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Intro to Birding Class Starts This Month
Birding Basics: The Birds of the Pajaro Valley
is a fascinating class which will introduce you to the amazing birds
here in our own community. Using digital slides and bird song
recordings, you will learn the basics of birding in a supportive
environment. You will begin building your basic field skills, learning
how to use your field guide and optics and employing useful
identification techniques. Click here for more information. |
Snakes, Frogs, and Such
Join
us at the WERC on Wednesday, Jan. 27th, 6:30-8:30 pm, to hear US Bureau
of Land Management Ecologist Mike Westphal discuss the reptiles and
amphibians, some of them rare or endangered, that live on the uplands
and coastal terraces of our area. Admission is free. Reserve a
seat by contacting Kathy Fieberling at 831-345-1226 or
kathyfieb@yahoo.com. |
Watch Awarded New Trails Contract with City
 Toward
the end of 2009, the Watch began a new contract for the City of
Watsonville's wetlands and trail system, to maintain trails and do
native habitat restoration on the six miles of trails. The work
includes setting up a demonstration restoration area behind the Ramsey
Park Nature Center and recruiting and working with volunteers on the
sloughs and uplands adjacent to the trails. This contract reflects our
successful partnership with the City and our recognized expertise in
restoration. Click here to learn about our new staff person for this contract. |
2010 Docent Training Program
The
2010 Docent Training Program begins on Feb. 24. Docent trainees will be
treated to an inside look at the Pajaro Valley and its wide network of
wetlands. Local experts will share the ecology, history and restoration
of the wetlands during this 7-week program, which includes Wednesday
evening presentations and Saturday morning field trips. To learn more
about it, click here.
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Last Mile of Watsonville Slough
In
October our staff and volunteers completed removal of iceplant in our
salt marsh restoration and enhancement project. This year we removed
about 100 cubic yards of iceplant, which covered about a third of an
acre on an area known as the Last Mile. We are also talking with the
nearby homeowners association about doing some contract work as a part
of their landscaping.
The
"Last Mile" is the final section of the Watsonville Slough, behind the
Pajaro Dunes, at its confluence with the Pajaro River.
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Grazing at DFG Property
 The
projects on the Dept. of Fish and Game property are focused on
grassland restoration with grazing animals and installation of native
plants in the coastal prairie and slough edges. We are working on
laying the foundation for a rotational grazing program in the coming
spring, including writing grant proposals. Read more.... |
Teachers Trained to Monitor Wetlands
Some
happy middle school teachers learned how to sample for aquatic
invertebrates in November. They are enthusiastic about having their
students participate in Project Tierra and uploading their data to our
future database. Read more.... |
Restoration Pays
 The
Watch was delighted to be the beneficiary of a donation of $6,575 from
the Wildlife Society. This was calculated as a $5 carbon offset fee
from each of 1315 attendees at their annual conference, held in
Monterey last September. Above we see the California Conservation Corps
installing native coastal prairie plants on the Watsonville Sloughs
Ecological Reserve. The Watch does well by doing good!
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You Can Help!
Your
contribution to the Watch supports our work to protect, restore, and
foster appreciation of the wetlands. Please support us when you receive
our appeal in the mail, or contribute online by going to our website, www.watsonvillewetlandswatch.org. Your contribution is tax-deductible in accordance with IRS rules for non-profit organizations and is very much appreciated. | |
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Watsonville Wetlands Watch advocates for wetland issues, educates
elementary, middle, and high school students, restores degraded
habitats, preserves what remains whole, and teaches appreciation for
the unique beauty and life of the Pajaro Valley wetlands. In
cooperation with numerous other agencies, we support studies of and
planning for these sites. |
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