Conservancy Update ONLINE - June 2013
News from the Catalina Island Conservancy
|
|
|
Conservancy Update
is a publication of the Catalina Island Conservancy
| |
The Team
Jerry Roberts-Senior Editor
Bob Rhein-Senior Writer
Pat Maxwell-Exec. Editor
Contributing Writers
Christie Collins
Peter Dixon
Jen Poyer
Sasha Villacis
|
|
|
| MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT |
| |
 | |
Invasive Plants Crew - Conservancy staffers Rebecca Cano and Grant Powell treat an invasion of Harding grass (Phalaris tuberosa) along Divide Road. See "By the Numbers." Photo by Bob Rhein.
|
Greetings!
Field work by our biologists is highlighted this month by stories on invasive plant removal results, a search of the wildlands for reptiles and amphibians, and a feature on our director of conservation and wildlife management, Julie King, aka the "Fox Lady." Chief Conservation & Science Officer John Mack reports on a long-misclassified plant that can now be added to Catalina's list of natives. We hope that you enjoy this issue.
Sincerely,
Ann M. Muscat, Ph.D., President and CEO
|
PHOTO GALLERY
|
| |
ISLE'S 'HERPS': SNAKES, LIZARDS, FROGS ...
 | |
A Rattle to Rattle You - This southern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus helleri) was photographed on the Island. Catalina. Photo by Carlos de la Rosa.
|
By Tyler Dvorak
Herpetofauna - "herps" for short - refers to a group of animals that includes reptiles and amphibians, the subject of this month's Photo Gallery. In early April, I spent some time in the field collecting Catalina Island's herps along with researchers Dr. Jeanne Robertson from California State University, Northridge, and Dr. Gregory Pauly from the Natural History Museum
of Los Angeles County.
|
FROM THE FIELD
|
| |
'FOX LADY' IDENTITY FINE WITH JULIE KING
 | |
On the Trail - Julie King and the born-in-captivity Catalina Island fox, Tachi, were all smiles this day along the Trans-Catalina Trail. Photo by Bob Rhein.
|
By Jerry Roberts
Julie King's identity is indelibly stamped with her job. More precisely, one aspect of that employment as the Catalina Island Conservancy's director of conservation and wildlife management gives her distinct notoriety. "Hi, Fox Lady," she'll hear, running errands in Avalon.
|
FROM THE FIELD
|
| |
PLANT PRESUMED EXTINCT FOUND ON ISLAND
 | |
Rocky, Arid Terrain - Wiggins' cryptantha grows in dry, rocky soil, in the American Southwest, Mexico, Central and South America and, as we now know, on Catalina Island. Courtesy of Michael G. Simpson
|
By John Mack
Chief Conservation
& Science Officer
A small, perennial plant that was presumed extinct was recently identified as occurring on Santa Catalina Island. Previously, Wiggins' cryptantha was known from only one specimen collected in Mexico on the Baja Peninsula and described in 1931 by botanist Ira Wiggins.
|
| NEWS |
| |
CONSERVANCY'S SUMMER NATURALISTS CHOSEN
 | |
Mobile Nature Center - The Mobile Nature Station, seen here in Avalon, will be the Two Harbors home-away-from-home for the Conservancy's new summer naturalists. Conservancy file photo
|
By Alexa Johnson
Outreach
& Naturalist Training Specialist
The Catalina Island Conservancy annually selects four budding conservation professionals to act as summer naturalists. Last year's ambassadors interacted with nearly 6,000 Catalina visitors, many of whom were unaware that the Conservancy manages, protects and restores more than 42,000 acres of Catalina. Come and meet the enthusiastic environmental stewards selected to share Catalina's story this summer.
|
BY THE NUMBERS
|
| |
REMOVING INVASIVES, CYCLING WILDLANDS
 | |
Out by the Roots - Tony Summers, the Conservancy's supervisor of the Invasive Plants Program, pulls out a fennel bush. Conservancy file photo.
|
By Tony Summers
and Christie Collins
Two things in common between the field work of the Conservancy's Catalina Habitat Improvement and Restoration Program (CHIRP), which removes invasive plants to protect native species, and the Gran Frondo mountain biking event held May 11 on the Island, are that they both put up big numbers this year and have required a lot of hard, dusty work in Catalina's rugged wildlands. Check the tallies: The Gran Fondo drew 645 cyclists and CHIRP sent four bad weeds toward Island oblivion.
|
NEWS
|
| |
ISLE'S IMAGES GO TO LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
 | |
One for the Archive - Carol M. Highsmith photographs the iconic Airport in the Sky. Her photo will be archived in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Photo by Bob Rhein.
|
By Bob Rhein
Hours before boarding the Catalina Express, Carol
M. Highsmith photographed the set of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and its host, who will step down next year when the Burbank set is demolished and the show moved to New York. Catalina Island and Leno's set were two stops on Highsmith's epic 16-year quest to all 50 states. She's photographing buildings, train stations, lighthouses, parades and local traditions - any of which may or may not exist 100, 200 or 300 years from now.
|
PARTICIPATE
|
| |
LAST CHANCE TICKETS FOR THE WILD SIDE
 | |
Working in Pastels - Kim Lordier will be among the plein air artists presenting their works in Catalina: The Wild Side Art Show & Sale. Photo by Jack Baldelli.
|
Nationally acclaimed plein air artists will display their interpretations of Catalina's rugged wildlands as well as Avalon and Two Harbors at the annual Catalina: The Wild Side Art Show and Sale. Eleven artists will be featured. The night before the show, June 21, the Catalina Island Conservancy will host a special Artists Preview Dinner at a private Avalon home. Ticket information is available
online at Catalina: The Wild Side.
|
|
|
|
SAVE THE DATE
| | EXCURSION TO SANTA ROSA SEPTEMBER 14
This year's excursion in the Exploring California's Channel Islands series will take place on Saturday, September 14, and travel to Santa Rosa Island. An optional pre-trip dinner will take place on Friday, September 13. Discounted hotel rates will be available. Pricing is being finalized.
|
| _______________________________________________________________________________
Banner photo: The Pacific chorus frog (Pseudacris regilla) provides some of nature's nighttime serenading around Catalina Island and is one of this month's subjects in the Photo Gallery of Catalina's reptiles and amphibians. It is Catalina's only native frog. The Island's bestiary also includes bullfrogs, but they are an invasive species. Depending on who you ask, the Pacific chorus frog was called a tree frog, but is not a true tree frog. Photo by Frank Starkey.
Conservancy House: (310) 510-2595
|
|
|
