The best times of the year for birding at Hancock College are during the fall and winter seasons. Bird activity will vary from year to year. Spring migrants will also move through the campus in April and May. Check the landscaped greenbelt areas with established trees, and around the buildings where hedgerows and shrubs are planted. These spots will have the greatest number of birds overall. The lawns along these hedges will be good for sparrows in winter. Some ornamental plantings will produce flowers through winter and may attract warblers and hummingbirds.

Goldfinches and Cedar Waxwings can be found in the sycamores and liquidamber trees scattered around the campus and parking lots. American Robins, sparrows, and juncos will be found feeding on the lawns, particularly in front of the Admin buildings near Bradley Rd. Varied Thrush is a rare and irregular visitor here. 

There are several Canary Island Pines and several oaks on campus that can be good for warblers and kinglets, and the occasional woodpecker or sapsucker. Near the north end of the campus, there are three Tipuana tipu trees that are very good for fall warblers. At times gulls or raptors will pass overhead. At the western end of the campus is the track and large ball field that is expected habitat for Killdeer, American Pipit, and Say's Phoebe. 

Unusual birds recorded on campus include Tropical Kingbird, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Black-and-white Warbler, Pine Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Red Crossbill, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Harris's Sparrow.

Allan Hancock College Campus has a few main entrances - two are available along the 800 block of South Bradley Rd. View Map, and one on Sierra Madre Ave. View Map. These entrances will take you to the eastern parking lots where the habitat is better for birding. 

Weekends and holidays are best because there are no students in attendance and parking fees are not enforced. During regular school session days, parking fees apply and parked vehicles must display a parking pass. It may be too busy for birding during school days.

Suggested Hotspot boundaries: East Jones Street (north), South Bradley Road (east), Sierra Madre Ave. (south), South College Dr. (west).

The college was founded in 1920, and in July 1954, the name was changed to Allan Hancock College to honor Captain G. Allan Hancock, a prominent state and local community leader who owned the land and facilities of the historic airfield where the campus now resides. Typical of most college campuses, this Hotspot has well-manicured landscaping, many ornamental plantings, established shade trees, and open lawns surrounding buildings, walkways, and patios. This park-like habitat attracts several interesting bird species that are primarily found in the winter months. 

The property was formerly better for birding when the landscaping was less maintained and overgrown, and there were more trees on the property than today. New construction in recent years has reduced the amount of habitat overall, and several of the old trees and shrubs were removed to make way for these new buildings. Replacement landscaping will take several years to mature and attract birds. However, the location still remains a quality birding spot overall.

Restrooms are closed on weekends and holidays.