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Dear Friend,
Happy Holidays!
We are excited to host a virtual Town Hall event this month with the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve Manager, Melissa Borde! RSVP is required due to limited virtual seats. Our Year End Letter, in which we reflect on this past year and plan for 2026 with your generous support, is now online to read. Finally, this is last month to get the 2026 'Wings Over Bolsa' calendar before the start of 2026 AND we have new limited edition hats available! These and our other gift options make great presents for loved ones; or treat yourself with these gifts that give back to Bolsa Chica!
Until next time, see you on the trails.
| | Virtual Town Hall with BCER's Melissa Borde! | |
Join us at the Bolsa Chica Land Trust’s virtual Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, December 17th at 6:30 PM via Zoom.
We are thrilled to have as our presenter the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve’s Manager, Melissa Borde. Melissa is an Environmental Scientist who works for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. She will talk about the current condition of Bolsa Chica, research projects currently underway, challenges and success, enforcement issues, 2025’s nesting results, and plans for the future of Bolsa Chica. Please register on our website, www.bclandtrust.org, and at the bottom of the registration form please send us your questions for Melissa!
This Zoom town hall will have a limited audience of 100.
SO, REGISTER TODAY!!
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As 2025 comes to a close, we look back at a difficult year, with more challenges for our environment ahead. Now, we need to plan for 2026 to not only continue what we do but increase our efforts. Our work at Bolsa Chica helps not only the wildlife but our community, by ensuring that a healthy habitat is there for future generations of animals, and a beautiful, tranquil landscape is there for everyone to visit.
With your support, we have the power to continue to heal the habitats at Bolsa Chica. In 2026 we will focus substantial effort inside the fence on the Mesa. Thousands of plants being grown at our nursery right now will be planted by hundreds of community volunteers this spring. This is our first major boots-on-the-ground planting inside the fence, and we are so excited to begin this next chapter of our habitat restoration project!
Your support will help us take these next large steps to restore the Mesa, and your support will help us educate 2,000 students who will participate in our Miracles of the Marsh program this spring. Your gift will help as we continue to work with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and State Lands Commission to plan for the future of our wetlands, so that Bolsa Chica will survive the threats of sea-level rise and climate change. Your support now will provide the energy that enables us to run far in 2026.
Thank you for your support, for caring about Bolsa Chica and its wildlife, and for nurturing our local natural landscapes.
| | 'Wings Over Bolsa' 2026 Calendar & Other Gifts | | |
The 2026 'Wings Over Bolsa' calendar is now available on our website!
*all photos were taken right here at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
*13-month format
*major holidays and moon phases each month
*educational captions
*printed with soy inks on recycled paper right here in OC
only $20 donation per calendar, or order 4 get 1 free deal!
Calendars aren't your jam? We've also got NEW Limited Edition hats (2 designs), t-shirts, mugs, coasters and more in our gifts section.
| | 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
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Dates
Sunday Dec. 7th, 9am- 12
Saturday Dec, 20th , 9am- 12 (CANCELLED)
Pre-registration and sign up on our website is required. Capped at 50 volunteers for each event.
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Miracles of the Marsh Docent Volunteering
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“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.
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BCLT Outreach and Free Public Tour
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Dates
Sunday Dec. 14th, 10am-12
Sunday Dec. 21th, 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.
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November - March
Beach Clean Ups
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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.*
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Decembers's Animal of the Month: Reddish Egret
Perhaps the most entertaining forager at Bolsa Bay, the Reddish Egret, puts on quite a show as it dances around energetically in shallow water, wings up like a canopy to shade the light reflections and help it spot fish. It is a beautiful and less common member of the egret family. It has a slender blue-gray body, shaggy cinnamon head and neck plumes. Egrets and herons were almost hunted into extinction over a century ago for the millinery trade. Today the loss of salt marshes to development is their biggest threat. Reddish Egrets’ natural habitats are coastal salt marshes. They are found in large numbers on the Gulf Coast of the USA and Mexico in addition to the Pacific Coast of Mexico, Baja California and the Sea of Cortez. They were very rare in California, but in the last ten years, a group of Reddish Egrets have taken up residence at Bolsa Chica.
30” long; 46” wingspan; 1 pound
photo: Brian Goebel
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Reminders When You Visit Bolsa Chica
Here are some things to remember during your visit:
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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.
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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.
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Photo Credits:
trail- Carol Calkin, Burrowing Owl- Robert Winter, Melissa headshot- Melissa Borde, year end letter credits in article, 2026 Calendar- Brian Goebel, beach clean up, Tabling and Stewards- Bequi Howarth, Miracles docent with kids outreach table- Jeff Rokos, volunteers on beach- Mike McMahan, landscape-Eileen Rizzacasa, Reddish Egret- Brian Goebel
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