|
Dear Friend,
It's March.
Well then, marching right along, this is the last month of the Monday beach cleanups, there's a new blog post about invasive species, and for the heck of it come follow us on social media. What are you waiting for? Hop to it, dare we say, like the March Hare*! Ok, ok, I'll stop with the March wordplay.
Until next time, see you on the trails.
*see bottom of email for tangential animal footnote
| | Last Month of Monday Beach Clean Ups | |
If you've been wanting to take a restorative walk on the beach in the morning while helping the environment, lace up your sneakers now, because this is the last month for Monday Beach Cleanups until November! No RSVPs required, just show up.
When: Every Monday at 8:30am from November to March
Where: 20th Street entrance to Huntington City Beach
Who: Everyone! Most of the supplies are provided, but if you want, please bring a reusable bucket or bag, and gloves.
Can't make Monday mornings? There are other ways to help the environment and get a good work out at the same time. Check out our other outdoor volunteer events below.
| Invasive Plants at Bolsa Chica | |
The last week in February was the National Invasive Species Awareness Week. Invasive species are a gigantic pain in the rear-end for our restoration team every year. So, we took the time to write up a blog post about them and how the Bolsa Chica Stewards take up the sword, I mean shovel, against them.
"The Bolsa Chica Stewards have been battling weeds, aka. invasive species, here at Bolsa Chica for 3 decades. It started with wild mustard and a small group of people on the public side of the fence. Slowly but surely, the community-based volunteer-driven habitat restoration work has..."
| | Join our Online Social Community | |
Like everyone and their mother, we are on social media. Furthermore, we would love it if you and your mother joined our online community and followed us! Find us on our main platforms: Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. We post awesome photos and videos, interesting facts and stories, and other news about Bolsa Chica. Let's build community together and spread the word about what makes Bolsa Chica special. AND we LOVE to see and hear about your Bolsa Chica adventures, so tag us and we might share it too.
| | We are always interested in hearing from you dear readers. What content do you want to see, and how often and where (inboxes, social media, physical mailings) do you want us to reach out to you? Any other comments or suggestions? If you like our e-newsletters please consider sharing it with your friends and family. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn to catch our weekly "Wildlife Wednesdays" and current events as we share with you what we see and find every week! | | | VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES AND FREE TOURS | | |
BCLT Stewards Habitat Restoration Volunteering
_________
Dates
Sunday Mar. 1st, 9am- 12
Saturday Mar. 21st, 9am- 12
Pre-registration and sign up on our website is required. Capped at 50 volunteers for each event.
| |
Miracles of the Marsh Docent Volunteering
_________
“Miracles of the Marsh from Wetlands to Wildlife” is our elementary school education program which brings children to the Bolsa Chica. Our docent-led tour focuses on plant life, wildlife, and history. Join our dedicated and fun team as we educate our local 3rd graders to the wonders of Bolsa Chica.
| |  | |
BCLT Outreach and Free Public Tour
_________
Dates
Sunday Mar. 8th, 10am-12
Sunday Mar. 15th, 10am- 12
Monthly free guided walking tours of the Bolsa Chica wetlands and mesa. Learn about the history of Bolsa Chica, its wildlife, and plant life with a Bolsa Chica Land Trust docent.
Or, come hang out at our table and help spread the word about the cool and important elements of Bolsa Chica as an Outreach volunteer! Interested in becoming a docent volunteer? Shadow one of our docents to get started.
| |
November - March
Beach Clean Ups
(Last Month!)
_________
When: Every Monday at 8:30am from November to March
Where: 20th Street entrance to Huntington City Beach
Who: Everyone! Most of the supplies are provided, but if you want, please bring a reusable bucket or bag, and gloves.
*If you have a group that you want to bring, please email Info@BCLandTrust.org and we can work to accommodate your group.*
| | |
March's Animal of the Month:
The Blue Grosbeak male has a beautiful bright blue head and breast, a black ring around its bill, wings with wide chestnut-colored wing bars, a large head, and a very large conical bill. The female has a gray-brown body, and a bit of blue tinge on her tail. When it perches, the Blue Grosbeak will often twitch its long rounded tail. It spends spring and summer in the southern part of the USA in riparian brush, weedy fields, and woodland edges. The Blue Grosbeak winters south in Mexico to Panama and Cuba. It feeds on seeds and grain in open fields, but will also eat snails, and a bit of fruit.
6.75” long; 11” wingspan; 0.98 ounces
photo: John Hannan
| | |
Reminders When You Visit Bolsa Chica
Here are some things to remember during your visit:
-
Please stay on the trails. Not only could you disturb nesting birds, but snakes are often not far off the trails.
- Enjoy the flowers, but please do not pick them.
- Do not feed the animals.
-
Do not litter. Please pack out your trash, including food scraps.
- No bikes or ebikes.
- No dogs.
- No drones.
- Enjoy being with nature!
- If you see any BCLT Stewards working along the trail, say hi! We are happy to answer any questions.
| | Support Bolsa Chica Today! | |
The mission of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust is the acquisition, preservation, and restoration of all of Bolsa Chica and the education of the public to its natural wonders and cultural significance.
| | Tangential Animal Footnote: my shadow and I are probably the only ones who find this interesting, but the March Hare from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, is related on the old (16th century) phrase 'mad as a March hare.' This saying refers to the behavior of hares, not to be confused with rabbits, going a tad 'crazy' or 'mad' due to the start of mating season in March. The hares display behaviors consisting of a lot of frantic chasing, leaping high in the air and even boxing with their paws compared to their otherwise calm demeanor. These behaviors are not confined to the month of March nor are they crazy, but to 16th century European folk, this noticeable change in behaviors would seem rather odd to say the least. | | |
Photo Credits:
Tricolored Heron- Norman Chu, beach clean ups- Jeff Rokos, mustards- Brenda Lee, Horned Lark with chicks- Peter Bryant, Tabling and Stewards- Bequi Howarth, Miracles docent with kids outreach table- Jeff Rokos, volunteers on beach- Mike McMahan, landscape-Eileen Rizzacasa, Blue Grosbeak- John Hannan
| | | | |
