• March 22: Integrated Pest Management: Cattle and non-native thistles

• May 24: French Broom Removal

• June 7: Pampas Grass Removal

Imagine yourself walking with gold gleaming at your feet, vibrant green in the hills and deep blues on the horizon.  That's what a spring hike is like walking through the serpentine wildflower fields on the Preserve.  In good years, acres upon acres of goldfields (Lasthenia californica) stretch out across the hills, with redwood forest and Pacific Ocean as the backdrop.  Spring is truly a special time of the year on the Preserve because the serpentine soils that make up a portion of the coastal prairie are special places in and of themselves.  Many native plants have adapted over the eons to the strange characteristics of the soil -- with little nutrients and containing heavy metals -- these areas serve as a refuge for many native wildflowers. Much of California's grasslands are dominated by non-native plants established during European and American settlement and thereafter.  But serpentine areas with such harsh soil conditions have been found to be rather inhospitable to most non-natives.  So, it is truly a special time to walk amongst the tenacious wildflowers hanging on in one of their last refuges -- that also just so happens to be hanging on to the edge of the continent.  Don't miss out, sign up for a hike. Click on the link to the left under "Spring Hikes" to reserve a spot today.

Join us for a rewarding day helping to steward and manage the incredible resources of the Preserve. Please see the link on the left to sign up.

March 22 -- Integrated Pest Management: Non-Native Thistle and Cattle

Did you know that cattle can be trained to eat weeds? Thistles are not usually something cattle like to eat but research has shown that cattle can be trained to do just that.  If we are successful, instead of spending an endless day of hand removing thistle, we will have our cows doing most of the work for us!  Join us as we begin to implement this novel and hopefully successful weed management technique.

May 24th -- French Broom Removal

When we purchased the Preserve, French Broom covered large portions of lower Russian Gulch, crowding out native plants and lowering the habitat quality for native wildlife.  Russian Gulch supports the federally threatened steelhead trout and historically it supported coho salmon. The larger populations of broom have been successfully removed! Join us in our mop-up effort to completely eradicate this plant from the Gulch. 

The Jenner Headlands Raptor Migration Project is going strong with four years of data now under its belt.  Led by intrepid raptor magnet, Larry Broderick, our team of volunteers has recorded just under 8,000 raptors passing by the Headlands during the fall months for the last four years.  On average, that adds up to almost 40 raptors an hour!  During the raptor migration volunteers also compile data on rare raptor species, study raptor interaction with other raptors, record hunting success, and territorial battles.  As it turns out, the lush coastal prairie is a great place to witness the raptor migration as it provides an ample prey base of insects, mammals, reptiles and other birds.  As Larry puts it, "the prairie provides a veritable snack bar and refueling stop for the raptors."  To learn more, sign up for a raptor themed hike this fall.  If you are someone with expertise in raptor identification and would like join our fall Raptor Migration Project, please send us and email so we can include you in this year's Project.