned animals and birds at the Fund for Animals Wildlife Center in Ramona, where he has volunteered for 12 years.

“As docents, we find our own niche at Blue Sky,” Morgen said. “I love the cats — bobcats, especially, and I’ve learned to like snakes.”

Until a docent starts volunteering during weekend hikes, when Scouts, students and the public come for educational talks or other activities, they might not know what they like best about the reserve, Morgen said.

“Because of my work with mammals, I like cats,” Morgen added. “At Blue Sky it’s bobcats, in Ramona it’s mountain lions and other animals.”

At Blue Sky, birds such as red-tailed hawks, coopers, kites or songbirds catch his attention as they fly over the reserve, searching for a place to land, or nest.

“I love watching the hawks mate, then waiting for fledglings to fly from the nest,” Morgen said.

“The great thing about the birds and some of the snakes is that they control the rat population,” Morgen said. “As a docent, you get a better understanding and perspective for the cycle of life in the animal world.”

There are four distinct habitats at Blue Sky; scrub sage, mixed chaparral, the riparian area and the oak grove.

The animals, insects, birds and other critters that inhabit each area are typically prone to living in that specific section of Blue Sky.

And don’t forget the carpet of wildflowers that blanket the hillsides, mostly in spring.

“I often walk the entire trail, which equals several miles a week,” Morgen said. “It’s great exercise.”

Interpretive Specialist Annie Ransom said that Morgen is “extremely dedicated” and her “go to” person when it comes to substituting for an unavailable docent.

“You can always count on him,” she said.

Not everyone wants to work on trail maintenance, but if it means keeping Blue Sky in great shape, Morgen says, “sign me up.”

The next Blue Sky docent training starts at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 10 at Lake Poway. 14644 Lake Poway Road. For details, call Ransom, 858-668-4781.

Do you know someone who should be featured here? Call editor Steve Dreyer at 858-218-7207.

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1. Neighbor Spotlight: Carol Crafts
2. Poway to mark Earth Day with street fair on Sunday
3. Elena Crespo
4. Poway volunteers saluted in ‘State of City’ address

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Posted by patkumpan on Jan 26 2012. Filed under Neighbor Spotlight. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry