Los Jilgueros Preserve, meaning “The Finches” in Spanish, takes its name from an 1889 map identifying the area’s stream as Arroyo de Los Jilgueros—a nod to the many finches that still frequent the site today. The land has deep roots in local history, first inhabited by the Luiseño people before becoming part of Rancho Santa Margarita under Pío Pico in 1841. In the late 1800s, settlers like the Neff family farmed the land, using the natural creek for irrigation and orchards. By the 1920s, it became known as the Anthony Ranch, where Arthur Anthony cultivated avocados and experimented with early conservation and water management techniques, building ponds and dams that still shape the preserve’s landscape. After Donald Anthony’s death in 1984, the land’s agricultural use declined until 1990, when the family of Pamela Van Der Linden donated it to the newly formed Fallbrook Land Conservancy.

This gift became the Conservancy’s first property acquisition, and Los Jilgueros officially opened to the public on Earth Day that same year.

Today, the 46-acre preserve offers more than two miles of scenic trails winding through open fields, oak woodlands, riparian forest, and wetlands. Ongoing restoration efforts have reintroduced native plants such as coast live oak, elderberry, and sages, while removing invasive species. More than 120 bird species have been documented here, making it a favorite spot for birdwatchers and nature lovers alike. Located just minutes from downtown Fallbrook, Los Jilgueros Preserve stands as both a refuge for wildlife and a beloved community space—a living example of how land conservation preserves local history, biodiversity, and the simple beauty of open space.

You can donate directly to the Los Jilgueros Endowment fund here.

Explore the trail and plan your next walk with our Los Jilgueros Preserve map on All Trails.