|
photos
by Jim Gallagher |
4th
Tuesday Conservation Lecture |
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"Orange
County Cactus Wren Survey" |
presented
by Dr. Kris Preston |
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| Please join us for
a lecture by Dr. Kris Preston, Nature Reserve of Orange County,
to hear exciting updates from her intensive research on Coastal
Cactus Wrens. |
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| The Nature Conservancy,
Audubon Starr Ranch Sanctuary, Sea and Sage Audubon, OC Parks,
and Nature Reserve of Orange County are continuing our collaborative
effort to recruit more volunteers for the Orange County Cactus
Wren Survey Team. The volunteer-based, scientist-led team will
assist in surveys to assess the long term status of the Coastal
Cactus Wren in Orange County. In spring 2012, we also seek a
limited number of experienced birders for our second season
at Starr Ranch surveying for five other important songbirds
of coastal sage scrub: California Gnatcatcher, California Thrasher,
Wrentit, Black-chinned Sparrow, and Rufous-crowned Sparrow |
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| You have the opportunity
to be a part of the 4th annual Coastal Cactus Wren survey. This
is a unique chance for naturalists and birders, to learn survey
methods from Cactus Wren scientists and to perform eight surveys
from March through June in the following tentative locations:
O’Neill Regional Park, Saddlecreek North and South, Cleveland
National Forest, and others. Training, data collection materials,
field assistance, and plenty of encouragement will be provided. |
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| SKILLS
REQUIRED – Basic
birding skills, ability to walk moderate distances, reliable
transportation, a good pair of binoculars, readiness to learn,
and enthusiasm about birds! (More experienced birders will be
needed for the Starr Ranch study in the spring.) |
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| SCHEDULE:
|
•
January 24 – Lecture by Dr. Kris
Preston on Coastal Cactus Wrens – 7:00 pm
at Sea and Sage Audubon Education Center, San Joaquin Wildlife
Sanctuary in Irvine.
|
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| Cactus
Wren Volunteer Training: |
•
Saturday, February 25 - 9 am
to 3 pm - at Starr Ranch
|
While many of
you may already have more than all the skills needed to
identify Cactus Wrens, the training will be necessary to
help you work with a protocol and procedures designed especially
for this project.
|
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| Coastal
Sage Scrub Pilot Survey Volunteer Training: |
• Saturday,
February 11
- 9 am to 3 pm
(probably will end earlier) at Starr Ranch.
This survey is for more experienced birders only.
|
Please bring snacks and lunch. Bring your binoculars
and be prepared for a short uphill walk during the field
portion of the training. We
are going to ask that volunteers work on their sites in
teams of at least two people who can schedule surveys together.
|
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| Habitat
and Survey Site Assessments: We
need to get everyone started in their survey area in March to
examine cactus resources and habitat features. We will meet
everyone at least once in their area to go over what we all
have learned in training and work out any bugs. |
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| Cactus
Wren Surveys: Plan
for surveys twice a month through June, starting in March, with
at least two weeks between surveys. The first time out in March
will be simple cactus scrub mapping (for wren volunteers). |
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| Planned
Cactus Wren Survey Locations: Saddlecreek
North and South (near O'Neill Park) and possibly O'Neill Park.
(Starr Ranch for CSS point counts) |
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| RSVP ASAP
to
or 949-858-0309 for: |
| 1.
Saturday,
February 25 - Cactus Wren survey training, OR |
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| 2.
Saturday,
February 11 - CSS pilot survey training (for experienced birders
only) |
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| 3.
Site preference:
Saddlecreek North and South or O'Neill Park (possible). Starr
Ranch for CSS point counts (limited number of experienced birders). |
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| On the way into
Starr Ranch, tell the guard at the Dove Canyon gate that you're
with the Cactus Wren or Coastal Sage Scrub volunteer training
group. |
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| Thanks
for volunteering with our project! |
| Sincerely, |
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| Trish
Smith and Sandy DeSimone |
| The
Nature Conservancy and Audubon's Starr Ranch Sanctuary |
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| For additional information
visit: www.starr-ranch.org
or http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org/Conservation/BirdResearch/CactusWrens.html |
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