Watsonville Wetlands Watch News

Wednesday, July 20
Falconry as a Window into Nature

On Wednesday evening, July 20, please join us for a delightful outdoor evening presentation with Falconer Kenny Elvin. He will talk about his extensive experience with raptors and what he has been able to observe about the ways animals interact and form relationships in nature. He will introduce you to his Great Horned Owl, Boggs, and his thrilling falcons and hawks. He will also fly his falcons for us. This is an evening not to be missed! We will also have tours of our Native Plant Demonstration Garden.

The talk is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the outdoor classroom, overlooking the beautiful wetlands, behind the Fitz Wetlands Educational Resource Center. Please dress accordingly.

Admission is free but you must reserve a seat online at www.watsonvillewetlandswatch.org/calendar. For more information, contact Kathy Fieberling at 831-345-1226 or kathy@watsonvillewetlandswatch.org

Saturday, July 23
Community Restoration Day

We invite you to help restore wetland habitat by planting native plants and removing exotic invasive plants as part of our monthly community work day on Saturday, July 23. We will work from 9 a.m. to noon, and we always make time for birding or a short hike around the wetlands. We supply the gloves, tools, and a snack.

Meet at our Fitz Wetlands Educational Resource Center (map/directions). If you have questions, please contact Mary Paul at mary@watsonvillewetlandswatch.org or 831-566-4938.

Saturday, Aug. 27
Shorebirds Walk

On Saturday, Aug. 27, join local birding expert Bob Ramer on a walk exploring the shorebirds on the last mile of Watsonville Slough at Pajaro Dunes. This will be the start of fall migration and we will expect to see many species of waterbirds, both migrant and resident.

The tour, hosted by the Watsonville Wetlands Watch, is from 8 to 11 a.m. Expect to walk about 2 miles on flat ground. Meet at the Fitz Wetlands Educational Resource Center, at the top of the Pajaro Valley High School campus, to carpool to the walk site. Click for map/directions. The tour is free, but you must register by clicking here. For more information, contact Kathy Fieberling, kathy@watsonvillewetlandswatch.org or call 831-345-1226.

Wetlands Stewards Year Ends with Scholarships

This past month 12 more students became Wetland Steward Alumni. This group of students brings our alumni group up to 75 young adults, spreading the message of conservation and appreciation of our natural world.

The 2016 cohort has been a great group of Stewards who all experienced personal and academic growth and improved leadership skills.

This year, thanks to donors Laura Hofmeister and the Freedom Lions Club, we were able to offer $1,000 scholarships to three graduating seniors.

Scholarships were awarded to Victor Yanez, who plans to attend Cabrillo College and is interested in astronomy, Juliza Gonzalez, who will attend San Jose State University and plans to study psychology and law, and Rodrigo Garcia Salas, a Wetland Stewards alumnus from the class of 2015, who will attend CSU Monterey Bay and major in Environmental Science.

Congratulations to all of our 2016 Wetland Stewards!