| Calendar |
For more information on all of these Conservancy events, and more, click here.
May 4 - 6, 2012
2nd Annual Santa Catalina Island Film Festival. For info and tickets, click here
June 22 - 23, 2012
2nd Annual Catalina: The Wild Side Art Show and Sale. For info and tickets, click here
Sept. 29-30, 2012
Catalina Airshow, Avalon Harbor & Avalon Canyon
Catalina Island Conservancy Half Marathon. For more info, click here
AIRPORT IN THE SKY
Second Saturdays Historic Aircr aft Display Day at Airport in the Sky VOLUNTEER
7:30 a.m. to noonVolunteer at the James H. Ackerman Native Plant Nursery. For more volunteer information, click here
Second Saturdays Windward Beaches Cleanup
ISLAND CALENDAR
To check out the complete Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce events calendar, click HERE.
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
Catalina's bald eagles unwittingly become media darlings through the magic of Eagle Nest Cam this month. And Conservancy Update continues the electronic media theme by urging Conservancy members to take the electronic version of the biannual Conservancy Times. The Conservancy will continue to print some copies of the magazine on 100% recycled paper that's processed chlorine-free and with 60 percent post-consumer waste. This paper is Forest Stewardship Council-certified, and continues efforts by the Conservancy to use recycled, high-quality, cost-effective paper -- when we absolutely have to print. But to go greener still, sign up for the online version. It's simple and easy, and secure. Click HERE to go electronic! We'll send you a link and log-in information for the Spring/Summer 2012 issue.
Banner photo:
Parental Care - The lone bald eagle chick at the Two Harbors nest receives rapt raptor attention. Click on the live video feed link below to get an intimate view of what goes on in an eagle's aerie on Catalina Island. Raptor specialists affiliated with the Institute for Wildlife Studies have worked tirelessly on Conservancy lands to help effect the remarkable recovery of bald eagles over the last several decades.
Photo courtesy of Institute for Wildlife Studies
|
LIVE VIDEO
| | |
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL IN EAGLES' NESTS
Aerie cams catch chick-rearing on Catalina
In place of the traditional Photo Gallery, Conservancy Update presents a live video feed this month showing nesting bald eagles in two Catalina Island locales, at the West End and Two Harbors. The Eagle Nest Cam was established by the Institute for Wildlife Studies on Conservancy land under the purview of IWS Research Ecologist Peter B. Sharpe. You can view two Catalina Island eagle's nests live by clicking HERE.
By Peter B. Sharpe, Ph.D.
Research Ecologist, Institute for Wildlife Studies
 | |
Bald Eagle Chick - A bald eagle chick sits in the West End nest. Photo by Steffani Jijon
|
|
|
The bald eagle breeding season on the California Channel Islands is in full swing, and numbers of nests and chicks are slowly increasing. The eagles once again have been able to hatch their own eggs after decades of premature shell-cracking linked to DDT pollution. Catalina now has eight chicks in four nests, including triplets at the West End nest for the second year in a row. MORE...
|
FROM THE FIELD
|
| |
ROCK DOCS SCAN EVIDENCE INDOORS AND OUT
Glidden photo cache shows Island in 1920
 | |
Stone Fox - This rock-art painting of a fox can be found above Little Harbor. Photo by Wendy Teeter
|
|
|
By Wendy Teeter, Ph.D.
Curator of Archaeology,
UCLA's Fowler Museum
The Pimu Catalina Island Archaeology Project and the Catalina Island Museum (CIM) are working with the Catalina Island Conservancy to better protect and understand the more than 8,000 years of human history on Santa Catalina Island. This includes digitizing photos and documents from the Ralph Glidden archive as well as touring sites that were previously recorded, but not well documented. MORE...
|
NEWS HEADLINES
|
| |
MOBILE NATURE STATION DEBUTS AT BALL
Imagine Catalina feature ready to roll
 | |
Mobile Nature Station - The moveable feast of natural information, the Conservancy's solar-powered Mobile Nature Station, debuted at the 40th-anniversary Conservancy Ball on April 14 at the Catalina Casino. Photo by Bob Rhein
|
|
|
By Bob Rhein
Representing the first completed portion of the Imagine Catalina Master Plan, the Conservancy's new Mobile Nature Station was unveiled at the 2012 Catalina Island Conservancy Ball. As its name implies, the 250-square-foot nature station is completely portable and can be unpacked from its six-foot-by-seven-foot trailer and ready for exhibition within one hour of arriving at its destination. MORE...
|
NEWS HEADLINES
|
| |
BALL WEATHERS ADVERSITY, ROLLS REGALLY
Plane to the rescue when winds dock boats
 | |
Ambassador Tachi - Julie King, the Conservancy's director of conservation and wildlife management, holds a Catalina Island Fox, namely Tachi, the ambassador for this endangered species. Photo by Shana Cassidy
|
|
|
This year's 17th Annual Conservancy Ball, benefitting the Catalina Island Conservancy, was a great success despite the formidable weather challenges on Saturday, April 14. Themed "History in the Making," the Ball celebrated the 40-year anniversary of the Conservancy's work to protect and restore Catalina's wildlands.
Not only was this the top grossing Ball in the history of the event, it also made history thanks to the high winds, which, that day, made cross-channel passage by boat impossible (more on that later). MORE...
|
|
NEWS HEADLINES
| | |
BRAD AVERY IS NEW MARINEROS PRESIDENT
Support group planning summer activities
 | |
Brad Avery - The Newport Beach seaman is the new Marineros' president. Photo courtesy of Brad Avery
|
|
|
By Bob Rhein
Life-long boater Brad Avery takes the helm of the Marineros, the oldest and largest of the Conservancy support groups. A staff commodore of the Newport Harbor and Transpacific Yacht Clubs, Avery is director of the School of Sailing & Seamanship at Orange Coast College.
"It's an honor to help with the Marineros," Avery said, "since Catalina is such special place for me." The Newport Beach resident is a frequent Catalina visitor aboard his classic 54-foot trawler Galatea. MORE...
|
|
NEWS HEADLINE
| | |
CONSERVANCY INAUGURATES FIRST NEW JEEP
Eco Tour to use four new Jeeps in wildlands
 | |
Ready for the Wildlands - With roll-bars, foxy doors, and sleak look, the new vehicle is ready to rough it. Photo by Bob Rhein
|
The Conservancy's first of four brand-new, state-of-the-art Jeeps has arrived. The inaugural Jeep Eco Tour run with the new vehicle was part of a 40th-anniversary video shoot to capture the pageantry of the 2012 Conservancy Ball. According to reports, the new Jeep performed wonderfully and looks like a star on film. Three other new Jeeps should be on the Island by summer. Jeep Eco Tours can be
booked at a variety of lengths by calling the Conservancy at (310) 510-2595, ext. 108.
|
|
PARTICIPATE
| | |
FILM FEST DELIVERS WEST COAST PREMIERS
Catalina stars in vintage and new works
 | |
D.W. Griffith Picture - This poster for Man's Genesis (1912) illustrates the first feature film shot on Catalina Island. Photo courtesy of the Catalina Film Festival
|
|
|
By Bob Rhein
Catalina Film Festival goers will feast on a cornucopia of motion picture delights and perhaps a celebrity sighting or two during the first weekend in May, according to festival director Ron Truppa.
Kicking off the festival at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 4, in the Avalon Theatre will be the West Coast premier of The Magic of Belle Isle. Directed by Rob Reiner and starring Morgan Freeman and Virginia Madsen, the film concerns a famous Western novelist (Freeman) whose struggle with alcoholism has sapped his passion for writing. MORE...
|
|
PARTICIPATE
| | |
WORK AND PLAY ON SAME ISLAND VACATION
Volunteer Vacations give back to Catalina
 | |
Nursing Plants - Volunteer Vacations include working at the Ackerman Native Plant Nursery. Rebekah Perea helps at the nursery. Photo courtesy of Perea family
|
By Lesly Lieberman
Conservancy Volunteer Coordinator
The Conservancy's newly forged partnership with the Historic Hermosa Hotel has led to an innovative Volunteer Vacations package that allows visitors to spend three days and two nights on the Island for less than $250 while they help protect and restore Catalina's ecology. MORE...
|
|
PARTICIPATE
| | |
ARTISTS AT WORK ON PLEIN AIR PAINTINGS
Wild Side Art Show & Sale, dinner June 22-23
 | |
The Other Gibraltar - John Cosby puts the finishing touches on a painting of Little Gibraltar overlooking the San Pedro Channel. Photo by Jack Baldelli
|
By Bob RheinThe 2012 Wild Side Art Show & Sale on June 223and the pre-event dinner on the prior evening promise to form an exciting look at the Island's beautiful interior as interpreted by 11 outstanding plein air artists. "These guys are some of the best in the country," said Bruce Fertig, Wild Side committee chair. "Most of them have been painting Catalina for more than 20 years. They know the land, and love the Island." MORE...
|
|
PARTICIPATE
| | |
WILD PASS DISCOUNTS ISLAND EXPERIENCE
Boat, bike, botany deals among the savings
 | |
Kayak-ity-Yak - A lot of armchair adventurers just talk about getting out in a kayak and investigating Catalina's many wild coves, such as Blue Cavern, depicted here. The Wild Pass makes such adventures more cost-effective. Photo by Jack Baldelli
|
You can experience the magic and mystique of Catalina at half the normal price with the Catalina Wild Pass. You can also explore the hidden treasures of the Island on more than 42,000 acres of wild terrain, scenic coastline and secluded coves. Whether you enjoy mountain biking, hiking, camping, scuba diving, kayaking, or just relaxing in romantic Avalon, the Catalina Wild Pass is your ticket to paradise in your own backyard. MORE...
|
|
PARTICIPATE
| | |
MAY DEAL: CONSERVANCY-LOGO ATTACHE
Versatile, lightweight bag at Explore Store
 | |
Conservancy-Logo Attache - This adaptable bag is on sale at 30 percent off during May. Photo by Scott Dennis
|
By Scott Dennis
Conservancy Director,
Visitor/Volunteer Services
The Conservancy's own logo-branded, expandable attache is available at 30 percent off for May. This lightweight, versatile, embroidered carrying bag can help anyone organize their belongings. The zippered main compartment is as roomy as you want it to be, from a streamlined three-and-a-half- inch pocket to an expanded 6.5-inch slot. MORE...
|
PARTICIPATE
| | |
GRAN FONDO OFFERS THREE DISTINCT COURSES
55-mile long haul bikes to Two Harbors and back
 | |
Biking the Backcountry - Team Sho-Air checks out some of the bike trails on Catalina Island. Photo courtesy of Mountain Bike Action
|
By Christie Collins
Conservancy Manager,
Leases & Special Projects
The Gran Fondo, also known as the Catalina Island Mountain Bike Event, will be held on the Island on May 12, presented by the U.S. Cup MTB Event Management.
Three course options are available for riders of all abilities: The Ridgeline Route is 13 miles long with a combined 2,300 feet of climbing; the Middle Island Route is 35-plus miles long with 5,000 feet of climbing, and the Two Harbors Route is 55 miles with 8,000 feet of climbing. MORE...
|
PARTICIPATE
| | |
EARTH DAY CELEBRATED AT AVALON PARK
Conservancy emphasizes danger of invasives
 | |
Earth Day at Avalon - The Avalon community and the Conservancy celebrated Earth Day at Avalon Park on Saturday, April 21. Here, (from left) Jeff Gilmour and Lorna MacKinnen of the Catalina Habitat Improvement and Restoration Program (CHIRP) discuss the negative effects of invasive plants with Avalon resident Rosie Taylor. The Conservancy thanks all of the volunteers and local musicians who donated their time to make this event a success. Photo by Bob Rhein
.
|
|
|
|
