Rebuilt Gate 3, Figueroa Mountain Road August 15, 2020
|
|
News from Sedgwick Reserve |
|
Dear Greetings!
I hope that you are all staying safe and doing well. As we wrestle with the heaviness of our current times and adapt to the new ways of life brought about by the pandemic, I wanted to reach out to you, our friends, to give you an update from Sedgwick.
Although use of the Reserve is greatly reduced due to COVID, important work at the Reserves continues. Since June we've been able to let a handful of researchers to carry on with their work. Maintenance and land stewards continue to work on many important projects, including clearing vegetation and removing invasive species to protect against wildfire risk and support our diverse and native plants and animals, cleaning and repairing our many facilities, and other important improvements.
We miss the activities of life at a busy field station and look forward to the time when we can once again share this special place with you and our community. In the meantime, take comfort in knowing that Sedgwick’s vast landscape and its flora and fauna is making the most of its respite.
I hope you are all staying safe and strong, and getting outside to find peace and enjoyment in nature wherever you can. Below is a little news from your favorite UC Natural Reserve in the eastern Santa Ynez Valley.
Happy trails,
Kate McCurdy
Director, Sedgwick Reserve
|
|
|
|
While, regrettably, Sedgwick remains closed to public and class use, we are now able to hold ecology lectures online as Zoom Webinars.
The two lectures we've hosted so far have been attended by several hundred home-bound viewers, to the delight of those who found the long windy drive to Sedgwick daunting.
In case you missed our most recent lecture on crickets, click on the arrow to the left to watch it on YouTube.
|
|
|
|
Earlier this summer, Dr Jen Hunter gave a wildly popular talk on skunks. If you missed it, click on the arrow to the left to watch it on YouTube.
More free online lectures are in the planning stages, so keep your eyes out for future emails from Sedgwick.
|
|
La Kretz Center Researchers Hard at Work |
|
La Kretz Research Center Director Frank Davis and UCSB PhD student Kaili Brande have been covering many miles in the summer heat to collect oak survey data throughout Figueroa Valley and the Reserve.
Their study includes over 1000 trees across the reserve, and spans over 80 years (since 1938!), making the study historically significant and rare within the scientific community studying oaks.
Every year, for each oak tree in the study, the trunk diameter, width and length of the canopy, and general health of the tree are recorded.
By comparing aerial imagery with field data, the study hopes to understand trends in the population over time, highlighting the roles that drought and climate change play and have played in causing oak death at Sedgwick. Understanding these patterns can help contribute to a greater understanding, and ultimately conservation, of oak populations in Santa Barbara County and the greater southern Coast Ranges.
|
|
The Work Never Ends - Even During A Pandemic! |
|
We welcome the opportunity to share some good news concerning work we continue to do to enhance facilities at Sedgwick to better serve research and education, as well as stewardship projects we’ve undertaken to protect and enhance the Reserve’s natural resources. These projects include: 1) Renovation of the former pool patio to more comfortably accommodate classes and campers during inclement weather; 2) Resurfacing the entrance road from the main gate to and around the ranch house /La Kretz Research Center; 3) Expansion of native plant landscaping around the field station; 4) A variety of maintenance projects at including painting, deep cleaning, Wi-Fi upgrades and other needed repairs to buildings; 5) Replacing dilapidated fencing and water troughs in support of the Reserve’s cattle grazing program; and lastly, 6) Managing cattail to provide open water in the reservoir for endangered wildlife species including western pond turtles, red-legged frogs and tri-colored blackbirds. |
|
(Above) New studio patio shade pavilion (Below Left) Dan Massey on tractor (Below Right) Lion on the newly paved road |
|
Between June 15 2020 and July 30 2020, San Marcos High School intern Skye Dameron monitored the pond web camera daily to help us determine the status of the western pond turtles living in the Sedgwick pond. This is her report.
"The most turtles I saw on a single day was 15, but typically there were 5-9 turtles basking on one of the two logs in the pond. Most of the turtles appeared to be adults. I only saw a few sub-adults, which are less than 6" in size.
I determined that the best times to view basking turtles was between 8:00 am and 11:00 am when it would get too warm (around 71 degrees) and the turtles would go back into the water. I was unable to determine where they go to hide when they left the basking logs, although once I saw them in the algae around the shore where they seemed to be foraging for food".
Skye also completed a literature search and reports that Western Pond Turtles, a state species of special concern, are omnivores that eat insects, tadpoles, frog eggs, snails, algae and even cattail roots. Female western pond turtles lay their eggs in holes in soft mud around water sources where they are found, generally on the south side, during the months of May to July. The turtle eggs will hatch 90-130 days later. If any turtles laid eggs at Sedgwick this year, the time to look for hatchlings would be between October and November.
She also learned that herons are known to eat small turtles, which may explain why we see so few baby turtles! Male western pond turtles protect the females and younger turtles by posting the largest male as a sentry to lookout for danger. Skye reports seeing this in action, citing that "whenever there was human activity nearby, all turtles would dive into the water, except for the largest turtle, who would stand guard until it was safe for his companions to return to the log".
|
|
Citizen Science Resumes (kind of) |
|
Sedgwick's distinguished cadre of citizen scientists had to be put on hold in mid March, along with all other research projects, because of the COVID-19 closure. Thanks to docents Andy Lentz, who wrote Sedgwick's phenology project COVID safety plan, and Guy Tingos, who wrote Sedgwick's bird monitoring safety plan, volunteers were able to resume data collection in mid April after the loss of only about 1 month of data.
Instead of teams, pairs of volunteers now cross-check their partner's observations while wearing masks and adhering to UC Santa Barbara's limited access policy which allows two phenologists and two birders a week to make a trip to Sedgwick.
|
|
For Sedgwick's bird monitors, spring migration was notable throughout Southern California this year with strong pulses of birds detected throughout Southern California. Santa Barbara County and Sedgwick Reserve were no exception with a number of notable migration days. A combination of wintering birds remaining and a large influx of spring migrants made such a count possible.
Some lingering winter birds included Sage Thrasher, Pine Siskins and Cedar Waxwings. Arriving migrants included Lawrence's Goldfinches, Cassin's Vireo, Nashville Warbler and many more. The entire list can be seen here (now, with photos!)
|
|
Guy Tingos scanning for birds of prey |
|
At Sedgwick, on April 1, 2020, a new single day high count of 84 (+2 additional taxa) bird species was achieved. |
|
A big highlight of spring was a Black-chinned Sparrow, a new bird for the Reserve. There were also several Gray Flycatchers, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Hammond's Flycatcher's (pictured at left), Calliope Hummingbirds and other Oriole, Vireo and Warbler species often in large mixed flocks. Species counts have remained at or above 50 species each survey day throughout spring and into mid summer. |
|
We look forward to the future return of our loyal and skilled nucleus of docents and volunteers to Sedgwick, and thank docents like Andy and Guy, in the meantime, for helping us thread the needle of safety and service. |
|
Weathering the Pandemic as a Community |
|
While all of our resiliencies are being tested, the coronavirus crisis reminds us why it is important to celebrate every day and share our love with family, neighbors, and friends.
Crises are reminders of how lucky we are and how important it is to take care of ourselves, our communities, and our planet.
We are grateful for caring neighbors such as Bob and Caroline Duncan (pictured above) for checking in on reserve staff and even on the Sedgwick cattle herd, that they can see from our shared fence line.
|
|
We understand these are unprecedented times, and we appreciate all that you do for Sedgwick Reserve. The dedication and long-standing commitment of our supporters contributes greatly to the excellence in conservation, education, and research at Sedgwick. We thank you for your generosity and all the support you have so graciously given – through your time, gifts, emails and friendship. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
