“Thar She Blows!” – Whale Watching at Pigeon Point
Each year from December through May, approximately 18,000 gray whales pass by our coastline in San Mateo County as they migrate from their feeding grounds in the Arctic seas near Alaska to their breeding and calving lagoons in Baja, Mexico (and back again!). A great place to see them on the move is at one of our beautiful parks – Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park. And the best time to watch for whales is in the spring. The oceanside observation deck at the lighthouse allows whale watchers a 300 degree view as they scan the horizon for whale blows. Docent volunteers are “on-deck” to help interpret these magnificent marine mammals and their behavior for visitors.
A Report from a Sunrise Photographer
By guest writer, Laura Oliphant.
It was a clear, cold morning as I joined the other participants for the Sunrise Photography tour at Año Nuevo State Park. Meeting at 6:00 am, we silently got our gear together before boarding the bus that would take us the short drive to the start of our tour. As we got ourselves and our gear off the bus and started the walk down to the beach, we realized how cold it was – there was ice on the boardwalk.
Donors Enjoy Treasures of History and Harvest
CSPA donors explored secrets of Burleigh H Murray Ranch in October 2012 and enjoyed some of the bounty of the ranch’s historic orchard. The outing began with hot drinks and applesauce cake, along with a brief review of the lives of some of the people associated with the history of the ranch.
Pescadero: The Saga of the Sandbar
In August 2012, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) proposed to breach the sandbar at the mouth of Pescadero Creek in an effort to avoid fish kills. Volunteers assisted state parks staff, working with NOAA and other agencies, to monitor the process and results.
Your Dollars Helped These Birds Survive
Your support for state parks made a big difference this spring when birders discovered three newly hatched Western Snowy Plover chicks on Pescadero State Beach. News of the chicks came as a surprise, since plovers had not nested on this beach for over 30 years, but state parks was ready to help monitor and protect the young birds, thanks in part to your contributions to CSPA.
Volunteers Restore a Rare Piece of History
For almost a year (2011 – 2012) volunteers from all over the Bay Area donated their time and skills to restore a part of coastside history—a nearly century-old orchard in the hills above Half Moon Bay. The restoration effort, at Burleigh H. Murray Ranch, was one of many projects at state parks launched by the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) Park Champions program as a way to use “volunteer power” to help meet the challenges resulting from a decade’s worth of cuts to park budgets.