Monitoring the Acoustic Environment of Elephant Seals to Study Ocean Sounds
When you think of chimpanzee research, what comes to your mind first? We bet it is the name of Jane Goodall who dedicated her life to the study and preservation of Chimpanzees in the jungles of Africa. How about research on seals? Most likely you are drawing a blank! CSPA is excited to highlight the work of Roxanne Beltran who may well be considered a “seal whisperer.” Roxanne is Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC Santa Cruz, where she researches seals in their natural habitats. Although she completed her PhD just three years ago, she has been working with elephant seals, Weddell seals and other marine mammals for over a decade.
Our parks need great docents like you!
The San Mateo coast state parks – especially Pigeon Point, Año Nuevo, Butano and Half Moon Bay – thrive on docent volunteers who love what they do. Año Nuevo, fully staffed, comprises 180 volunteers and Pigeon Point has about 40 who interpret and staff park stores. These and other coastal parks also need trail maintenance, construction, nursery and habitat restoration, camp hosting, and other support. Volunteers are so critical to park operations that many parts of the parks cannot operate without them.
Have you ever wondered who volunteers as docents, or what it takes to be one? You may be surprised to learn how straightforward it is to become a docent, and how realistic it is to fit the role into your schedule. It’s also a great way to “give back” and to share the pleasure that visiting our wonderful San Mateo coastal state parks has brought to you.
The best way to know what it’s like is to hear from experienced docents. Two of them, John Fox at Año Nuevo State Park (where the elephant seals are), and Dan Clearwater at Pigeon Point Light Station State Historical Park, agreed to share their insights about the docent experience.
Amazing News for Pigeon Point Lighthouse
It was just two years ago that we were happy to announce that California State Parks has budgeted more than $9 Million to restore this iconic 115-ft tall brick structure on the San Mateo County coast. Today the news is even better: $18.9 million has been designated for the full restoration of Pigeon Point’s tower in the 2021-2022 California State budget. Finally, this precious 150-year old landmark will be preserved for generations to come after being closed to the public for almost two decades due to structural damage.
The lighthouse was built in 1871 to keep wooden ships from hitting the rocky shoreline. It used to be a popular attraction until 2001 when the building was locked and secured after large chunks of its black cast-iron bracing, each weighing about 300 pounds, plunged to the ground. If you were to visit the park today, you will notice that the aging lighthouse is surrounded by a chain-link fence, its masonry cracked and its white sides streaked with rust. But all that will be changing soon!
Joanne Kerbavaz’ Perspective on Coastside Fires and Rebirth Sought Worldwide
Last year’s August wildfires, devastating as they were, have spawned at least two positive results – the natural cycle of forest regeneration, and nationwide, even global, attention to the environmental issues that the fires illuminated.
Año Nuevo patrons rejoice!
Año Nuevo State Park’s elephant seal viewing area is planned to reopen on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays beginning July 9th following 15 months of closure due to Covid and the CZU Complex Fires.
The Seventh Generation Principle
It is important to have inspired people manage our State Parks, and Barbara Morris, Supervising Ranger at the Half Moon Bay Ranger Station is one such person.
For the Second Time in 100 Years, Bald Eagles Prepare to Nest in San Mateo County
After America’s national bird was pushed to the brink of extinction by the shell-thinning pesticide DDT, a decades-long conservation effort to repopulate the bald eagle has come to fruition. Now, an eagle pair may be looking to call CSPA’s Pescadero Marsh home.
Story and photographs by Stephanie Gee
A Virtual Anniversary Event
With COVID-19 restrictions still in place, we cancelled the 148th Anniversary of Pigeon Point’s first lighting, planned for Saturday November 14th. Instead the park staff used social media to engage virtual visitors with some fun facts. We hope you enjoy them also.
Please check our calendar of events for November 13th in 2021 when we plan to hold the 149th Anniversary event in person!
A New Look for the Pigeon Point Fog Signal Building
The start of the COVID pandemic also saw the start, and finish, of the refurbishment of Pigeon Point LS SHP’s fog signal building. The project was deemed essential for the preservation of the 120 year old structure. While delayed a couple of weeks, the work began in late March.
Butano Bridge Rebuilt
Late in 2019, State Parks requested funds to rebuild the road bridge inside Butano State Park. The 50 ft long vehicle bridge on the Butano entrance road is the only access to the campground and water treatment plant. It had extensive rot on perpendicular decking boards, wheel runner boards, and handrail posts.