For Your Calendar
Friday, February 14 Walking Ecology Lecture: Chumash Culture. Paul Gelles, Midland School 9 - 11am
Saturday, February 15
Public Hike 8am- 1pm
Saturday March 8
Public Hike 8am - 1pm
Friday, April 4 Walking Ecology Lecture:
Fighting Fire with Fog. Nate Emery, UCSB, 9 - 11am
Saturday April 12
Public Hike 8am - 1pm
Friday, April 25
SYNHS Lecture: "Water and the California Dream"
by author David Carle
6-9pm
Saturday May 10
Public Hike 8am - 1pm
Saturday, July 12 - Annual BBQ & BARN DANCE! 4 - 9pm
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There is no charge for Sedgwick events.
Reservations are recommended for hikes
as space is limited.
Reservation Links:
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California Naturalist Training 
10 Saturdays Feb 22-May 10, 2014
$320
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden & UCSB Natural Reserves For more information
email the instructor, view
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We Care About Water Conservation!
The Sedgwick Reserve has pledged to save 2000 gallons of water a month by using water more wisely.
Follow this link to learn how you too can easily conserve water in and around your home.
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As of January 2014, all University of California campuses and UC-owned properties will be smoke-free and tobacco-free.
Smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and unregulated nicotine products will not be allowed on
the Sedgwick Reserve.
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Chumash Renaissance: Indian Casinos, Education, and Cultural Politics in Rural California
Join anthroplogist Paul Gelles of the Midland School in Los Olivos for an informative lecture about the history of the Santa Ynez Chumash, showing how successive waves of colonization have impacted Chumash identity and cultural politics in the Santa Ynez Valley today.
After the lecture, those who are so inclined can take a 1.5 mile round trip walk through the oak woodlands of the lower Sedgwick Reserve, an area once visited by Chumash hunters and acorn gatherers.
Friday, February 14th
9am-10am lecture 10-11am walk
Paul's book by the same title will be available for purchase and signing after the lecture.
 Graphic courtesy of Emma Munger
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Saturday February 15th 8:30 am - 1pm
Three hikes will be led by docent trail guides:
An easy 1.5 mile tour around the Field Station;
1-2 moderate hikes depending on how many sign up;
and a strenuous hike to the top of the Reserve
(and hopefully, back!)
Bring your lunch and stay afterwards to
enjoy the shade of the oaks
A suggested donation of $10 per person or $15 per family is appreciated but not required.
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Pacific Pond Turtle Sedgwick Reserve, January 2014
Photo Credit: Sheri Lubin
The Sedgwick Pond is coming back to life following long overdue cattail removal in the northern half of the Pond last November.
In recent weeks, blackbirds have been jockeying for nest sites in the remaining cattails, new species of ducks have been spied in the open water, and a Pacific Pond Turtle has taken up residence.
The Pacific pond turtle (Emys marmorata) is the only native freshwater turtle in California. It is ideally suited to survive the aridity and annual drought of the Mediterranean climate typical of the region. These turtles are capable of moving long distances (at least one mile overland) and of locating remaining water sources when streams and rivers dry up in late summer. They survive droughts by digging into the mud on the bottom of water courses or moving to woodlands above the creek or pond and bury themselves in loose soil where they will overwinter until temperatures warm up enough for them to become active again.
Pacific pond turtles were once abundant throughout California but are thought to have declined by 75-80% over most of its range. In the southern San Joaquin Valley, where population estimates once exceeded 3 million individuals, they are now almost extinct*. Habitat loss, both aquatic and in upland overwintering sites, continues to threaten the species.
Although recommended for the federal endangered species list, western pond turtles are currently only recognized as state species of special concern by the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG).
Adults can live 40 to 70 years or even longer. They eat aquatic plants, invertebrates, worms, frog and salamander eggs and larvae, crayfish, carrion, and occasionally fish.
Given all that, the pond turtle Sheri Lubin photographed at the Sedgwick Pond last month is one fortunate to have found us, as we were to have found it!
*Pond turtles were hunted extensively in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for use as food. Pond turtles were served in upscale restaurants until turtle meat went out of favor, possibly during Prohibition, due to the use of wine in their preparation. Thousands of pond turtles were taken every year.
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