2013 CIR Central Coast Natural History Tour

2013 CIR Central Coast Natural History Tour

We are glad to provide a few photos from Channel Islands Restoration’s recent Central Coast Natural History Tour.  Geologist Tanya Atwater and botanist Steve Junak joined us on a four-day tour, following the San Andreas Fault north to Hollister, CA then south along the Big Sur Coast.  CIR  leads natural history educational tours to exceptional locations in southern and central California with leading naturalists. For more information on our three reoccurring trips (held in the spring to early summer) visit our tour web site: http://www.cirweb.org/nht

The tour begins at Port San Luis (Avila Beach).  We walked, climbed on, and explored the pillow basalts and lava flows of a world-class example of ancient oceanic crust. Tanya Atwater has been on submersible dives, miles deep to study how the present-day ocean floor is being formed at sea floor spreading centers. She described her adventures to us and shared her insights into the processes that formed the various exotic features encountered at this site. This may be the world's best location to visit the deep sea floor in the sunshine.

Next stop: Montana de Oro State park. This was a great beach stop. It is surrounded by the cut faces of huge uplifted marine terraces and it contains a sweet, small erosional remnant of a terrace that we checked out close up. The terraces are very strong evidence of the ongoing rising of the land that is so common along the California coast. Views of the higher hills showed a whole staircase of uplifted terraces, formed as ice age sea level fluctuations interacted with the steadily rising land. The road to Montana de Oro featured a fantastic view of Morro Bay and Morro Rock.  We also enjoyed golden yarrow in bloom!

After setting up camp at Morro Bay State Park (some participants checked into motels), we visited Morro Rock.  This huge "rock" is a plug of frozen lava that solidified in the throat of an ancient volcano. Its materials are much stronger than the surrounding rocks, so that it was left standing when the rest eroded away. Morro Rock is the northernmost of the "morros" that form a line of tall hills between here and San Luis Obispo, probably formed over a long crack in the earth. Its age of about 23 million years ago corresponds to the time when the San Andreas Fault system was first breaking into the land. 

After several other stops, we ended up in Parkfield.  As we approached this sweet ranch town, we examined an interestingly deformed bridge, then cross over the San Andreas Fault from the Pacific plate to the North American plate. We learned about the Parkfield earthquake prediction experiment and about the deep drilling, fault-crossing experiment. 

We then stayed the night at Pinnacles National Park. This park is centered around a huge heap of broken rocks that have been offset from a volcano whose lava flows lie in the Mojave desert. They have been shifted 325 km northwestward along the San Andreas Fault sometime since 23 million years ago. We hiked up stunning wooded trails with Steve and Tanya. We spent the night at the East Pinnacles National Park campground (some in hotels in Hollister).

We spent an hour walking up and down the streets in the old neighborhoods of Hollister, tracing the Calaveras Fault as it crosses and deforms sidewalks, curbs, buildings, telephone poles, etc.

We then explore Point Lobos State Reserve. We walked into the park and enjoy this beautiful natural treasure. We explored rocks that were deposited in an offshore submarine canyon and seek out trace fossils left behind by the Eocene creatures that lived there. We experienced a rare, native Monterey Cyprus grove and other botanical wonders. We looked for otters, sea lions and birds and enjoyed the many breathtaking views.  Steve Junak led us on a great botany walk!

 

We drove south along Highway one, checked into Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (or hotels) then enjoyed dinner at the Big Sur Lodge. 

We drove south along Highway one, checked into Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (or hotels) then enjoyed dinner at the Big Sur Lodge.   The next morning we enjoyed a hike at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. This cliff-top park was the home of early Big Sur settlers. We enjoyed a waterfall leaping into its pocket beach and enjoyed incredible ocean views.

Further down Highway One, we spotted a California Condor!  We then drove the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road to the crest of the range, taking in spectacular views of the coast and the Los Padres National Forest.  Steve Junak led us on a plant walk in the Coast Redwoods.  We were treated to a great view of a pygmy owl!

We were then treated to a specially arranged tour of the Point Piedras Blancas Lighthouse. This historic location is a great place to admire a very successful native plant restoration project. We enjoyed its great coastal views and bird populations and explored the old buildings and equipment of this long-functioning lighthouse.

 

White-crowned sparrow in native Lupine at the Point Piedras Blancas Lighthouse

 View from the top of the Point Piedras Blancas Lighthouse

View from the top of the Point Piedras Blancas Lighthouse

Invasion at the Andree Clark Bird Refuge!!

Invasion at the Andree Clark Bird Refuge!!

by Ria Boner, Santa Barbara Zoo

They come in various colors, but typically shades of green. Some can regenerate from their own fragments! Some are capable of producing toxic chemical compounds! Some can grow 9-30ft tall! But ALL of them are invading and wreaking havoc on the locals – right in our own city! But no, we’re not talking about extraterrestrial aliens – these are invasive plant species at the Andree Clark Bird Refuge.

Certain plants thrive when moved out of their native habitat and away from their usual predators. Without any natural processes to keep these species at bay they grow out of control, overwhelming local vegetation and the wildlife that feed on it. Invasive plant species can dramatically alter an ecosystem, changing things such as hydrology, soil chemistry, and overtaking the species diversity of an area. For example, cape ivy (Delairea odorata) grows in such abundance that it can block the sunlight to other vegetation and seedlings, vastly reducing species diversity and replacing it with a plant that, due to its toxic nature, is unsuitable for most animals to eat. It can grow so densely that its weight can cause some trees to fall! While these invaders might not take over the entire planet like a UFO Sci-Fi movie, they can take over important habitats and ecosystems. 

One of these ecosystems being invaded is the Andree Clark Bird Refuge. Established as a bird refuge back in the 1920s, this natural area provides habitat for 228 bird species, including 43 species that breed at the site and five federally listed endangered species. Certain birds rely on the cottony seeds of the native willow (Salix exigua) to build their nests, others on the sweet nectar of the local hummingbird sage (Salvia spathecea), and many benefit from the nutritious rose hips of the California rose (Rosa californica). But if you were to take a Santa Barbara Zoo train ride along the refuge’s edge back before 2010, you would find it quite a challenge to spot these plants or the wildlife that rely on them. Over 100 Myoporum lateum trees, large stands of giant reed (Arundo donax), the sprawling cape ivy, and other various invasive species had taken their place. The thriving fauna once found in this area was struggling to keep up.

Left: invasive Myoporum trees and cape ivy before removal at the Santa Barbara Zoo.  Right: the same view after removal.

But as in any classic alien invasion story, there is a hero. Together Channel Islands Restoration, The City of Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Zoo have helped restore the refuge area for half an acre along the train tracks. After the removal of the larger trees and giant reed stands, groups of volunteers armed with gloves and hand tools were enlisted to help keep the invaders at bay. Furthermore, the volunteers helped plant 635 native species that were specially propagated from seeds and cuttings of the remaining natives found at the site. By continually managing the site, our team is able to pull any freshly sprouted invasive species and cultivate the native plants to give them a better chance at resistance in the future. 

Left: invasive Myoporum trees.  Right: the same view after removal by Channel Islands Restoration.

The battle was hard fought, with over 340 volunteers and staff joining the cause in the past two years. But it was well worth the effort. Last week during another volunteer event, a California towhee was seen fluttering about, foraging among the plants. A red-winged blackbird was seen perched on a willow branch. While there is still work to be done and invasive species to combat, the restoration effort over the past two years is making a difference for the wildlife found on the refuge.

Volunteers learn about invasive plants from Channel Islands Restoration staff at the Santa Barbara Zoo