The March Monthly
Soaring Into Spring: Celebrating the Season with Local Winged Species
Volume 101 | March 2023 | By Meghan Boyle
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WALKING WATERHOODS TOUR- LAKE TEMESCAL |
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When: Saturday, April 8th, 2023
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Where: Lake Temescal, North Parking Lot, 6500 Broadway Oakland, CA 94618
Join WhollyH2O in exploring the fascinating history of Lake Temescal! We will dive into the lake's human history, including that of the Ohlone Native Americans, Anthony Chabot's damming of Temescal Creek, Chinese immigrant work on the Lake Temescal Dam, and the Bohemian artists that once camped on its shores. We will also learn about industrial developments in surrounding areas, such as the Hayward Fault, Highways 13 and 24, Caldecott Tunnel, and inter-urban electric train, 'The Comet'. Along the way, you'll discover a variety of flora, fauna, and local landmarks!
To sign up for this event, use this link or the "Register" button above.
Note: Anyone in need of a free ticket can reach out directly to info@whollyh2o.org
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ELIZABETH'S BIRTHDAY FUNDRAISER |
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In honor of her upcoming birthday, WhollyH2O's executive director, Elizabeth, is hosting a fundraiser! There's still 1 week left to donate, and the proceeds will go towards funding more of WhollyH2O's amazing projects. Happy early birthday, Elizabeth!
To donate, use this link or the "Donate" button above.
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Celebrating Spring in the Bay |
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Explore these three winged Bay Area species! |
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It's March in the Bay, and that means spring is on the horizon! Wildflowers are starting to bloom, lush grass is coating every lawn and hillside, allergies are going out of control... Here at Wholly H2O, we’ll be celebrating this year’s season of rebirth with a deep dive into three fascinating Bay Area species! |
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Peregrine Falcon / East Bay Regional Parks |
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The world’s fastest bird, and a bit of a Bay Area legend, peregrine falcons have been stirring up drama amid the Berkeley community for the past few years, and it may or may not be slowing down as we head into spring.
High above the UC Berkeley campus, atop the iconic Campanile tower, a female peregrine falcon and her mate started a life together in 2016. Named Annie and Grinnell respectively, the pair claimed the tower as their territory and lived mostly in peace for a few years until late 2021, when the couple faced an onslaught of television-worthy problems that captured the attention of fans around the world.
The saga began in October of 2021, when rival falcons got too near Grinnell and Annie’s nest. Grinnell put forth his best efforts to protect his lady, valiantly fighting their rivals until he got seriously injured and was sent to a wildlife rehabilitation center to heal. And while some birds may have found Grinnell’s actions noble — daring, even — Annie took his absence as a chance to court another — the rival falcon, in fact.
Perched safely atop her tower, Annie seemed to forget about the father of her fledglings (who, by the way, a Cal Falcons ornithologist claimed had been an “impressive” caretaker) and took the enemies-to-lovers pipeline to the next level, displaying breeding behavior with her new suitor. But, in an episode perhaps more dramatic than all 27 seasons of The Bachelor combined, Annie promptly dropped her newfound fling and began courting Grinnell once again in early January 2022, a few months after he returned from rehabilitation. But of course, the plot thickens.
Just over 2 months later on March 31st, 2022, Grinnell was, to much dismay, found dead in downtown Berkeley, right after Annie had laid their eggs for the 2022 breeding season. Many suspected that the eggs would not end up hatching as Annie was left without a partner. But while the community grieved the loss of their beloved bird, Annie had already found a new mate, Alden, just 3 weeks later in classic Bridgerton fashion (season 2 of which coincidentally dropped just days earlier — life imitates art, no?).
From here, Alden helped Annie incubate the eggs, defended their nest, and hunted food for his new family. This eventually came to an end in November of 2022 when Alden mysteriously disappeared, leaving Annie alone once again. Berkeley News predicted in December that the community might see more rivalry between the Bay’s falcons as a result, or perhaps more death due to a widespread avian flu that swept the nation.
Fortunately for Annie, the drama was kept to a minimum and as of now, in March 2023, she seems to have settled down once more with a new mate, Lou. The two even experienced their first breeding season together, with Annie having laid 4 eggs between March 4th and March 10th. Cal Falcons biologist Sean Peterson says that Annie seems to be quite happy with her new mate, and he has even taking to calling her “Queen Annie” for her perceived hardiness and ability to hold down territory for so long.
Finally, after battling loss, fights, and relationship drama worthy of her own Netflix special, Annie seems living her best life as we head into spring. For more, check out Cal Falcons live nest cam footage for a glimpse of the action yourself!
Note to close: this piece takes on a dramatic, at times anthropomorphic tone. This is only for entertainment purposes, and it’s important to recognize that at the end of the day, each of these birds is an animal simply following the biological processes hardwired into its brain from millions of years of evolution. Peregrine falcons will often mate for life, but in the absence of a mate, females take on “floating” or non-mated partners to increase the odds of their chicks’ survival. For a more in-depth peek into the lives and characteristics of peregrine falcons from a more scientific point-of-view, check out this article from National Geographic.
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Bald Eagles Nesting February 2023. San Francisco Chronicle / Rick Lewis
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Bald eagles, the most recognizable bird across the nation. The winged symbol of America. But, for all their fame, these birds are actually quite a rare sight nowadays.
It wasn't always this way — back in the 1700s, when the bald eagle came to be the country’s national symbol, nesting numbers may have neared the 100,000s. Unfortunately, as the early 20th century approached, hunting, widespread usage of pesticides, and habitat destruction decimated bald eagle populations.
Fortunately, these majestic birds’ numbers have been growing across the nation, and they’ve been making an exciting comeback in the Bay Area! Bald eagles have been spotted nesting in Livermore, San Mateo County, and most recently, on a golf course in Alameda. On March 1st, the Alameda eagles laid eggs, and they are expected to hatch sometime in early April. If the eggs hatch and the chicks fledge successfully, bald eagles might even become more commonplace! For years, poor conditions have kept the birds from nesting in the area, so this could be a sign that our environment may be improving, at least enough to house more birds in the future.
If you want to catch a peek of these majestic creatures, be sure to keep your distance! Bald eagles are protected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and disturbing them (touching, flying drones, disrupting nests, taking feathers, etc.) can result in heavy fines. If you want a closer look from a safe distance, check out this live eagle nest cam streaming from Santa Cruz Island!
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California Pipevine Swallowtails (and Pipevines) |
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Pipevine Swallowtail / Mathesont (CC BY-NC 2.0). |
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With shimmering, iridescent wings and bright orange spots that evoke the image of a poppy (another quintessential Golden State species), the California pipevine swallowtail is an unmistakably iconic insect. Endemic to the Bay Area, pipevine swallowtails use only the native California pipevine to host their larvae before entering a gestation period and reemerging as beautiful, velvety blue butterflies.
These unique creatures were geographically isolated to the area millions of years ago, and evolved distinctly from other subspecies of pipevine swallowtails, making them truly one-of-a-kind. However, their specific preference of using California pipevine to raise larvae makes it harder for them to survive without an abundance of the plant.
This especially becomes a problem when talking about repopulating the area with the butterflies — many people have been eager to bring them back to the area because of their rarity, but without the proper plants, it might end up doing more harm than good. Because the swallowtails require such specific conditions for their larvae, it is vital that gardeners and butterfly-enthusiasts plant native California pipevine plants to attract them, as the larvae do not take well to different plant species and varieties.
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California Pipevine / Bay Nature, Chris Tarp |
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This leads us into the California pipevine itself. A perennial plant that blooms during the springtime, California pipevine (also known as Dutchman’s pipevine) is the only species of pipevine native to the Golden State. With flowers shaped like wonky tubules, they attract many different insects that they trap inside their buds to pick up pollen before releasing them back out into the wilderness. Pipevine leaves are actually toxic, containing poison that would normally kill off other creatures. But, for reasons unknown to scientists, the swallowtail larvae are able to tolerate it and successfully grow, even using the poison as a way to defend themselves from predators. Pipevines are usually found along creeks and streams as they grow best in moist environments. However, they tend to blend in well with their surroundings, making them hard to find.
Interested in visiting a creek and maybe spotting one of these elusive plants? Check out Wholly H2O’s Walking Waterhoods tours, where we take you on an exciting journey that reveals the history, ecology, and beauty of the creeks and watersheds right in your own backyard!
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What else are we up to? Wholly H2O regularly plans exciting environmental events throughout the year, including beach cleanups, walking tours, art projects, and nature observations (aka BioBlitzes). To view our future events, click the link here, or use the button below. If you'd like to stay tuned and get notifications about our events, feel free to use that same link to follow us on EventBrite!
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Our lives depend on healthy watersheds, and Wholly H2O depends on YOU!
Support Wholly H2O as we plan many more exciting events over the next year!
We create educational content that connects YOU to the watersheds you live in, and we love doing what we do! No matter how much you decide to donate, you will make an impact on what we can accomplish. Click the button above to contribute a tax-deductible donation or check out our fundraiser on our Facebook page!
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Want to Give Back to Your Watershed? Join our Board of Advisors! |
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During the last 100 years, California has been in on-and off drought conditions. We also have one of the five most important delta systems in the world, yet, most Californians do not know where their water comes from, how much they use a day, or what watershed they live in. At Wholly H2O, we are creating deep connections with watershed ecosystems in order to inspire people to take long-range personal and political action, while still having fun. And our Board of Advisors is a crucial part of how Wholly H2O functions. We ask for a solid commitment to:
- Join a 1.5 hour board meeting every four months.
- Put the word out about at least 3 Wholly H2O events a year
- Attend at least 3 Wholly H2O events per year
- Assist us in making connections for program content, partners, funding, and growth.
We're looking for experts in Bay Area creek and marine ecosystems, East Bay BIPOC history, citizen science, curriculum development, East Bay K-12 schools, art, marketing, or outreach. If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, apply using this link. Also, be sure to check out our current Board of Advisors to learn more about our current members!
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Wholly H2O couldn't run without the work of our talented volunteers. We have a bunch of unique opportunities throughout the year, such as podcast producing, accounting, and content editing! Take a look at our Volunteer Match to learn more!
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Our Interns Do Really Cool Stuff. |
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We always have a pod of 10-15 interns researching creek histories, creating wildlife guides, editing livestreams, writing copies for our watershed tours, and more. We promise you will never be bored - lend your skills or add your curiosity to our work!
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Wholly H2O catalyzes dynamic, informed connections between people and their watersheds that yield proactive and appropriate water management through conservation and reuse. Our watershed-positive educational programs engage Californians in community , citizen science, art, and green infrastructure education.
Our activities: waterhood tours, BioBlitzes, Moth nights, and art events are bringing waterhoods to life for hundreds of water-users around the San Francisco Bay area! Join us for an event, follow us on social media, volunteer or intern, or donate to support our fun and innovative work. (We also love matched donations from your workplace!)
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