Photo of Moonstone Beach, Cambria by Robert Schwemmer, NOAA
VIDEO: California Dreaming: Why the Golden State's coastline is one of the most unique in the world!
ABC
https://abc7.com/society/california-dreaming-one-of-the-worlds-best-coastlines/10426474/
"California's coastlines are so unique in part because of the topography and in part because California is such a long state," said Michele Roest, a marine biologist at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and a professor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
"We take it for granted because we live here, but it is one of the most unique eco-environment systems in the world," said Roest. "We're recognized as a biodiversity hot spot and people come here to see species that they can only see here."
"Right off the coast here in Long Beach, you can reliably count on seeing gray whales, but California has populations of blue whales that migrate through," said Dr. Peter Kareiva, CEO and president of the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. "Blue whales are the largest animal that ever lived. It's magical. There's not many places that are as developed as California is and yet you can see all these whales."
"We're very lucky in the state of California to have the Coastal Act, which was passed in 1976," said Graham Hamilton, the Los Angeles manager of the Surfrider Foundation. "It essentially enshrined the entire coastline of the state of California as part of the public commons.
"Helping people to understand that this is theirs, is a natural gateway to entering into a much deeper conversation about how they can help to protect it for future generations."
Our special docuseries "California Dreaming" explores the challenges, solutions and people striving to keep the Golden State great, and the California Dream alive.
I enjoyed researching and writing this article on maritime history. Did you know that Pigeon Point was named for a shipwreck? Read the article here.
https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/jan21/lost-but-not-forgotten.html
Photo: Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
The north coast of San Luis Obispo County is famous for having the largest mainland colony of Northern elephant seals anywhere. The best time to visit is between December and March, when the beaches south of the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse are loaded with thousands of elephant seals doing their thing — males fighting for mating rights, females giving birth, and pups experiencing their first moments of life. It’s a noisy, chaotic world, and also a chance to observe very large wild animals living an important segment of their natural lives. Be sure to respect these behemoths by staying on the boardwalk and out of their way. To learn more about the Piedras Blancas elephant seal colony, visit the Friends of the Elephant Seal at https://elephantseal.org.
Read the article here: https://california101guide.com/signed-seal-ed-delivered
Photo courtesy of Joan Crowder, Friends of the Elephant Seal.
I’m proud to be the nature writer for the California 101 Traveler’s Guide! They always have interesting articles, places to visit along the Highway 101 corridor, and great recipes. Even when we’re limited in our social interactions, we can still get out and enjoy nature. There’s always something interesting to see along California’s Highway 101 — and being in our cars is one of the easiest places to be while staying safely socially distant.
https://california101guide.com/wildlife-through-the-seasons
I love encouraging people to learn more about local wildlife, including the whales! Here’s an article I wrote for the California 101 Guide - Whale Watching along Highway 101!
https://california101guide.com/whale-watching-101
Photo By Vincent Shay Photography: www.vincentshayphotography.com
We had a terrific Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival on Martin Luther King weekend, January 17-20. More than 700 people registered for over 140 field trips, presentations, workshops and special events. As the Board Chair, I’m excited about sharing the biodiversity of California’s Central Coast with others. Here’s an article in the California Highway 101 Travelers Guide magazine that tells you all about it. The stunning photos in the article were provided by Krisztina Scheeff and her company, http://www.ksnaturephotography.com. Visit her site for more amazing photos!
We had a terrific and high energy Spring CalNat course, including visits with Master Gardeners, phycologists, water conservation specialists, and field trips to the Central Coast Aquarium, elephant seals at San Simeon and a special peek at the hagfish fishery in Avila Beach. Great information, lots of learning and lots of fun! The next California Naturalist Class will run from September 13 to November 1, 2019. Here’s the link: https://www.cuesta.edu/communityprograms/community-education/nature_science/naturalist.html
Photo by CalNat Grad Heather Heatherington
This California Kingsnake was found and released at Montana de Oro State Park on April 13. Photo by Brad Opstad.
I’ll be teaching a course for youth on becoming a naturalist. Teens will learn techniques to help them understand and document the natural world. It will be fun for everyone!
To sign your child up for the course go to Cuesta Community Programs or click the link below.
Here’s a photo of our California Naturalist students at Cuesta Community college. Way to go, CalNat grads!
I’m excited to offer another California Naturalist Course, through Cuesta Community Programs.
Congratulations to another graduating class of California Naturalists!
Here's an article about the California Naturalist Programs offered in SLO County
I'm very excited to offer a California Naturalist Program through Cuesta College Community Education. The CalNat Program is a 40-hour college-level natural history course that provides a comprehensive overview of California's natural ecosystems including energy, water, ecosystems, and habitats. Completion of the program provides certification as a "California Naturalist." This is a great way to improve comprehensive knowledge of California's ecosystems, and it offers 4 units of UC credit for a fee. Click on the California Naturalist icon to learn more.
See the Spring edition of Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine for an update on the Highway 1 overpass and a quote about the elephant seals in March.
About 22,000 elephant seals (at last count) haul out on beaches near Point Piedras Blancas every year. They typically arrive in November and December to give birth and mate. By early March, all adult seals and most sub-adults and juveniles have returned to sea. The weaned pups (weaners) remain, exploring their beach environment and using stored fat to grow. “This age is as cute as elephant seals get,” says Michele Roest, founder and principal of Science and Environmental Education Development (SEED). By mid-April, females begin to arrive for the spring molt.
I had a wonderful visit to the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Garden, located in Arcadia, CA, just east of Pasadena. The 127-acre site is rich with cultural and natural history. The grounds are centered around ancient natural lakes, used by Native Peoples for thousands of years. Settled by Elias Jackson “Lucky” Baldwin in 1875, the property traded hands many times until 1948, when it became part of Los Angeles County and began its transition to the beautiful park that it is today.
The arboretum includes wonderful examples of interpretive signs, outreach messages and education. One of its great attractions is the peacocks that wander freely throughout the property. Their calls and majestic plumage enchant visitors, as they patiently pose for photos at no charge.
The mission of the The Arboretum is to cultivate southern California’s natural, horticultural and historic resources for learning, enjoyment and inspiration. In addition to concerts and tours, they offer activities and events for every audience.
Docent-led walking tours are available daily and with reservations for large groups.
Regular admission is $9 adults: $6 seniors and student with ID; $4 children 5-12; Children under age 4 and members are free.
Learn more about this beautiful and historic gem in the heart of Los Angeles.
