Posts about Wild Equity and how you can be part of our movement.

This Week’s Big Year Trips

We’ve got two exciting trips this week to help you see and save the GGNP’s endangered species. Hope to see you outside!

Good Time for Coho and Steelhead Sightings

With the rains coming this week, it is a good time to go out and search for spawning Coho Salmon and Steelhead in the Golden Gate National Parks. But even if you don’t find any spawning fish, you’ll likely see a few young fish in the streams. Here is a photo from Paola Bouley of SPAWN showing the differences between the two species:


A young Coho Salmon on the left, and a young Steelhead on the right. Notice the overall color, the roundish lateral spots, and the dark spots on the dorsal fin.

The Wild Equity Institute is on Facebook & Twitter!

The Wild Equity Institute is making it easier to follow our work: we’re now on Facebook and Twitter! Become a Fan of the Wild Equity Institute on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about our work.

Special Big Year Incentives for the Month of January Announced

Special Incentives for January!

The Wild Equity Institute is proud to announce a special Big Year prize for the month of January, specifically for competitors new to the Endangered Species Big Year. For a limited time, new competitors entering their first sighting or action item on the Wild Equity Institute’s Big year website will win a free subscription to Bay Nature magazine!

This prize is only available to new Big Year competitors: if you competed in 2008 you are not eligible for this prize. New competitors must enter their first action item or sighting on-line before midnight on January 31, 2010 to be eligible. Review and download your copy of the Big Year checklist to find one of the 36 sightings or 36 action items you will complete to win this prize!

Record A Sighting or Action Item On-line . . .

and Win a Subscription to Bay Nature Magazine!

More Ways to Help Coho Salmon

Coho Population Collapse: More Ways to Help

The Coho Salmon found in the Golden Gate National Parks are on the brink of extinction, according to this article in the Marin Independent Journal.

The Wild Equity Institute’s Endangered Species Big Year program is sponsoring several recovery expeditions and park explorations to help people see and help save these amazing fish, and not a moment too soon. In the meantime, please take action with our parters at SPAWN in Marin by taking four simple steps to save Coho Salmon.

Big Year Kick-off a Success!

GGNP Endangered Species Big Year’s Kick-off a Success!

The 2010 Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year began with a wonderful bike ride this past weekend in partnership with the San Francisco Bike Coalition. As we rolled out to begin the ride, a Peregrine Falcon, one of the Endangered Species Act’s greatest success stories, flew over head, hunting doves! Around 40 cyclists then searched for Marbled Murrelets, Humpback Whales, Sea Otters, and Steller Sea Lions along the coast, and then found and saw a rare little wildflower, the San Francisco Lessingia!


Big Year Bike Ride Participants Search for Endangered Sea Creatures Near Land’s End.

A hearty thank you to some of the Bay Area’s greatest naturalists for helping identify plants and animals along the route, including Josiah Clark of Habitat Potential, Jeff Miller of the Alameda Creek Alliance, Casey Allen of SF Landscapes, Matt Zlatunich of Golden Gate Audubon, and David Schmidt of California Nature Tours.

Following the ride, around 80 Big Year participants celebrated the 2010 GGNP Endangered Species Big Year at the Sports Basement in the Presidio. After enjoying complimentary snacks from Arizmendi Bakery, participants met a live San Francisco Garter Snake courtesy of the San Francisco Zoo.

We then took a short hike to search for the Western Snowy Plover at the Crissy Field Wildlife Protection Area. We weren’t able to find the little shorebirds this day. This may be due in part to legal actions threatened by anti-leash advocacy groups: last month they challenged the GGNP after the Park erected a fence to protect the Western Snowy Plover’s habitats, and the Park Service moved the fence into the Snowy Plover’s habitat in response. The birds haven’t been seen at Crissy Field since.

There are thousands of feet of shoreline at Crissy Field where dogs are roaming off-leash, but only a few hundred where the Snowy Plovers regularly roost. Complete your action item for the Western Snowy Plover by leashing your dog when you come to the GGNRA, and/or asking others to do so, regardless of where the fence posts are ultimately placed.


Wild Equity Institute Executive Director Brent Plater Searches for Snowy Plovers at Crissy field.

A special thank you to the Sports Basement for hosting the event, and our eternal gratitude to the Wild Equity Institute’s indefatigable Barbara Beth for organizing a wonderful event!

Join Us for the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year Bike Ride & Kick-off Celebration!

The 2010 Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year has begun! Celebrate the incredible diversity of life around you by participating in the 2010 GGNP Endangered Species Big Year Kick-off Celebration on January 9, 2010 at 1pm at the Sports Basement in the Presidio.

We’ll present a short description of the competition, enjoy some complimentary Arizmendi pizza and snacks, see a live San Francisco garter snake courtesy of the San Francisco Zoo, and then take a short hike to search for the Western Snowy Plover at the Crissy Field Wildlife Protection Area. The Sports Basement is also giving Big Year participants 10% off on items purchased at the store this day, and donating another 10% to the Wild Equity Institute!


Download Your Copy of the 2010 GGNP
Endangered Species Big Year Checklist.

And don’t forget about our morning bike ride to see even more of the Park’s endangered flora and fauna! This ride will travel to a few locations and search for a variety of imperiled birds, mammals, and plants before ending at the Sports Basement in the Presidio to join the kick-off party for the 2010 Endangered Species Big Year. Rain cancels the bike ride, but not the kick-off party! The ride begins at 9:30am on January 9 at the Bazaar Cafe on California St. at 21st Ave.

Coho Population Collapse Continues

The Coho Salmon found in the Golden Gate National Parks have suffered a third consecutive year of low reproductive success, and federal biologists are now restructuring the species’ recovery plan into an extinction prevention plan, according to an article in the Marin Independent Journal.


Find out what you can do to help Coho Salmon
through the Endangered Species Big Year.

The Wild Equity Institute’s Endangered Species Big Year program is sponsoring several recovery expeditions and park explorations to help people see and help save these amazing fish. There may not be a more critical time for you to act.

Bay Climate Defense Project Seeks Partners & Volunteers

Sea Level Rise Will Disproportionately Impact Bay Area’s Low Income Communities

The San Francisco Bay is the largest estuarine system on the West Coast of the United States. About one-third of the Bay was lost to infill development by the mid-1900s, and plans were underway to fill another third of the Bay. But a grassroots organizing effort halted Bay infill, and today vibrant and diverse communities ring San Francisco Bay and share this resource with extensive wetland habitats for migratory birds and other wildlife.

But now sea level rise caused by global warming threatens these protected areas and communities. If existing predictions about sea level rise are correct, the San Francisco Bay’s waters will likely rise 55 inches this century, drowning habitat for threatened and endangered species and putting 270,000 people—more people than Hurricane Katrina displaced from Louisiana—at risk of global warming-induced flooding. In more than half of the counties that ring San Francisco Bay, these people are disproportionately low-income communities of color, many of which already live in proximity to environmental hazards.

In 2010, the Wild Equity institute will launch a campaign to ensure that the Bay’s wild places and at-risk communities are given due consideration in sea-level rise planning processes. If you are interested in partnering with us, or know of others who may be interested in this campaign, e-mail us at info@wildequity.org.

Endangered Species Big Year Kick-off Celebration Just Days Away!

The 2010 Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year begins January 1, 2010! Celebrate the incredible diversity of life around you by participating in the 2010 GGNP Endangered Species Big Year Kick-off Celebration on January 9, 2010 at 1pm at the Sports Basement in the Presidio.

We’ll present a short description of the competition, enjoy some complimentary Arizmendi pizza and snacks, see a live San Francisco garter snake courtesy of the San Francisco Zoo, and then take a short hike to search for the Western Snowy Plover at the Crissy Field Wildlife Protection Area. The Sports Basement is also giving Big Year participants 10% off on items purchased at the store this day, and donating another 10% to the Wild Equity Institute!


Download Your Copy of the 2010 GGNP
Endangered Species Big Year Checklist

And if you want to make a day of it, join us for a morning bike ride with the San Francisco Bike Coalition to see even more of the Park’s endangered flora and fauna! This ride will travel to a few locations and check in on a variety of imperiled birds, mammals, and plants before ending at the Sports Basement in the Presidio to join the kick-off party for the 2010 Endangered Species Big Year. Rain cancels the bike ride, but not the kick-off party! The ride begins at 9:30am at the Bazaar Cafe on California St. at 21st Ave.

IUCN Puts Endangered Species Big Year in the Mix for Best Conservation Idea of the Year!

The United Nations has declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity, and now the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year as one of the best conservation ideas of the year!

Now you can vote online to put the Big Year at the top of the list. Click here to make the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year the number one international conservation project of 2010!

The IUCN’s Countdown 2010 project aims to raise public awareness about biodiversity loss while empowering governments and citizen groups to halt the extinction crisis by achieving goals set forth in existing international treaties and agreements. As part of the project, the IUCN is highlighting innovative conservation ideas to inspire others to reconnect with nature and halt biodiversity loss.

Over 1,000 partners across the globe, including the Wild Equity Institute, have become a part of Countdown 2010, but only a limited number have projects listed among the best conservation ideas of the year. Vote now for the Big Year to put us at the top of the list!

All in April: Threatened Owls, Endangered Butterflies, Secret Ridges

The Wild Equity Institute has some great GGNP Endangered Species Big Year trips scheduled in April. Come check them out for your chance to win the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year!

Restoring Northern Spotted Owl Habitat.

  • Thursday, April 15, 2010, 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: Join Michael Chasse and Ellen Hamingson, ecologists and local botanical experts from the National Park Service, at Nicasio Ridge for a day monitoring rare and endangered plants, including the Tiburon Paintbrush and the Marin Dwarf-flax. Nicasio Ridge is usually closed to public access, so this is a rare chance to visit one the most spectacular habitats in the Golden Gate National Parks! Note: monitoring does not satisfy the Big Year action item, but can count as a sighting. Meet at the beginning of Laurel Canyon Road at the intersection of Point Reyes-Petaluma Road, Marin, CA 94956, NW of the Nicasio Reservoir. Parking area is on the north side of Point Reyes-Petaluma Road near Laurel Canyon Road. Participants will carpool up to the ridge. Due to the sensitivity of the habitat, and the requirement to coordinate with private Landowners for access to the ridge, the trip is limited to 20 participants only. Must RSVP: call 415-561-2857 or email Michael Chasse.”

Searching for Endangered Wildflowers at Nicasio Ridge.

The Endangered Mission Blue Butterfly.

How Do You Spell Tax Relief? W-E-I

Federal tax returns are due this week, and there’s no better way to reduce your tax exposure than by donating to the Wild Equity Institute today!

The Wild Equity Institute depends on support from people like you, and our 2010 membership drive—building 10 members at $2,000 each—is one of the best ways to build a stronger environmental movement: while exceeding the Federal standard deduction limit! Please join the Wild Equity Institute today!

Send your contribution to Wild Equity Institute, PO Box 191695, San Francisco, CA, 94119, or join now with PayPal:

And remember, we’re also building 2,000 members in 2010 at $10 each, so drop by our donations page and sign-up today!

Read more here.

Big Year Travels to Kids Near You

The Wild Equity Institute is proud to announce new Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year programming that can travel to kids near you!

WEI has developed endangered species-themed puzzles and games for elementary school children, and we can bring these materials to your school or event to introduce children to our local endangered species and what we all can do to help them recover.

Kids Enjoying WEI’s Endangered Species Games

The games include an endangered species jigsaw puzzle and a game to match pictures of endangered species to their common names. We have accompanying materials to distribute with information about the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year and how kids can be involved in the project.

If you’d like to find out more or schedule an event, send an e-mail message to info@wildequity.org.

Earth Day the Wild Equity Way

You could buy an eco toothbrush holder with that extra $10 in your pocket this Earth Day. Or you could get the best bang for your environmental buck by donating to the Wild Equity Institute today!

We run a lean, mean, equity machine over here at WEI, but we can’t do it without your support. This Earth Day join 2,000 others and become a member of WEI for $10 (or more) so we can continue our work. Send your contribution to Wild Equity Institute, PO Box 191695, San Francisco, CA, 94119, or join now with PayPal:

WEI Collaborators in the News

At the Wild Equity Institute we are fortunate to collaborate with some of the most accomplished environmentalists on Earth, and many of them have been making wonderful news recently.

Dr. Peter Baye was recently featured in this article about the California Seablite, a GGNP Endangered Species Big Year species. Dr. Baye is a preeminent coastal ecologist who has prepared the scientific rationale for sustainable restoration options at Sharp Park. You can watch him in action here:

John Muir Laws, one of the great artist and illustrators of the natural world, helped WEI highlight the fate of the San Francisco Lessingia in 2008 with a field sketching class using wild Lessingia as the model. Now he’s produced these foldout guides of local flora and fauna. They should be outstanding aids to help people see and care for the planet.

John Muir Laws Field Sketching Class

Congratulations and thank you to Dr. Peter Baye and John Muir Laws!

REI Loves WEI, Heats Up Big Year


Download Your Big Year Checklist
and Start Seeing and Saving Endangered Species

REI’s San Francisco Store is partnering with the Wild Equity Institute’s GGNP Endangered Species Big Year by providing a slew of interim prizes for competitors with a knack for seeing and saving endangered species.

The prizes, which include books, field guides, binoculars, backpacks, and other tools to explore the Golden Gate National Parks, will be offered in the coming weeks to Big Year competitors that reach interim competition milestones.

Details about the interim competitions will be announced shortly. Check the WEI website here for announcements about the interim competitions. Some restrictions will apply, so be sure to read the rules carefully.

So far this year 137 competitors have completed 121 actions to help species recover and reported 75 sightings of endangered species in the Golden Gate National Parks. To make sure you don’t miss out on the interim prizes, be sure to join these competitors by signing-up for the Endangered Species Big Year.

5/22 Tidewater Goby Trip Cancelled–by Oil Spill

As the Gulf Oil Spill crisis enters its second month, the scale of the oil spill is requiring more hands on the ground then ever.

This week our local Tidewater Goby expert, the National Park Service’s Darren Fong, was called to Mobile, AL to help with oil spill clean-up efforts.

Among the other unfortunate things that this prefaces, this weekend’s Go-Go Gobies! trip must also be cancelled: at least until Darren returns.

Good luck Darren, and thanks for all you do to deal with crises on our coasts.

Win Prizes on the Tiburon Paintbrush Conservation Trip May 29!

Just in time to help you win Jack Laws’ Pocket Guide to the Bay Area, the Wild Equity Institute is organizing a trip to help save the Tiburon Paintbrush. Remember, the first four 2010 Endangered Species Big Year competitors to complete this action for the Tiburon Paintbrush will win a copy of the pocket guide, so sign up for your Big Year and come on this special trip!

Tiburon Paintbrush      Laws Guide to SF Bay
   

June 2: Hump Day Habitat Restoration

Can you think of a better way to get over the mid-week blues than by helping save the diminutive wildflowers endemic to San Francisco? Neither can Michael Chasse of the National Park Service or the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year: and that’s why we’ll be out in the beautifully restored Lobos Creek Valley to save this charming little wildflower!

San Francisco Lessingia

June 12: The Fantastic Fountain Thistle

This week the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year is heading to San Mateo County to see and help save the Fountain Thistle, a beautiful plant on the brink. See you outside!

The Fantastic Fountain Thistle—Saturday, June 12, 2010, 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.: Join Ken Himes and Jake Sigg for a stroll into the usually inaccessible Crystal Springs Watershed to search for the endangered Fountain Thistle. Afterward, join a restoration work party on nearby Caltrans land to remove exotic plants invading the species’ habitat. Meet at the Lexington Avenue Gate at the South end of Lexington Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94402. RSVP required:e-mail Jake Sigg.

Sign-up for your Endangered Species Big Year here.

July 7 & 10 Big Year Trips

This week the Wild Equity Institute helps you explore the Presidio, restore habitat for two imperiled plants, and earn points towards the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year grand prize! Join us on either or both trips:

San Francisco Lessingia Restoration at Lobos Dunes, Presidio


  • No More Blues for the Blite — Saturday, July 10, 2010, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.:  Join Michael Chassé of the National Park Service at Crissy Field Marsh and restore a reintroduction site for the endangered California Seablite. This satisfies the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year conservation action item for the species. Meet at the Presidio Transit Center, 215 Lincoln Blvd @ Graham St., San Francisco, CA 94129. RSVP: Call 415-561-2857 or email Michael Chassé.

Crissy Field Marsh Restoration

You can sign-up for your GGNP Endangered Species Big Year here.

Become a Monthly Donor to the Wild Equity Institute

We’ve recently updated our donations page to accept automatic monthly donations. This is an easy way for you to provide sustained support for our campaigns. $5 per month provides significant support: it funds materials for 120 kids to participate in the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year.

And if you donate $166.67 per month you’ll become a founding member of WEI!

We can’t do what we do without your support, and we are grateful for it. Thanks so much for all you do to protect people and the plants and animals that accompany us on Earth!

Check out our new donations page here.

Gowen, Gowen, Gone and Twain’s Frog & the Beautiful Serpent This Weekend

We’ve got two great Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year trips this weekend to see some of the rarest species on the San Francisco Peninsula. Join us for some time outside, good conversation, and opportunities to build a healthy and sustainable community for people and the plants and animals that accompany us on Earth!

Gowen Cypress in the Presidio

  • Twain’s Frog & the Beautiful Serpent. Sunday, August 29, 2010, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Join Brent Plater of the Wild Equity Institute to search for two of the most imperiled vertebrate species on the San Francisco peninsula: the California red-legged frog and the San Francisco garter snake. This will be a leisurely walk to enjoy the restoration work being conducted at Mori Point and to learn about the bold steps being taken to save both species from the brink of extinction. RSVP Required: please use this website to RSVP. Rain or Shine. Meet at the Mori Point Trailhead, Pacifica, CA, 94044. Take the Sharp Park exit off Hwy. 1 and continue south on Bradford Way about 0.5 mile to the gate/trailhead at Mori Point Rd. Roadside parking is limited; carpooling is encouraged. Samtrans buses #110 and #112 stop nearby.

Can you find four California red-legged frogs in this photo?

Twain’s Frog & the Beautiful Serpent, Sept. 19, 10am

Sunday, September 19, 2010, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Join Brent Plater of the Wild Equity Institute to search for two of the most imperiled vertebrate species on the San Francisco peninsula: the California red-legged frog and the San Francisco garter snake. This will be a leisurely walk to enjoy the restoration work being conducted at Mori Point and to learn about the bold steps being taken to save both species from the brink of extinction. RSVP Required: please use this website to RSVP. Rain or Shine. Meet at the Mori Point Trailhead, Pacifica, CA, 94044. Take the Sharp Park exit off Hwy. 1 and continue south on Bradford Way about 0.5 mile to the gate/trailhead at Mori Point Rd. Roadside parking is limited; carpooling is encouraged. Samtrans buses #110 and #112 stop nearby.

California red-legged frog

Loneliest Plant on the Planet Wants Your Company Saturday, 10/9

Looking for company this weekend? So is the loneliest plant on the planet: the Presidio or Raven’s Manzanita. There’s only one individual left on Earth, and we want you to meet her this Saturday and hear how heroic biologists are bringing the species back from the brink of extinction.

Saturday, October 9, 2010, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: Join Brent Plater of the Wild Equity Institute and Michele Laskowski and Chelsea Dicksion of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy to hear the story of the last wild Presidio (a.k.a. Raven’s) Manzanita (Arctostaphylos hookeri ssp. ravenii ) and view the seeds and pictures of the plant. Learn how the last individual was discovered and the heroic efforts biologists are taking to germinate the Manzanita’s seeds to continue the lineage. Part of the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year, a race against time to see and save each of the GGNP’s endangered species, with a $1,000 grand prize. Meet at the Presidio Native Plant Nursery, 1244 Appleton Street at Ruckman Avenue, San Francisco, 94129, in the Presidio. RSVP required: click here to reserve your spot.

Vote Now and help WEI, Big Year win Most Effective Awareness Campaign” Award”

The Wild Equity Institute’s Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year is a finalist for Stayclassy.org’s Most Effective Awareness Campaign award for San Francisco. WEI is the only San Francisco Bay Area environmental organization nominated for any of Stayclassy.org’s awards this year.

You can help WEI win the award by voting at Stayclassy.org’s website. Voting is easy: just click on the Wild Equity Institute’s logo, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and click submit. After enter verification information (some of which you can skip) your vote will be tabulated.

Thanks for your support! And it’s not too late to sign-up for your Big Year and compete for the $1,000 grand prize: click here to join.

10/10/10 Work Day for Spotted Owl Brings Out the Best in Us All

Over 30 friends and members of the Wild Equity Institute spent 10/10/10, the global work party day to arrest climate change, improving habitat conditions for the Northern Spotted Owl in Muir Woods National Monument.

Our task: collect mulch and other debris from soon-to-be-removed hardspaces at Muir Woods and repurpose the debris into Dusky Footed Wood Rat homes. The Wood Rat just happens to be the preferred food of the threatened Northern Spotted Owl!

After spending time gathering raw materials for this habitat project, we spent some time searching for the Owl in Muir Woods. Although we weren’t fortunate enough to see the species this time, we had a wonderful day hiking in the Monument and working in solidarity to arrest climate change with people from around the globe. You can read more about the global work party at 350.org’s website.

Go Solar, Get $500, & Support WEI

The Wild Equity Institute is proud to offer a new fundraising partnership with Sungevity that is guaranteed to build a healthy and sustainable community for people and the plants and animals that accompany us on Earth!

For a limited time, when Wild Equity Institute members like you sign-up for a new, zero-down solar lease from Sungevity, the company will donate $500 to the Wild Equity Institute, while giving you an additional $500. That’s what we call a win-win!

Sungevity is a leading California home solar company that has recently introduced a new 10-year, fully guaranteed, home solar leasing solution which can help you save money on your electricity bill while decreasing your carbon footprint. Here is how it works:

  1. Sungevity installs solar panels on your home when you sign a lease.
  2. You pay Sungevity on a monthly basis for the lease, usually for less than your conventional electric bills.
  3. Sungevity owns, maintains, and insures the solar panels; you use the electricity generated to lower your utility bills.
  4. Sungevity pays you a $500 cash bonus after installation.
  5. Sungevity donates $500 to WEI for sending you their way.

To take advantage of this limited-time opportunity, all you need to do is visit the Wild Equity Institute’s special landing page on Sungevity’s website, enter your street address and answer a few simple questions to get your free installation iQuote.

Within 24 hours you’ll receive your free quote, and if you decide to sign a lease you and WEI will both have an extra $500 in the bank.

If you misplace this special link, you can also sign-up from Sungevity’s main page. Once you fill-in the requested information, you’ll be directed to a finishing page where you can enter a “referral code”: type WEI in this box. Don’t forget to enter the referral code or you won’t be eligible for the $500 bonus!

If you have any questions about the program, contact Brian Somers at Sungevity.

Thanks for all you do for people and the plants and animals that accompany us on Earth!

11/14: Big Year Takes Least Tern to Great Rewards

This weekend the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year is taking to the streets to help save the California Least Tern!

Well, actually we’re heading to a former airstrip in Alameda where the species nests: and helping out with one of the most unusual restoration actions in the Bay Area.

It turns out the ground-nesting California Least Tern lays eggs on bare areas so its light-colored young can avoid predators. So a dedicated crew from Friends of the Alameda Wildlife Refuge is working to make sure this substrate is maintained on the site. Join us, help the great Least Tern, and earn a point toward the Big Year grand prize!

Sunday, November 14, 2010, 9:00am – 12:00pm — Help the Wild Equity Institute prepare habitat for the California Least Tern nesting season with Friends of the Alameda Wildlife Refuge. Meet at the main refuge gate at the northwest corner of the former Alameda Naval Air Station, Alameda. Part of the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year, a competition to see and save endangered species. RSVP Required: use this website to RSVP.

New Binocs Up For Grabs For Big Year Kid Competitors!

Thanks to our generous partnership with REI, the Wild Equity Institute is excited to offer a new Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year prize. But this one is just for kids!

If you are under 18 years of age, you are eligible to win a pair of REI’s XR 8 × 25 waterproof binoculars simply by searching the Golden Gate National Parks for endangered species and helping them recover. That’s an $80 retail value: but more importantly, it’s a tool that will give you a leg-up on the competition for the next Endangered Species Big Year!

The eligible person who scores the most points overall in the competition will take home this prize. There is only one pair available, so don’t settle for second place!


Download Your Big Year Checklist
and Start Seeing and Saving Endangered Species

Get out in the Golden Gate National Parks and score points finding endangered species, and then score more by helping them recover. There are 72 total points available, one point for each of the 36 endangered species you see in the park, and another point for each of the 36 endangered species you help recover.

Remember, to be eligible for this prize you must be under 18 years of age. To record your sightings and recovery actions, sign-up for the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year and enter your data on this website.

The Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year competition is over at midnight on December 31st, 2010, so get out there and start helping species recover!

12/4: Sea Watch for Endangered Sea Creatures

As we close out the 2010 Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year, we’re doing a big push to try and find the more elusive endangered species that call the park home. Join us and you just might score some of the more difficult points towards the $1,000 Big Year grand prize!

Saturday, December 4, 2010, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.— Join Wild Equity Institute Executive Director Brent Plater for a relaxing sea watch at Fort Funston, which has some of the wildest coastal views in San Francisco. We’ll be searching for some of the more elusive sea creatures that call the GGNRA home: Humpback Whale, Steller Sea Lion, and Southern Sea Otters! You never know: might throw in a Marbled Murrelet while we are there. RSVP required: please use the RSVP tool on this website to let us know you’ll attend. Bring spotting scopes and binoculars if you have them; also bring water and snacks to munch on. Meet at the Fort Funston Observation Deck, San Francisco, CA. Part of the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year, a competitive event to see and help save the Parks’ endangered species.

Get Your Spawn On: Muir Woods Salmon Hike 12/11

This weekend we’ll be heading to Muir Woods to search for endangered salmonids returning to spawn in their natal creeks. The population has been struggling the last few years, but we should at least get to see some small fry in the streams—and if we’re lucky, a few large adults swimming upstream to spawn!

Saturday, December 11, 2010, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Join Brent Plater of the Wild Equity Institute as we take an easy stroll through Muir Woods National Monument to search for endangered salmonids in Redwood Creek. We’ll learn about the lives of Coho Salmon and Steelhead as the fish return from the Ocean, and discuss what we all can do to help them recover. Part of the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year, a competition to see and help save the Park’s endangered species. The trip goes rain or shine: dress for cold, wet weather and wear boots as trails may be muddy. RSVP required: please use this website to RSVP. Meet at the Dipsea Trail Trailhead: the trailhead is within the auxiliary/south parking lot for Muir Woods. Park entrance fees apply, but the hike is free.

Big Year Helps Least Tern, Sunday 12/12

Sunday, December 12, 2010, 9:00am – 12:00pm — Help the Wild Equity Institute prepare habitat for the California Least Tern nesting season with Friends of the Alameda Wildlife Refuge. Meet at the main refuge gate at the northwest corner of the former Alameda Naval Air Station, Alameda. Part of the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year, a competition to see and save endangered species. RSVP Required: use this website to RSVP.

Rose Foundation Supports the Wild Equity Institute

The Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment announced their continued support of the Wild Equity Institute and our campaign to restore Sharp Park on December 14, 2010.

“We are grateful for the Rose Foundation’s generous grant,” said Brent Plater, executive director of the Wild Equity Institute. We’re proud of the diverse coalition we’ve built to restore Sharp Park, and the Rose Foundation’s support will help us continue this important work.”

The Wild Equity Institute is working to transform Sharp Park from a money losing, endangered species killing golf course into a public park that naturally adapts to sea level rise, protects coastal communities from flooding events, recovers endangered species, and provides recreational access everyone can enjoy.

A Restoration Vision for Sharp Park.

The Wild Equity Institute received a $3,000 grant from the Rose Foundation’s Northern California Environmental Grassroots Fund. The purpose of this fund is to support small groups tackling difficult environmental problems. The funding will support the Wild Equity Institute’s education, advocacy, and litigation, all aimed at restoring Sharp Park.

Last Big Year Trip of the Year: Dec. 26, Get Your Spawn On!

We’ll be heading to Muir Woods to close our the 2010 Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year with a trip to search for spawning Coho Salmon and Steelhead. The fish have been returning in larger numbers than we’ve seen in the past two years, but they are still critically low. We will almost certainly see some young fry in the streams: but we’ll really be looking for the big spawners swimming up stream. Rain or shine: so see you outside!

Get Your Spawn On: Searching for Endangered Salmon in Muir Woods — Sunday, December 26, 2010, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Join Brent Plater of the Wild Equity Institute as we take an easy stroll through Muir Woods National Monument to search for endangered salmonids in Redwood Creek. We’ll learn about the lives of Coho Salmon and Steelhead as the fish return from the Ocean, and discuss what we all can do to help them recover. Part of the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year, a competition to see and help save the Park’s endangered species. Trip goes rain or shine: dress for cold, wet weather and wear boots as trails may be muddy. RSVP required: please use the RSVP tool on this website to RSVP. Meet at the Dipsea Trail Trailhead: the trailhead is within the auxiliary/south parking lot for Muir Woods. Park entrance fees apply, but the hike is free.

Big Year Finds Endangered Coho Spawners in Muir Woods

On December 26, 2010, a dozen Golden Gate National Park Endangered Species Big Year participants found the first endangered Coho Salmon spawning in Muir Woods National Monument this spawning season.

“Santa came a day late, but he brought quite a gift,” said Brent Plater, Executive Director of the Wild Equity Institute. “The numbers are still critically low, but anytime salmon spawn it is reason to celebrate.”

The sighting was reported to the National Park Service, which sent out an emergency survey team. The team discovered 5 adult Coho salmon and 2 redds (which are essentially salmon nests) in Muir Woods. Additional surveys are now planned for later in the season.

Endangered Species Big Year Participants Observe Coho Salmon in Muir Woods.

Coho Salmon have been declining at an alarming rate in West Marin for several years. 2008-09 was the worst salmon run in four generations, and in Redwood Creek only four individual spawners and two redds were seen all year. Overall, Redwood Creek had an 83% decline compared to the previous return for this class of Coho.

The 2009-10 year was a bit better than the previous year, but the population numbers are still far below recent spawning runs, causing federal biologists to declare this Coho ESU in an extinction crisis. Some biologists have estimated that the population today is less than 1% of its historic size.

“Although the December 26 sighting is a hopeful sign, the future of the population is uncertain,” said Plater. “It will take a collective effort to bring back Coho from the brink of extinction, but with the help of the Endangered Species Act and the National Park Service, the Bay Area will find the fortitude to do it.”

Get Your Spawn On: Searching for Endangered Salmon at Muir Woods

Sunday, December 26, 2010, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Join Brent Plater of the Wild Equity Institute as we take an easy stroll through Muir Woods National Monument to search for endangered salmonids in Redwood Creek. We’ll learn about the lives of Coho Salmon and Steelhead as the fish return from the Ocean, and discuss what we all can do to help them recover. Part of the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year, a competition to see and help save the Park’s endangered species. Dress for cold, wet weather and wear boots as trails may be muddy. RSVP required: please use this website to RSVP. Meet at the Dipsea Trail Trailhead: the trailhead is within the auxiliary/south parking lot for Muir Woods. Park entrance fees apply, but the hike is free.

Endangered Species Big Year Bike Tour

Sunday, December 19, 2010, 9:30am-12:30pm: Bring the 2010 Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year to a close with a short bike ride to observe some of the imperiled plants and animals clinging to survival in San Francisco’s wild northwestern corner. We’ll start off with some tough ones, searching for Humpback Whale, Steller Sea Lion, Southern Sea Otters, and Marbled Murrelet at Lands End. We’ll then ride through the Presidio to discover the San Francisco Lessingia and the strange story of the Gowen Cypress. Our last stop will be at the Crissy Field Wildlife Protection Area, where we’ll check in on the Western Snowy Plover. RSVP Required: Use the web tool above to RSVP. Bring food and water. Meet at the Bazaar Cafe, 5927 California St., San Francisco, CA 94121.

Twain’s Frog and the Beautiful Serpent

Saturday, December 18, 2010, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Join Brent Plater of the Wild Equity Institute to search for two of the most imperiled vertebrate species on the San Francisco peninsula: the California red-legged frog and the San Francisco garter snake. This will be a leisurely walk to enjoy the restoration work being conducted at Mori Point and to learn about the bold steps being taken to save both species from the brink of extinction. RSVP Required: please use this website to RSVP. Rain or Shine. Meet at the Mori Point Entrance Gate, Pacifica, CA, 94044. Part of the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year, a competitive event to help endangered species recover.

5K Matching Grant Offered: Donate to WEI Now!

An anonymous Wild Equity Institute donor has pledged up to $5,000 to our work: if we can get our community to match it!

Here’s the deal: For every dollar we raise during our end-of-year fundraising drive, our donor will match it — up to $5,000!

This means you can double your impact by donating today: for every dollar you contribute, another dollar will be donated to our work.

We’ve already raised $2,000: but we need another $3,000 by the end of the year or we’ll be leaving money on the table. That’s money that can help us restore Sharp Park, defend San Francisco Bay from climate change, and build a healthy and sustainable global community for all.

If you haven’t yet joined our movement, there couldn’t be a better time. Donate now and double your impact.

And remember, you can always go to our donate page to become a monthly donor or discover other ways you can contribute to our campaigns. Just click on wildequity.org/donate.

This Weekend: Big Year Bike Ride in SF, Twain’s Frog in Pacifica

The 2010 Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year is getting frenetic as we close out this year’s competition. This weekend we’re offering two trips to see and save endangered species: one by bike, the other on foot. Hope to see you at either or both!

Big Year Takes Least Tern to Great Rewards

Sunday, December 12, 2010, 9:00am – 12:00pm — Help the Wild Equity Institute prepare habitat for the California Least Tern nesting season with Friends of the Alameda Wildlife Refuge. Meet at the main refuge gate at the northwest corner of the former Alameda Naval Air Station, Alameda. Part of the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year, a competition to see and save endangered species. RSVP Required: use this website to RSVP.

Get Your Spawn On: Searching for Endangered Salmon at Muir Woods

Saturday, December 11, 2010, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Join Brent Plater of the Wild Equity Institute as we take an easy stroll through Muir Woods National Monument to search for endangered salmonids in Redwood Creek. We’ll learn about the lives of Coho Salmon and Steelhead as the fish return from the Ocean, and discuss what we all can do to help them recover. Part of the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year, a competition to see and help save the Park’s endangered species. Dress for cold, wet weather and wear boots as trails may be muddy. RSVP required: please use this website to RSVP. Meet at the Dipsea Trail Trailhead: the trailhead is within the auxiliary/south parking lot for Muir Woods. Park entrance fees apply, but the hike is free.

Sea Watch for Endangered Sea Creatures

Saturday, December 4, 2010, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.— Join Wild Equity Institute Executive Director Brent Plater for a relaxing sea watch at Fort Funston, which has some of the wildest coastal views in San Francisco. We’ll be searching for some of the more elusive sea creatures that call the GGNRA home: Humpback Whale, Steller Sea Lion, and Southern Sea Otters! You never know: might throw in a Marbled Murrelet while we are there. RSVP required: please use the RSVP tool above to let us know you’ll attend. Bring spotting scopes and binoculars if you have them; also bring water and snacks to munch on. Meet at the Fort Funston Observation Deck, San Francisco, CA. Part of the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year, a competitive event to see and help save the Parks’ endangered species.

Donate to the Wild Equity Institute Today!

Thank you for supporting our work! There are many ways you can contribute to the Wild Equity Institute’s campaigns and help us build a stronger environmental movement for all.

Become a Member of the Wild Equity Institute.

In honor of the year 2010, our first full year in operation, the Wild Equity Institute is building 10 founding members who will donate $2,000 each and 2,000 members who will donate $10 each to help us fulfill our mission. And for those of you looking for a level of support that is just right, we’re rounding out our campaign by building 100 supporters who will contribute $100 each to WEI. If you are interested in becoming a founding supporter, a member, or contributing to our work at any level, become a member today.

Become a member now with a
credit card or a PayPal account: 		Download a membership form
and mail it to:
Wild Equity Institute
PO Box 191695
San Francisco, CA 94119

Become a Monthly Donor.

The best way to sustain our organization is to become a monthly donor. Monthly donations allow us to spend less time fundraising and more time building a healthy and sustainable community for all.

Go to our donate page and fill-out the form to become a monthly donor.

Give a Gift Membership.

What could be more satisfying than sharing our campaigns with someone you love? Now you can by giving a Wild Equity Institute gift membership. Just download and fill-out this form and mail it with your payment to:

Wild Equity Institute
PO Box 191695
San Francisco, CA 94119

Go Solar, Help WEI.

The Wild Equity Institute is proud to offer a new fundraising partnership with Sungevity, a solar-leasing company founded by long-time environmental activists.

For a limited time, when Wild Equity Institute members like you sign-up for a new, zero-down solar lease from Sungevity, the company will donate $500 to the Wild Equity Institute, while giving you an additional $500. That’s what we call a win-win!

To take advantage of this limited-time opportunity, all you need to do is visit the Wild Equity Institute’s special landing page on Sungevity’s website, enter your street address and answer a few simple questions to get your free installation iQuote.

For more information about this program, click here.

Volunteer.

The Wild Equity Institute always makes room for dedicated people who want to make a difference with their time. Our volunteers do everything from data entry to tabling to writing press releases to helping craft legal arguments. If you have some time to help out, contact us at info@wildequity.org and we’ll try and match your interest to our needs while meeting your schedule.

Donate Office Supplies and Furniture.

We could also use help outfitting our new office. Recycled paper, envelopes, and general office supplies are always welcome. We could also use:

  • Bookshelves
  • Working computers with wireless networking capabilities
  • Filing cabinets

If you have any supplies to donate, contact us and we’ll be happy to arrange a pick-up.

Thanks again for all you do for people and the plants and animals that accompany us on Earth! View our privacy policy.

Twain’s Frog and the Beautiful Serpent

Sunday, November 21, 2010, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Join Brent Plater of the Wild Equity Institute to search for two of the most imperiled vertebrate species on the San Francisco peninsula: the California red-legged frog and the San Francisco garter snake. This will be a leisurely walk to enjoy the restoration work being conducted at Mori Point and to learn about the bold steps being taken to save both species from the brink of extinction. RSVP Required: please use this website to RSVP. Rain or Shine. Meet at the Mori Point Entrance Gate, Pacifica, CA, 94044. Part of the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year, a competitive event to help endangered species recover.

Life on Edge: Coastal Hike to See and Save Endangered Species

Saturday, November 20, 2010, 10:00am to 3:00pm — Join local naturalist Matt Zlatunich on a 5-mile hike along the edge of the North American continent. We’ll discover San Francisco’s beautiful habitats and learn about the endangered species that call the area home.  We’ll search for Marbled Murrelet, Western Snowy Plover, San Francisco Lessingia, Humpback Whale and Southern Sea Otter. Bring food and water. Part of the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year, a competition to win $1,000 while seeing and saving the Park’s endangered species. RSVP required: use this website to RSVP. Meet at the Baker Beach north parking lot.

Life on Edge, Twain’s Frog Trips This Weekend

We’re offering two great GGNP Endangered Species Big Year trips this weekend. hope to see you outside exploring our parks!

Life on Edge: Seeing San Francisco’s Endangered Species — Saturday, November 20, 2010, 10:00am to 3:00pm — Join local naturalist Matt Zlatunich on a 5-mile hike along the edge of the North American continent. We’ll discover San Francisco’s beautiful habitats and learn about the endangered species that call the area home.  We’ll search for Marbled Murrelet, Western Snowy Plover, San Francisco Lessingia, Humpback Whale and Southern Sea Otter. Bring food and water. Part of the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year, a competition to win $1,000 while seeing and saving the Park’s endangered species. RSVP required: use this website to RSVP. Meet at the Baker Beach north parking lot.

Twain’s Frog and the Beautiful Serpent — Sunday, November 21, 2010, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Join Brent Plater of the Wild Equity Institute to search for two of the most imperiled vertebrate species on the San Francisco peninsula: the California red-legged frog and the San Francisco garter snake. This will be a leisurely walk to enjoy the restoration work being conducted at Mori Point and to learn about the bold steps being taken to save both species from the brink of extinction. RSVP Required: please use this website to RSVP. Rain or Shine. Meet at the Mori Point Entrance Gate, Pacifica, CA, 94044. Part of the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year, a competitive event to help endangered species recover.

Big Year Takes Least Tern to Great Rewards

Sunday, November 14, 2010, 9:00am – 12:00pm — Help the Wild Equity Institute prepare habitat for the California Least Tern nesting season with Friends of the Alameda Wildlife Refuge. Meet at the main refuge gate at the northwest corner of the former Alameda Naval Air Station, Alameda. Part of the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year, a competition to see and save endangered species. RSVP Required: use this website to RSVP.

Muir Woods National Monument Dipsea Trail Trailhead

Muir Woods National Monument Dipsea Trail Trailhead, Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley, CA, 94941.

For Public Transportation: Check 511.org.

Directions:
Muir Woods is located 11 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Take Highway 101 and exit Highway 1/Stinson Beach (there will be a sign for Muir Woods at this exit).
Drive about .5 miles. At the stoplight, turn left (a rug shop is located on the opposite corner).
Drive about 2.7 miles. At the top of the hill, turn right towards Muir Woods/Mount Tamalpais.
Drive about 0.8 miles. At the 4-way intersection, turn left towards Muir Woods (oncoming traffic has the right of way!).
Continue down the hill about 1.6 miles. You will see the main Muir Woods parking lot at the bottom of the hill. Veer left and make your first right into the auxiliary parking lot. The Dipsea Trail trailhead is located at the auxiliary parking lot.

Twain’s Frog and the Beautiful Serpent

Sunday, September 19, 2010, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Join Brent Plater of the Wild Equity Institute to search for two of the most imperiled vertebrate species on the San Francisco peninsula: the California red-legged frog and the San Francisco garter snake. This will be a leisurely walk to enjoy the restoration work being conducted at Mori Point and to learn about the bold steps being taken to save both species from the brink of extinction. RSVP Required: please use this website to RSVP. Rain or Shine. Meet at the Mori Point Trailhead, Pacifica, CA, 94044. Take the Sharp Park exit off Hwy. 1 and continue south on Bradford Way about 0.5 mile to the gate/trailhead at Mori Point Rd. Roadside parking is limited; carpooling is encouraged. Samtrans buses #110 and #112 stop nearby.

Twain’s Frog and the Beautiful Serpent

Sunday, August 29, 2010, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Join Brent Plater of the Wild Equity Institute to search for two of the most imperiled vertebrate species on the San Francisco peninsula: the California red-legged frog and the San Francisco garter snake. This will be a leisurely walk to enjoy the restoration work being conducted at Mori Point and to learn about the bold steps being taken to save both species from the brink of extinction. RSVP Required: please use this website to RSVP. Rain or Shine. Meet at the Mori Point Trailhead, Pacifica, CA, 94044. Take the Sharp Park exit off Hwy. 1 and continue south on Bradford Way about 0.5 mile to the gate/trailhead at Mori Point Rd. Roadside parking is limited; carpooling is encouraged. Samtrans buses #110 and #112 stop nearby.

Saving Sea Turtles from Legal Slaughter

In response to graphic new evidence released by Trini Eco Warriors of endangered sea turtles being legally harvested in Trinidad and Tobago, the Wild Equity Institute’s Executive Director Brent Plater has drafted regulations to make the harvest illegal year-round while creating a protected zone for sea turtles during their nesting season.

View a Summary Slideshow or
Read the Proposed Regulations:

The regulations can be adopted, implemented, and enforced under existing laws protecting wildlife and the marine environment. This crucial element of the proposal allows wildlife officials to act without further authorization from the legislature, where previous attempts to constrain sea turtle killings have been delayed.

“Trinidad and Tobago is one of the world’s great hotspots of biological and cultural diversity,” said Mr. Plater, who served as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year. “The proposed regulations can help this magnificent country preserve one of its greatest natural treasures expeditiously, effectively, and efficiently.”

The proposed regulations accomplish two discrete tasks that tackle the two main causes of sea turtle mortality in Trinidad and Tobago.

The first regulation harmonizes wildlife conservation laws—which prohibit the killing of sea turtles—with fisheries regulations—which arguably permit harvest during certain time periods and under certain conditions. The regulatory changes clarify that the fisheries regulations do not permit any action that is otherwise prohibited by the wildlife conservation laws, thereby making the killing of sea turtles illegal in Trinidad and Tobago year-round.

The second regulation creates a limited closure area to certain fishing gear during the sea turtle nesting season. The Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network has demonstrated that certain gear types deployed during the nesting season can entangle sea turtles, potentially causing turtles to drown and causing extensive damage to fishing gear. This regulation creates a closure area to specific gear types near turtle nesting beaches, while permitting other gear types that are less likely to harm turtles. The proposal is designed to reduce turtle bycatch while permitting fishers to fish in a manner that will provide an equivalent or greater economic return in the medium- to long-run.

Proposed Gear/Time/Area Regulations for Trinidad

“It is our hope that this regulatory proposal will provide wildlife officials with solid legal footing to enforce conservation laws in Trinidad and Tobago,” said Mr. Plater. “Although enforcement of any regulation can be challenging, the outstanding and ongoing work of Trini Eco Warriors, Nature Seekers, WIDECAST, El Socorro Center for Wildlife Conservation, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea, and other environmental groups indicates that Trinidad and Tobago will overcome these challenges and save these turtles from extinction.”

The Fantastic Fountain Thistle Recovery Work Party

The Fantastic Fountain Thistle Recovery Work Party—Saturday, October 23, 2010, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Join Ken Himes and Jake Sigg of the Santa Clara Valley and Yerba Buena Chapters of the California Native Plant Society for some fun in the mud: a restoration work party for the Fountain Thistle at the intersection of Highways 92 & 280 in San Mateo County. We’ll remove invasive pampas grass and Australian tea tree along a serpentine seep so the Fountain Thistle has a chance to survive. The work party earns you a point towards the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year $1,000 grand prize. After several years, the rewards of our work are clearly visible: come help us finish the job. Your sturdy boots with good traction will be necessary; gloves and tools will be provided. Meet at the intersection of Highway 92 West and I-280 North. RSVP required: e-mail Jake Sigg (jakesigg[at]earthlink[dot]net).

Spotted Owl Global Work Party with 350.org


Northern Spotted Owls Nuzzle at Muir Woods on August 10, 2008.
Comments by Ranger Mia Monroe.

Sunday, 10/10/10, 10:10 a.m.: Join the Wild Equity Institute’s Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year, the Center for Biological Diversity, and Muir Woods National Monument as we participate in 350.org’s climate change work party day. We’ll spend the late morning defending the threatened Northern Spotted Owl’s habitat from climate change impacts by reducing man-made stressors and improving habitat conditions for the species inside Muir Woods. Then after a BYO lunch, we’ll take an easy stroll through the Monument to search for this impressive and imperiled owl. Come dressed and prepared for light manual labor and walking in the woods. RSVP Required: please use this website to RSVP. This activity counts towards the $1,000 grand prize for the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year! Meet at the Muir Woods National Monument Entrance Gate, Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley, CA, 94941. Please consider walking, biking, carpooling, or taking the West Marin Stage and walking to this event. Additional public transit information is available at 511.org. Rain or Shine. There is a limit of 20 participants for this event.

The Loneliest Species on Earth

Saturday, October 9, 2010, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: Join Brent Plater of the Wild Equity Institute and Michele Laskowski and Chelsea Dicksion of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy to hear the story of the last wild Presidio (a.k.a. Raven’s) Manzanita (Arctostaphylos hookeri ssp. ravenii ) and view the seeds and pictures of the plant. Learn how the last individual was discovered and the heroic efforts biologists are taking to germinate the Manzanita’s seeds to continue the lineage. Part of the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year, a race against time to see and save each of the GGNP’s endangered species, with a $1,000 grand prize. Meet at the Presidio Native Plant Nursery, 1244 Appleton Street at Ruckman Avenue, San Francisco, 94129, in the Presidio. RSVP required: use the web form above.

Helping our Most Famous Butterfly: the Mission Blue on Twin Peaks

In 2009 the Natural Areas Program of SF Rec & Park collaborated with US Fish and Wildlife to fulfill part of the 1976 recovery plan for the endangered Mission Blue butterfly. Leading SF lepidopterist Liam O’Brien—and co-winner of the 2008 GGNP Endangered Species Big Year, was invited to be part of the team to relocate and monitor 22 females from San Bruno Mountain. Since butterfly relocation is a recent science this evening promises glorious photography and stimulating conversation.

Another Whale Killed: Demand Speed Limits in Marine Sanctuaries Today

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that another large, baleen whale has been killed by a container ship traveling through California’s marine sanctuaries while traveling to the Port of Oakland.

A representative from the National Marine Fisheries Service has concluded that the animal was alive when struck: he also stated that “[i]f ships hit whales at 10 knots or less, there’s a greater chance there won’t be any injury. It’s very difficult for the vessels to do that because time is money.”

That’s where you come in: as part of the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year we’ve been empowering people to see and help save the endangered Humpback Whale throughout 2010 by calling on our marine sanctuaries to impose speed limits whenever whales are present.

Contact the Gulf of the Farallones, Cordell Banks, and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries today and ask them to implement a speed limit for large vessels when whales are present.

To Contact the Marine Sanctuaries:

Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary
Superintendent Dan Howard
PH:(415) 663-0314 × 102
Email: dan.howard@noaa.gov

Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary
Superintendent Maria Brown
PH: (415) 561 6622 × 301
Email: maria.brown@noaa.gov

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Superintendent Paul Michel
PH: (831) 647-4201
Email: paul.michel@noaa.gov

We can afford to ensure whales aren’t killed by ships: we just need the political will to do so. Please make your calls today and help make sure these senseless deaths end.

Gowen, Gowen, Gone? Climate Change, Adaptation, & the Presidio’s Gowen Cypress

Saturday, August 28, 2010, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. — Join Brent Plater of the Wild Equity Institute and Dr. Daniel Gluesenkamp of the Bay Area Early Detection Network on a short walk and discovery of the Presidio’s misplaced Gowen Cypress. The Gowen Cypress is a federally listed species, but it isn’t native to the Presidio, and its presence in the Golden Gate National Parks raises questions we all need to grapple with. When is it appropriate to move imperiled wildlife and plants, and when we do it, how do we do it properly? In an era of climate change, these questions will become more important—and more difficult—to answer. Join us to search for this tree in the Presidio and begin answering these questions, all while earning points towards the 2010 GGNP Endangered Species Big Year grand prize. RSVP Required: please use this links on this web page to RSVP. Rain or shine. Meet at the parking area near the intersection of Pacific Ave. and Walnut St., San Francisco, CA 94118. Easily accessible by bike and transit: check www.511.org for details.

Sea Watch for Endangered Sea Creatures

Sea Watch for Endangered Sea Creatures—Saturday, August 21, 2010, 3:30 p.m. -5:00 p.m.— Join local naturalist Matt Zlatunich for a relaxing sea watch at Fort Funston, which has some of the wildest coastal views in San Francisco. We’ll be searching for some of the more elusive sea creatures that call the GGNRA home: Humpback Whale, Steller Sea Lion, and Southern Sea Otters! You never know: might throw in a Marbled Murrelet while we are there. RSVP required: please use this website to RSVP. Bring spotting scopes and binoculars if you have them; also bring water and snacks to munch on. Meet at the Fort Funston Observation Deck.

Visit the Wild Equity Institute Table at the Noriega Street Food Fair

Come visit the Wild Equity Institute at the Noriega Street Food Fair, a fair that promotes healthy eating. We will be tabling and informing the public about the Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year, a race against time to see and save the GGNP’s endangered species. Participants in the Big Year can win prizes by helping endangered species in the Golden Gate National Parks. For example, WEI is giving away a new REI Flash Ultralight Daypack to the first person who helps save Central Valley Spring Run Chinook Salmon by eating local, organic foods for a week! See https://www.wildequity.org/species/33 for details.

The Noriega Street Food Fair is Saturday, August 21, 2010 from 10am-4pm on Noriega Street between 31st and 33rd Avenues, San Francisco, CA, 94122.

Hope to see you there!

Sea Watch for Endangered Sea Creatures 8/21

Come on out for another Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year event for your chance to see endangered species and win prizes while you are at it! This week we’re heading to Fort Funston for a chance to see some of the Parks’ more elusive endangered species. See you there!

Sea Watch for Endangered Sea Creatures, August 21, 2010, 3:30 p.m. -5:00 p.m.— Join local naturalist Matt Zlatunich for a relaxing sea watch at Fort Funston, which has some of the wildest coastal views in San Francisco. We’ll be searching for some of the more elusive sea creatures that call the GGNRA home: Humpback Whale, Steller Sea Lion, and Southern Sea Otters! You never know: we might throw in a Marbled Murrelet while we are there. RSVP required: please use this website to RSVP. Bring spotting scopes and binoculars if you have them; also bring water and snacks to munch on. Meet at the Fort Funston Observation Deck.

Humpback Hit & Run: Time for Speed Limits in Marine Sanctuaries

Whales are congregating in large numbers off the coast of Northern California right now, but the exciting news has been tempered by reports that a young Humpback Whale was found dead near the Farallon Islands with slashes on its body consistent with being struck by a ship propeller.


Humpback Whale

This is no isolated incident: whales are killed by ship strikes every year. You can help address this problem by participating in the Wild Equity Institute’s Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year. Humpback Whales are protected under the Endangered Species Act, and are one of the 36 endangered species you can see and help save in the Golden Gate National Parks. The prescient action item for the Humpback Whale is to call our local marine sanctuaries and demand that they impose speed limits to protect whales from ship collisions. You can find out how to contact our local marine sanctuaries here.

Whales are frequently struck by ships as large cargo tankers and other boats come in and out of our busiest ports. Part of the problem is that shipping corridors often run right through marine sanctuaries, where whales may be resting and feeding. Some of these large ships carry too much momentum to avoid whales: unless they slow down so that the ship can redirect its course rapidly. That’s why ocean speed limits are essential, and our marine sanctuaries are the perfect place to implement them. Please make your calls today.

Twain’s Frog and the Beautiful Serpent

Saturday, July 24, 2010, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Join Brent Plater of the Wild Equity Institute to search for two of the most imperiled vertebrate species on the San Francisco peninsula: the California red-legged frog and the San Francisco garter snake. This will be a leisurely walk to enjoy the restoration work being conducted at Mori Point and to learn about the bold steps being taken to save both species from the brink of extinction. RSVP Required: please use this website to RSVP. Rain or Shine. Meet at the Mori Point Trailhead, Pacifica, CA, 94044. Take the Sharp Park exit off Hwy. 1 and continue south on Bradford Way about 0.5 mile to the gate/trailhead at Mori Point Rd. Roadside parking is limited; carpooling is encouraged. Samtrans buses #110 and #112 stop nearby.

Twain’s Frog walk at Mori Point

Twain’s Frog & the Beautiful Serpent Hike 7/24, 10am

This weekend we’re leading a trip to Mori Point to search for the the San Francisco Garter Snake and the California Red-legged Frog: the perfect opportunity for you to see at least one of these species and compete in the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year. See you outside!

Saturday, July 24, 2010, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Join Brent Plater of the Wild Equity Institute to search for two of the most imperiled vertebrate species on the San Francisco peninsula: the California red-legged frog and the San Francisco garter snake. This will be a leisurely walk to enjoy the restoration work being conducted at Mori Point and to learn about the bold steps being taken to save both species from the brink of extinction. RSVP Required: please use this website to RSVP. Rain or Shine. Meet at the Mori Point Trailhead, Pacifica, CA, 94044. Take the Sharp Park exit off Hwy. 1 and continue south on Bradford Way about 0.5 mile to the gate/trailhead at Mori Point Rd. Roadside parking is limited; carpooling is encouraged. Samtrans buses #110 and #112 stop nearby.

Beach side Tabling

I will be Tabling at the Beach from 5:00 to 7:30 on Friday the 27th. Can someone join me? It can be for part of the time. I can do the setting up and cleaning up by myself but i think its a good idea for us to be in groups when tabling.

Gowen Cypress Hike Trailhead

Near the intersection of Walnut St. and Pacific Ave., but actually within the Presidio on West Pacifica Avenue. San Francisco, CA 94118.

California Seablite Habitat Restoration

Saturday, July 10, 2010, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Join Michael Chassé of the National Park Service to restore Crissy Field Marsh and create habitat for reintroduction of the endangered California Seablite. This satisfies the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year conservation action item for the California Seablite. Meet at the Presidio Transit Center, 215 Lincoln Blvd at Graham Street, San Francisco, CA 94129, across from the Fire Station and near the Presidio Main Post. RSVP: Call 415-561-2857 or email michael_chasse[at]nps[dot]gov.

San Francisco Lessingia Habitat Restoration

Wednesday, July 7, 2010, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Join the Presidio Park Stewards and Michael Chassé of the National Park Service in Lobos Creek Valley to help restore habitat for the San Francisco Lessingia. This satisfies the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year conservation action item for the San Francisco Lessingia. Meet at the Presidio Transit Center, 215 Lincoln Blvd. at Graham Street, San Francisco, CA 94129, across from the Fire Station and near the Presidio Main Post. RSVP: Call 415-561-2857 or email michael_chasse[at]nps[dot]gov.

California Seablite Habitat Restoration

California Seablite Habitat Restoration, June 19, 2010, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Join Michael Chassé of the National Park Service to restore Crissy Field Marsh and create habitat for reintroduction of the endangered California Seablite. This satisfies the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year conservation action item for the species. Meet at the Presidio Transit Center, 215 Lincoln Blvd at Graham Street, San Francisco, CA 94129, across from the Fire Station and near the Presidio Main Post. RSVP: Call 415-561-2857 or email michael_chasse[at]nps[dot]gov.

Marin Dwarf-flax Blooming: in San Mateo County!?!

June 19, 2010, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.— Here’s a great opportunity to see the Marin Dwarf-flax blooming: in San Mateo County! Join the Edgwood Weed Warriors at Edgewood County Park & Nature Preserve to see this diminutive wildflower in bloom. Despite the specie’s name, San Mateo is part of its natural range, and a part of Edgewood is also within the Golden Gate National Parks legislative boundary. While there you can pitch-in and pull weeds to help restore the entire nature preserve. Please note that this activity counts as a sighting, but not as a restoration action item for the Endangered Species Big Year competition. Meet at Edgewood’s West Kiosk; from there we’ll walk to the restoration site. RSVP required: please e-mail Drew Shell. For more details click here.

June 19: Flax or Blite: You Choose!

This week the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year is offering two trips to see and help save the Park’s endangered species: one in San Mateo County and one in San Francisco. Hope to see you outside!

Marin-dwarf Flax

Marin-dwarf Flax Blooming in San Mateo County!?!— June 19, 2010, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Here’s a great opportunity to see the Marin Dwarf-flax blooming: in San Mateo County! Join the Edgwood Weed Warriors at Edgewood County Park & Nature Preserve to see this diminutive wildflower in bloom. Despite the specie’s name, San Mateo is part of its natural range, and a part of Edgewood is also within the Golden Gate National Parks legislative boundary. While there you can pitch-in and pull weeds to help restore the entire nature preserve. Please note that this activity counts as a sighting, but not as a restoration action item for the Endangered Species Big Year competition. Meet at Edgewood’s West Kiosk; from there we’ll walk to the restoration site. RSVP required: please e-mail Drew Shell. For more details click here.

California Seablite

California Seablite Habitat Restoration— Saturday, June 19, 2010, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Join Michael Chassé of the National Park Service to restore Crissy Field Marsh and create habitat for reintroduction of the endangered California Seablite. This satisfies the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year conservation action item for the species. Meet at the Presidio Transit Center, 215 Lincoln Blvd at Graham Street, San Francisco, CA 94129, across from the Fire Station and near the Presidio Main Post. RSVP: Call 415-561-2857 or email michael_chasse[at]nps[dot]gov.

Fountain Thistle Walk and Restoration

Saturday, June 12, 2010, 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.: Join Ken Himes and Jake Sigg for a stroll into the usually inaccessible Crystal Springs Watershed to search for the endangered Fountain Thistle. Then after lunch at 1pm, join in on a restoration work party on nearby Caltrans land at highways 92/280 to remove pampas grass and shrub seedlings on a steep hillside that is mostly wet and slippery, so sturdy boots with good traction are a necessity. Gloves and tools will be provided. The work party is from 1 pm to 3.30 pm. The 10 a.m. meeting location for the walk is the Lexington Avenue Gate: South end of Lexington Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94402. Take Bunker Hill Drive exit from Interstate 280, go east on Bunker Hill, take the first right turn onto Lexington Avenue. Take Lexington Avenue to its southern terminus. Park on Lexington Ave. RSVP required: e-mail jakesigg[at]earthlink[dot]net.

CANCELED-Presidio Clarkia and Marin Dwarf-Flax Habitat Restoration

Sorry this trip has been canceled due to the availability of the trip leader.

Saturday, June 5, 2010, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Join the Presidio Park Stewards in the Presidio to remove invasive species and restore habitat for the Presidio Clarkia and the Marin Dwarf-Flax. Meet at the Inspiration Point Overlook off of Arguello Blvd just north of Presidio’s Arguello Gate and the intersection of Arguello Blvd and Pacific Avenue, Presidio, San Francisco, CA, 94129. For more information call 415-561-2857. RSVP required: see above.

Twain’s Frog and the Beautiful Serpent

Saturday, June 5, 2010, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Join Brent Plater of the Wild Equity Institute to search for two of the most imperiled vertebrate species on the San Francisco peninsula: the California red-legged frog and the San Francisco garter snake. This will be a leisurely walk to enjoy the restoration work being conducted at Mori Point and to learn about the bold steps being taken to save both species from the brink of extinction. RSVP Required: please use this website to RSVP. Rain or Shine. Meet at the Mori Point Trailhead, Pacifica, CA, 94044. Take the Sharp Park exit off Hwy. 1 and continue south on Bradford Way about 0.5 mile to the gate/trailhead at Mori Point Rd. Roadside parking is limited; carpooling is encouraged. Samtrans buses #110 and #112 stop nearby.

San Francisco Lessingia Habitat Restoration

Wednesday, June 2, 2010, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Join the Presidio Park Stewards and Michael Chassé of the National Park Service in Lobos Creek Valley to help restore habitat for the San Francisco Lessingia. This satisfies the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year conservation action item for the San Francisco Lessingia. Meet at the Presidio Transit Center, 215 Lincoln Blvd. at Graham Street, San Francisco, CA 94129, across from the Fire Station and near the Presidio Main Post. RSVP: Call 415-561-2857 or email michael_chasse[at]nps[dot]gov.

June 5: Twain’s Frog & the Beautiful Serpent will Jumpstart Your June Big Year Competition

This weekend we’re leading a trip to Mori Point to search for the the San Francisco Garter Snake and the California Red-legged Frog: the perfect opportunity for you to see at least one of these species and win a copy of Last Child In the Woods. See you outside!

Help a Herp, Become a Bookworm!

Thanks to REI’s generous support of the 2010 GGNP Endangered Species Big Year, we are happy to bring you a new interim Big Year competition to win nature prizes during the month of June!

From June 1 until June 30, any 2010 Golden Gate National Parks Endangered Species Big Year competitor that (1) completes the action item for the San Francisco Garter Snake; (2) completes the action item for the California Red-legged Frog, and (3) sees at least one of these two herpetological species will win a free copy of Richard Louv’s seminal book, Last Child In the Woods: Saving Our Chidren From Nature-deficit Disorder.

To win the prize you must sign-up for the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year, complete the action items for the San Francisco Garter Snake and the California Red-legged Frog, see either the Frog or the Snake, and log your actions and sighting into the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year website by 11:59:59 p.m. on June 30, 2010.

Remember, the action item for the San Francisco Garter Snake is to help Restore Sharp Park by contacting the San Francisco Board of Supervisors & the Mayor and asking them to restore Sharp Park!

The action item for the California Red-legged Frog is to volunteer with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy to restore habitat for the frog at Mori Point!

And both species may be seen during this weekend’s June 5, 10 a.m. Big Year trip to Mori Point!

Good luck and see you outside!

Tiburon Paintbrush Habitat Restoration

Saturday, May 29, 2010, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Join Greg Reza of the Marin County Parks and Open Space District to help restore the Tiburon Paintbrush’s habitat. Lunch is provided. After the noon lunch, there is an optional 40 minute hike to see the Tiburon Paintbrush. This counts as a Big Year action Item for the Tiburon Paintbrush, but sightings here are outside the GGNP Legislative Boundary and cannot be counted towards the Big Year competition. Rain or Shine. Meet at the Marin County Open Space District gate at the end of Taylor Road at the point where it becomes Fire Road, on the right hand side of Taylor Road, Tiburon, CA 94920. RSVP: call 415-499-3778.

Save Some, Win Something: Tiburon Paintbrush Competition Is On!

Thanks to REI’s generous support of the 2010 GGNP Endangered Species Big Year, we are happy to announce our next reward for seeing and saving endangered species!

This competition focuses on the Tiburon Paintbrush, a beautiful little wildflower that can only be seen in a few select places within the Golden Gate National Parks. It was likely always rare, but habitat modification in its remaining strongholds threatens the viability of the species.

And that’s where you come in: the first four people to help save the Tiburon Paintbrush by completing the conservation action item for the species will win a copy of John Muir Laws’ new Pocket Guide Set to the San Francisco Bay Area!

Tiburon Paintbrush       Laws Guide to SF Bay
      

The Pocket Guide Set includes four user-friendly foldout field guides that are small enough to tote along in a pocket, yet durable enough to weather abuse at the bottom of any backpack. Each fold out covers a different Bay Area ecotype so you’ll have quick access to the plants and animals in the habitat you visit.

To win the prize you must be one of the first four competitors to sign-up for the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year, complete the action item for the Tiburon Paintbrush, and log your action into the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year Tiburon Paintbrush website.

LONG–TIME COMPETITORS: PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS COMPETITION IS RESTRICTED TO NEW BIG YEAR COMPETITORS FOR 2010. IF YOU COMPETED IN 2008 YOU ARE INELIGIBLE FOR THIS PRIZE.

Good luck and see you outside!

Go-Go Gobies! CANCELED

Sorry, this trip has been canceled due to the fact that Darren Fong, the trip leader has been called to help with the oil spill in the Gulf.
You can still enjoy Endangered Species Day by participating with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy: http://www.parksconservancy.org/calendar

Saturday, May 22, 2010, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Celebrate Endangered Species Day with the Tidewater Goby. Join Darren Fong, Aquatic Ecologist for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area to learn about and see the Tidewater Goby in its natural habitat. Then spend an hour helping clean-up beautiful Rodeo Lagoon (note: this is not the Big Year action item for the goby). Meet at Building 1061, Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito, CA 94965. There is a limit of 30 Participants. Must RSVP: call 415-561-3077.

Presidio Clarkia Monitoring

Thursday, May 20, 2010, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Join Michael Chasse of the National Park Service and Shelley Estelle of the Presidio Trust to monitor for one of the only remaining populations of the endangered Presidio Clarkia, a beautiful wildflower. This satisfies the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year conservation action item for Presidio Clarkia. Meet at the Inspiration Point parking lot off of Arguello Blvd, just north of the Presidio’s Arguello Gate and the intersection of Arguello Blvd and Pacific Avenue, Presidio, San Francisco, CA, 94129. RSVP Required: Call 415-561-2857 or email michael_chasse@nps.gov.

Presentation: Twain’s Frog and the Beautiful Serpent

Join Brent Plater, Executive Director of the Wild Equity Institute, for a presentation about local endangered species and thing you can do to help them recover. This talk will discuss Wild Equity Institute projects, including Restore Sharp Park, the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year, and Bay Climate Defense.

Flying Pansies: Searching for the Endangered Mission Blue Butterfly with Liam O’Brien

Saturday, May 1, 2010, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: Join lepidopterist Liam O’Brien at the old rifle range in Marin County’s Rodeo Valley to search for and learn about the endangered Mission Blue Butterfly. We’ll take a short hike around the abandoned rifle range in search of Mission Blues while learning the basics about butterflies and how to find them. Meet at the old rifle range in Rodeo Valley, which is within the GGNP’s Marin Headlands, off of Bunker Road, Sausalito, CA 94965. Contact Liam O’Brien for questions about the trip at liammail56@yahoo.com. RSVP required: see RSVP section above. Rain and/or overcast weather cancels.

Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse Habitat Restoration

Thursday, April 29th, 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: Join Jennifer Maddox of the Golden Gate Audubon for an afternoon restoring habitat for the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse at Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline in Oakland. Participation counts as the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse action item for the Endangered Species Big Year competition; but because the Shoreline is not within the GGNP, sightings at the Shoreline cannot be counted towards the competition. Snacks, gloves, and tools provided. Heavy rain cancels. Limited to 15 participants. Please RSVP to Melissa at mmgrush [at] yahoo.com. Meeting spot is at the Arrowhead Marsh within the Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline, located off of Swan Way, Oakland, CA 94621. Meeting spot is by the water near the far end of the small parking lot at the end of the park entrance road. Click on the location above for the map and directions.

May Day Is for Mission Blues

This week you’ll get one more chance to see the Mission Blue Butterfly with last year’s Big Year co-champion Liam O’Brien. With the recent sighting of a Mission Blue mud-puddling for reproductive success, this may be your best chance to see the species yet! Plus you can bend O’Brien’s ear for some tips on winning the Big Year. See you outside!

Big Year Competitor Molly Latimer Spots a Mission Blue

Arrowhead Marsh in Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Park

Meeting spot is Arrowhead Marsh in Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Park, off of Swan Way, Oakland, CA 94621.

For Public Transportation: Check with www.511.org

Directions:
From I-880 South take Exit 36 for Hegenberger Road toward the Coliseum/Oakland Airport, turn right onto Hegernberger Road, turn rigt onto Pardee Drive then turn left (east) on Swan Way, park entrance is on your right just past the large parking lot and before Doolittle Drive.
From Doolittle Drive in Oakland, turn east on Swan Way, park entrance is on your left just after Doolittle Drive.
Drive to the small parking lot at the end of the road.

Meeting spot is by the water near the far end of the small parking lot.

The Things You’ll See: New Butterfly Behavior Seen on Big Year Trip

Participants in last weekend’s GGNP Endangered Species Big Year Mission Blue Butterfly hike got a rare and scientifically important treat: they not only saw a Mission Blue, but also watched it engage in a behavior not previously proven to occur in the subspecies.

Mission Blue Butterfly Mud-puddling in the GGNP

The rare butterfly was seen “mud-puddling” from the SCA trail in Marin County. Mud-puddling occurs when butterflies congregate on moist soils or other substrates to obtain nutrients, such as amino acids and salts. These nutrients are believed to help the butterflies reproduce: males that mud-puddle tend to increase their reproductive success, if only because they sometimes transfer the nutrients to the female while mating as a nuptial gift! We’re glad to see one of the rarest butterflies in the GGNP finding new ways to gain a reproductive edge.

Although other members of the genus were known to mud-puddle, it was unclear if Mission Blue Butterflies engaged in this behavior: butterfly experts had debated this point. The new observation with photographs provides evidence of mud-puddling in this subspecies.

To find out how you can see and help save the Mission Blue and the 35 other endangered species at the Golden Gate National Parks, click here to sign-up for your GGNP Endangered Species Big Year!

Remember, participants must follow the Big Year’s ethical principles. This butterfly was seen from the SCA trail, not off of it, so participants on last weekend’s trip can count the sighting as they compete for the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year’s grand prize!

Flying Pansies: Searching for the Endangered Mission Blue Butterfly with Liam O’Brien

Sunday, April 25, 2010, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: Join lepidopterist Liam O’Brien at the old rifle range in Marin County’s Rodeo Valley to search for and learn about the endangered Mission Blue Butterfly. We’ll take a short hike around the abandoned rifle range in search of Mission Blues while learning the basics about butterflies and how to find them. Meet at the old rifle range in Rodeo Valley, which is within the GGNP’s Marin Headlands, off of Bunker Road, Sausalito, CA 94965. Contact Liam O’Brien for questions about the trip at liammail56@yahoo.com. RSVP required: see RSVP section above. Rain and/or overcast weather cancels.

US EPA Earth Day Celebration at Yerba Buena Gardens

U.S. EPA Earth Day Festival
April 22, 2010‐ 11:00am‐3:00pm
Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco

This Week’s Big Year Trip: Flying Pansies

This week get outside and search for the Mission Blue Butterfly with last year’s Big Year co-champion Liam O’Brien. With the recent sighting of a Mission Blue mud-puddling for reproductive success, this may be your best chance to see the species yet! Plus you can bend O’Brien’s ear for some tips on winning the Big Year. See you outside!

US EPA Earth Day Celebration at Yerba Buena Gardens

U.S. EPA Earth Day Festival
April 22, 2010‐ 11:00am‐3:00pm
Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco

The Salmon Crossroads

Saturday, April 17, 2010, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.: Join fishery biologist Michael Reichmuth on this talk and walk discussing the coho salmon life cycle and, in particular, the changes salmon undergo during their freshwater to saltwater transition. The walk will include a visit to our downstream migrant trap where participants will view our current monitoring program at work. We will also discuss the salmon habitat in lower Redwood Creek and what changes the National Park Service has made in order to improve coho salmon habitat in this area. Meet at Muir Beach parking lot. Rain or shine. Group limit is 25. Reservations required, 415-388-2596. If you need to cancel, please call to cancel, so that waitlisted people can attend.

Search for the Mission Blue Butterfly

Saturday, April 17, 2010, 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.: Join butterfly monitors Susie Bennett and Caroline Christman, both from the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, in the Marin Headlands to search for the endangered Mission Blue Butterfly in its beautiful and unique grassland habitat. They will lead you on a moderate hike where you will learn about the local wildflowers and the restoration work being done to help save this beautiful but rare butterfly from extinction. Meet at the Conzelman commuter lot. Space is limited. For reservations, phone 415-331-1540.

Golden Gate National Parks Earth Stroll

Saturday, April 17, 2010, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.:
Visit Wild Equity Institute’s table and learn about our local endangered species at the Golden Gate National Park’s Earth Stroll. Many fun-filled activities are planned for kids of all ages. The Earth Stroll will occur at the relocated Crissy Field Center, 1199 East Beach Drive, in the Presidio, San Francisco, 94129, near the Marina Boulevard entrance to the park. A special activities passport costs $5.

Secret Ridge, Endangered Wildflowers

Thursday, April 15, 2010, 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: Join Michael Chasse and Ellen Hamingson, ecologists and local botanical experts from the National Park Service, at Nicasio Ridge for a day monitoring rare and endangered plants, including the Tiburon paintbrush and the Marin dwarf-flax. Nicasio Ridge is usually closed to public access, so this is a rare chance to visit one the most spectacular habitats in the Golden Gate National Parks! Note: monitoring does not satisfy the Big Year action item, but can count as a sighting.
Meet at the beginning of Laurel Canyon Road at the intersection of Point Reyes-Petaluma Road, Marin, CA 94956, NW of the Nicasio Reservoir. Parking area is on the north side of Point Reyes-Petaluma Road near Laurel Canyon Road. Participants will carpool up to the ridge. Due to the sensitivity of the habitat, and the requirement to coordinate with private Landowners for access to the ridge, the trip is limited to 20 participants only. Must RSVP: call 415-561-2857 or email michael_chasse@nps.gov.

Northern Spotted Owl Hunting Grounds Restoration

Sunday, April 11, 2010, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Join Kevin Phuong to remove invasive plants crowding out Northern Spotted Owl hunting grounds and help promote the endangered bird’s population at Muir Woods. Note: this satisfies the Big Year Conservation Action Item. Meet at Muir Woods National Monument main parking lot, Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley, CA, 94941. Rain or Shine. There is a limit of 20 participants only. Must RSVP: Call 415-561-3044.

Climate, Coral Reefs, and Equity

Coral reefs provide billions of dollars of economic benefits to the world, and some 30 million of the poorest people on the planet are completely dependent on reefs for their livelihood and survival.

But a new report on climate and biodiversity suggests that if we fail to stabilize carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere at 350 parts per million or less, coral reefs will not survive. If our reefs are lost, some of the world’s poorest, most vulnerable people will be further impoverished.

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (“TEEB”) study makes these claims in a climate update released recently on the TEEB website.

The link between how we treat each other and how we treat other forms of life becomes more apparent as our climate warms and our policy makers fail to take action. The poor and disenfranchised—along with our imperiled species and ecosystems—are bearing the brunt of this failure, and the longer we wait the more likely that these consequences will be catastrophic and irreparable.

Trinidad and Tobago Climate Change Consultation

It is simply unjust for wealthy nations to debate climate change while species are lost and poor communities are put at risk. The Wild Equity Institute is currently commenting on climate policies in Trinidad and Tobago and building a Bay Climate Defense initiative to ensure that low income and wild communities are protected from the worst impacts from climate change. Donate today to help us ensure corals and our communities can thrive.

In the meantime, Join Bonnie Raitt, James Hansen, the Center for Biological Diversity, 350.org, and many others by signing this petition to request that the EPA cap carbon emissions at 350ppm.