Opportunities

EVENTS

Hello Restoration Volunteers!

Come join us Saturday, Jan 24th from 9am-12 noon for a Habitat Restoration Workday at Coal Oil Point Reserve. Coal Oil Point Reserve is a 170-acre nature reserve owned by UC Natural Reserve system, and located in between Isla Vista and Ellwood mesa. The Reserve is an ecologically important area that is home to a number of endangered and threatened species, including the Western Snowy Plover and tidewater goby. This Saturday we will be improving critical habitat by planting natives, removing non-native plants, and maintaining previously planted areas. This is a great opportunity for all community members who want to improve the local habitat for all the critters that live here!

Please RSVP to Tara Longwell at longwell@lifesci.ucsb.edu to receive directions to our meeting spot. Tools, gloves, water, and snacks will be provided.

Hope to see you there!
Tara Longwell
COPR Reserve Steward
http://coaloilpoint.ucnrs.org

Join Us at UCSB's Coal Oil Point Reserve for Tours, Lectures and Special Events in January

1. Thursday January 15th at 5:00 pm - Join us for Coal Oil Point Reserve's Monthly Lecture on Gray Whales and the Gray Whales Count Project with Gray Whale Researcher and Educator Michael H. Smith. Reservations requested.
2. Sunday January 18th - Enjoy a tour of Coal Oil Point Reserve, a nature reserve owned by UCSB. Reservations required.
3. Sunday January 18th or Saturday January 24th - Join us and attend an orientation tour and meeting to become a tour guide. Reservations required.
4. Schedule special group tours of Coal Oil Point Reserve.

1. Thursday January 15th at 5:00 pm - Join us for Coal Oil Point Reserve's Monthly Lecture on Gray Whales and the Gray Whales Count Project with Gray Whale Researcher Michael H. Smith. Reservations requested.

Michael H. Smith will provide a talk on Gray Whales, the Gray Whales Count Project and the experience of conducting research and education outreach for a fifth annual survey at Coal Oil Point. Gray Whales are already in the Santa Barbara Channel on their northbound migration and the 2009 Gray Whales Count begins Monday February 2nd and continues every day from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm through May 17th. The principal focus of the Gray Whales Count is research and education outreach during the northbound migration of Gray Whales. Gray Whales Count observers experience quite a lot from the vantage above the beach. It is a very special place. Michael H. Smith will share information about opportunities for UCSB students to become Supervisor Interns and also for individuals to become Gray Whales Count Volunteers. Last year 72 Counters contributed over 2,400 hours during the 105-day survey.

Supervisor Interns must learn about the ocean, the animals, and man-made and natural hazards the whales face. The students will learn to use equipment and to understand the protocols for conducting scientific research. As observers, they will learn to find whales, identify the species, fix the position and note direction, track their progress, and establish the size of the group. Finally, they must determine if a calf is present. A generous grant from UCSB's Coastal Fund supports the effort.

The Counters function as a team with Supervisors coordinating the observation and maintaining the data. Importantly, all Counters are encouraged to engage passersby to inform them about the whales, the Count and the Coal Oil Point environment.

Michael H. Smith will also have another meeting at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History on Tuesday January 13th at 7:00 pm in Farrand Hall at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.

For further information about Gray Whales Count, visit http://graywhalescount.org, as it is updated every day while surveying. In addition to entering tallies and events of the day, there is access to past reports and further descriptions of the effort. Visitors are encouraged to follow links to partners, collaborators and friends to learn more about Gray Whales, marine mammals and our oceans. You can also contct Michael H. Smith at grays-n-blues@cox.net.

Reservations requested - Please send an email to Leeza Charleboix at coprstaff@lifesci.ucsb.edu.

2. Sunday January 18th - Enjoy a tour of Coal Oil Point Reserve, a nature reserve owned by UCSB. Advance reservations are required.
Trained tour leaders will take you on a walk through a few of the Reserve's ecosystems: from sandy beach to the Devereux Slough to a restored coastal dune system. Learn about the Reserve's current restoration projects and its cultural and geologic history while identifying flora and fauna-such as American Kestrel, Coast Golden Bush, and the Globuse Dune Beetle-that make their home at Coal Oil Point. $5 donation suggested, except for students and Reserve volunteers. Reservations for tours are required. No reservations are taken on Sundays. Tours are capped at 15 people, so early registration is suggested. Contact Leeza Charleboix via email at coprstaff@lifesci.ucsb.edu or via phone at (805) 893-5092 or (805) 636-8408 to reserve a spot. Leeza will send you a confirmation email with more information. Tours occur monthly on the third Sunday from 2:00 pm to 4:15 pm.

3. Sunday January 18th or Saturday January 24th - Join us and attend an orientation tour and meeting to become a tour guide. Reservations Required.
Tours are offered 2:00 pm - 4:15 pm and the orientation meetings are offered after the tour at the Cliff House. Leeza is also available for individual interviews by appointment before and after the tours and meetings. Contact Leeza Charleboix via email at coprstaff@lifesci.ucsb.edu or via phone at (805) 893-5092 or (805) 636-8408 to reserve a spot.

4. Schedule special group tours of Coal Oil Point Reserve.
Tours for groups or classes over five people are available by appointment if reservations are made at least one month in advance. Contact Leeza Charleboix via email at coprstaff@lifesci.ucsb.edu or via phone at (805) 893-5092 or (805) 636-8408 to schedule a tour.

Tours and lectures are programs of Shorelines & Watersheds - a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization - and Coal Oil Point Reserve. Funding for the tour program and lecture series is provided by the Coastal Fund and Venoco Inc.

Look forward to seeing you at Coal Oil Point Reserve!

Leeza Charleboix
Coal Oil Point Reserve
Shorelines and Watersheds
Education and Tour Program Coordinator
Email: coprstaff@lifesci.ucsb.edu
COPR Phone: (805) 893-5092
Cell Phone: (805) 636-8408

Coal Oil Point Reserve Website
http://coaloilpoint.ucnrs.org/Tours.html

Shorelines and Watersheds Website
http://www.shorelinesandwatersheds.org