News from Catalina Island Conservancy

Conservancy Update ONLINE - July 2012

News from the Catalina Island Conservancy

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Greetings!

We hope that you enjoy this issue. If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Jerry Roberts, Senior Editor

PHOTO GALLERY

SPOTLIGHT ON ISLAND DEER IN 2011 HERD SURVEY

Barn Owl - Owls perk up the night life on Catalina. Photo by Lenny Altherr

By Tyler Dvorak

The Catalina Island Conservancy will conduct two nights of spotlight surveys this July to estimate the size of the Island's mule deer population. This month's Photo Gallery offers an insider's look at counting the deer and checking in on some of Catalina's other creatures of the night.

FROM THE FIELD

STUDENTS RESEARCH ISLAND'S ROCKS OF AGES

Island Rock - This garnet impregnated metamorphic rock is of the type pupils will study. Photo by Zeb Page.

By Linda Farley

Six students from the Keck Geology Consortium Project will be on Catalina Island this summer examining subduction, or the movement and collision of plates of the earth's crust into and beneath each other. Catalina is believed to be an exposed cross-section of an ancient subduction zone that's at least 115 million years old.

NEWS HEADLINES

MOBILE NATURE STATION OPEN AT TWO HARBORS

Ribbon Cutting - Initiating the Mobile Nature Center's summer stay at Two Harbors are, from left, Geoffrey Claflin Rusack, chairman of the board of the Santa Catalina Island Company; Ann Muscat president and CEO of the Conservancy, and donors Joyce and Jim Brown. Jim is a Conservancy board member. Photo by Terri Bassett

By Bob Rhein

Summertime boaters and guests at Two Harbors will get an enhanced look at the natural history of Catalina by visiting the Conservancy's new Mobile Nature Station. This exciting 250-square-foot learning tool with a heavy-duty, off-road chassis is located near the playground on the foot path leading to Catalina Harbor. A brief opening ceremony was conducted on Thursday, June 21, at Two Harbors.

NEWS HEADLINES

RECEPTION HONORS CONSERVANCY VOLUNTEERS

Pieces of Cake - The Volunteer Cake was a tasty hit. Photo by Bob Rhein

By Bob Rhein

The Conservancy staff and board gathered on June 15 at the beautiful Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden to recognize the hard work and dedication by tireless volunteers in many endeavors and capacities who have been so essential to the organization.

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CONSERVANCY CRUISE DESTINATION: SANTA CRUZ

Blue Native - The Santa Cruz scrub jay is among that island's endemics. Photo by Doug Mangum

The Catalina Island Conservancy's annual exploratory excursion to one of the other California Channel Islands is an anticipated event of the calendar year by many participating members as well as the staff. This summer's trip embarks for Prisoner's Harbor on the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island.

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FAMILY AFFAIR ON THE TRANS-CATALINA TRAIL

Hathaway Father's Day - The gentlemen in the back with hats are brothers Thomas Hathaway, left, and Steve Hathaway, right. In the photo are Thomas' son, Starr, and Steve's sons: Cory, Sterling, and Tyler Hathaway. The girl in front is Steve's daughter, Julianne Hathaway. Photo courtesy of the Hathaway family

Charles Hathaway, a former member of the Conservancy's Board of Directors, and his wife, Patty, have been Leadership Circle members donating the majority of funds for the Trans-Catalina Trail.

The Hathaways' sons and grandchildren celebrated Father's Day weekend with a hike of the Trans-Catalina Trail, starting at Parsons Landing on Friday, June 15. They journeyed to the start of the trail at Starlight Beach. The family then hiked back through Parsons to their camp at Isthmus Cove.

On Saturday, the family hiked from the Isthmus to Blackjack Campground, and were treated to a campsite "invasion" at dusk by endemic Catalina Island foxes. On the last day, June 17, they celebrated Father's Day by hiking from Blackjack Campground to Avalon, continuing on the Trans-Catalina Trail that Charles and Patty Hathaway so generously supported: the Trans-Catalina Trail. True love of Catalina is being passed down from generation to generation.

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Banner photo: The younger fawns, such as this Catalina Island backcountry resident, instinctually drop to the ground and remain motionless at the threat of danger. See this month's Photo Gallery. Photo by Tyler Dvorak

Conservancy House: (310) 510-2595

Members Services: Email

Web: http://www.catalinaconservancy.org

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