Sign Hill Stewards
April Newsletter
Dear Sign Hill Stewards,

Over the last month, the Sign Hill Habitat Restoration Project has taken significant steps to adapt to COVID-19. We have canceled all Sign Hill Stewards volunteer events until further notice and our staff is sheltering at home.

While Sign Hill Park remains open, we ask that you follow shelter-in-place orders when deciding whether to visit. Check out our tips on how to be a conscientious Sign Hill visitor during these trying times below!

We remain committed to fostering community stewardship for Sign Hill. In this newsletter, we provide resources on how to enjoy nature and remain connected to our project from home. We also share an uplifting update on the state of the Mission Blue butterfly!

We look forward to seeing you on the hill, but until then stay safe and healthy!

Best, 

Emma Lewis
Natural Resources Specialist
Leading the Sign Hill Habitat Restoration Project
Sign Hill Virtual Nature Walk
Missing Sign Hill and its fascinating biodiversity? Daniel Simoni, our Natural Resources Aide, put together this amazing Sign Hill virtual nature walk for those sheltering at home!
Nature Journaling
Looking for ways to keep your family engaged in the outdoors? Nature journaling can be a powerful tool to form connections with your environment. It encourages observation, memory, and wonder!

We created a nature journal that you can print from home. The back page even features Nature Bingo! You do not have to travel far to be in the outdoors. Try journaling from your patio, in your backyard, or at your local open space.
Virtual Events
LIVESTREAM ON ZOOM: San Bruno Mountain Conference
Sunday April 19th 8:45 am - 4:45 pm
CORONA VIRUS UPDATE: The physical meeting has been cancelled, but organizers have arranged for it to be live streamed.  

Conference attendees will learn about the fascinating ecology and history of San Bruno Mountain from a variety of speakers including ecologists, botanists, natural resource managers and local history experts .

Emma Lewis, Natural Resources Specialist for the SSF Parks and Recreation Department, will be presenting on the Sign Hill Habitat Restoration Project and volunteer opportunities on Sign Hill. Join us in supporting the efforts of our San Bruno Mountain friends!
FREE VIRTUAL SERIES: Introduction to Plant Identification
Have you ever wondered what plants are growing around your house and in your local parks? Are you looking to gain a new skill while sheltering at home?

Join us for a free virtual series on plant identification! Participants will learn how to recognize common Bay Area plants. They will be provided plant field guides as well as worksheets with tips on plant identification.

We will host this series if there is sufficient interest. Please email emma.lewis@ssf.net if you would like to participate!

Nature Sightings
Mission Blue Butterflies in Flight!
The Mission Blue butterfly ( Icaricia icarioides missionensis ) is a federally endangered species found in only a few locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. San Bruno Mountain hosts the largest population of Mission Blue Butterflies, an estimated 18,000! Sign Hill has its very own population of Mission Blue butterflies.

Before the Sign Hill Habitat Restoration Project, we thought the Mission Blue butterfly was restricted to the upper ridges of Sign Hill. This March we were surprised to see the Mission Blue butterfly, in all stages of its lifecycle, across Sign Hill! Its distribution on Sign Hill looks similar to maps we have from the 1980s - 1990s. We also spotted many more Mission Blue butterflies this year than have been documented each year since the 2000s.

This charming butterfly is resilient! Scroll down to see photos staff have taken of the Mission Blue butterflies on Sign Hill. Their abundance on Sign Hill emphasizes the impact of your stewardship!
An adult Mission Blue butterfly on its host plant, the silver lupine. Notice the two rows of irregularly shaped black dots on its wing, which is a distinguishing feature for this species!
Can you spot the Mission Blue butterfly in its larval form? These caterpillars can only eat the leaves of three species of lupine: the silver lupine, the varied lupine, and the summer lupine.
That tiny white dot is a Mission Blue butterfly egg, a good sign for next year's Mission Blue butterfly population!
This Mission Blue caterpillar is engaging in a symbiotic relationship with native winter ants ( Prenolepis imparis ). The caterpillars secrete a sugary substance called honeydew for the ants. In return, the ants protect the caterpillar from predators!
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