What’s New
Annual Dinner 2025
Sea & Sage Annual Dinner
Friday, March 21st, at Mile Square Park Banquet Center
Our Guest Speaker is Dr. Carl Safina
He will speak on his 2023 book
“Alfie and Me, What Owls Know, What Humans Believe”
Join conservationist, author, and ecologist Carl Safina, founder of the Safina Center, as he presents Alfie and Me. After rescuing, raising, and releasing an orphaned screech owl, author Carl Safina expected their friendship to end there. However, shortly after her release, Alfie the owl chose to maintain her close connection with Carl and his wife Patricia and returned to their yard to begin living in the nest box above Carl’s studio. Having forged a close bond of trust, Alfie had lived in Carl and Patricia’s world and was now bringing them into hers.
Among his many achievements, Carl is an inaugural holder of the Endowed Chair for Nature and Humanity at Stony Brook University, a Pew Fellow in Marine conservation, and a recipient of Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo’s Rabb Medal. He was named among the “100 Notable Conservationists of the 20th Century” by Audubon magazine.
The evening will also include a Silent Auction and the presentation of our chapter’s Fern Zimmerman Conservation Award and Letters of Commendation. The Mile Square Park Banquet Center is located at the south end of Mile Square Park, at the intersection of Warner and Ward in Fountain Valley. Free parking is available. Below is the schedule for the evening:
No Host Bar: 6:00 p.m.
Dinner: 7:00 p.m.
Program: 8:00 p.m., sharp!
Location: Mile Square Park Banquet Center
Tickets: $65 for all reservations
Entrees: Slow Roasted Prime Rib, Macadamia nut crusted Mahi Mahi and Portobello Steak with Bell Pepper coulis. (All dinners will include a salad, fresh vegetables, freshly baked rolls, coffee, iced tea, decaf, and carrot cake for dessert)
RESERVATIONS: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sea-and-sage-annual-dinner-2025-tickets-1147796804139
MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS EARLY!! Seating will be assigned in the order in which the reservations are received. If you wish to sit with friends, be sure they make their reservations on the same day you do.
All reservations will be made through Eventbrite, not by check. You will receive a confirmation email after your reservation has been made.
ALL RESERVATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 12:00 A.M. ON THURSDAY, MARCH 13th.
For reservation questions, call Nancy Kenyon (949-892-9212; nancykenyon@cox.net).
If you need a special order, such as no salt or seasoning or no dairy products, be sure to report that information to Nancy as well.
Want to learn more about Carl Safina? Visit his website at https://www.carlsafina.org and visit the Audubon House Nature Store to find some of his important books.
Nature Day Camp 2025
Enrollment begins February 1, 2025
Registration for our popular Nature Day Camps opens on Saturday, February 1st on Eventbrite. Separate camps are for ages 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, and 13-16. See the attached flyer for details and Eventbrite links. Confidential scholarships are available upon request. These popular camps fill quickly, so be sure to register as soon as possible.
What parents said about our camps last year:
- “Thank you for giving my kids a wonderful, exciting, eventful week in nature.”
- “It is an exciting new learning experience and is a place to make new friends.”
- “It’s such a unique camp that’s run by friendly, knowledgeable, passionate birders.”
- “Always a great experience! My college-aged kids who attended still remember this camp fondly.”
March TattlerGeneral Meeting – Online Presentation – Travails of a Jetty Black Oystercatcher Chick
Friday, February 21st – 7:00 PM
Via Zoom
“Travails of a Jetty Black Oystercatcher”
Presented by Joel Weintraub
Against all odds, Orange County, California produced at least three juvenile Black Oystercatchers from the 2024 season. The Black Oystercatcher is designated as Climate Endangered. This talk follows the journey of one of them from near hatchling to juvenile status on the Dana Point breakwater. We will cover the history of the Dana Point jetty, the status of Black Oystercatchers, and the stresses and mortality factors on raising their young in our county. The talk will rely on videos and photos, mainly taken by the author and Dawn Garcia.
Joel Weintraub, born and raised in New York City, is an emeritus Professor of Zoology at California State University. He was instrumental in establishing the Environmental Studies Master’s Degree program there, and in 1995 was recognized by the Orange County Science Education Association with their Award for Excellence in Science Education. Joel and Bob Allen created the first Orange County Birding listserv in 2000 and they maintained it for 16 years. Joel also ran the Orange County Rare Bird Alert for many years. The duo was recognized by the Sea and Sage Audubon Conservation Committee with a Letter of Commendation in 2017. Joel maintains a YouTube channel at ‘JDW Talks’ with over a hundred videos on Orange County birds, birding optics, and Family History topics.
Meeting room opens at 6:30 PM; join us at 6:45 pm. for a Sea and Sage project highlight; meeting starts at the 7:00.
Here is the link you will need to join the meeting:
Join Zoom Meeting
If this link isn’t working for you, try Meeting ID: 841 9842 3399
Need help? Email Melissa Rapp at reedjandm@cox.net
4th Tuesday Conservation Lecture
Tuesday, February 25th – 7:00 PM
Zoom Doors will open at 6:30 PM
Featuring 3 Protected Local Species
“California Gnatcatcher Study at UCI Marsh Reserve”
Presented by Karly Moore
Senior Consulting Biologist
Institute for Conservation Research and Education (IRCE)
Since graduating from Humboldt State University, our first guest, Karly Moore, has worked with numerous threatened and endangered species projects, and extensively with the California Gnatcatcher. Tonight, she will discuss her recent project leading the effort to study the reproduction and dispersal of gnatcatchers at the UC Irvine San Joaquin Marsh Reserve.
“California Least Terns and the Western Snowy Plovers at Huntington State Beach”
Presented by Lana Nguyen, Senior Environmental Scientist, and Brittany Poloni, Environmental Scientist
Next, Lana Nguyen and Brittany Poloni will share information on two local coastal species, the Western Snowy Plover and California Least Tern. We will learn how State Parks Volunteer Docent Programs contribute to nesting success and public outreach. We will also find out how we can participate!
Please Join Us
Advance registration is required for this event.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
In Conversation with Amy Tan
at the Irvine Barclay Theater
Friday, April 18, 2025
Join us for An Evening with Amy Tan, best-selling author of The Joy Luck Club, on Friday, April 18, 2025, at 8 PM (doors open at 7 PM) at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. The renowned author will discuss her latest book, The Backyard Bird Chronicles, share reflections on her writing journey, and participate in a Q&A session followed by a book signing.
Use the promo code SEA&SAGE50 to enjoy 50% off tickets (expires April 15, 2025).
For full details, see the event flyer.
Purchase Tickets Now!
For your convenience, you can pre-purchase parking for this event.