The Secret Life Of Marine Mammals: Pulling Back The Curtain

Dr. Dan Costa explores the lives of marine mammals and how technological advances have allowed us to study these animals that spend their lives at sea. Dr. Dan Costa is the Director of the Institute of Marine Sciences and Distinguished Professor at UC Santa Cruz. He is an internationally recognized expert on the physiology, ecology, and behavior of marine mammals.

Check out the Costa Lab at: https://costa.eeb.ucsc.edu

These webinars are made possible by the generosity of donors. Donate to help us continue these programs, and to support important land conservation on the coast.

For The Birds

The Junior Land Stewards virtual environmental science program is off and running, and the fourth and fifth graders of CUSD will next be learning about the birds of our Coastside. They will be exploring

• How our ecosystem and climate supports the birds that live here

• Resident/ Migratory Birds  (Pacific Flyway)

• Internal and external structures that function to support flight, migration, survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.

• How we can be stewards of the land to protect local birds

Our Coastside Land Trust presenter, Alvaro Jaramillo, is an internationally known ornithologist. As an author and contributor to numerous field guides and popular publications, he wrote the American Birding Association Field Guide to Birds of California. Alvaro works to enrich other’s enjoyment of birds and further avian conservation, leading birding trips throughout the world with his company, Alvaro's Adventures. To learn more about Alvaro Jaramillo and his tours, research and other work check out: http://alvarosadventures.com

With great thanks to our own Half Moon Bay High school Environmental Science students who lead the CUSD students in this activity, in which the kids build paper airplanes that correspond to the four different major wing shapes, based upon the need of each bird.

Click to learn more about the Junior Land Stewards program

This program is made possible by the generosity of our donors. We greatly thank Tomberg Family Philanthropies and Cabrillo Education Foundation, as well as donations made by people, like you, who value this important work.

Donate to help us continue this program

Marine Mammals of Central California and Climate Change- Recording

Dr. Dan Costa shares an overview of the natural history of the most common marine mammals that can be seen in Central California, and addresses how a changing climate might be affecting their lives and behavior. Dr. Dan Costa is the Director of the Institute of Marine Sciences and Distinguished Professor at UC Santa Cruz. He is an internationally recognized expert on the physiology, ecology, and behavior of marine mammals.

Check out the Costa Lab at: https://costa.eeb.ucsc.edu

These webinars are made possible by the generosity of donors. Donate to help us continue these programs, and to support important land conservation on the coast.

Marine Mammals of Central California and Climate Change- with Dan Costa- Webinar Series

Marine Mammals of Central California and How Climate Change Might Affect Them
 Webinar Series
Presented by Dan Costa

Join us this Saturday, October 24, at 10:00 am PDT, as Dr. Dan Costa shares an overview of the natural history of the most common marine mammals that can be seen in Central California. He will address how a changing climate might affect their lives and behavior. Dr. Dan Costa is the Director of the Institute of Marine Sciences and Distinguished Professor at UC Santa Cruz. He is an internationally recognized expert on the physiology, ecology, and behavior of marine mammals.

This presentation is the first of a three part marine mammals webinar series. Each session will last approximately 60 minutes, with time for questions. Presentations will be recorded and posted to our YouTube channel. All are welcome.

Junior Land Stewards Virtual Environmental Science Program

The Junior Land Stewards has just launched its 2020/2021 Virtual Environmental Science Program for the for the 4th and 5th graders of Cabrillo Unified School District.This virtual program is aimed to educate and connect students to their ecosystem, in the study of the local soil, plants, birds, mammals and invertebrates- aligned with the California NGSS standards. These lessons incorporate local environmental experts, the Half Moon Bay High School environmental science students, along with hands-on activities and reflection. Follow along with us as we post our bi-weekly videos! We hope this might give you a chance to learn a little bit more about this unique and beautiful coastal environment.

Check out this introduction video, aimed at getting us outside to examine the natural world, with John Muir Laws and our own HMBHS environmental science students.

Click to learn more about the Junior Land Stewards program

This program is made possible by the generosity of our donors. We greatly thank Tomberg Family Philanthropies and Cabrillo Education Foundation, as well as donations made by people, like you, who value this important work.

Donate to help us continue this program

The Fascinating World Of the Banana Slug with Dr. Janet Leonard Recording

Dr. Janet Leonard, research associate at UC Santa Cruz, explores the fascinating world of the banana slug, discussing the natural history, reproductive biology, evolution and distribution of banana slugs. Dr. Leonard also answers questions and talks about the research that is being done at UC Santa Cruz, sharing why these invertebrates are so intriguing to scientists.

Dr. Leonard was kind enough to write up responses to questions we didn’t have time for in the webinar. Check out her answers to your plant questions here.

These webinars are made possible by the generosity of donors. Donate to help us continue these programs, and to support important land conservation on the coast.

The Fascinating World of the Banana SlugVirtual Workshop

Join the Coastside Land Trust on Saturday, September 26, at 11:00 am PDT, as we welcome Dr. Janet Leonard, research associate at UC Santa Cruz. Dr. Leonard will help us to explore the fascinating world of this slimy, shell-less mollusk, commonly spotted on our own redwood forest floor. She will discuss the natural history, reproductive biology, evolution and distribution of banana slugs. Dr. Leonard will also talk about the research that is being done at UC Santa Cruz , and share why these invertebrates are so intriguing to scientists.

This 60 minute webinar is free, and is sure to be educational and engaging for all. There will also be time allotted to address your own banana slug questions. All presentations will be recorded and posted to our YouTube channel.

Public Lands on the Pacific’s Edge- Interview with CLT Executive Director, Jo Chamberlain, on Sustainability Now

Listen to this interview with Jo Chamberlain, Executive Director of the Coastside Land Trust to find out more about CLT, what a land trust does, how it protects sensitive lands, and how you can get out and enjoy open spaces on the California Coast.

The Amazing Plants of Coastal San Mateo County -with Toni Corelli- Coastside Land Trust

Learn all about the wildflowers and plant habitats of the Half Moon Bay Coast. This presentation highlights the plants and plant communities occurring on public lands along the San Mateo Coast, including Devil’s Slide Trail, Bean Hollow State Park, and Año Nuevo State Park. Our presenter, Toni Corelli, is a botanist and author of several books on the local flora of San Mateo and Santa Clara County. Toni Corelli, Avis Boutell and Nancy Frost, as State Park volunteers, surveyed the San Mateo Coast public lands and documented over 700 different species of plants. They have contributed greatly to the documentation of the botanical resources along the San Mateo Coast, many identified in their book , Plants and Plant Communities of the San Mateo Coast, available for purchase for $20 through the Coastside Land Trust.

Ms. Corelli has provided the following reference material to accompany her presentation:

Bean Hollow Trail (Please note that this is best printed in its entirety and assembled as a book)

Clover guide (Please note that this is best printed in its entirety and assembled as a booklet)

Native Wildflowers of the San Mateo Coast- Session 2

Ms. Corelli was kind enough to write up responses to questions we didn’t have time for in the webinar. Check out her answers to your plant questions here.

These webinars are made possible by the generosity of donors. Donate to help us continue our work.

Wildflowers And Plant Habitats Of Half Moon Bay With Toni Corelli

In this webinar recording we explored the wildflowers and plant habitats of the Half Moon Bay Coast, from the Dunes to the Bluff Top. This webinar features the many plant communities growing along the Coastal Trail and in the Wavecrest Open Space. Our presenter, Toni Corelli, is a botanist and author of several books on the local flora of San Mateo and Santa Clara County.

Ms. Corelli has provided the following reference material to accompany her presentation:

A Guide to the Half Moon Bay State Beach Nature Trail

Plant Slides, References And Other Resources

Ms. Corelli was kind enough to write up responses to questions we didn’t have time for in the webinar. Check out her answers to your plant questions here.

These webinars are made possible by the generosity of donors. Donate to help us continue our work.

Wildflowers and Plant Communities of Half Moon Bay and the San Mateo Coast Virtual Workshops

Join the Coastside Land Trust on August 15th and 22nd at 10:00 am PDT, as local botanist and author, Toni Corelli, will be presenting about the wildflowers and plant communities of Half Moon Bay and the San Mateo Coast. These webinars will highlight the plants and plant communities occurring on public lands along the San Mateo coast, from Thornton State Beach in the north, to Año Nuevo State Park in the south. Ms Corelli will also focus upon the many plant communities growing along the Coastal Trail and in the Wavecrest Open Space.

These 60 minute webinars are free, and are sure to be educational and engaging for adults and children of all ages! There will also be time for your own local wildflower questions to follow.

Anna's Hummingbird

**Nature Nugget**

One of the great joys of living on the Half Moon Bay Coastside is the population of hummingbirds. Our gardens and prairies are frequented by these little hummers, darting from flower to flower, dipping their long thin bills (and even longer tongues) into narrow tubular flowers, sucking up the nectar using capillary action to absorb the nectar, similar to the way a paper towel absorbs water.

Among these beautiful birds, is the Anna’s Hummingbird. They are hardy, permanent residents along the west coast of the United States, and are also the most common hummingbird on the west coast. These tiny, muscular birds are generally lighter than a nickel and no larger than a golf ball, with 30% of their weight consisting of flight muscles. 

Males have an iridescent raspberry colored crown and throat that extends to the sides of the neck. Females have green heads, with a small amount of raspberry on their throats.  These hummingbirds feed on nectar from flowers and feeders, as well as small insects and spiders. The Anna’s hummingbird consumes more insects than any of the other North American hummingbirds, catching small flying insects, and even eating spiders and trapped insects right from the spider webs.

The courtship behavior of breeding Anna’s Hummingbirds is quite unique, as it incorporates males singing energetically to females and performing immense aerial dives that end with a sharp noise caused by their vibrating tail feathers. As is the case with other hummingbird species, male and female Anna's Hummingbirds associate only long enough to mate but the female alone will raise the young. The female is responsible for construction of the nest (commonly made of soft plant material, moss, and spiderwebs). Their nests are small, and measure approximately 1.5 inches in diameter and 1 inch in height. Due to the use of spider webs as the binding material, the nest will stretch, growing with the nestlings until they are ready to fledge.

Wavecrest Open Space Trail

In 2008, Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) purchased 206-acre Wavecrest, one of the last undeveloped properties nestled at the southern boundary of urban Half Moon Bay. In September 2011, the California State Coastal Conservancy approved a grant to the Coastside Land Trust (CLT) to purchase 50 acres of Wavecrest and oversee the creation of “The Bird Trail,” a 1/3-mile stretch of the California Coastal Trail.

Wavecrest is the single most important site on the San Mateo Coast for wintering raptors, which can be seen hunting in the property’s broad fields. Raptors and other species rely on its expansive grasslands, wetland areas and roosting sites, all of which are an integral part of the coast’s ecological health.

From this trail one can view the Pacific Ocean and the many gulls, pelicans and cormorants roosting in nearby trees. With binoculars, one can see a number of shore birds racing the waves in search of food. This is also a great vantage spot to view migrating whales. Here one may also view an active variety of raptors and other bird species in flight, such as northern harriers, white-tailed kites, American kestrels, and a variety of hawks.

Dogs are welcome on-leash at Wavecrest. Please pick up after your pets and respect other visitors. Also, during this challenging time of COVID-19, public health officials recommend that hikers maintain social distance and wear or carry a mask to protect one another.

Overview: You can do an easy hike along the 0.3-mile Bird Trail, which runs along the north end of Wavecrest, or do a 1.5-mile (roundtrip) section of the California Coastal Trail that runs through the property.

HIKING DETAILS FOR WAVECREST

Distance: 1.5 miles

Elevation change: Flat

Hiking time: Less than an hour

Trail surface: Packed dirt, mostly exposed

Best Season: Year round

DIRECTIONS TO THE WAVECREST TRAIL HIKE

To Access from the North (where the Bird Trail begins):

You can park at the Poplar beach parking lot (on the corner of Poplar Street and Railroad Ave). Note: This is a City of Half Moon Bay paid parking lot. Once you have parked you will walk south on the coastal trail over the Seymour bridge directly into the north end of Wavecrest. You can see this bridge from the parking lot.

To Access from the South:

Wavecrest Open Space is located off Highway 1 in Half Moon Bay. From Highway 92 west go south on Highway 1 and drive about 1.5 miles to Wavecrest Road. Wavecrest Road will be your next right after you pass Higgins Canyon Road. Turn right at Wavecrest Road. You’ll see Cameron’s Pub and the double decker bus on the corner of Wavecrest Rd and Highway 1. If you see Redondo Beach Road you've gone too far south on Highway 1. Drive to the end of Wavecrest Road and park. You'll see the baseball diamonds on your right.

Amaryllis Belladonna In Bloom

**Nature Nugget**

Keep your eyes out for the Naked Ladies! 

The Amaryllis belladonna, also known to many as the Naked lady or Pink Amaryllis, is just beginning to blossom, with peak blooms to be viewed in August and September. This perennial herb is a non-native to California. It comes from South Africa, and is widely cultivated as an ornamental.

The Amaryllis Belladonna begins its growth in winter after the rain. The green strap-shaped leaves make a significant clump of foliage in winter and early spring. All of these leaves then die back by the end of spring. About six to eight weeks later, in late summer, a bloom stalk of fragrant pink flowers emerges on a leafless stalk - hence the name “naked”. These flowers grow to about 20 inches tall, and are usually a soft pink, although colors may vary from white to a deep pink color.

RAPTORS OF WAVECREST with Alvaro Jaramillo Songbirds, Seabirds and More Webinar Series - Session Six

Pictured: White Tailed Kite

Here is a recording of the Songbirds, Seabirds and More Webinar Series/Session 6- RAPTORS OF WAVECREST. Renowned international bird guide, Alvaro Jaramillo, joins the Coastside Land Trust to share about our local raptors, of which there are many. To learn more about Alvaro Jaramillo and his tours, research, and other work, check out: http://alvarosadventures.com

Alvaro was kind enough to write up responses to questions we didn’t have time for in the webinar. Check out his answers to your birding questions here.

These webinars are made possible by the generosity of donors. Donate to help us continue our work.

Evergreens Of The Coast

**Nature Nugget**

For any of you who have moved to the Half Moon Bay coast from another region, you have surely noticed the presence of the evergreen trees that inhabit our coastside. Among them is the impressive native California Redwood. But you will also notice the many pines and oaks, and the Douglas fir and Sargent cypress.

Evergreen trees have year-round foliage that remains green throughout the seasons. The leaves of evergreens are generally thicker and more leathery than those of deciduous trees and often are needlelike or scalelike in cone-bearing trees. Although they do lose their leaves, evergreens lose them gradually and throughout the many months of the year. In fact, a leaf may remain on an evergreen tree for two years or longer.

There are a combination of factors that support the dominance of evergreen trees within the local landscape. One key element relates to rain and temperature. Here in Half Moon Bay, the rain generally comes during the winter and into the early spring, when it is colder and there is less sun. For this reason photosynthesis becomes more limited.  In the early spring, when temperatures start to warm but it is still wet, it takes a lot of energy to grow new leaves. Evergreens have a head start here, as they use their existing leaves for photosynthesis, as they rush to grow new leaves before the dry months of the summer.

Evergreens can also reinforce their own dominance, as their needles and leaf litter have a high carbon-nitrogen ratio that contributes to a high soil acidity and lower soil nitrogen content. These conditions favor the growth of more evergreens and make it more difficult for deciduous plants to persist. Additionally, the shelter provided by existing evergreens can make it easier for younger evergreens to survive a drought.

Goats And Sheep As Land Stewards

**Nature Nugget**

Are you curious about those goats and sheep that you see down at the Railroad Right of Way in Half Moon Bay?

This large herd of over 200 sheep and goats comes from Star Creek Land Stewards, and works with the Coastside Land Trust as a part of a planned grazing project. These sheep and goats are effective at eating fire fuel, aerating the soil, fertilizing the ground, and encouraging the growth of native plant species. This results in a reduction in wildfire danger, improved soil fertility, and an increase in the diversity of native perennial grasses. This process is also good for the environment, as it doesn't require petroleum products or chemicals of any kind.

Within this planned grazing project the goats and sheep work together- each serving it’s beneficial role, as grazers (sheep) and browsers (goats). As grazers, sheep are herbivores that feed on lower lying plants, such as grass and other ground level vegetation. As browsers, goats enjoy roughage. Goats like to eat at chin level and will eat the leaves and twigs off of shrubs and trees before they’ll turn to grass, which they will also do, but with less consistency than sheep. Goats are also likely to take a chance on eating a plant they don't know, and their guts can tolerate a wide variety of plant species.

Stop by the intersection of Railroad Ave & Poplar St in Half Moon Bay and say hello to our fuzzy restoration workers. 

BIRDING THE HARBOR with Alvaro Jaramillo Songbirds, Seabirds and More Webinar Series - Session Five

Here is a recording of the Songbirds, Seabirds and More Webinar Series/Session 5- BIRDING THE HARBOR. Renowned international bird guide, Alvaro Jaramillo, joins the Coastside Land Trust to share about our local harbor birds. To learn more about Alvaro Jaramillo and his tours, research, and other work, check out: http://alvarosadventures.com

Alvaro was kind enough to write up responses to questions we didn’t have time for in the webinar. Check out his answers to your birding questions here.

The Restoration Herd Is Here

The restoration herd has arrived at Railroad Right of Way. They got right to work refreshing the area and applying fresh fertilizer. They do great work fertilizing the ground, eating fire fuel, and encouraging the growth of native plant species. Stop by the intersection of Railroad Ave & Poplar St in Half Moon Bay and say hello to our fuzzy restoration workers.

Lovely Lupine

**Nature Nugget**

Lupine (genus Lupinus) is a type of flowering plant that belongs to the pea family. With approximately 200 lupine species and a wide climate range, the genus contains both perennial and annual herbaceous species, as well as some shrubby and tree varieties.  All lupine share similar characteristics, such as the cluster of pea-like blossoms growing on spires, set above clumps of palmately divided leaves. Dependent upon the variety, these plants can grow to be anywhere from 1 to 5 feet tall, and are very successful in attracting their main pollinators, which include bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. 

The lupine flowers can be yellow, purple, blue, red, white or bi-colored. There is a large white dot on each small flower, acting as a nectar guide that directs the pollinators to the nectar/pollen source. As the flowers fade, the spots turn bright pink, letting insects know that the nectar and pollen are depleted. Once pollinated the lupine produces a seed pod containing several seeds. When the seed pod becomes dry and brittle, the built-up torsion rips the pod apart and seeds are shot several feet away from the parent plant.

Lupines prefer well-drained, slightly acidic soil and areas that provide ample sun, such as fields, savannas, sand dunes, and areas near the roads. Wild lupine is a plant that thrives in areas that are periodically disturbed, which reduces or eliminates plant competition and overhead canopies. The name lupine originates from the Latin word "lupus" which means “wolf". It refers to an old mistaken belief that lupines strip the nutrients of the soil and ravage the land like a wolf. Despite its false name, lupines are actually able to improve the quality of the soil. Lupines (like beans and peas) are nitrogen fixers, which means that they aid soil fertility by fixing nitrogen from the air into the soil, fertilizing the soil for other plants simply by growing there.