April 14, 2006

A few early morning daylight tides:

The Lyrid meteor showers on April 22 reward early risers on Saturday at dawn 5;23 am; this is peak viewing but look for them on Friday and Sunday as well.

Continuing signs of spring - the first tule elk calves have been born on Tomales Point! They are resting and nursing, often the mother will leave the calf and be eating close by. The dogwood along Bear Valley Trail is just beginning to flower. Lot's of Douglas Iris and goldfields at Chimney Rock and the poppies are coming along!

Northern spotted owls had an 'average' breeding season with 21 chicks in 13 successful nests a 72% success rate this past year. Spotted owls in Marin differ in their nest building - in the local younger forests they tend to build platform nest; in northern old growth forests they tend to nest in cavities in the older trees.

Permits have been issued for Saturday April 22 a foot race from 7:00 am-3:00 pm and for a memorial service; both in the Limantour Beach area. No parking congestion is anticipated.

West Marin Map Exhibit Opening - Saturday, April 22 from 1:00 to 5:00 pm in the Red Barn Classroom at Point Reyes Headquarters. Introductions of mapmakers will be from 1:00-1:30 pm. Free and open to the public. Curator is Joseph Kinyon at (415) 464-5249.

100th Anniversary of the 1906 Earthquake Exhibits at Bear Valley Visitor Center include geology artwork completed by West Marin school students and displays on earthquake preparedness - try your hand at shutting of a gas valve or snapping off a circuit breaker. Muir Woods rangers host and "Alice Eastwood Centennial hike" on April 23 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm to hear how she courageously saved the botanical collection at the Academy of Sciences.

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April 5, 2006

100th Anniversary of the 1906 Earthquake: April 18, 1906.
"A heavy shock of earthquake occurred at about 5 am this morning. The lense (sic) stopped on account of slipping the lamp base of about 2 inches from seat causing disarrangement of action but every ting (sic) was plum by 10 am - the rain shed and the three water cisterns and all the brick chimneys on the big building as damaged (sic) has been four more light shocks during the day and keeper reported to Lighthouse Inspector and the engineer 1st assistant for mail left 11 am returned 5 pm fresh wind hazy"
--Point Reyes Lighthouse keepers log.

The first full moon of spring arrives on Thursday, April 13; moon of grass appearing to Lakota Sioux and moon of the geese returning in formations to neighboring Dakota Sioux; for local Kashaya - flowers moon or Chidodapuk. Muir Woods rangers are sponsoring a Muir Woods by Moonlight" hike on April 13 from 7:00 -9:00 pm; information at (415) 388-2595.

A few early morning daylight tides:

Mark your calendars for the Lyrid meteor showers on April 22; easier to observe this year!

Good news, bad news department: large amounts of standing water can serve as breeding grounds for insects; however, the excessive amounts of insects serve as food for the barn swallows and swifts that are swooping over the ponds along Bear Valley Road. Swallows are busy at Drakes Beach, building nests of animal hair and mud among the eaves of the visitor center. Good news for red legged frogs in the ponds in Olema Valley, at Cemetery Pond 66 egg masses were observed this year up from 58 last year. The breeding season began in December, by now they are tadpoles!

Gray whales continue the north; several were seen last Saturday during a brief spell of clear weather at the point; Douglas Iris are expanding and more are coming up at Chimney Rock. The first poppies were noted at the Lighthouse. Annual signs of spring; great blue herons hunting for gophers in the Morgan Horse pastures.

Crews on the beach? US Geological Survey researchers will occasionally be seen over the next two years collecting critters (invertebrates) from wrack lines along the beaches used by snowy plovers. They will be analyzing the materials for mercury contamination.

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