Nature Notes - Spring 2019

nature notes SPRING • 2019

Newsletter of the Central Coast State Parks Association

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ou know we are spoiled Californians when you hear hushed whispers “I am so thankful for the rain but I am ready for sun and warmth.”

These words echoed in my ears as the atmospheric river dissipated. We have finally received the rain we desperately needed and spring has Kristin Howland sprung!

Staff Directory Kristin Howland Executive Director ed@centralcoastparks.org (805) 548-0391 Alissa Maddren Membership and Events Coordinator membership@centralcoastparks.org (805) 548-0384

I was talking with my husband about this message and voicing my thoughts on what I wanted to write about. My 6 year old, Abby, chimed in with “Mommy, you should write about the worms and how they help add nutrients to the soil and aerate it for the plants. They help make things grow.” So, let’s talk about growth!

Ryan Hughes Retail Operations Coordinator store@centralcoastparks.org (805) 548-0392

I spent my first six months as the Executive Director of CCSPA trying to best understand what the job entailed and how I could contribute to the organization and its constituents. Now that I have my feet muddied, I am excited to move forward with growing the organization. In the coming months you can look forward to: a revised CCSPA website that will be more user friendly, new items in our stores that are custom to our parks, an online store to expand our reach, new partnerships with businesses and media outlets, an expanded Wild and Scenic Film Festival, and a strategic business plan for CCSPA The staff at CCSPA have many more ideas but also know our limitations. We are a small but mighty team and we will move forward one stride at a time.

Let’s face it, growth can be difficult. Growth takes adaptation, energy, time and resources. We need to develop new strategies to facilitate this growth. I am excited for the opportunities, challenges and successes that lie ahead.

I am forever grateful for the support of members, docents, volunteers, and donors. You are a vital part of the community that cares for our local state parks, and your involvement helps make growth possible.

Marylou Gooden - Board Chair Hannah Romo - Secretary Bob Priola - Treasurer Asit Rairkar - Vice Chair Elaine Rosenfield - Docent Council President

Best wishes for a happy spring,

Kristin Howland

Board Members

State Parks Liaisons Danielle Bronson State Park Interpreter II Oceano Dunes District Eric Hjelstrom Superintendent III SLO Coast District www.centralcoastparks.org

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Executive Director Central Coast State Parks Association

Number of years CCSPA has been funding educational opportunities in our local State Parks

CCSPA is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit. We are one of 85 similar cooperating associations across the state who work in partnership with State Parks. Tax ID #: 51-0198869

MAKE A DIFFERENCE Are you ready to make a difference? CCSPA is looking for new board members and volunteers! Contact us at: ed@centralcoastparks.org

CCSPA | SPRING 2019 - 2

finding wildFlowers After a season of above-average rainfall, people are starting to ask whether the wildflowers will be good this year, and even whether we’ll have a “superbloom.” While many native shrubs are already in full flower (Ceanothus, Black sage, etc.), it’s still too early to know whether the grassland wildflowers will be out in full force.

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By the time you read this, the superbloom may be happening.

For up-to-date information on wildflower blooms at the latter location, you may call the Goodwin Education Center at Carrizo Plains National Monument, (805) 475 2131.

The last major bloom there was during a wet year that came as a reprieve from the recent multi-year drought. Check your information and be ready to go if that’s your destination, because the blooms there don’t last long. Be prepared for weather changes as well. Since the Plains are semi-desert, temperatures can swing from the 20s or 30s at night to over 90 degrees during the day in springtime. Carry water and take a hat and sunscreen. If there has been recent rain, roads can be muddy. Make sure you have good tires and carry a shovel. - Rouvaishyana

Along the Montana de Oro Bluff Trail and at PG&E’s Pt. Buchon Trail, there should be California poppies, Goldfields, Tidy tips, Baby blue eyes, and other flowers—when the time is right. A similar bloom could appear at the Estero Bluffs north of Cayucos as well. Look for blooms on the grassy hills east of Morro Bay and Cayucos, and along Turri Road just northeast of Los Osos. Poppies are in bloom near the Heron Rookery just north of the Museum, and I have a Docent report of Chocolate lilies on the Crespi Trail off Turri Rd. As of March 6, other docents reported that it was too early for wildflower blooms at the Carrizo Plain. They did not check at Shell Creek, but the two blooms often coincide.

Leaving a Legacy

Mike Baird

Martini d’Oro, Skeleton Sunday, Holidays at the Museum, plus going-away and retirement parties. Sue Fong, former co-chair of youth education, says:

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She made it all look easy, but in fact, devoted hundreds of hours to a myriad of events.

Actually, well over 7,500 hours to be inexact! Current cochair Janene Cooper appreciates Linda’s special way with children and steadfast integrity, resulting in a deep sense of trust and comfort in her presence, which we will miss.

At the December 2018 Docent Celebration, Linda Winters received a richly deserved standing ovation for her 20 years of leadership and significant contributions. Well known for her impeccable organization and sense of humor, she is entering a new chapter in her life, leaving an inspiring legacy.

Linda Winters

In addition to serving as co-chair of youth education and being instrumental in the evolving school group offerings, Linda was hospitality chair for several years and participated in numerous other programs, including Summer Solstice, Sea Otter Experience, docent training, Sea Life Stewards,

Linda’s next chapter is presently unwritten; it’s just an outline for now. Since the loss of her husband in 2013 to Alzheimer’s and the recent loss of her daughter to stomach cancer, she knows how precious every day is. Fortunately, we are not saying “Good-bye,” because she plans to visit the Museum and enjoy other docent programs – as a participant, not as a leader. She also looks forward to having the time to tend to her home, her health, and her seven grandchildren.

We wish her the best of everything as she authors and lives the next chapter of her precious life. with all its surprise plot twists, challenges, and rewards. - Berta Parrish CCSPA | SPRING 2019 - 3

a guide to tiny tracks

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eeing animal tracks on the muddy and sandy shores around Morro Bay at low tide, we often think first of raccoons, foxes, and birds. However, you are much more likely to see signs of invertebrates if you know where to look. In this article, we’ll discuss such signs, tell you how the animals made them and how they’re used so you can “read” the mud and sand better than you could before. - Rouvaishyana and Faylla

DOODLEBUGS This is the track of a doodlebug, the larval form of an antlion, an insect looking like a small version of a dragonfly.

The doodlebug crawls along under the sand and finally makes a pit where it waits for insects, mainly ants, to come along and fall in. How would you like to be trapped by those jaws?

MARINE WORMS Worms coming out of their holes will leave tracks in the mud as they move around searching for food. They must also be able to avoid predators. Many local worm species, including the fat innkeeper worm (Urechis caupo) (not pictured) do this by burrowing beneath the surface.

NUDIBRANCHS Various nudibranchs (shell- less snails), including Emarcusia morroensis, or Morro Bay aeolid (pictured), leave tracks as they crawl along the mud surface on their slime trails. Some snails will leave tracks as they travel on the sand surface, across the drying mud or under the mud.

GHOST SHRIMP Ghost Shrimp (Neotrypaea californiensis) will also produce tracks as they come out of their volcano-like burrows. As the shrimp wriggle along, they collect food from the sediments and from the water flowing through the burrows.

SAND DOLLAR If you are out on the sandy beach and come across a sand dollar with what looks like swirls behind it, you are looking at the track the creature made while crawling along using its hundreds of tiny moveable spines. Most people only see the hard white “test” of the dead animal; when it is alive it’s covered by a living epidermis.

CCSPA | SPRING 2019 - 4

NEW ZEALAND SEA SLUG This creature, the New Zealand Sea Slug (Philine auriformis), is an invasive, and is showing up more and more in the estuary, crawling along the mud and leaving slime tracks and fascinating egg masses that look like a gelatinous bubble attached to the mud. If you pick it up and examine it closely, you will see the strings of eggs inside the protective mass.

Take a look at Windy Cove or another muddy shoreline at low tide. You’ll be amazed at the number and variety of tracks and signs. You can wear rubber boots, old tennis shoes, or sandals. You will have to change shoes at your car, and wash your feet if you wore sandals. Some people like to go barefoot in the mud, but if you do, watch your step and look out for human debris that can cause injury.

spring fling

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pring Fling is a series of programs designed for students and families during the various spring breaks from schools. Pograms are held in the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History auditorium or at the Morro Bay State Park Campground (as indicated) at 2 p.m. Museum entrance fee is $3 for adults, under 17 and CCSPA members are free. Orienteering programs are free. For more information call: 805-772-2694. Sponsored by California State Parks and Central Coast State Parks Association.

TUESDAY, APRIL 2

FRIDAY, APRIL 19

Chuck Mills

PWC Docents

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3

SATURDAY, APRIL 20

Sara Delaney & Regena Orr

Judy Neuhauser

THURSDAY, APRIL 4

TUESDAY, APRIL 23

ORIENTEERING IN STATE PARKS CAMPGROUNDS

ABOUT SNOWY PLOVERS

SECRETS OF SAND AND SEDIMENT Robbie Revel

PACIFIC WILDLIFE CARE - MEET THE BIRDS

SATURDAY SCIENTISTS: BEES

NATURE’S COVERINGS Sherri Barmazel

FRIDAY, APRIL 5

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24

Freddy Howell & Clare Strohman

Freddy Howell & Clare Strohman

TUESDAY, APRIL 16

THURSDAY, APRIL 23

Chuck Mills

Mandy Ward

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17

FIRDAY, APRIL 26

Rouvaishyana

Rouvaishyana

THURSDAY, APRIL 18

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

Robin Hazard

PWC Docents

PUPPETS - A HERON’S TALE

ORIENTEERING IN STATE PARKS CAMPGROUNDS

BIRDS OF THE ESTUARY

LEARNING ABOUT MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

PUPPETS - A HERON’S TALE

THE TEETH MAKE THE SKULL

WHALES AND THEIR MIGRATION

PACIFIC WILDLIFE CARE: MEET THE ANIMALS

CCSPA | SPRING 2019 - 5

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lans are underway for the third annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival. This year’s Festival will be bigger, better and more fun than ever, with a variety of venues and activities to offer film enthusiasts, families and lovers of the outdoors. With a top-notch selection of films, the Festival is a great opportunity to raise awareness about CCSPA, our State Parks, and the environmental issues facing our planet.

We will be kicking things off with our first-ever CCSPA Gala, the “Butterfly Ball” on September 14th at the SLO Brew Rock. The evening will include a film screening, dinner, live music, dancing, and a silent auction. We are very excited about this inaugural event, especially since we are among the first organizations to host an event at SLO Brew’s gorgeous new event facility.

The Festival will continue on the following dates: •

Thursday, September 19th at the Clark Center Studio Theatre in Arroyo Grande

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Friday, September 20th at the South Bay Community Center in Los Osos

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Saturday, September 21st at the Fremont Theatre in Downtown SLO – this evening will feature films

CCSPA | SPRING 2019 - 6

with a focus on water and we’ll also have some fun extras and an after-party at SLO Brew…stay tuned!

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Sunday, September 22nd “Wild Child” family film day at the Morro Bay Natural History Museum

We are also excited to announce a partnership with Randi Barros’ film class at Cal Poly. Students from this class will be creating short films on subjects in and around our local State Parks which we will screen as part of the Festival.

With all these ambitious plans, we’ll need a lot of volunteer help to pull it all off. This is where you come in! To learn all about how you can help, join us on Tuesday, April 16th at 5 p.m. at the CCSPA office. We’ll need help spreading the word and getting donations of auction items, as well as volunteers at each of the venues during the Festival. We are also currently looking for sponsorships from individuals, organizations, and the local business community; sponsorships start at $250, and we offer a great selection of sponsor benefits.

If you are interested in being a part of this fun and exciting endeavor, please join us! For more information on how you can get involved, contact Alissa at (805) 548-0384 or events@centralcoastparks.org.

purchase with a purpose

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f you have visited any of our stores lately you might have noticed some new merchandise. The staff here at CCSPA are working to find local and mindfully sourced products that are custom to our parks and have elements of education and interpretation. Your dollars spent go right back into supporting the park programs!

COTTON ONESIES

NATURE SOCKS

CUSTOM ITEMS

Treat yourself to a beautiful day in Montana de Oro and stop in at the Spooner Ranch house for a slice of history. Learn about the Spooner family from the docents and then peruse the gift shop which offers an array of classic toys, books related to local topics and custom apparel, including organic cotton onesies for your budding young naturalist.

Got socks? We do! Nature inspired and domestically produced by Wheel House Designs, these socks will have your feet feeling as good as they look!

You can find park specific items such as custom Dust City Wood Stickers, retro patches and clothing by Santa Barbara based ADKTD Lifestyle apparel, at all of our locations, including the Oceano Dunes Visitors Center, the Monarch Grove at Pismo State Beach (seasonal), the Spooner Ranch House at Montana de Oro and the Museum of Natural History at Morro Bay State Park.

SUNSET HILL STONEWARE

JUNIOR RANGER GEAR

HAWKHOUSE JEWELRY

Be sure to check out our new custom mugs from Sunset Hill Stoneware. Act fast and pick up your favorite park specific mug while you can, as these tend to sell out quick!

Is there an aspiring young Junior Ranger in your family? They may need the official State Parks Jr Ranger Vest!

And don’t forget to outfit them with the hat, binoculars and compass. Your little explorers will be ready to hit the trails! We also have pocket guides, history books, childrens books and even a Chumash language dictionary.

The Morro Bay Museum of Natural History features a wide variety of thoughtfully selected items, including beautiful handcrafted jewelry by Hawkhouse, which is made from raw stones and crystals.

CCSPA | SPRING 2019 - 7

Central Coast State Parks Association PO Box 445 San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 (805) 543-0390 centralcoastparks.org

BECOME A CCSPA MEMBER Benefits include: unlimited admission for one adult to the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History, use of the museum library, Nature Notes quarterly newsletter, a 10 percent discount at all CCSPA nature stores, discounts at Public Lands Alliance stores, free admission to all Mind Walks Lectures, invitations to special events, and a discount on Wild & Scenic Film Festival tickets.

I would like to make a donation to CCSPA for the following amount: $ Name: Email & Phone: Street: City: State & Zip:

Hummingbird - $25

Otter - $50

Coyote - $100

All member benefits listed on the left.

All member benefits plus unlimited museum admission for 2 adults.

All member benefits plus invitation to the Martini de Morro event.

Monarch - $250

Gray Whale - $500

Oak Grove - $1,000

All member benefits plus unlimited museum admission for two adults.

All member benefits plus invitation to Tea with the Spooners.

All member benefits, unlimited family and guest museum admission and a tour of Hearst Castle.

Please make checks payable to CCSPA and mail to: CCSPA, PO Box 445, SLO, CA 93406 You can also make a donation online at www.centralcoastparks.org

Supporting interpretive and educational programs in our local CA State Parks