Nature Notes - Spring 2020

nature notes SPRING • 2020

CENTRAL COAST STATE PARKS ASSOCIATION

H

ave you been feeling the itch to get outside, tend to your yard, go for a hike or plant your garden? Isn’t it amazing how spring comes on and breathes life into us? It motivates us to get busy preparing for things to come.

There are days when I feel that I am missing parts of CCSPA staff, Pismo Preserve who I am. I miss explaining concepts like keystone species, endemic and ecological succession. Being an outdoor educator, an interpreter of nature is core to who I am and the contributions I want to make to my community.

Staff Directory Kristin Howland Executive Director ed@centralcoastparks.org (805) 548-0391 Alissa Maddren Membership and Events Coordinator membership@centralcoastparks.org (805) 548-0384 Sheri Robesky Retail Operations Coordinator store@centralcoastparks.org (805) 548-0392

Recently, I was fortunate enough to sit in on a little bit of the Mind Walks lecture having to do with biogeography.

As I looked around the room and saw the faces of the other attendees, I felt a sense of place. I have found a community of like-minded people who care about the natural world we live in. There is power in that… so much power in educating yourself and others. With so much uncertainty in what we once thought were lasting protections for our environment, it is important to continue to educate ourselves. And yes, it is actually important to spread the word, to as many people who will listen, why the biogeographical distribution of a particular species is important and how the role we as humans play in our ecosystem affects every species.

Marylou Gooden - Board Chair Cassandra Hammer - Secretary Robert Priola - Treasurer Tyler Conrad - Vice Chair Valerie Glahn - Director Elaine Rosenfield - Docent Council President

When I start to feel down on myself for straying from my “purpose,” I find that I gravitate to nature. My need to connect with nature is undeniable. Hiking, gardening or simply observing the plants and animals around me, centers me.

At times I even have family, friends or unsuspecting coworkers with me who are not spared from my impromptu interpretive nature moments. Spending these moments in nature and sharing it with others is what makes me whole.

Eric Hjelstrom Superintendent III SLO Coast District

Here on the Central Coast we are fortunate to have many avenues for learning and teachable moments in nature.

There are numerous parks, open spaces and trails as well as aquariums and museums at our fingertips. As our hills green from the rains and the wildflowers pop to give us a springtime show, please take some time for yourself to connect with nature. Go explore and learn with our State Parks docents and staff.

Kristin Howland

Executive Director Central Coast State Parks Association 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.

Cover photo ID#237482599 | Adobe Stock Photos Newsletter design by Brady Teufel

| SPRING 2020 - 2

BOARD MEMBERS

STATE PARKS LIASONS Danielle Bronson State Park Interpreter II Oceano Dunes District

www.centralcoastparks.org

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

2,500 Increase in butterflies at the Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove since last November’s count

living history at the spooner ranch house

L

iving history at the Spooner Ranch house continues to evolve and enhance visitors’ experience of Montaña de Oro State Park. Before the ranch house was refurbished in 2014, Mrs. Thompson (docent Phoebe Adams) and Mrs. McAbee (docent Joyce Cory) sat in the parlor receiving visitors and telling them about the workings of the Pecho Ranch in 1900. Pecho Ranch Day was an annual event where folks could get a taste of the past with spinning, quilting and stitching demonstrations. Children participated in homestead chores on Grandpa’s Farm.

Today, with the ranch house refurbished to the time of 1905-1920, we have two main living history programs.

During the summer members of the Spooner family (ranch house docents dressed in period costume and embodying a Spooner) come together on a Saturday afternoon to greet visitors and share the history of the Pecho Ranch. Guests

help make butter, sample freshly baked scones and play period games. “Spooners at Home” for 2020 is set for June 20, July 18 and August 8 from noon to 2 p.m.

You can also attend the Adventures with Nature tour “Living History: Pecho Ranch in 1919.” Katie Spooner, who lived in the ranch house from 1917 (when she married Carlton Spooner) to 1942 (when the Spooners sold the ranch), tells the history of the ranch from her perspective in 1919. You will be taken back in time and get a real sense of what life was like just after the Great War. Katie will give her tour on Saturday, March 28 at 1 p.m., Thursday April 9 at 11 a.m., Saturday April 25 at 1 p.m. and Thursday May 14 at 11 a.m..

Private living history group tours in support of CCSPA can be arranged by contacting info@ccspa.org. Those wishing to join our living history program can learn about becoming a docent by emailing docentd@parks.ca.gov.

Morro Bay State Park SeaLife Stewards itors before they encounter wildlife and will engage them with information about the animals, encouraging them to observe from a safe distance.

Mike Baird

S

eaLife Stewards is a water-based program with the goal to reduce disturbance to wildlife and increase public awareness. Otters, seals, sea lions and seabirds along the Central Coast are often stressed by visitors, who may be unaware of marine mammal and seabird sensitivity to human disturbance. Tourism in San Luis Obispo County has increased at the same time the marine mammal and seabird populations have been stressed by other environmental factors. Ideally, SeaLife Stewards will approach vis-

This is a truly rewarding and really fun way to get out on the water! Our season runs from June through September and volunteers will have two four-hour shifts per month.

Our goal is to have trained interpreters in kayaks or on paddleboards in the water during weekends in the months when tourism is at its peak. Recruitment and interviews for our 2020 season will start in March. Volunteers must be able to attend all three training sessions, which will be the first 3 Saturdays in May (May 2, 9, 16).

If you are interested in volunteering for SeaLife Stewards in our 2020 season or have any questions regarding this program, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Robin Hazard at sealifestewards@gmail.com. | SPRING 2020 - 3

in the weeds: Invaders of the central coast

Sahara mustard

Bridal creeper

Cape ivy

W

Spiny three jack

Slender-leaf iceplant

Petit licorice

“

hat comes to mind when someone mentions the word weed? To some it stirs thoughts of tending the garden and pulling out all the unwanted plants that are trying to steal nutrients and water from your desirables. To others it may bring back memories of chores they had to do as a child, either tending the garden or keeping the lawn “weed free.� Others may giggle and think of a time when marijuana was illegal and sometimes referred to as weed. To land managers, weeds are a problem of landscape proportion, orders of magnitude more severe than tending the garden. The simple definition of a weed is a plant that is growing out of place, is not wanted and often grows more vigorously than others, crowding out more desirable plants. When this happens, we must make a decision. Do we fight this invader with all that we have, or do we learn to live with it and accept this newcomer? For the home garden this is often a matter of what plants you want where and reducing completion. For land managers it is a more complicated matter, where all facets of the ecosystem are connected and each little input can have tremendous effects on each and every other organism around it. The more fragile or endangered the habitat or occupying species, the | SPRING 2020 - 4

more we must fight to preserve it and defend from threats If we look around us, we can see pretty plants, or weeds everywhere, depending upon our perspective. Land managers must make choices on what to fight against and what to accept every year. One of the best prioritization strategies currently is to protect the best of what is left and battle the worst of the worst with an early detection rapid response approach. We cannot control every weed and some weeds have been naturalized for more than 200 years. Some of the very worst in our area are Cape ivy (Delairea odorata), slender-leaf iceplant (Conicosia pugioniformis), bridal creeper (Asparagus asparagoides), spiny three jack (Emex spinosa), petite licorice plant (Plechostachys serpyllifolia), Sahara mustard (Brassica tournefortii) and New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides). Ones we no longer prioritize but still go after to prevent further invasion are black mustard, Hottentot fig, sweet fennel, eucalyptus and myoporum.

The list of non-native plants in our area numbers close to 350 with more than half of those listed by the California Invasive Plant Council as invasive.

I was asked to write about three weeds in particular, slender leaf iceplant, Cape ivy and asparagus fern. Slender-leaf iceplant thrives in sandy soils, produces a plethora of seeds and eventually reaches an equilibrium. On the heavily disturbed artificial island that is the Marina Peninsula, the plant has had an explosion in the past few years, but on the undisturbed portions of the Sandspit, the plant is only a minor nuisance. Cape ivy is a major threat to riparian corridors locally and has been for 20 years or so. The good folks at USDA-APHIS have been working on bio-controls for almost as long. Last year one of those bio-controls was released into the wild with a second organism soon to follow.

Only time will tell if the gall forming fly and leaf mining moth are successful.

The last was asparagus fern (see cover photo) which has been a major pest in Australia and they have mostly kept in check by releasing a rust fungus. Unfortunately, we cannot release bio-controls on a plant that is so closely related to one of our valuable plant crops. So we are left with herbicides and hand removal. I would like to add a few more that we have been focusing on lately and everyone can help prevent the spread. They are spiny emex, Sahara mustard and petite licorice. There are plenty of resources I would suggest including CNPS, Cal IPC, CalFlora and Plant Right to help educate a little further. Or, help out locally by volunteering to become a weed warrior!

- John Sayers, environmental scientist, California State Parks - SLO Coast

SPRING FLING: MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

D little rangers program

L

ittle ones aged 2-6 and their parents, grandparents, and guardians are invited to explore the outdoors at during the Oceano Dunes District’s Little Ranger Program.. Each free 45 minute program covers a different nature-related topic, and includes hands on learning stations, crafts, songs, and nature stories. The programs will be held at the Oceano Dunes Visitor Center on February 29 and March 28 from 10:30-11:15 a.m. The Center is located at 955 Pier Avenue in Oceano, CA.

uring spring break from school, April 4th through April 11, docents and staff will put on programs every day at 2 p.m. somewhere in or out of the museum. The programs could be as zany as making seashell creatures, as airy as why do vultures “kettle?”, as solid as rocks and their composition, or as fragrant as what is that smell?

Come join us to discuss some very interesting topics with information for all ages!

earth day celebration

J

oin us as we celebrate Earth Day on Saturday April, 18th 2020 at the Oceano Dunes District. Earth themed activities will be held outside the Ocean Dunes Visitor Center which is located at 555 Pier Avenue in Oceano, California. This event is free and family friendly.

April 18, 2020

CCSPA Earth Day Celebration Oceano Dunes Visitor Center 555 Pier Avenue, Oceano CA

Brady Teufel

| SPRING 2020 - 5

oceano dunes district

L

et’s get outside! That’s the call to nature when temperatures warm and the hours of daylight increase.

On March 19th, we’ll celebrate the vernal equinox (our daylight and nighttime hours will be nearly equal), the day spring is officially sprung. It is a fantastic time to grab a friend, partner, child or four-footed pal and head outdoors.

A great stepping off point is the Oceano Dunes Center located within the boundaries of the Oceano Campground off Pier Avenue. It’s open daily 12 p.m to 4 p.m. This Interpretive Museum gives you a jump start on some of the amazing attributes of the area including: the Chumash Indians who lived here thousands of years ago, birds and animals like snowy plovers, beavers and coyotes who still live here and the Dunites, a group of bohemian authors and artists who made the dunes their home from the 1920s to the 1940s.

Rangers and docents are on hand to answer your questions, provide resource materials and help with purchases for you, your friends or family. The Oceano Dunes Center is also steps away from a small lagoon.

Whether you’re young or young at heart, aren’t our furry, slimy, feathery friends who live in and around our parks one of the best parts of getting outdoors? Do you remember that thrill the first time you spotted a whale, caught a fish, or had a “pesky” racoon invade your campsite? The campground path around the lagoon offers perfect opportunities for families and people with limited mobility to experience nature. Picturesque settings for leisurely walks, wildlife viewing, fishing, and daydreaming are there for the taking.

Towards the back of the campsite area is a dirt road for a quiet nature walk out to the beach, where you might just spot a whale or a pod of dolphins.

Monthly opportunities, starting at the Center with a docent or ranger, provide a first-person opportunity to hear about this amazing area, it’s plants, animals and inhabitants. Check out Adventures with Nature (AWN) for scheduled monthly presentations and planned walks at centralcoastparks.org.

The Oceano Dunes Visitor’s Center is located at 555 Pier Avenue in Oceano, CA. Please call (805) 474-2664 for more information. - Tish Harris Pismo State Beach Monarch Grove Docent

saturday scientists 2020

J

oin docents each third Saturday at 2 p.m. for a closer look at the life around us. Learn to use the microscopes.

Open to all adults and children, with five new programs this year Here’s the schedule - mark your calendars!

February 15, 2020

Drawing through the microscope (NEW) March 21, 2020

History, mystery & biology of clams (NEW) April 18, 2020

Butterflies & moths: what’s the difference?

Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove

H

ave you visited Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove this season? We’ve had an amazing 2019/2020 season so far with the Western Monarchs! Our peak season count was taken on November 26th, and revealed 6,735 monarchs in the grove. That is up approx. 2,500 monarchs from last season! The most recent count taken on December 30th showed 3,000 monarchs.

The monarchs are truly fascinating, and it’s no mystery why so many visitors, both local and from around the world, come to Pismo State Beach to see them as they overwinter at the grove between November and early February. | SPRING 2020 - 6

May 16, 2020

Our friends the flowers (NEW) June 20, 2020

Curatorial event July 18 2020

Creatures of the sand August 15, 2020

Seeds

September 19 2020

Leaves (NEW)

October 25, 2020

Skeleton Saturday November 21 2020

Plant plumbing (NEW)

chad jackson: district archeologist

W

hen most people think about the SLO Coastal District of California State Parks, they envision marine mammals, monarch butterflies, raptors, tide pool inhabitants, and estuary ecology. All they have to do is turn around to see the equally impressive and important resources on the land, the domain of Chad Jackson, the SLO Coastal District Archeologist.

Gena Bentall

when do sea otters pup?

Born and raised in Cayucos, Chad is familiar with the region and passionate about preserving its diverse natural and cultural resources. After graduating from Cal Poly with a BS in earth sciences, his career began with the State Parks as a Geographic Information Systems specialist and later as an archeological project leader. He then became a consultant, working on several major projects, including the Hwy 1/ Piedras Blancas road realignment and the Los Osos Sewer Project.

The experience with indigenous cultures, environmental law, soils, botany and wildlife biology help Chad address the four priorities of the position. First, to protect the archeological sites on the State Parks property, such as Native American villages, burial grounds, and sacred sites. Second, to consult with the Chumash and Salinan Tribes. Third, to collaborate with docents and interpreters in educational programs at the Museum and campgrounds. Fourth, to maintain records and documents for researchers, tribes, and regulators. In addition, Chad manages the Museum’s archeological collection of Native American artifacts.

As a father, he is introducing his sons to nature and cultures by camping throughout California and by traveling to Mayan ruins, Hawaii and abroad. As a musician, he is playing the guitar, ukulele, and piano. As an athlete, he is surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, and practicing martial arts.

Chad has the fascinating job of bringing the past, present and future together to assist the SLO Coastal District in becoming a model for conservation management. - Berta Parrish

E

ven for a seasoned sea otter biologist, the unmistakable profile of a mother sea otter paddling along on her back with a furry pup asleep on her belly is a heart-warming sight. One of the questions I am most asked is, “When is sea otter pupping season?” The good news is that you may see sea otters with pups of any age at any time of year since sea otters do not have discrete breeding or pupping seasons like other marine mammals. Why? Most years we will see a bump in sea otter pup births in January through March. Due to the high mortality of young pups born in winter, another smaller bump often occurs in fall, six months later. Female sea otters come into estrous just days after losing or weaning a pup. They will mate and become pregnant soon after and, following a gestation period of about six months, have their next pup. While pups younger than three weeks are most at risk, sea otter pups may be lost at any time within the average six-month dependency period, causing a staggered birthrate that varies year to year with factors like food availability and weather severity. The energetic cost of raising a pup is extremely high for female sea otters, and the survival of each pup is dependent on her body condition (for sea otters, fatter is better!), her age and experience.

So visitors and locals alike may spot sea otter pups at any time of year but, as I write this mid-January, 2020, we are seeing evidence of a “pup bump” all along the Central Coast.

Remember how critical energy is to these moms and always give them plenty of space!

- Gena Bentall, Director and Senior Scientist, Sea Otter Savvy | SPRING 2020 - 7

Central Coast State Parks Association PO Box 445 San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 (805) 548-0390 centralcoastparks.org

BECOME A NEW OR RENEWING CCSPA MEMBER All members receive a copy of Nature Notes quarterly newsletter, a 10% discount on Wild and Scenic Film Festival tickets and discounts at participating Public Lands Alliance stores. Additional benefits include: $50 Otter

$25 Hummingbird

$75 Raft of Otters

$100 Coyote

H Two vouchers for

H Free admissions for two

Family Membership that includes two adults and unlimited kids 17 and under.

All benefits of Raft of Otters membership, plus:

H 10% discount at all

H Four vouchers for

All benefits of Otter membership, plus:

Cream Social at MontaĂąa de Oro

admission to the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History CCSPA nature stores

adults to the Mind Walks Lecture Series

admission to the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History

H 10% discount at all CCSPA nature stores

H Invitation to the Ice

H 15% discount at all CCSPA nature stores

H Explore Parks Passport discount coupon book

$250 Monarch

$500 Gray Whale

$1,000 Oak Grove

All benefits of Coyote membership, plus:

All benefits of Monarch membership, plus:

All benefits of Gray Whale membership, plus:

H Invitation to Afternoon

H Invitation to Martini de

H Invitation to a behind-the-

with the Monarchs at Pismo Monarch Butterfly Grove

Morro

scenes tour of Hearst Castle

H An exclusive holiday

shopping night at the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History

Membership level: _____________________ Membership amount: $ _________________ I would like to make an additional donation to CCSPA in the following amount $ __________ Total enclosed: $ ________ Name (to be displayed on membership card(s)): ___________________________________ Street: ____________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip: _____________________________________________________________ Phone: _________________________ Email: _____________________________________

$1,500 Keystone (Corporate Sponsorship)

H Logo and link on website H Free small ad in Nature

Notes newsletter (option to upgrade) H Free small ad in the Explore Parks Passport discount book H Logo displayed on screen as Keystone Member at all Wild and Scenic Film Festival events

I would like to receive the Nature Notes newsletter via mail I would like to receive the Nature Notes newsletter as an e-newsletter (digitally)

Please make checks payable to CCSPA and mail to: CCSPA, PO Box 445, SLO, CA 93406.

You can also pay online at: http://bit.ly/CCSPAmembership