LAKE COUNTY >> Dr. Harry Lyons, one of the guides for the Nature Center at Rodman Preserve, might have seemingly steered into a storm of indifference the first day of a three-day holiday weekend, but his intuition paid off splendidly.
“It’ a kind of special day, in that we wanted to take advantage of the holiday,” he said. “So, we offered a guided tour, which only happens on occasion and also setup children’s demonstrations around the Nature Center. So, tour Interary included a trail, one that meanders around the Preserve’s hill,” he explained. Among the natural wonders to delight the dozens who arrived for an atypical yet delightful holiday, they were rewarded by the uplands of the Preserve as well as a variety of bodies of water (the wetlands) at the Rodman Slough.
The guided tour departed the Nature Center promptly at 10 a.m. “So, it is a trail that allows people to visit about three or four different habitats,” he said. “Also to see the Rodman Slough and a variety of wetlands., and that is a powerful thing to see.”
The Slough is part of the Preserve, but essentially the Wetlands have a very diverse invertebrate and fish population,” he added. “And the Turo plants, which includes the Tulles, the Tulles bullrushes, also known as Schoenoplectus acutus, is a giant species of sedge native to freshwater marshes in North America. It is a common plant that thrives near bodies of water in certain plant hardiness zones.
Donna Mackiewicz, president of the Redbud Audubon Society, and a volunteer at the Preserve’s Nature Center, helped set up numerous interactive displays. Mackiewicz pointed out since it was a more precipitous winter than prior years, it resulted in a proliferation of insects and that followed by a spring more damp than usual, which also resulted a in a substantial universe of insects.
“We had a very dense habitat of insects, as well as the number of fish and birds who eat them,” she said.
Mackiewicz noted county governance through a partnership with the Lake County Land Trust a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit has been acquiring land to protect natural habitat for future generations. In addition to wildlife habitat and wetlands it comprises forest, watershed, forests, lakeside areas and hiking trails, it was established in 1993 with the launch of the Lake County Land Trust, operated by volunteers.
“We have Tree Swallows in our blue bird trails, (closely) monitored, as well as wild turkeys, an occasional fox, bobcats as well as mountain lions which pass through,” she said. Birds that remain year-round; Brewer’s Blackbirds, California Quail, House Wrens, House Finches, also Scrub Jays. Migrating now, are Black Head Grub Feet, (who display a beautiful song) which are found in blooming trees on the backside of the Preserve’s hill as well as California Towhees, a striking large sparrow. “And right now, Dragonflies are coming back out- it’s just a birder’s heaven,” she said.
At the Nature Center, they put out the feeding stations fresh water every day. Meanwhile Redbud Audubon Society has a Grebe monitoring program, because Grebes are a great bio-indicators of Clear Lake, Mackiewicz noted. “We try to educate everyone, especially boaters and fishermen to recycle their fishing line and help Grebe babies,” she said. “Boaters on the lake going fast assume, birds will dive quickly (to avoid watercraft), but if they have babies on their backs, they’re not going to dive so, we caution vessels to stay away from nesting areas, with floating nests which can be easily broken up by speeding boats or jet skis.”
Mackiewicz remembered from her research, Grebes on Clear Lake were quite plentiful at one time. But starting in the 1940s and 1950s, pesticides, DDT and DDD were sprayed in an effort to rid the lake area of insects, but it began to kill off considerable numbers of wildlife on Clear Lake. Then after more than a 20 year absence the Grebes started returning. She then noted that bird feeders are a way to bring birds to humans, yet the birds can manage without the human interaction. “If you want Gold Finches, put out thistle, or use sugar water if you want Hummingbirds”
But anyone making a bird house available to avian species must act responsibly by cleaning it several times a week. “Never let it go for more than a couple of days in this heat, otherwise feeders develop mold,” she warned. “And it can get on a bird’s tongue and it’s not going to be a happy ending.”
Roberta Lyons is a co-founder of the Lake County Land Trust launched in 1993 and has sat on the board since its inception. The organization’s aim is to protect natural wildlife habitats in the county. The way it works, funding is donated by financial supporters, and volunteers develop projects. “Currently we have three major projects; the Melo Preserve, the Kuulanapo Preserve and the Rodman Preserve,” Lyons explained. In 1993, Roberta and a small group of friends founded the Lake County Land Trust. She served as the charter president of the trust from 1993-1999 and remains active on the board. Project proposals must be first be approved by the California State Fish & Wildlife Department. A particular land acquisition must get a review by a State Fish and & Wildlife biologist before final authorization is then issued from the California State Fish & Wildlife funding grant, which can then go toward supporting a targeted acquisition.
