Invertebrates of the Coast- Junior Land Stewards Virtual Environmental Science Program

Check out the what the CLT Junior Land Stewards virtual environmental science program will be learning about next! You can join along as Dr. Stephanie Dole, the “Beetle lady”, shares about our local invertebrates. This is a really fun presentation, complete with an orientation to our local invertebrates, and an introduction to many of our presenter’s “pets”.

With great thanks to our own Half Moon Bay High school Environmental Science students who lead the CUSD students in an activity, in which the CUSD students create their own bug pooters- a safe and humane way to capture and observe local invertebrates.

Click to learn more about the Junior Land Stewards program:

Celebrate Our Local Open Spaces

The Coastside Land Trust celebrates all of our properties and our accomplishments this year. This presentation features a beautiful and informational slide show of our properties, created by Barbara Dye. We also talk about the work that we are doing, the programs we are offering, the people who are making a difference, and the importance of our local open spaces.

Donate to help us continue these programs, and to support important land conservation on the coast.

Wintering Raptors of Wavecrest

Photo credit: Barbara Dye

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. Famous for its variety and numbers of resident and migratory raptors, Wavecrest is the place to see them all, including White-tailed Kite, Northern Harrier, Turkey Vulture; Sharp-shinned, Cooper’s, Red-shouldered, and Red-tailed Hawks; American Kestrel and sometimes Merlin, and Peregrine falcons. Occasional sightings of Swainson’s & Rough-legged Hawks; and Prairie Falcon.

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.

Donate to support the preservation, protection, and enhancement of these local open spaces.

To learn more about Alvaro Jaramillo and his tours, research, and other work, check out: http://alvarosadventures.com

Coastside Ecosystems and Open Spaces- Junior Land Stewards Virtual Environmental Science Program

Check out the what the CLT Junior Land Stewards virtual environmental science program is learning about next! You can join along as Barbara Lohman, Coastside Land Trust board president, shares about the variety of ecosystems here on the coast, many distinguishing features (both biotic and abiotic), and how stewardship is critical to all of our open spaces.

With great thanks to our own Half Moon Bay High school Environmental Science students who lead the CUSD students in an activity, in which the CUSD students build and observe their own bottle ecosystems.

Click to learn more about the Junior Land Stewards program:

Coastal Plant Habitats- Junior Land Stewards Virtual Environmental Science Program

The CLT Junior Land Stewards virtual environmental science program has been exploring our coastal plant habitats. Local botanist, Toni Corelli, has been guiding the fourth and fifth graders of Cabrillo Unified School District in exploring the many local plant communities that grow along the San Mateo coast. Ms. Corelli discusses why plants thrive in this environment, and how we can all help to be stewards of the land around us.

With great thanks to our own Half Moon Bay High school Environmental Science students who lead the CUSD students in an activity, in which the kids build plant WANTED posters for our local coastal plants.

Click to learn more about the Junior Land Stewards program:

A Glimpse Of Fall From Wavecrest Open Space

Plants here have evolved to use the summer fog to get enough water during the dry summer season. These plants that make up these ecosystems have to be tolerant of high salt levels in the air and soil. Coyote Brush, a member of the Coastal Scrub community, accumulates salt from the air in its foliage and roots, increasing the salt content of the soil when it dies.

Donate to support the preservation, protection, and enhancement of these local open spaces.

Northern Elephant Seals: From the Beach to the Sea

Dr. Dan Costa explores the physiology, ecology, and behavior of the Northern Elephant Seal. Dr. Costa is the Director of the Institute of Marine Sciences and Distinguished Professor at UC Santa Cruz. He is an internationally recognized expert on marine mammals of the Central Coast. This presentation is the last presentation of a three part marine mammals webinar series.

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.

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.