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For more information on all of these Conservancy events, and more, click here.
September 10
DC3 Summer BBQs at Airport in the Sky. Call 310-510-2196 for reservations Through September 11, 2011 
Catalina: The Wildlands at Your Doorstep Photo Exhibit and Sale, the G2 Gallery, Venice, CA, theg2gallery.com
Sunday, September 18 Exploring California's Channel Islands: Santa Barbara Island, embark from Ventura, CA
September 21 - 25
Los Caballeros Trek
September 27 -
October 2
Las Caballeras Catalina Ride
Saturday, November 5
27th Annual Catalina Island Triathlon
Thursday, November 10,
Conservation and Education Symposium, Office of the Chancellor, Cal State Long Beach, 401 Golden Shore, Long Beach
Saturday, February 25, 2012
31st Annual Avalon Harbor Underwater Cleanup
April 2012Earth Day on Catalina
Date/Location to be announced
Saturday, April 14, 2012
17th Annual Catalina Island Conservancy Ball. Ticket sales begin February 1, 2012
May 4 - 6, 2012
2nd Annual Santa Catalina Island Film Festival
June 22 - 23, 2012
2nd Annual Catalina:
The Wild Side Art Show and Sale
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Catalina Island Conservancy Marathon
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Catalina Island Conservancy Half Marathon
AIRPORT IN THE SKY
Second Saturdays Historic Aircr aft Display Day at Airport in the Sky VOLUNTEER
Thursdays
7:30 a.m. to noonVolunteer at the James H. Ackerman Native Plant NurseryVolunteers@catalinaconservancy.org Second Saturdays Windward Beaches CleanupTo check out the complete Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce events calendar, click HERE.
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Greetings!
The Conservancy takes this balmy September opportunity for an annual end-of-summer rite, an excursion to another of the captivating Channel Islands. This year's trip, on Sunday, September 18, is to Santa Barbara Island.
The southernmost and smallest islet in Channel Islands National Park, Santa Barbara is one of Catalina's nearest ocean neighbors and the destination for the Conservancy's annual Explore the Channel Islands program. The early morning trip from Ventura Harbor includes the choice of three separate day hikes and a gourmet box lunch. A Saturday evening dinner and stay at the Four Points by Sheraton Ventura Harbor Resort is an option on the evening prior to the voyage. Enjoy this month's photo essay of previous Conservancy trips to Santa Barbara Island!
Highlighted this month is the Conservancy's purchase of new paintings of Catalina by renowned artists now on display in the Avalon Canyon Nature Center. Avalon High School student Alexis Romero also is featured for her strides as an amateur naturalist and archaeologist. Read more below.
Banner photo: The wave-battered shore of Santa Barbara Island is made of basaltic rock and marine sediments. Photo by Carlos de la Rosa |
PHOTO GALLERY
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EXPLORING CALIFORNIA'S CHANNEL ISLANDS
Santa Barbara Island - Small, yet with many surprises!
Text, photos by Carlos de la Rosa, Chief Conservation/Science Officer
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Among the many fascinating creatures inhabiting Santa Barbara Island are sea lions.
Photo by Carlos de la Rosa
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There is something magical about Santa Barbara Island. The smallest of all the California Channel Islands, it is barely a square mile and slightly over 630 feet at its highest elevation. It lies in near isolation at the center of the other larger Channel Islands. But it is a classic case of quality, not quantity. Its size belies the many surprises that await the visitor, such as sea lion rookeries, raucous nesting seabird colonies, splashes of color from fields of wildflowers, and a rich cultural history. Ranching and farming nearly destroyed much of its uniqueness, and the slow, but steady, recovery of its natural habitats is evident and very successful under the guiding hands of the National Park Service staff and collaborators. Endemic species are coming back, including the Santa Barbara live-forever, chicory, cream cups and shrubby buckwheat. Nesting sea and land birds are also returning after the removal of non-native predators.
The island's six miles of trails are of mild to moderate difficulty, easily traversed in half a day. Drink plenty of water along the way and enjoy the wonderful treasures of this, the smallest pearl of the California Channel Islands.
Travel to Santa Barbara Island with the Conservancy on September 18! See the photo gallery from a previous excursion to Santa Barbara Island HERE.
To reserve your place, click HERE.
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FROM THE FIELD
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EXAMINING SPIDERS AT TWO HARBORS
Prey abundance and heavy metal detection
Text by Linda Farley, Manager, Conservation & Education Operations
Martin Ramirez of Loyola Marymount University was on the island over the weekend of August 13-14 with two student assistants studying prey abundance for spiders inside and outside the area recently burned near the Banning House at Two Harbors. Dr. Martinez works with advanced undergraduates and has been conducting his own research on the Channel Islands for more than 20 years. His most recent published work looks at heavy metal sequestration in spiders, comparing Channel Islands populations with those found on the mainland. Sequestration of heavy metals refers to the absorption, through the skin or through ingestion, and retention, of heavy metals from the environment. Toxins detected in spiders are an indicator of terrestrial or atmospheric contaminants in the environment.
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| FROM THE FIELD |
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DROUGHT TOLERANCE STUDIES
How much moisture do plants absorb from fog?
Aaron Ramirez just left Catalina at the end of August after studying drought tolerance in chaparral plants. The researcher from the University of California at Berkeley collected leaves before dawn to analyze them in the field laboratory at Middle Ranch. He wants to determine, among other things, how much moisture Catalina Island plants absorb from fog. Aaron and his two colleagues worked mainly in the Middle Ranch area.
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NEWS HEADLINES
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ALEXIS ROMERO, ARCHAEOLOGIST
Three-time Rose Ellen Gardner Intern
By Rich "Mr. Z" Zanelli, School and Youth Programs Specialist
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Alexis Romero clears invasive fennel as part of her 2010 REGI experience.
Photo by Alexa Johnson
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Alexis Romero has become a fitting poster child for the Rose Ellen Gardner Internship (REGI). Along with her co-participants this year, she delighted all who got to work with her. Alexis' love for the Island and her avid work ethic makes her an outstanding part of any team. Alexis has recently completed her unprecedented third consecutive year working with this program. (The previous record is two consecutive years, shared by Alexis and two others.)
In 2011, Alexis spent a full week working with Wendy Teeter and the rest of the archaeology team from UCLA. MORE...
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NEWS HEADLINES
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PLEIN AIR PAINTINGS AT NATURE CENTER
A window into Catalina's 'Wild Side'
Text and photos by Bob Rhein
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Approaching Rippers Cove by Matt Smith is one of the plein air paintings on display at the Avalon Canyon Nature Center.
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Visitors to the Nature Center at Avalon Canyon can now enjoy an installation of 10 plein air paintings of Santa Catalina Island by some of the finest artists of this style in the United States. Plein air is a French expression which means "in the open air," or painted outside and not in a studio.
Nine of the paintings on display were purchased using funds from the proceeds of The Wild Side Art Show in June. The 10th painting was donated by Gary and Kellie Johnson, who attended the show. They were selected by the Wild Side Committee, which was formed in late 2010 and comprised of local art collectors and Conservancy staff members and volunteers. The committee seeks to provide Island residents and visitors with a visual legacy of the Catalina Island Conservancy's protection and restoration of Catalina through works of original art. MORE...
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| NEWS HEADLINES |
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ONE MORE BABY BISON BORN
Contraception program reported to be working
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A baby bison under the watchful eye of its mother.
Photo by Bob Rhein
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During the week of June 20, one more baby bison was born on the Island, bringing this year's total to three. Without our bison contraception program in place, we could have seen as many as 20 to 30 calves by this time of the year, since 50 to 60 percent of the adult cows would otherwise reproduce in a given year, according to Conservancy Senior Wildlife Biologist Julie King. MORE...
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PARTICIPATE
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EXPLORE THE CHANNEL ISLANDS
Annual foray is to Santa Barbara Island
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Vistas such as this will be enjoyed by all who venture to Santa Barbara Island with the Conservancy.
Photo by Jen Poyer
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Santa Barbara Island, the southernmost and smallest islet in Channel Islands National Park, is one of Catalina's nearest ocean neighbors and the destination for the Conservancy's annual Explore the Channel Islands program. The early morning trip from Ventura Harbor includes the choice of three separate day hikes and a gourmet box lunch. Click HERE to reserve your place.
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PARTICIPATE
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SWIPE -- TO GIVE BACK...
Through Ralphs Community Contribution Program
Now you can shop, save, and give back to the Conservancy with just one swipe! Ralphs Community Contribution Program will give up to 4% of your monthly eligible purchases to the Catalina Island Conservancy for shopping at Ralphs and using your Ralphs REWARDS card. Starting September 1, 2011, you can register to participate in the Ralphs Community Contribution Program. If you registered in the past, you will have to re-register. Click HERE to register.
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| PARTICIPATE | 27th ANNUAL CATALINA ISLAND TRIATHLON
The 27th Annual Catalina Island Triathlon will be held on the first Saturday in November in Avalon. The date of this year's race is Saturday, November 5, 2011. The event is one of the longest running multi-sports in the United States and is considered one of the most picturesque venues for a triathlon.
For more information and to register click HERE.
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| PARTICIPATE | WEDDINGS AND SPECIAL EVENTS
At the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden and ... Fall is a great time to think ahead and book your wedding or special event at the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden or one of the Conservancy's other nine beautiful sites around the island. Call our coordinator Julie Glass at 310-983-1253 or send an email to julie@hamiltoncove.com for more details.
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