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Here is your opportunity to hear details of the biological concerns about the proposals for development on the 270, 000 acres owned by Tejon Ranch Corporation. This program will be a power point presentation including photos of some of the ecological areas and their relationship to the bigger picture of biological integrity in regard to this area. Just the fact that Tejon Ranch has been designated as one of the environmental hotspots in our state, our state which is already one of the world’s designated hot spots, tells you a lot .
Ms. Anderson, a research ecologist, is a representative of the Center for Biological Diversity. Her vita includes a Master’s of Science in Biology and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Biology from California State University, Northridge, continuing education in restoration/revegetation/reclamation of native habitats at University of California, Riverside, and 20 years of experience in identifying, surveying for and documenting natural resources in southern California.
For all of us who live here in earthquake country, the topic of Geology is always fascinating. Mr. Aldrich will be able to inform us further on this subject in a most informed, interesting and enjoyable way. You are also invited to bring local rocks that you would like to have identified. All this will add up to a most unique program that no one will want to miss.
Both programs will be preceded by a potluck, beginning at 6 PM, and a raffle held just minutes before the program. If you wish to attend the potluck, please bring your own table setting plus a dish to share. It is a nice time to meet members, old and new, of this group.
Both meetings will be held in the Pine Mountain Clubhouse, Pool Pavilion Room. This is a public meeting, open to all who are interested. Membership in the Sierra Club is not required.
Natural Resource Defense Council, Sierra Club, and others strongly support such a park, as described in a most attractive and informative CBD brochure. "Tejon stands as the crowning jewel of a region that is globally recognized for its extraordinary diversity of life." Due to the fact that the land was quite lightly used for grazing and agriculture in the past, much of it is still in relatively pristine conditon. As well as being the meeting place of four ecosystems, it contains the largest and most varied groupings of oak trees in the state. Part of its human history is that of four Native American tribes which still have strong personal connections to that land.
For further information, attend the meeting announced above and/or go to the Center for Biological Diversity’s home page.
The last issue of the Condor Flyer contained a fascinating article by Lynn Stafford on the virtues of keeping a running record of one’s observations of birds (and other phenomena of nature). Here is a sequel. For over a decade we have had a bird tray on our back deck, easily visible through a glass door from the place where we have lunch, plus a suet cage hanging from a branch within a few feet of the tray. The birds who came always provided joy, color, and excitement, and we learned more than a little from them. Then about a year and a half ago Lynn persuaded us to keep a daily log of the birds we see feeding, and we have done so faithfully ever since, day in, day out, in a small notebook; we are now on our second one. Occasionally the log gets entered into the computer, though we are far behind.
Lynn says that in addition to the data-keeping aspect, the very act of recording brings on a new kind of observation and a more vivid experience, and we have found that to be notably true. Not that the records themselves lack value. On the basis of them we can tell you that a magnificent orange-and-black grosbeak appeared at our station on April 16th this year, not far from the usual time, and after a suspenseful interval a melodious group of three or four (still working on that!) settled in for the summer. We can document that in the course of April the small dark-headed juncos that flooded the station at dawn and dusk all winter gradually faded out to nothing (as they began their move to higher ground for the warm season), and a little after them the pygmy nuthatches did the same.
But since one naturally wants to have as many birds as possible on each day’s list, the sharpness of one’s sight grows. And the memory adapts to the task. All day long we know more or less what is a new bird that day even before looking at the list. Once, when we saw an unknown bird, it was just an interesting incident; now that bird must be identified in order to be entered properly. In this way we have found out about relatively rare visitors like the Townsend’s warbler and the ruby-crowned kinglet, first from our growing collection of bird books and then confirmed by our birder son and by Lynn himself. By now we recognize six different kinds of woodpeckers that visit us at various times.
Since keeping lists we have learned things that apparently, but only apparently, have nothing to do with the lists themselves. You see a bird out of the corner of your eye, and before you have really registered it, it is knocked out of its place ("supplanted," the bird experts say) by another who flies in as impressively as possible. It annoys you as a list-maker. You begin to notice who supplants whom. Bigger birds push off smaller birds, generally, and there is a lot of sparring of this kind among members of the same species, by way of taking turns.
But there are some surprises. Of the bigger birds around our tray, the most obvious and numerous is the Steller’s jay (they like thickly wooded northern slopes with lots of Jeffrey pines, which is us),–a rather demonic-looking fellow all in dark colors, with angular features and a sharply swept back crest, who in addition is always making raucous sounds and has a tendency to form hostile mobs of up to six or seven. Then there is the scrub jay, about the same size, less menacing to the eye because of some lighter colors and the lack of a crest, mainly found in opener country, but visiting us occasionally one at a time. Yet when the scrub jay comes, it immediately displaces any attendant Steller’s jays from the suet or the tray, with no contest. And lording it over both jays is the acorn woodpecker, who is hardly as big and has a clownish face but perhaps a more chisel-like beak. Either male or female of this species immediately takes over the suet from any number of jays, often wheeling on them and dismissing them from the whole area. The acorn woodpecker is generally dominant in our station population, except that on some days the distinctly larger, spectacular flicker, with a beak twice the size of anyone else’s, appears, and then outranks everyone, though the acorn woodpecker is still treated with a certain respect.
And don’t get me into how fascinating it is to learn to tell the genders of a species apart, though it fails resoundingly in many cases no matter what you do, and even to try to discern individuals, which usually can be done only when there are missing feathers, an injury, or the like. Or to get so you can identify a lot of species even though seen unclearly, from their distinctive motions. Try it for yourself.
Jim Lockhart
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY IF YOU PLAN TO PARTICIPATE IN SIERRA CLUB HIKES: Everyone is welcome, Sierra Club members and non-members, to join in any of the outdoor activities. Requirements: You must be in condition for type of hike and equipped appropriately for the activity. You must be willing to follow leader’s directions. Be sure to bring any personal medicines you might need. Customary appropriate equipment includes good hiking shoes, plenty of water, snack, sunglasses, suntan lotion, layered clothing. Long pants recommended. Unprepared for the prospective hike? It will be a no-go for you. Please let the leader know ahead of time that you are intending to participate. You will need to sign a Sierra Club waiver of liability, and participation must be leader-approved. Since unexpected changes of plans may be necessary, it is recommended that YOU call or email the hike leader the night before to be assured that the hike is still going to happen.
Summer specials, June through August: Every Sunday morning, a Stroll will start off from the Pine Mountain Club parking lot to visit very local areas right here in our little valley. Starting time is 8 AM, strolls last 1_ hour. The distances are short, the pace undemanding, like a walk in the garden. No reservations needed. Call 661.242.0432 for more information.
June 23th (Sat) Three Falls and Lily Meadows: A wonderful hike with sugar pines, lots of birds, and more as we cross Lockwood Valley floor and to the Three Falls site (there probably will not be any water). This is a flatlands area easily traversed and covered in approximately 1_ hours. The trail then becomes steeper, going up through a Wilderness area for another 1_ hours to reach Lily Meadows, where usually there is flowing water and vegetation related to a riparian area. Medium difficulty. Gain of approximately 1000 ft. Call Dale, 661.242.1076 to register for trip.
July 28th (Sat) Here comes the traditional Peak to Peak hike of the Condor Group. This hike goes from Mt. Pinos (near 9000 ft) on an up and down, relatively high altitude trail over to Cerro Noroeste (slightly less in altitude than Mt. Pinos). The trail follows along a high ridge with beautiful vistas on all sides. There is a likelihood that you will see wildflowers, especially highland varieties of mariposas, lupines, and Indian paint brush. This hike, enjoyed by many, is considered strenuous. Call Dale, 661.242.1076, for more information to determine if you are fit for this expedition and to register for the hike.
August 25th. (Sat) This is the first time our group has hiked the Lockwood Creek. We will begin the hike at the base of Frazier Mountain and follow the creek to its juncture with Piru Creek. Usually by this time of year the Piru is dry above this point. In the past, fresh bear tracks and rattlesnakes have been seen in this area, as well as a reminder of the nearness of civilization, an abandoned refrigator. This an easy hike with a couple hundred feet elevation change, approximately 8 miles in length. For the first mile there are multiple crossings of the creek, so be prepared for wet feet. Call Dale, 661.242.1076 to register for trip.
Remember two basics: Fire tends to go uphill faster than downhill.
Fire path tends to widen as it goes up the mountain.
When on a trail:
1. If you are between the fire and the top of the mountain, make a quick determination as to expected path and width of the fire’s path. For the best chance to get out of the path of fire, run parallel to the breadth of the fire the shortest distance from where you are to the fire’s edge and then to the largest open space you can find that has minimal or no vegetation.
2. If you are below the fire, go directly down from the fire as quickly as possible to the largest open space you can find that has minimal or no vegetation.
3. If you cannot run any farther and the fire threatens to overtake you:
Get down as low as possible,
in a depression if you can quickly see one. Take shelter away
from
drainage gullies, steep slopes. Fire will travel uphill faster
to your location and they can cause a
chimney effect with fire and hot gases shooting up them.
Put your face against the ground. Do NOT moisten a cloth to put over your face; steam will do more damage to your lungs than hot air.
Cover your head with your arms or clothing.
When you are out hiking and smell smoke:
1. Return to your parked vehicle.
2. In your vehicle, stay calm. Park your vehicle in an area clear of vegetation.
3. Close all vehicle windows and vents. Cover yourself with wool blanket or jacket. Lie on vehicle floor.
If you see a fire:
1. Report it as soon as possible.
2. Keep roads clear for emergency equipment.
3. Leave the area before your escape route is blocked.
Remember: these ideas, even if followed, are no guarantee of your safety. However, acting on them may save your life.
HOWEVER–Wilderness Society pulled back nomination because of local opposition.
World Heritage Sites are the most outstanding examples of the world’s cultural and natural heritage. Being nominated and selected as a World Heritage Site brings recognition and prestige, and the site typically becomes a great source of community pride. Only two places in California, Redwoods National and State Parks and Yosemite National Park, and twenty in the nation, have received the prestigious World Heritage honor. Despite that experience, San Luis Obispo opposed the proposed nomination, citing fear of regulation by the United Nations as a basis.
Such a shame! Carrizo could have benefited from increased ability to attract private and public funding for conservation, sustainable tourism, and increased management support. World Heritage Site designation often leads to significant increases in tourism, helpful to the local economy.
The Carrizo Plain National Monument is a great candidate for designation because of its significant ecological, geological, aesthetic and cultural values, including: the largest remnant of the San Joaquin Valley ecosystem and 13 associated endangered species, among them the California condor and San Joaquin Valley kit fox; a similarly rare suite of species and plant communities found nowhere else; Soda Lake and associated vernal pools which support thousands of wintering water birds, rare plant communities and endangered fairy shrimp; AND a world-renowned section of the San Andreas Fault.
Cultural sites in the area are representative of human occupation extending from the Paleo-Indian Period (11,000—9,000 BC) through the historic period (AD 1769 to 50 years ago). As the final frosting on the cake we can list perennial grassland areas and spectacular seasonal wildflower displays when there is enough rainfall, which was not the case this year. There is always a good chance of viewing a herd of pronghorns and seeing many raptors on the fence posts at any time of year.
If you are a "local" and have never been to the Carrizo, you are truly missing a heart-stirring experience. Just hop on the road leading west from Pine Mountain Club with a full tank of gas (no gas available in area) and some edibles (no food stops on the way!). When this road hits 166, turn right and almost immediately you will see the sign for the Monument on your left. The road can be very tricky in wet weather and after snow, so check first with the BLM in Bakersfield, 661.391.6088. Visitors’ Center is closed in summer.
And as for becoming World Heritage Site? Maybe next time around.
Notes from Kevin Royle, long time forest watcher and Sierra Club Member:
On Saturday May 5th, 2007, the Mount Pinos Ranger District of the Los Padres National Forest gave a tour to the public of their proposed project to cut and remove "hazard trees" in the area affected by the Day Fire from alongside the district roads, campgrounds and OHV trails.
The host for the day was MPRD District Ranger Thomas Kuekes, who along with other forest officials representing archaeology, fire, and biology, conducted a five-hour tour in a portion of last year’s Day Fire burn area. This was one of the first opportunities for the general public to view the effects of the fire in the Grade Valley area, which has been barred to public entry since September of 2006.
The proposal in a nutshell is whether the district shall remove, outside of the Sespe Wilderness, hazard trees and possibly sell commercially valued Jeffrey Pines that died in the fire. These are trees near high-use areas that have a potential to harm forest users.
The term "hazard tree" is specifically defined by the district as follows: "A tree is considered a hazard tree if all or a portion of the tree has a high potential to fall or roll onto a roadway or facility and cause personal injury or property damage. Distance from roadway or facility is generally 1.5 tree height on uphill side, 1 tree height down-hill, 1 tree height if flat."
Quoting the scoping letter that went public on April 18, 2007, the proposed action includes the following:
Mrs. Nancy Hurst, Sierra Club member, was on this tour also. Below are highlights from her report:
In addition to the hazard trees, smaller trees will be cut to prevent accidents by National Forest personnel as they have time and money. The smaller ones will be available for firewood permits as will slashings of any size from the larger trees. Kuekes stressed that these fellings will occur only within these narrow corridors. The rest of the Wilderness and National Forest will be left to nature. Trees having any life at all in the crowns are to be left in hopes of their recovery. However, the drought makes their fate precarious. Over the next three or four years he expects many of them to die.
The blue paint marking trees for harvest is a special one made only for the Forest Service. It is radioactive and leaves a trace. Any timber company taking unmarked trees and trying to justify it with blue paint will be found out because of the lack of radioactive trace… The trees are all easily accessible by truck as they line the roadway.
[We] were surprised at the many areas skipped over by the fire. It was heartening. Others were burned to a crisp, and still others had flash fires that burned quickly and did little permanent damage. Thorn Meadow was fine.
[In an area which was seriously burned,] no needles were left on conifers and the ground was blackened. However, there is new growth sprouting from the roots of scrub oaks and in many places new growth at the base of sage–not so much from rabbit brush.
The Forest Service offered an opportunity for persons to submit comment letters concerning their proposed plan for dealing with the destruction of the Day Fire. The following was sent with the approval of the co-chairs of the Condor Group:
The Condor Group of the Sierra Club finds the written description of the Mt. Pinos District, Los Padres National Forest’s plan for dealing with the after-fire conditions left by the Day Fire reasonable and well thought out.
After further conversation with the District Ranger for more information, and considering the stated goal of the LPNF to work to preserve and enhance the remarkable stand of Jeffrey pines in this area, we know that proposed cutting of hazard trees will be kept to the very minimum necessary with regards to safety to users of the popular recreation areas along Grade Valley road. We are told that the cut trees would amount to only 12 truckloads of timber. If it is found that the cutting of the trees must be outsourced, we certainly urge the Forest Service to make sure that the trucks used follow all the protocols used by the Forest Service to attempt to prevent the spreading of invasive plants in the areas.
Our understanding is that there will be no new off-road vehicle trails developed, but the already designated trails will be opened as soon as possible. We are told that these trails will be carefully marked to ensure that there is no question that the riders will know where to go and where not to go despite the usual surroundings of the trails having been destroyed. We urge that the use of these trails be carefully monitored for off-road, cross-country intrusions and when it appears that "new trails" are being developed by non-trail users, that the off-road trails be closed again.
We have found the Mt. Pinos District to be diligent and careful in carrying out the work of protecting the forests and opening up the forest to recreational use as is supported by national edicts. We have supported these efforts before and feel confident that the Mt. Pinos District will continue to do the good job they have done in the past. Condor Group.
A potpourri of natural wonders was the center of a wonderful afternoon for families and friends on Saturday, May 12th. Sponsored by the Condor Group in conjunction with local parents and educators, this event, through the generosity of the Tait family, was held in the perfect outdoor setting of the Tait Ranch. Many persons volunteered to share their outdoor knowledge and experiences with all who came.
Richard Aldrich, a local geologist, helped many youngsters to identify rocks they had brought to the Fest. Dan Tappe, associated with the Condor project, demonstrated how monitoring of condors is done. All could hear the beeps that came from the radio-equipped birds.
Look at the sun without hurting your eyes? How could that be possible? Bob Buchheim made it so with his special telescopic equipment. It was an unforgettable sight to see the red blazing sun with what appeared to be little flames around the edges. Snakes–with a wiggle of the tail of a (thank goodness, rubber) snake, you could see how snakes could move. Kathy Sanders of Hungry Valley State Park brought that and information about snakes in general to the Fest.
James Lowery and his wife, of Earthskills, had a wonderful quiz board, allowing you to match up animal tracks with the animals that made them, plus a display of Native American artifacts. Lynn Stafford, our topnotch local birder, answered question after question of visitors to his spot. A display of specimens of local trees and flowers was also included, prepared by Jim Lockhart. Penny Maines brought her always-popular llama, Richter, for all to pat!
Student experiments/demonstrations with water testing and explanatory posters in regard to plant associations were prepared in cooperation with the science class students of Ms. Tamara Trost of Frazier Mountain High School, assisted by Mrs. Nancy Hurst. Other displays had to do with energy (Barbara Nusbaum, Erika Cordes), water conservation (Rose Bryan), learning about the workings of the global positioning system (Dave Koskenmaki), bears (Liz Bolden), roots and shoots (Ms. Handy) and butterflies (Amy Hurst). A very special section of Nature Fest was the talk and draw area. Under the guidance of Rachel Bridgers, children had the opportunity to draw pictures and talk about the out-of-doors. This section also featured a life-size picture of a condor drawn by students of the Pine Mountain Learning Center. Eric Anderson and his daughter gave much appreciated instruction in fly-fishing with a casting rod.
Behind-the-scenes work included planning meetings by several of those mentioned above, plus Shannon Norris and Holly Matthews. We want also to recognize what Barbara Nusbaum did in preparing trash boxes for the area. No trash left behind was our motto, and her fine work in preparing the boxes made that possible. And thanks to Mar Preston, the receptionist, and to Katherine King for spelling her and giving essential help with cleanup. Tom Haugen called two days beforehand, volunteered to take part, and helped with a variety of much-needed tasks from beginning to end.
Will we have another affair like this next year? That is yet to be decided, but there was no doubt that the persons participating this year enjoyed meeting those attending as well as each other’s company–and then there are those who will want to return to show off their skills at floating paper clips on water. Can you do that?
Remembrances of Animal Experiences in the Mountain Communities Area
Yes, I am one lucky woman! In years previous to this one, I have seen three bears and a full grown mountain lion. Of the three bears, I saw one of them while I was hiking down the end of the McGill Trail in November 1997 around 6 PM. It was meandering up the trail towards me and was about ten yards away when we both noticed each other. As we both stopped dead in our tracks, I tried to act like Sidney Poitier in "Shoot to Kill," raising my arms up high while telling it to "go away." As I averted my eyes, it actually did go. When I looked up a few seconds later, it had traversed a ravine about two-tenths of a mile away! It was good thing I did not try to take it on!
I saw two other bears about a year ago or so. One was near the PMC General Store around midnight. It was a baby. I saw the other one also at midnight, at crossing the street near the creek at Mil Potrero and Woodland. Both times I was in my car.
The mountain lion I saw was full grown. I saw it while in my car at the top of Mt. Pinos during a forest burn at night around 11 PM in October or November of 1997. After that night, grasping the real possibility of facing such a huge cat on the trail, I have greatly reduced my weekly walks hiking by myself on upper McGill and Mt. Pinos.
Now, in the last several months, I have seen two bobcats in the late afternoon by the fourth and fifth holes on the golf course. I was crawling up the hill on the fifth hole one day to fetch a ball (which I hate to admit I hit out of bounds!), I looked up and saw a bobcat staring me in the face! We just looked at each other for about a minute, and then it turned around and took off. I saw the other one on the fourth hole. It was looking down at Tom (my husband) and me. It also took off after a few minutes of checking us out.
West of the club along Mil Protrero, while out walking in mid-morning, I have seen two bobcats and a mountain lion about a mile from the club center. While in my car, I have also seen a mountain lion (several months ago) and bobcats (very recently) around 10:30 PM at the intersection of Woodland and Acacia and at the bottom of Woodland at Mil Potrero.
This year, I have seen many deer in the daylight hours. The other morning, around 10:30, as I looked out the sliding glass door on my back deck after coming in from shaking out my cotton throw rugs, I saw a fawn curled up sleeping amongst the bushes in the lot below my house. It just looked up at me as I intruded on its siesta and then put its head down again. It stayed there for about another ten minutes as I went about my business; then it took off while I was not looking. Where is one’s camera when one is in need of it?
I presume I am seeing so many more wild animals these days due to the Day Fire. What do you think?
TICKS are reported to be in abundance this year because of the dry dry weather. Tips: always look yourself over (preferably with the help of someone else) after hikes, particularly if you have walked off-trail, to see if they are visiting you. If you wear light-colored clothing, they are easier to spot. Look everywhere, but give extra care to looking around your neck and head. Putting your pants legs into your socks and wearing belts around your waist helps to isolate these potential visitors. Removal: if you find a tick on your person, try moving your finger over and over again around the tick. It is reported that this finally gets the tick to give up his hold on you. Avoid using tweezers if possible, as that can result in leaving the head of the tick in your skin.
Our chapter’s hiking chair recommends for protection a Permethrin product which needs to be applied to clothing and then left to dry for at least two hours before wearing the clothing. It protects against ticks for two weeks. Deet is a second product on the list.
Human Weed Pullers Needed to help curb star thistle and knapweed. Learn all about it by calling Staffords: 661.242.2137.
Bear Books previewed at the April meeting will soon be available. Watch for them at the August meeting. If you want one earlier, call 661. 242.0432.
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Condor Group ExCom Members Co-Chairs: Lynn Stafford, , Mary Ann Lockhart. Treasurer and Hike Chair: Dale Chitwood. Rose Bryan, Jan de Leeuw, Katherine King, Harry Nelson, Barbara Nusbaum, Mar Preston, , Dorothy Vokelek.. Ex-com meetings are open to all members of the Sierra Club. Usually (but not always) held on 2nd Sunday of each month. Check for update 661.242.0432. |
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