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photo
by R.L. Kenyon |
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Mission
Statement:
Sea
& Sage Audubon Society is an Orange County chapter of National
Audubon Society, dedicated to the protection and appreciation
of birds, other wildlife, and their habitats through, education,
conservation, scientific research, and volunteer opportunities.
Through the Conservation Committee, we promote responsible participation
in public policy, support of open spaces, parks, and natural
resource management, in order to achieve balanced and environmentally
sound ecosystems and communities. |
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Activist involvement with government entities and private business to protect, improve and maintain natural ecosystems. This may
include involvement in reviewing public documents, petitioning
public officials and speaking out on environmental issue |
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Labor equity involvement with members and other concerned citizens
to physically work on projects that protect, improve and maintain
natural ecosystems. This may include park cleanups, revegetating
a critical area, or monitoring wildlife activity. These
activities require a committee that is knowledgeable about environmental
issues and should have the ability to investigate and study
issues dealing with degradation, enhancement and perpetuation
of natural ecosystems and wildlife. The committee should
interface with experts in the field to improve the ability to
assess the long-term impact of natural resource degradation;
formulate and direct programs and specific projects that might
mitigate these issues and work with other conservation groups
to achieve these goals. |
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| 4th
Tuesday Conservation Lectures - will continue during the 2013 season. |
| May 28 - "The History, birds, and Politics of the Salton Sea" - presented by Vic Leipzig |
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Conservation
Committee meetings:
The
Conservation Committee meetings are held the 1st Tuesday evening
of the month at 6:30 PM. The next meeting will be on May 7th at 6:30 PM in the Blue House. New members are always welcome!
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Conservation Committee
Agenda
Tue, May 7, 2013
6:30 - Call to Order (Susan, Vic)
Announcements:
4th Tuesday Lectures, past
- Tuesday, April 23: Borella/Ostensen “Arundo Removal” (Shirley)
- Saturday, April 27: Scott Gibson’s snake walk (Vic)
4th Tuesday Lectures, future
- Tuesday, May 28: Vic Leipzig “Salton Sea” (Vic)
- Tuesday, June 25: Mary Parsell “Los Cerritos Wetland Restoration” (Vic)
- Borella/Ostensen Arundo walk, date ? (Shirley)
- Next season (begins Sept 24) Plan for recruiting speakers
Old Business/Ongoing Issues:
- OC Snowy Plover Survey Project (Cheryl E)
- Least Tern monitoring (Cheryl E)
- OC River Park event April 16 (Mary and Cheryl E)
- Toll Road Extension (Scott)
- Revision of tree-trimming wording on our website (Nancy)
- Los Cerritos wetlands restoration (Kristen)
- So. California National Forest Land Management Plan Amendment (Vic)
- The tern nesting island at Anaheim Coves (Burris Basin) (Vic)
- Cleveland National Forest check dams (Vic)
- OC Animal Control TNR Program (Vic)
- AB 711 “Get the Lead Out” campaign (Vic, Bruce)
- Tree trimming at Covington Park near Big Morongo Preserve (Bruce)
New Business:
- Marbled Murrelet letter (Susan)
- Safe Trails Coalition, meeting 5/1 (Susan, Scott)
- Banning Ranch & “Newport Banning Conservancy” (Scott, Susan)
- Dinner for 4th Tuesday speakers? (Vic)
Round Table
Action Items
8:30 – Adjourn
Next meeting Tuesday, June 4, 2013 |
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Science Committee:
The Science Committee solicits grant proposals for small projects or pieces of projects, typically for amounts of up to about $2500. Sea and Sage Audubon has funding for these projects, and is seeking suitable grant proposals from all sources. Typically, such projects are associated with local universities or junior colleges, though we'd consider a grant proposal from any source. We have a team of science experts ready to review the grant proposals and select from the worthiest among them, and this advisory team includes scientists of the highest caliber to be found in Orange County. |
| 2013 Bloom-Hayes Ecological Research Grant |
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| 2013 Fern Zimmerman Conservation Award: |
| Each year, since 1967, the Conservation Committee has presented Letters of Commendation and the Fern Zimmerman Conservation Award to individuals who have made noteworthy contributions to the protection of habitats, natural resources, birds and wildlife in Orange County. |
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| This year we presented the Fern Zimmerman Conservation Award to: Diane Bonanno and Angela Lindstrom for their extraordinary efforts to protect the West Coyote Hills in the City of Fullerton. Diane and Angela, with the support of many groups and individuals, have waged a heroic grass roots battle to save 510 acres of much needed open space — the last available in north Orange County. Their battle, which is still in progress, has lasted over 12 years. |
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| The West Coyote Hills open space is not only important to the citizens of Fullerton as part of a balanced and healthy community, it is also a very special place for birds and other wildlife. It is home to an unusually high number of California Gnatcatchers and Coastal Cactus Wrens, as well as White-tailed Kites, wintering Burrowing Owls, and many other special birds. |
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| The Friends of Coyote Hills organization was formed in 1997 by conservationist and long-time friend of Sea and Sage, Connie Spenger. Diane became involved in 2001 and Angela joined shortly after. Diane and Angela have been instrumental in the long battle that has seen two Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) and two additional revised EIRs. After the City Council approved the 2011 version of the EIR, the Friends (of Coyote Hills) launched and won a referendum in the fall of 2012, that rejected the council's approval. |
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| To learn more about the Friends of Coyote Hills and their ongoing efforts to protect this special place, go to www.coyotehills.org . |
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| Letters of Commendation were presented to Kristen Bender and Lena Hayashi. |
| KRISTEN BENDER was presented with a Letter of Commendation for her dedication and 25-year commitment to the protection and restoration of wetlands in Huntington Beach, especially her work to establish and maintain the wetlands native plant nursery. As "resident biologist" for the Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy, Kristen planned the restoration of the Brookhurst and Magnolia Marshes. She visits the native plant garden at least two times a week to do hands-on physical work, tending the plants that will ultimately be transplanted at the marshes. |
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| LENA HAYASHI was presented with a Letter of Commendation for her enthusiasm and effectiveness as an ambassador for conservation, birds, wildlife and the acquisition and protection of natural resources. Lena has served on the Board of several groups, including the Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy, Shipley Nature Center, Sea and Sage Audubon, and Orange Coast River Park. She initiated a monthly survey in 2002 at the Shipley Nature Center, still ongoing, with both loyal and new surveyors. Last year, following strict protocol and using a cadre of experienced birders, Lena completed the 5-year Post Restoration Quarterly Bird Monitoring of the Huntington Beach Coastal Wetlands. |
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Environmental
Volunteer Opportunities
A
list of environmental
opportunities for volunteers in Orange County
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| Local
Conservation Projects |
| Tree Trimming: Tree Trimming brochure (2013 ed.) and Tree
Trimming Packet |
| Coastal Cactus Wren
Project - volunteers needed |
| Native
Plant Nurseries & Websites |
| Bolsa
Chica |
| Coyote
Hills |
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| Bird
Research Projects |
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| Conservation Topics - food for thought |
| The Trouble with Turbines: an ill wind |
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| Contacting
Your Legislators |
| Find
your Orange County officials |
| Find
your State officials |
| Find
your Federal officials |
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| Links
to Other Conservation Organizations |
| Endangered
Habitats League |
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updated 5/6/13 |
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