Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office — Summer 2021 Newsletter

La Graciosa thistle. Photo by USFWS

Summer 2021 Newsletter

We invite you to read and share our stories about the native and rare wildlife of the southern and central California coast, and the people who work to ensure they and their natural habitats remain part of our landscape for years to come. 

‘Share the Shore’ this summer with California’s shorebirds 

Before your next trip to the beach, check out these tips to share the shore with rare shorebirds that feed and nest along our coastlines, from the quiet and demure western snowy plover to the gregarious California least tern. Many beach activities, from kite-flying to dog-walking, can disturb these nesting birds, but you can help! Here’s how:

Blueprints for recovery of endangered plants along Central California coast La Graciosa thistle and Nipomo mesa lupine now have blueprints for recovery thanks to draft plans prepared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and partners. Both plants are found in only a few locations scattered throughout the iconic Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes along the Central Coast of California. Learn more about La Graciosa thistle recovery in this feature story and video.

(Left) Nipomo mesa lupine courtesy of Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo. (Right) La Graciosa thistle by USFWS.

Community Connections 

Kudos to third grade teacher Melissa Moser and the kids of Curren School in Oxnard, Calif., for researching local endangered species and what people can do to help in their recovery! In celebration of Endangered Species Day, they showcased their knowledge and creativity in posters as part of their online learning program following a presentation by senior wildlife biologist Chris Dellith. 

Critical Habitat Designated for Yellow-Billed Cuckoo

The Service released the final critical habitat designation for the western distinct population segment (DPS) of yellow-billed cuckoo. The final designation includes 298,845 acres of land in portions of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas and Utah. The final designation was developed using the best available science and information on conservation efforts currently underway for the species, which is currently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Learn more: https://www.fws.gov/news/ShowNews.cfm?ref=critical-habitat-designated-for-yellow-billed-cuckoo&_ID=36887 

What to do if the California condor visits your home 

For those who live in ‘Condor Country,’ this one’s for you! You may have recently seen images on Twitter of about 20 endangered California condors “having a party” at a residential home near Tehachapi in Southern California. While this is a remarkable sighting, this behavior can be problematic if not quickly discouraged. Here are some tips on what to do if the California condor visits your home. Read the story.

California Condor. Photo courtesy of Chris Trent.

Congratulations, Earth Day and Monarch Butterfly Champion Cat Darst!

Our Assistant Field Supervisor Cat Darst was named an Earth Day Champion by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors! The County recognized Cat’s extensive Western monarch conservation and recovery work, highlighted in this video. We appreciate the support of the County of Ventura and the steps it’s taking to help monarchs! Learn how you can help the monarch butterfly here. 

Monarch butterflies. Photo by USFWS.

Welcome our new staff and summer interns!

Fish and wildlife biologists Amy Hughes and Erin Arnold have joined our team! Amy previously interned as a 2018 Directorate Fellow with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Panama City, Florida, and will be focusing on standard consultations and projects throughout our South Coast geographic area. Erin joins us with a wealth of field experience from her time with the California Condor Recovery Program and Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge, and will be focusing on Vandenberg Space Force Base consultations and projects. 

(Left) Amy Hughes. (Right) Erin Arnold.

We also welcome summer interns Daniel Cisneros and Anna Lad! Daniel is our very first 2021 Kendra Chan Conservation Fellow and will be working alongside Service botanists to recover threatened and endangered plants on the Channel Islands.  Daniel is studying ecology and evolution at University of California Santa Barbara and his career goal is to specialize in plant ecology and connect with local communities.  Anna is our 2021 Directorate Fellow and will be working with Service biologists to map Smith’s blue butterflies and their habitat along the Central California coast. She is currently studying science and technology journalism at Texas A&M. 

Learn more about our new staff here. 

(Left) Anna Lad. (Right) Daniel Cisneros.

What’s Your Passion?

Now more than ever, it is important that we take time to focus on the things that bring us joy! Join fish and wildlife biologist Karen Sinclair as she shares her passion for California native plants in our latest “What’s Your Passion?” video. We hope that our “What’s Your Passion?” videos inspire you to explore your own passions and share them with us! 

101 Days of Species Spotlights on Facebook! 

Our team works to conserve a multitude of rare and endangered plants and animals – 101 species to be exact! This year, we’re highlighting each and every one of them every week in a Facebook series called 101 Days of Species Spotlights. Don’t miss it! https://www.facebook.com/VenturaFWO/ 

Watch wild endangered California condor chick live on ‘Condor Cam’

For the sixth year, people from around the globe got up-close-and-personal with an endangered California condor chick in real-time through live streaming video of a cliff-side nest in a canyon near Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge in Ventura County, California.  Don’t miss out on the action! Watch the Condor Cam live. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/cams/california-condor/

A California condor with its chick.

Did you miss it? Take a look back at our 2020 Year in Review 

As wildland fires swept across the state, we worked with partners to assess potential impacts to rare wildlife and their ecosystems. Women scientists worked to save the critically endangered Nipomo Mesa lupine, and, we spearheaded the first ever adult translocation of Ohlone tiger beetles in the world to save their species from extinction. We joined many conservation partners to prepare a restoration plan for the Gaviota coast and we helped permanently protect hundreds of acres of rolling hills in Santa Barbara County. None of this would be possible without our many partners. 

Check out the video and magazine

Photo from the Field

We honor the beauty that is found in every unique individual and celebrate our shared diversity.

Illustration of rare plants that we work to conserve and protect along the southern and Central California coast. Artist: Karen Sinclair, wildlife biologist