Audubon Canyon Ranch Inc

CONNECTING NATURE, PEOPLE, AND SCIENCE IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD

STEWARDSHIP WORK DEVELOPS AND IMPLEMENTS SCIENCE-BASED APPROACHES TO TAKING CARE OF OUR LANDS AND THE HABITATS THEY ENCOMPASS.WE CONTROL INVASIVE PLANTS AND ANIMALS, MONITOR HABITAT CONDITIONS, TRACK RARE AND SENSITIVE SPECIES, PROPAGATE CRITICAL NATIVE SPECIES, MANAGE WOODY VEGETATION TO PROMOTE FOREST HEALTH, AND APPLY PRESCRIBED FIRE. IN ADDITION TO STEWARDING THE 5,000 ACRES HELD BY THE ORGANIZATION, WE TAKE A REGIONAL APPROACH AND WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, INDIGENOUS GROUPS, LAND MANAGERS, AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS ON BROAD STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE HABITAT CONNECTIVITY, INCREASE CLIMATE RESILIENCE, RESTORE NATIVE HABITATS, CONTROL INVASIVE SPECIES, AND BUILD A WORKFORCE OF TRAINED STEWARDS IN THE NORTH SAN FRANCISCO BAY REGION.

CONSERVATION SCIENCE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS ON WADERS, SHOREBIRDS, WATERBIRDS, LAND BIRDS, AND MOUNTAIN LIONS. DURING THE MOST RECENT FISCAL YEAR, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS COMPLETED MULTIPLE WINTER SURVEYS OF SHOREBIRDSAND WATERBIRDS ON TOMALES BAY AND MONITORED NESTING PERFORMANCE OF HERONS AND EGRETS AT ALL KNOWN COLONY SITES IN THE NORTHERN SAN FRANCISCO BAY REGION (MARIN, SONOMA, NAPA, SOLANO, AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES).WE HAVE DEPLOYED MORE THAN 75 WILDLIFE TRAIL CAMERAS ON PRIVATE LANDS IN THE NORTH SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, MONITORING MOUNTAIN LIONS AND OTHER WILDLIFE.WE DEPLOYED A THIRD LONG-TERM AUTOMATIC WILDLIFE TELEMETRY RECEIVING STATION ON BOLINAS LAGOON AND USED RADIOTELEMETRY TO TRACK AVIAN SPECIES INCLUDING DUNLIN AND WESTERN SANDPIPERS ALONG THEWEST COAST OF NORTH AMERICA. STAFF PUBLISHED FIVE PAPERS IN PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS.

THE EDUCATION PROGRAM CONNECTS CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH NATURE, CULTIVATES ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY, AND PROMOTES STEWARDSHIP OF THE EARTH THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL NATURE EDUCATION AND EMPHASIS ON LIFELONG LEARNING. KEY INITIATIVES IN THE LAST YEAR INCLUDE A TRANSITION BACK TO IN-PERSON FIELD TRIPS TO OUR NATURE PRESERVES FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, OUR WILD NEIGHBORS - A PROGRAM THAT VISITS SCHOOLS TO TEACH CLASSES ABOUT THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF KEYSTONE SPECIES SUCH AS MOUNTAIN LIONS, JUNIPER JUNIOR NATURALISTS - FIELD-BASED LEARNING AND RESTORATION TRAINING FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND THECONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O