WOW - how time flies! This is the 100th edition of our e-newsletter, Slough Buzz.

We hope you enjoy our little updates on the latest happenings and sightings in and around Elkhorn Slough. Thanks for reading and feel free to pass this newsletter along to your friends.

This past May volunteer Shirley Murphy found a young barn owl stranded on the ground near the Reserve's old dairy barn. Thinking fast she called Rebecca Dmytryk of Wild Rescue, who determined that the bird was thin and dehydrated but otherwise unharmed. The owl was immediately taken to the Monterey SPCA Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center where it was nursed back to health.

"Injured and sick birds are carefully watched and rehabilitated before they are deemed healthy enough to return to the wild" says Tricia Wilson, ESNERR naturalist. "When a bird is rehabilitated, caretakers first tend to any injuries, then make sure that the bird can eat on its own, and finally make sure it can find its own food." In this case the owlet was given water to treat its dehydration. SPCA staff also made sure that the owl had plenty of food available to it by hand feeding it mice. Once the bird signaled it was feeling better by choosing to eat only food it found itself and refusing any food offered by human hand, it was put into an aviary to make sure it could hunt live mice.

After it had proved itself to be in tip-top shape and a successful hunter, the SPCA deemed the little owl ready to go home. It was successfully released back on the Reserve on July 13th. "This marks the fourth successful owl fledgling to come from Reserve nests this year" says Tricia. "Clutches typically range from four to seven eggs."

The Monterey SCPA Wildlife Rescue Center rehabilitates more than 2,000 animals every year from all across Monterey County. We are grateful for all the help that they and Wild Rescue have given to make sure that our wildlife remain happy and healthy.

We are gearing up for fall by welcoming our new members with a sunset walk just for them. ESF members who joined the Foundation on or after August 2010 will be treated to a stroll with our Land Acquisition specialist Kevin Contreras.

This walk will highlight some of the unique characteristics of the Elkhorn Slough watershed, culminating with a breathtaking view of the slough from one of our ridgelines. This is the last walk for new members of 2011. Sign up on our website before August 15th to ensure you have a spot on this walk!

We've received lots of submissions for the 2012 calendar contest, but it's not over yet! Do you have a photo taken in the past two years that showcases the beauty of the slough? Send it our way! Whether it's a classic view, a cuddly critter or an unusual plant, we want to see what YOU see when you photograph the slough.

Photographers receive photo credit and two free calendars!

If you've been following us on twitter or facebook, you know that we've been seeing bobcats all over the place lately! They've been seen on ESF protected properties, and one has been seen catching rabbits at the Reserve on a near-daily basis. Just the other day one trotted by the Foundation trailer with a squirrel in its mouth. And while we usually don't have our cameras out and at the ready, they've been photographed by our heat-sensing camera and by our volunteers--always so quick on their feet!

These graceful hunters are more afraid of us than we are of them, and will run away if they see you approaching. So keep an eye out--and your camera handy--for the chance to photograph these beauties from a safe distance.

And, if you do get a nice photo... submit it for the calendar or shot of the month.

As you know our land protects a number of endangered species, some of which are highlighted in the Endangered Neighbors exhibit at the Santa Cruz Natural History Museum. The event features fifteen of the endangered species that live on the open ocean, coast, wetlands and inland habitats of the Monterey Bay area.

The exhibit is open from June 11 through September 10th. For a special treat, biologists Sean Barry and ESNERR's own Nina D'Amore will lead a panel discussion on the California red-legged frog and the San Francisco garter snake on August 18th. The exhibit's admission is only $4 and supports the non-profit museum. For more information on this event, visit http://santacruzmuseums.org

From rescuing wildlife to harvesting seeds,
From transecting mudflats to pulling up weeds,
And helping to meet all our visitors' needs,
Our volunteers do these and countless more deeds.

Here's to our volunteers--our accomplishments would not be possible without the many people who donate their valuable time to help us with research, stewardship, and sharing the wonders of the slough through our education programs and visitor center.

Thank you!

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