"Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul."     ~ Edward Abbey

 
   

Save the Dates...
Upcoming Habitat Works Projects

(expanded descriptions below)

 

Sat. July 19, 2008

On Location with the Condors

Mt. Lukens, Angeles National Forest

 

Our summer work is often spent in the shade, planning for the coming year. We schedule projects as breaks in the heat allow and look forward to seeing you soon!

 

Projects Coming, Dates to be Announced:

 

  -  Tamarisk Hunting at San Emigdio, 
     Bitter Creek Canyon and Piru Creek

 

  -  Condor Microtrash Clean Ups and
     Recovery Program Projects in the 
     Sespe Wilderness

 

  -  Sensitive Plant Surveys, Angeles NF

 

  -  Post Buckweed Fire Monitoring

 

  -  Untaming the American West at 
     Bitter Creek and Wind Wolves

 

 

Registration Notes

     To register for an event, please copy and paste this information into an e-mail to wildlife@HabitatWork.org:

Name:
Event:
Date:

Best e-mail:
   (Yahoo and some others will need to check bulk or junk folders for our correspondence)
Best phone: 
   (may need to contact you shortly
     before an event)
City:
Carpool driver or rider:
Vegetarian? (for campouts):
Age if under 18:
If you're not on our e-list, how did you hear about us?:
Any questions?:

    We'll send you a gear list and put you on the trip or wait list.  Specific directions come out 2-3 days before the event.
     Volunteers are an essential part of planning every project, so the sooner we know you are coming, or not (if you need to cancel) the better.  Please give your best effort toward timely communication.
      Project logistics, remote work sites, locked gates and the like may not lend themselves to arriving late or leaving early.  But often a weekend project will have 1-day options.  If you have time constraints, please let us know so we can try to to accommodate you.
     Our goal is to provide the most access to participation as is appropriate for the work.  We look forward to meeting and working with you, caring for Southern California's wildlife habitats, on a project that interests you!

 

Tamarisk... It's where it takes us! 

     Tamarisk is a well documented, invasive, noxious weed infesting wide-spread areas of the American West.  Left unchecked it can affect complete ecosystem type conversions, critically damage important watersheds, native plant communities and the wildlife that depend on them.  Billions are spent each year on its eradication, and it's here amongst us in Southern California, threatening our precious natural resources.
     By participating in a Habitat Works' tamarisk project, you will have the privilege of  removing this invasive weed from remote and beautiful  riparian watersheds, some of the most diverse habitats on earth.    
     There's a certain level of physical challenge in stream work, but it's easy to train both the eye and sword for tamarisk's ultimate demise.  Join us this year at Piru Creek, Wind Wolves, Bittercreek or Fish Canyon.  You won't be disappointed!

 

 


10 +3 Hiking Essentials

         1.  Map of the Area
         2.  Compass or GPS
         3.  Flashlight or Headlamp
         4.  Emergency Food
         5.  Extra Layers of Clothing
         6.  Sunglasses
         7.  First Aid
         8.  Knife
         9.  Waterproof Matches
        10. Fire Starter 
        11. Water & Filter or Tablets
        12. Sunscreen
        13. Insect Repellant

 

clockwise from top left: long-nosed snake, California condor,
mountain yellow-legged frog, pronghorn


 
   Many of our activities are subject to climate and habitat conditions, including fire, flood, and the biological cycles of plants and animals which are beyond our control.  These factors can force unforeseeable changes in even the best laid plans.  We apologize for this inconvenience, and look forward working with you, providing stewardship in Southern California's wildlife habitat!                         ~ Kim & Tom

    

     Habitat Works endeavors to keep a very small ecological footprint in performing stewardship work.  If you live outside of Los Angeles County, or more than 90 miles from a project location, we encourage you to seek stewardship opportunities in your own back yard.  
     If you are coming from a distance, please stuff your best mpg car with friends and family, or ride with others to reduce the carbon footprint/mile/person.  


Sat. July 19, 2008

8:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

On Location with the Condors

Mt. Lukens

Angeles National Forest

    The heart of the California Condor Recovery Program is located here in the Sespe Wilderness, right in our own back yard.  There are 5 new wild condor nests this year, each with one egg.  Already they are threatened by microtrash

       Microtrash is small trash ~ broken glass, bottle caps, cigarette butts, spent bullets and shell casings, construction trash, bits of plastic and cloth.  Condors are oddly attracted to collecting microtrash  while playing or roosting on their favorite mountain-tops.  Microtrash is then unintentionally regurgitated with food for their nestling. An expired chicks can be impacted with up to 35 bottle caps and pieces of broken glass in its digestive tract. 

      Recently, 7 wild condors tested positive for lead poisoning and underwent chelation therapy at the Los Angeles Zoo.  Radio telemetry records identified the possibility of microtrash colleting on Mt. Lukens, which like many locations throughout our forests, has its share of microtrash.  We'll be there on Saturday to clean it up.  

    Since 2003, Habitat Works has collected over 3,106 lbs of deadly microtrash from mountain top sites identified by the Fish and Wildlife Service. This is a real opportunity to make a difference in the recovery of wild condors.  If you can help out for a few hours, we'd love to have you. 
       Bring a sun hat or visor, protective layered clothing (appropriate for warm, sunny weather), sturdy shoes, favorite gloves, snacks and drinking water. Knee or kneeling pad/s are useful, but not necessary. We'll will have refreshments, trash bags and latex gloves.
      The dirt road is accessible for all but the lowest clearance vehicles, so we will be carpooling from the 210 Fwy at Angeles Crest Hwy.  Please stuff your car with good folks.  Everyone welcome!

      Appropriate commutes include Sunland-Tujunga, La Crescenta, La Canada, Glendale, Pasadena, east San Fernando Valley, west San Gabriel Valley, and the Downtown area.  

       Directions come out a few days before to registered participants.

 

Before Sunday, July 20, 2008 

Voice Your Choice for Habitat Works

Patagonia of Pasadena

 

Patagonia of Pasadena has been a strong supporter of Habitat Works conservation efforts in local streams, canyons, mountain tops and watersheds, and is offering us another opportunity to gain $upport.  Patagonia is asking you, our volunteers and supporters to come in and Vote for Habitat Works.  No purchase necessary.  You can Vote Your Choice for Habitat Works any time before July 20th.  Just  stop into the store. 

 

 
 
         

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