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photo
by R.L. Kenyon |
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Scott
Thomas, Conservation Chair |
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Mission
Statement:
Sea
& Sage Audubon Society is an Orange County chapter of National
Audubon Society, dedicated to the protection and appreciation
of birds, other wildlife, and their habitats through, education,
conservation, scientific research, and volunteer opportunities.
Through the Conservation Committee, we promote responsible participation
in public policy, support of open spaces, parks, and natural
resource management, in order to achieve balanced and environmentally
sound eco-systems and communities. |
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| 1.
Activist involvement with government entities and private business
to protect, improve and maintain natural ecosystems. This may
include involvement in reviewing public documents, petitioning
public officials and speaking out on environmental issues. |
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| 2.
Labor equity involvement with members and other concerned citizens
to physically work on projects that protect, improve and maintain
natural ecosystems. This may include park cleanups, revegetating
a critical area, or monitoring wildlife activity. These
activities require a committee that is knowledgeable about environmental
issues and should have the ability to investigate and study
issues dealing with degradation, enhancement and perpetuation
of natural ecosystems and wildlife. The committee should
interface with experts in the field to improve the ability to
assess the long-term impact of natural resource degradation;
formulate and direct programs and specific projects that might
mitigate these issues and work with other conservation groups
to achieve these goals. |
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4th
Tuesday Conservation Lecture: January
24th, 2012
The subject of the
January Conservation Lecture
will be "Orange County Cactus Wren Survey." It will
be held at the Learning Center in the SJWS. (This is the big
gray building beyond the Duck Club; see directions below.) |
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| Directions
to the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary . After you get to
the SJWS, park near the Duck Club or in the overflow parking
lot by pond E, then walk through the gate that is between the
Duck Club and Audubon House and follow the path across the lawn
to the Learning Center (Gray Building). The room will be open
at 7:00 and we'll start the program at 7:30. Refreshments will
be served. |
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Conservation
Committee meetings:
The
Conservation Committee meetings are held the 1st Tuesday evening
of the month at 6:30 pm. The next meeting will be on September
6th at 6:30 pm in Audubon House. New members are always welcome.
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Conservation
Committee Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, Jan. 3rd at 6:30 pm
Location: Audubon House in the SJWS
6:30
PM - Start
Committee Business
• 2012 Schedule
4th
Tuesdays
• January - Cactus Wrens
• February - OC Raptors
• April - Vector Control
New Conservation Issues
Continuing Conservation Issues
• Coyote Hills - Stay Request - Lawsuit
• El Toro - FBI
• Banning Ranch
2012 Fern Zimmerman & Conservation Awards
• Nominees and Vote
Round Table
8:30 PM - Adjourn |
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2011
Fern Zimmerman Conservation Award:
The
2011 Fern Zimmerman Conservation Award was presented to David
Pryor for his work protecting the Western Snowy Plovers and
the California Least Terns in Orange County. David exemplifies
the Fern Zimmerman Award in many respects - excellence in habitat
protection and restoration, endangered bird protection, and
public outreach. |
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| David is Senior
Environmental Scientist for the California Department of Parks
and Recreation and District Services Manager for the Orange
Coast District. He has been the Manager of the Least Tern Natural
Preserve at the Santa Ana River Mouth for the past 19 years.
Prior to that, as Lifeguard Supervisor, he was involved in predator
patrol and maintaining and improving the Preserve area. |
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| The Natural Preserve
was dedicated in the early seventies for the California Least
Tern. It began as a 1.5 acre protected area with 5 pairs of
nesting terns. The fence has been moved and the protected area
increased at least twelve times to its present size of over
13 acres, with as many as 500 pairs of nesting terns in recent
years. Under David’s management, this land between two
jetties, right in the middle of a busy highway, bicycle path,
beach, and surfing area, has become a significant native dune
habitat and one of the most successful tern colonies in both
LA and Orange Counties. |
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| Each year before
nesting season, David ensures that the Preserve is in good condition
for the terns. This often involves using heavy equipment to
move sand, planting native dune plants, removing invasive non-native
plants, repairing the fence and restoring the beach area. When
possible, some of this is done at an Earth Day Event. |
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In 2005, Loren Hays
of USFWS and David Pryor of CA State Parks began to work together
to set up an area for the Western Snowy Plovers to breed on
the beach on the ocean side of the Preserve. Approximately 40
volunteers from Sea & Sage began to monitor the Least Terns
and Snowy Plovers. Though no Snowy Plovers have been observed
breeding there yet, the program has been very successful in
monitoring their presence and observing and protecting the active
Least Tern Colony. 2011 marks the 7th year of David’s
involvement as leader of this project. He always makes time
to welcome the volunteers at the orientation meeting and provides
onsite training for them.
We are proud to present David Pryor with the 2011 Fern Zimmerman
Conservation Award. |
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| Letter
of Commendation: |
| Diane
Bonanno received a Letter of Commendation for her grass roots
work to protect Coastal Sage Scrub in West Coyote Hills in northern
Orange County. Though the battle is not won, Diane and Save
Coyote Hills team achieved an important victory with the Fullerton
City Council late last year. This year, they hope to convince
the land owners, a subsidiary of Chevron, that it’s time
to sell their land and help save the last little, but important,
piece of Coastal Sage Scrub and California Gnatcatcher habitat
in the sea of development in north Orange County. |
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Environmental
Volunteer Opportunities
A
list of environmental
opportunities for volunteers in Orange County
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| Local
Conservation Projects |
| Tree
Trimming Packet |
| Coastal Cactus Wren
Project - volunteers needed |
| 2011 Cactus Wren
Training |
| Native
Plant Nurseries & Websites |
| Bolsa
Chica |
| Coyote
Hills |
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| Bird
Research Projects |
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| State
Conservation Projects |
| Wind
Turbines, Green Energy or Avian Enemy? |
| Salton
Sea Campaign |
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| Contacting
Your Legislators |
| Find
your Orange County officials |
| Find
your State officials |
| Find
your Federal officials |
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| Links
to Other Conservation Organizations |
| Endangered
Habitats League |
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