SPRING 2015
BOUNTIFUL BIRDS
ISLAND’S RESTORATION ATTRACTS NEW SPECIES PAGE 2
Message from the President
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atalina Island holds a very special place in the hearts of so many who have visited the Island once or many times over the years, in those who have grown up here and among those who have chosen to live on the Island later in life. Generations of families, like the Jones Family featured in this issue of Conservancy Times, create lifelong memories during their visits to Catalina’s windswept shores, its wildlands and the special places found only on a hike or trek across the Island. Millions of people have discovered a love of the outdoors by challenging themselves physically on the Island’s rugged landscape and in its rich marine environment. Others have challenged themselves intellectually through the numerous educational and research programs offered through the Conservancy and its many camp partners on Catalina.
Conservancy Times is a biannual publication of the Catalina Island Conservancy, a 501c(3) nonprofit organization established in 1972 to protect and restore Catalina Island for present and future generations to experience and enjoy. One of California’s oldest private land trusts, the Conservancy protects the magnificent natural and cultural heritage of Santa Catalina Island, stewarding approximately 42,000 acres of land and 62 miles of rugged shoreline. Twenty miles from the mainland, Catalina Island is home to more than 60 plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world. The Conservancy operates the Airport in the Sky, Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden, two nature centers and campgrounds. It provides 50 miles of biking and nearly 150 miles of hiking opportunities within its road and trail system. For more information, please visit CatalinaConservancy.org
As the state’s only destination island, Catalina gives us a rare opportunity to see California as it once was—wild and free of development—there for us to enjoy nature and rekindle our spirits. The Catalina Island Conservancy’s mission is to protect and restore the Island to ensure this generation and future generations will continue to have those opportunities. While the Conservancy has made great strides in fulfilling its three-part mission, conservation work in a lived landscape is never done—as you will see in this issue of Conservancy Times. Our dedicated wildlife biologists and partners saved the Catalina Island fox from the brink of extinction after canine distemper virus decimated the tiny creatures’ population on the Island. But now the thriving foxes face new threats, caused mostly by their interactions with humans on the Island. The Conservancy is working to alleviate those
MEMBERS Paxson H. Offield, Chair Anthony F. Michaels, PhD Maria Pellegrini, PhD Alison Wrigley Rusack BOARD OF DIRECTORS John P. Cotton, Chair Stephen Chazen, PhD, Vice Chair Victoria Seaver Dean, Past Chair Ann M. Muscat, PhD, President & CEO Robert Breech Gordon T. Frost, Jr. Blanny Hagenah Henry Hilty Kellie Johnson Roger Lang Geoffrey Claflin Rusack
EMERITUS Rose Ellen Gardner Robert Thorne, PhD EXECUTIVE TEAM Ann M. Muscat, PhD President & CEO Larry L. Lloyd Chief Finance & Business Development Officer John J. Mack Chief Conservation & Education Officer Bob Reid Chief Development & Communications Officer Lisa Moss Director, Human Resources
threats, while ensuring the public’s access to the 42,000 acres it stewards. Balancing these needs is at the core of the Conservancy and what makes it different than many land trusts. As you can see on the magazine’s cover, the bird population is flourishing on Catalina mainly due to the removal of invasive species and the successful restoration of so much of the Island’s native habitat. The Conservancy’s staff and its partners have just begun to document the bird populations on the Island, and they have found rare and threatened species on Catalina. But much more research must be done to fully document Catalina’s bird population and determine how best to protect and restore native species in the Island’s complex ecology. Every week, the Conservancy’s hard-working Facilities Department crews tackle the day-today challenges of keeping the Island’s wildlands open and accessible to the public. The work of these “unsung heroes” is recounted in this issue so you can see how essential it is to all of the Conservancy’s operations and your enjoyment of the wild side. Their work will never be done. With 2015 already well underway, all of us at the Catalina Island Conservancy are looking forward to tackling the many challenges before us to protect and restore this extraordinary place. We cannot fulfill our mission without your support. Thank you for your commitment and your enthusiasm for the vital work the Conservancy does and for the Island we all love. Never hesitate to let us know your thoughts on the tasks ahead of us.
Ann M. Muscat, PhD President and CEO
CONTACT US P.O. Box 2739 Avalon, CA 90704 310-510-2595 330 Golden Shore, Suite 170 Long Beach, CA 90802 562-437-8555 CatalinaConservancy.org EDITORS Bob Reid Laura Mecoy GRAPHIC DESIGN Robin Weisz Design
Conservancy Times is printed on Endeavour gloss, which is Forest Stewardship Councilcompliant and made from 30% post-consumer recycled fiber and is chlorine free. Endeavour is produced following the quality and environmental management standards set forth by the International Organization for Standardization via a “clean” mill with a sustainability charter. Printed using soy-based inks.
F O LLOW U S ON :
CONTENTS F E ATURES
Bountiful Birds Wildlife biologists have used boats, boots and binoculars to document the Island’s bird population, finding rare and threatened species of great interest to scientists and birdwatchers. PA G E
2 Fox Protection Having recovered from the brink of extinction, the Catalina Island fox now faces new threats, mostly from its interactions with humans.
Conservancy Ball Join the Conservancy on April 11 for a fun-filled evening and help protect Catalina for the next 20 years.
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PA G E
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Hike Honors Brothers The Conservancy sponsors hikes to honor the legacies of the late Graham “BZ” Jones and his brother, Thad Jones III. They were dedicated volunteers who are part of Catalina’s and the Conservancy’s history.
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PA G E
DE PART ME NT S BECOME A CONSERVANCY MEMBER
CONSERVANCY STAFF
Not a member of the Catalina Island Conservancy? Don’t miss out on the opportunities and adventure. Join today!
VOLUNTEERS
Help protect this great natural resource. Go to: CatalinaConservancy.org or call 562-437-8555 ext. 224
Unsung Heroes
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Eco-Volunteerism 18 Donor Honor Roll
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Conservancy Calendar 20
On the cover: Peregrine Falcon
PHOTOS: TYLER DVORAK, S. RASMUSSEN, JACK BALDELLI LOGO: ROBIN WEISZ
PA G E
Bountiful Birds Conservancy Biologists Begin Documenting Catalina’s Avian Fauna
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PHOTO: TYLER DVORAK
eneath the stars, three wildlife biologists boarded a small Zodiac boat for a stomachchurning search for one of the world’s rarest seabirds, the Scripps’s Murrelet, off Catalina Island’s shores. The tiny black and white bird is elusive because it feeds at sea and visits its breeding islands at night for only a few months a year. Once they are on the islands, the birds nest in rugged, inaccessible, cliff-side habitats. Bouncing across the waves, the biologists used a spotlight to find the birds floating atop the dark waters by catching the Scripps’s Murrelets’ white undersides in the light’s beam. Finally, the biologists spotted a pair of the tiny birds together on the ocean alongside a rocky Catalina cliff, which was likely to be a nesting area. “We use a 14-foot Zodiac inflatable craft to find, pursue and capture the birds on the water with a dip net. We then inspect the birds and band them,” said Tyler Dvorak, Catalina Island Conservancy wildlife technician and an avid birder. “We first found an actual nest on the Island in 2012, and we have conducted two more survey seasons since then because documenting which birds are living, nesting and visiting the Island is important to the Conservancy’s mission of restoring and protecting Catalina.”
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CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
FINDING RARE & ENDANGERED SPECIES
GREAT PLACES FOR BIRDWATCHING Blackjack Campground Haypress Reservoir Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden
In recent years, wildlife biologists from the Catalina Island Conservancy and numerous other organizations have used boats, boots and binoculars to document the birds on the Island. They’ve only begun to survey the various species, and already their work has recorded the return of such endangered and threatened species as the Peregrine Falcon (see page 4) as well as the presence of species considered to be “vulnerable” like the Scripps’s Murrelet. They have spotted such rarities as the lone Crested Caracara, which had not been seen before in the Channel Islands and rarely in California. Currently, they have evidence that there are 54 species of birds breeding on the Island, including some, such as the Caspian Tern, which had not been documented as breeding on Catalina before. They continue to track other bird species to try to get a complete picture of the avian fauna on Catalina. Dvorak and other Conservancy wildlife biologists, the Institute of Wildlife Studies, California Institute of Environmental Studies, Santa Barbara Natural History Museum, University of California, Santa Cruz and other institutions, as well as individual birdwatchers, have contributed to the nascent knowledge of the bird populations on the Island. CONFIRMING BIRDS’ PRESENCE ON THE ISLAND
They have used photographs taken from low-flying aircraft for researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz to determine that Caspian Terns were nesting on Ship Rock off the coast of Catalina Lion’s Head point. They have relied on birdwatchers, including one who recorded the first confirmed instance of a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher nesting on Catalina. And Dvorak, along with Harry Carter and Darrell Whitworth, researchers from the California Institute of Environmental Studies, used their climbing skills to scale the craggy sides of Ship Rock to document the Ashy Storm-Petrels nesting there. The nocturnal seabird is a “California Bird Species of Special Concern” because it is at risk of becoming threatened or endangered. Its presence had not been confirmed on Ship Rock or Catalina—although there were some early, unconfirmed reports of naturalists finding the small seabird’s eggs on Catalina in 1903 and 1937. HABITAT RESTORATION ATTRACTS BIRDS
Anna’s Hummingbird, one of five species of hummingbirds on the Island.
CONSERVANCY TIMES
SPRING 2015
Dvorak said documenting the birds not only helps guide conservation decisions. It can also serve as evidence of the success of restoration and protection efforts on the Island by the Conservancy. “Birds can be excellent indicators of ecosystem health because they can choose where they wish to live, nest or visit,” he said. “We see some birds returning and some bird populations growing on Catalina and the other Channel Islands because the removal of non-native species and the elimination of predators, such as feral cats, have resulted in improved habitat.” On other Channel Islands, for instance, the removal of black rats eliminated predators that threatened the Scripps’s Murrelet. On Catalina, the Conservancy’s biologists and the California Institute of Environmental Studies are monitoring Scripps’s Murrelets’ nests and population size to determine the level of impact of multiple threats the rare seabird faces on the Island. “While much more remains to be done, the Conservancy has been able to maximize its resources and gain invaluable information about the birds on the Island through the work of our dedicated staff and in partnership with other organizations,” said Ann M. Muscat, PhD, Conservancy president and CEO. “We encourage all Catalina’s visitors to experience the wildlands to see the diversity of the bird population and the other native species that we are seeking to restore and protect.”
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PEREGRINE FALCONS RETURN
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PHOTOS: TYLER DVORAK
eregrine Falcons, the birds of prey known as the fastest creatures in the animal kingdom, once thrived on the Channel Islands. But like the Bald Eagles, the use of the pesticide DDT caused their numbers to plummet, and they were placed on the endangered species list in 1970. Today, through restoration efforts, they have been removed from the endangered species list and returned to the Channel Islands, where Peter Sharpe, PhD, Institute of Wildlife Studies (IWS) research ecologist, said he’s spotted two breeding pairs of the raptors on Catalina Island’s western coast. But they’re not easy to find. Their gray, white and black plumage provides excellent camouflage on the cliffs where they lay their eggs on ledges in depressions in the dirt. “You can stare at a cliff for days, and you won’t see them if they don’t vocalize or move,” Dr. Sharpe said. “They’re not like the Bald Eagles, whose white heads make them easier to see.” Dr. Sharpe, who leads the Bald Eagle restoration program on Catalina, is conducting a survey of Peregrine Falcons on the Channel Islands, and says he’s finding greater numbers of the raptors on the islands than were known to exist before their precipitous decline in the 1950s and 1960s. He attributes these findings to the decreasing levels of DDE, a metabolite of DDT, in the environment since the pesticide was banned in the U.S. in 1972. He also credits a new method for finding the falcons that was developed by Joseph G. Barnes, a wildlife diversity supervising biologist at the Nevada Department of Wildlife.
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CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
TO CATALINA To find the falcons, Dr. Sharpe travels by foot or boat to the cliffs where the birds are most likely to be found. He plays a 30-second recording of a falcon’s call and waits 30 seconds to hear or see a response. If none is noted, he plays the call again and waits five minutes for a response. With this method, he’s had a 58% response rate, which is much more efficient than the previous methods of just using his eyes, ears and binoculars to find the falcons. “We counted 48 pairs of falcons on the Channel Islands in 2014,” Dr. Sharpe said. “We are going to continue to monitor them to see if DDT is still negatively affecting them.” In addition to the two breeding pairs Dr. Sharpe has documented on Catalina, birdwatchers have spotted many more migratory Peregrine Falcons visiting the Island. The Catalina Island Conservancy has provided support and partnership to IWS in its successful efforts to restore and monitor birds of prey on Catalina Island.
FACTS
about
PEREGRINE FALCONS Their numbers declined after DDE, a metabolite of DDT, caused THINNING OF THEIR EGGS, leading to the eggs cracking before the chicks were fully developed. Some chicks also died from dehydration due to thin shells. They can reach speeds of more than 200 MPH when diving for their prey. They are found on ALL CONTINENTS except Antarctica. Their name, peregrine, means “wanderer.” THEY CAN MIGRATE UP TO 15,000 MILES A YEAR.
“You can stare at a cliff for days, and you won’t see them if they don’t vocalize or move. They’re not like the Bald Eagles, whose white heads make them easier to see.” Peter Sharpe, PhD IWS research ecologist
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SPRING 2015
They are the birds commonly used in the SPORT OF FALCONRY. Some Peregrine Falcons are used to SCARE OFF SEAGULLS. Many cities have encouraged Peregrine Falcons to nest in skyscrapers, and several can be found in downtown Los Angeles. 5
FOX PROTE T
he success of the Catalina Island Conservancy’s fox recovery program has created new challenges for wildlife biologists. The program brought the endangered Catalina Island fox back from the brink of extinction in less than 15 years, resulting in a population of more than 1,700 in 2014. But more foxes mean more interactions with the Island’s human population. Those interactions can have disastrous consequences for the tiny native creatures. In November alone, the Conservancy documented 11 fox mortalities, eight of which were associated with vehicle trauma. However, biologists suspect that many more foxes die from vehicle trauma, but their deaths simply go unreported or undetected because the fox does not immediately succumb to its injuries while on the road.
PHOTO: JACK BALDELLI
In many cases, the dead foxes are found in locations that are near trash cans. The food trash in and around the cans lures the foxes to cross the road more frequently, putting them in danger of vehicles traveling through Avalon and in the wildlands. The nutritionally deficient trash itself can be harmful to the foxes, and many of the tiny creatures have become trapped and died inside the older trash cans.
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CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
ECTION
CONSERVATION: A NEVER-ENDING RESPONSIBILITY
ANIMAL-PROOF CONTAINERS PROTECT WILDLIFE
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his year, the Conservancy launched a new initiative to help protect these Island endemics by eliminating their access and other animals’ access to trash cans. It is replacing existing trash cans on the 42,000 acres it stewards with animal-proof trash and recycling containers. “Identifying and reducing threats to the health and survival of the endangered Catalina Island fox has been a crucial part of the Conservancy’s fox recovery program,” said Julie King, the Conservancy’s director of conservation and wildlife management. “The inadequate handling or containment of trash has become a serious threat to foxes and other wildlife. Installing animal-proof trash and recycling receptacles will prevent the foxes and other wildlife from entering the containers and help eliminate trash spills that attract the foxes and other wildlife into inhabited areas and roadsides, where they may be struck by a vehicle.” 150 NEW TRASH RECEPTACLES NEEDED
“Identifying and reducing threats to the health and survival of the endangered Catalina Island fox has been a crucial part of the Conservancy’s fox recovery program.” Julie King Conservancy director of conservation and wildlife management CONSERVANCY TIMES
SPRING 2015
The new receptacles the Conservancy is installing are identical to bear-proof containers used in many state and national parks throughout the country. The 80-gallon containers require the user to reach inside a covered area to unlatch the lid and open it. The lid then swings shut when the user releases it, securing the trash or recycled materials inside and keeping wildlife out. In doing so, these containers can reduce the litter that attracts seagulls, ravens and other wildlife, making the Island more attractive to visitors and residents alike. With a separate section for recycled materials, the new containers could also encourage more recycling on the Island. Altogether, an estimated 150 new animal-proof trash and recycling containers, at a cost of nearly $2,000 each, will be needed to replace all of the trash cans on the land the Conservancy stewards and in a few high-risk areas in Avalon. The Conservancy is raising funds to finance the purchase and installation of the new animal-proof trash receptacles because they’re needed to protect the Catalina Island fox. In addition to installing the animal-proof trash and recycling containers on the land under its stewardship, the Conservancy has donated some older style, wildlife-resistant trash receptacles to Avalon’s Machado Field. These receptacles replaced open aluminum trash bins with ones that have lids. HUMAN ACTIVITIES POSE GREATEST THREAT
The new animal-proof containers are part of the Conservancy’s ongoing activities to protect the endemic fox from its most significant threat today—human activities—through focused conservation efforts and education. Each year, in addition to vehicle trauma, several foxes drown in uncovered water 7
containers, are injured or killed by unleashed dogs or die from the ingestion of rat poison or other toxins. The Conservancy has erected new signs along particularly perilous stretches of road to remind motorists to reduce their speeds and remain vigilant, especially at dawn and dusk when foxes are more likely to be present. It’s placed additional signs at trailheads and specific staging areas to remind the public not to feed foxes. The Conservancy also has expanded its education and outreach efforts to increase the awareness of Island residents and the visiting public about ways to reduce the hazards that may impact the survival of this endearing and endemic creature. RECOVERY PROGRAM SAVED ISLAND FOX
PHOTOS: JACK BALDELLI, LAURA MECOY
The Conservancy’s wildlife biologists have been closely monitoring the foxes since their numbers plummeted from about 1,300 to just 100 in 1999 because of an outbreak of canine distemper virus (CDV) likely brought to the Island by a stowaway raccoon. An adaptive management program— which included captive breeding from 2001 to 2004, vaccinations against CDV, translocations and monitoring—restored the fox population to its precrash numbers. “Recovering the endangered Catalina Island fox population so quickly is one of the great conservation success stories,” said John J. Mack, the Conservancy’s chief conservation and education officer. “The Conservancy is going to be engaged in active management of the foxes and many more species on this Island for generations to come because conservation work is never done, especially on an Island visited by nearly one million people each year. Humans have been a part of Catalina’s ecosystem for thousands of years, and the Conservancy is committed to becoming a leader in modeling conservation in a lived landscape.”
YOU CAN HELP PROTECT THE ISLAND FOX Help protect these precious creatures from getting trapped in older trash cans. Please donate today to purchase new, animal-proof trash and recycling containers. To support these efforts and the Conservancy's fox recovery program, please visit CatalinaConservancy.org or call 562-437-8555. A donation of just $2,000 will pay for the installation of one animal-proof container!
Above, the new animal-proof trash and recycling containers the Conservancy is installing to protect the fox. At right, a vehicle nears one of the signs the Conservancy has installed to warn motorists. 8
CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
CATALINA ISLAND FOX FACTS HOW BIG IS THE FOX?
The Catalina Island fox is about 25% smaller than its mainland relative, the gray fox, and is Catalina’s largest native land predator. Although it is often referred to as “the size of a house cat,” an adult Island fox generally weighs 4–6 pounds, while house cats average 8–10 pounds with some breeds weighing as much as 18 pounds.
HOW DO THEY
REPRODUCE? Foxes generally form monogamous pairs. They breed
once a year, usually in early February through early March. Pups are born from midMarch through May. Litter sizes may range from 1–5, but 1–2 pups are more common
EAT?
An omnivore, the Catalina Island fox’s diet includes mice, lizards, birds, berries, insects and cactus fruit. Taking advantage of many food resources enhances the foxes’ chances for survival on the Island. The foxes climb trees in search of food. But they’re hard to spot on the Island. They may be active during daylight, but most of their foraging for food is done at dawn and dusk.
PHOTO: JULIE KING
in the wild. Unlike most other species of foxes, Island foxes do not use formal dens. They generally just find refuge under thick brush or in a rock pile. Pups are born helpless, and both parents play a role in raising the young. Pups emerge from their den sites after about a month. They remain with their parents for approximately 6 months before dispersing in late fall to find their own territories and mates.
WHAT DOES THE FOX
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HOW DID THE FOX GET HERE?
PHOTO: JACK BALDELLI
Previous genetic research suggested that foxes first inhabited the northern Channel Islands more than 16,000 years ago, a few thousand years prior to humans, who arrived around 13,000 years ago. But archaeological and paleontological data indicated a much more recent introduction of approximately 7,000 years ago. Considering both timelines, scientists generally answered this question by stating that foxes first arrived on the northern Channel Islands by rafting on debris or were introduced by Native Americans. Both theories have support. Lower sea levels at the time resulted in the northern Channel Islands being a single immense island much closer to the mainland than the islands are currently. There is confirmation that several other species that have inhabited islands in other areas did so by rafting on debris. The connection between Island foxes and Native Americans is also very well documented, and there is no question that the foxes were introduced to the southern Channel Islands, including Catalina, by Native Americans. So which is it? A genetic study led by Smithsonian predoctoral fellow, Courtney Hofman, provides some more evidence to support the hypothesis that humans were involved with the first introduction of foxes to any of the Channel Islands. Instead of using a fraction of mitochondrial DNA, as was done in prior genetic research, Hofman was able to analyze entire mitochondrial genomes. Her results suggest that foxes did not arrive on the northern Channel Islands until 7,100–9,200 years ago, much closer to the time that humans first inhabited the islands. A confounding issue remains, however. The earliest fossil records for Island foxes reflect an already diminutive species, suggesting that the foxes had already evolved on the Island for thousands of years prior to human colonization. Perhaps new advancements in genetic research or new archeological discoveries will once and for all solve this mystery. But for now, both possibilities must be considered.
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HOW DOES THE FOXES'
RECOVERY HELP PROTECT THE ISLAND? Protecting the Catalina Island fox is crucial to the health of the Island’s ecosystem because it is considered a “keystone species,” which has a disproportionately large effect on its environment in relation to its actual numbers. Island foxes are “opportunistic omnivores,” meaning that they feed on a wide variety of food items and focus primarily on what is most abundant or available. Through this approach, foxes are able to prevent certain animals, such as mice, from becoming overly abundant on the Island. Foxes also support the spread and germination of seeds when plants are actively producing fruit. In the same manner, foxes do not exhaust a food resource entirely but rather shift to whatever item is easily attainable. In this manner, they support the balance of the ecological community. From the management perspective, the Catalina Island fox is also categorized as an “umbrella species.” This means that the successful conservation of the Island fox and its habitat indirectly protects the many other species present in the community.
CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
RESERVE YOUR SEAT TODAY!
Saturday, April 11, 2015 Avalon Casino Ballroom, Catalina Island Doors Open and Hosted Cocktails 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM Dinner and Dancing 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM Silent and Live Auctions Elegant 1920 s -Style Black Tie
General Tickets: $275 per person Sponsorships Begin at $1,500 For event details, to purchase tickets, arrange sponsorships and preview auction items, visit CatalinaConservancy.org CONSERVANCY TIMES
SPRING 2015
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On April 11, the Catalina Island Conservancy will celebrate 20 years of the Conservancy Ball in true 1920s style. Whether you’re an art deco aficionado or simply a fan of Catalina, please join the Conservancy for a fun-filled evening and help protect the Island for the next 20 years!
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he Corsair Yacht Club will be returning as the Conservancy Ball’s co-host for an unprecedented third time. The Corsairs hosted the first Conservancy Ball in 1996 with then-Commodore Randy Boelsems and Staff Commodore Bob Burnette at the helm. Inspired by the desire to give back to Catalina for the many years the club’s members have enjoyed the Island at their Emerald Bay outpost, the Corsair Yacht Club co-hosted the 10th Annual Conservancy Ball in 2005. The Corsairs are excited to be back again for the 20th Annual Conservancy Ball— LEAPIN’ LIZARDS! AN EMERALD CELEBRATION. This year’s event will take place once again in the historic, art deco Avalon Casino Ballroom—as it has every year for the past 20 years. The Conservancy invites you to join in the fun and help to make this year even more memorable than the previous 19 years! 12
“When we planned the first ball, we didn’t think there would be a second one,” said Boelsems. “But that first one was magic. It was really magic.” CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
PHOTOS: SHANA CASSIDY LOGO: ROBIN WEISZ
The magic will continue this year as guests dine and dance to the sounds of Society Beat, one of Southern California’s most popular, modern-day Big Bands. They also will have the opportunity to bid during a silent auction and a live auction on a wide range of one-of-a-kind items and adventures, including a day in the field fox trapping on Catalina and a crowd-favorite—a hand-etched balthazar of Rusack Vineyards wine. “This year’s ball promises to be an evening filled with glamor, great fun and giving back to the Island so that its many natural treasures will continue to be enjoyed for generations to come,” said Bob Reid, the Conservancy’s chief development and communications officer. “We greatly appreciate the Corsair Yacht Club and the other ball sponsors for their very generous support. We urge all who love Catalina to help us celebrate 20 years of the Conservancy Ball.”
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Honoring the Jones I
T’S A HIKE THAT’S BECOME A PART OF CATALINA ISLAND’S HISTORY. In 1956, Graham “BZ” Jones sailed to Catalina’s east end with his wife, Rosie; his brother, Thad Jones III, and two friends, Richard Lyon and Steve Royce. Thad, Richard and Steve placed their hiking boots in plastic bags, tied the bags around their necks and then jumped into the frigid waters to swim to the rugged cliffs on the Island’s east end. The three men made the harrowing climb to the top of the cliffs and embarked on the first known one-day “end-to-end” hike of Catalina Island. Thad had mapped out the course based on his many years visiting the Island and his time spent marching across it as a student at the Catalina Island School for Boys located at Toyon Bay. The three hikers followed Thad’s map and completed their hike from the Island’s east end to its west end in a remarkable 11 hours and 20 minutes. SETTING A RECORD
“We were three very competitive guys, so we were determined to be the first ones to ever complete an end-to-end hike of Catalina in a single day,” said Lyon. He is the only hiker still alive today to tell the tale of the first recorded end-to-end hike. But Thad recorded another end-to-end hike the following year, which started on the west end and ended on the east. In his letters, he said he completed the 1957 hike in just 10 hours and 10 minutes. The hikes inspired Brad Avery, president of the Conservancy’s support group, the Marineros, to organize hikes in honor of the late Thad and BZ Jones. This year, on March 28, the Conservancy will host the Fifth Annual BZ Jones Hike.
PHOTOS: JONES FAMILY
HIKE SUPPORTS CONSERVANCY
This year’s hike will be easier than Thad’s hikes. It will be about 12 miles across the width of the Island, rather than the length of Catalina. Lunch and transportation will be provided, and hikers will end the day with dinner and a celebration at the Bluewater Grill in Avalon. Every other year, the Conservancy also hosts a Thad Jones Hike, which is a longer end-to-end hike and takes place over two days on the same weekend as the shorter BZ Jones Hike. “The whole idea behind the hike is to get people closer to the Island and increase their appreciation of Catalina by hiking it,” said Avery. “When you’re crossing the Island at that pace, you really get a sense of how big and how special it is.” The BZ and Thad Jones hikes also are fundraisers for the Conservancy, helping to support its mission of protecting and restoring the Island—a mission that the Jones brothers and their family have supported. As they have in previous years, BZ’s and Thad’s children and other family members will join the hike.
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Above, BZ (left) and Thad Jones III with their mother, Agnes Jones. Right, Thad Jones on his boat.
Thad Jones III (left) with his father Thad Jones II and his brother, BZ Jones (right) on the family’s boat.
CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
Brothers BZ Jones’ daughter, Allie Dewey (right), and his granddaughter, Sabra Dewey, enjoy the BZ Jones Hike in 2013.
BZ Jones’ son, Ned Jones (center), long-time family friends Bill Uniack (left) and Ben Benjamin (right) on the 2013 hike.
JONES FAMILY TRADITIONS
CATALINA FAVORITE DESTINATION
“We will be there to honor our dads,” said BZ’s daughter, Laura Tomlinson. “We are really proud of them. They were fun, social guys who loved the Island. Their brotherhood, in the true sense of the word, has been passed down to us.” The brothers have a long history with the Conservancy. While he didn’t enjoy hiking as much as his brother did, BZ loved boating and was a founding member of the Marineros, the first Conservancy support group. Thad and BZ volunteered at the Ackerman Native Plant Nursery, built benches, painted signs and engaged in numerous other volunteer activities. “Both Thad and BZ participated in the volunteer quarterly work parties sponsored by the Conservancy, spending many hours in Middle Ranch and other parts of the Island,” said Thad’s daughter, Caroline Jones. They also have a long history on the Island. Along with their third brother, Nelson, who usually attends the hike, the Jones boys grew up on the Island. Their father was a sailor who brought them to Catalina on a regular basis.
“They used to hang out with Humphrey Bogart and all those Hollywood types who hung out at Catalina,” Thad’s son, Thad “Moke” Jones IV, said. “Our family goes way, way back to the early days of Catalina as a destination for boaters.” Both of the brothers were world-class sailors. Thad set a record for participating in the most Transpacific Yacht Races—22. BZ was aboard the maxi racer Kialoa II when she won the punishing 1971 Sydney to Hobart Race. He raced all the big offshore events in the Pacific and Atlantic. While both brothers sailed to points around the world, Catalina remained one of their favorite destinations. “The annual BZ Jones Hike and the biennial Thad Jones Hike are fitting tributes to these two men who lived life to its fullest and gave so generously of their time to support the Conservancy,” said Spencer Campbell, the Conservancy’s development manager. “BZ and Thad Jones are two of the best examples of the dedicated volunteers and supporters who have helped the Conservancy fulfill its mission of protecting and restoring the Island we all cherish.”
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“The whole idea behind the hike is to get people closer to the Island and increase their appreciation of Catalina by hiking it. When you’re crossing the Island at that pace, you really get a sense of how big and how special it is.” Brad Avery, Marineros president
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C O N S E R VA N C Y S TA F F
Unsung Heroes
REPAIRING, REPLACING AND REFURBISHING CONSERVANCY FACILITIES
F
or several years, Catalina Island Conservancy’s Middle Ranch staff had to drive into Avalon to refuel the organization’s vehicles. Soon, they will be able to avoid long trips into town to refuel because the Conservancy’s Facilities Department and local subcontractors are completing the installation of a new above-ground fuel tank at Middle Ranch. They’ll also have all the water storage capacity they need because the Facilities Department and local subcontractors added a new 100,000-gallon water tank at Middle Ranch, replacing an old 25,000-gallon tank that often leaked. Repairs, replacements and refurbishments are the Facilities Department’s responsibility for the 42,000 acres the Conservancy stewards. So is the maintenance of more than 220 miles of roads, the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden, two nature centers, the Conservancy’s headquarters building in Avalon, numerous vehicles, including the Jeeps for the popular Jeep Eco Tour, and many other facilities. “The Conservancy has vast responsibilities for maintenance and operations on the 88% of the Island under its stewardship, and the staff works tirelessly to keep all our facilities operating and the wild side accessible and safe for the public to visit,” said Ann M. Muscat, PhD, the Conservancy’s president and CEO. FACILITIES DEPARTMENT KEEPS WILDLANDS OPEN
PHOTOS: TOM WASSING
Like the maintenance crews for a small county, the Conservancy’s Facilities Department keeps the roads open, maintains buildings and vehicles and removes hazards. Much of this hard work goes unnoticed and unheralded by the public. But without the Facilities Department’s unsung heroes, the Island’s wild side would be too wild for all the camping, hiking, biking and flying in Catalina’s interior.
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Jose Soto (top photo) and Mark Saldana (bottom left photo) are among the Facilities Department’s unsung heroes replacing, repairing and refurbishing buildings, vehicles and more.
FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY
Tom Wassing, the Conservancy’s director of facilities, has kept the facilities team busy cleaning up an old dump site at Skull Canyon.
Among its many recent activities, the Facilities Department and subcontractors refurbished the Airport in the Sky’s airplane hangar, ensuring it will last for many more years. Its staff also worked with a local contractor to repair a bridge on the road between Cherry Valley and Howland’s Landing to ensure safer travel to camps on the Island’s west end and to accommodate the heavier trucks occasionally used for supplies. During the winter rains, crews worked hard to remove rocks that tumbled onto roads and repair washed-out roadways. “The mud can get really slippery, so we often have to close down the roads when it rains,” said Tom Wassing, the Conservancy’s director of facilities. For Wassing—who recently joined the Conservancy as its facilities director, capping a long career in contracting and, most recently, with The Living Desert zoo and gardens in Palm Desert—the job’s biggest challenges are the logistics of working on the Island. Just getting to a work site can take more than an hour because of the rugged terrain. Replacement parts and supplies often have to be ordered from the mainland, which can further delay repairs and drive up costs. Since his arrival in October, Wassing said he’s kept the facilities crews busy cleaning up an old dump site in Skull Canyon. They’ve removed steel and other metal for recycling, and they’re sorting through the remaining debris for hauling to the dump. Once that’s finished, he said he has a long list of building repairs and deferred maintenance to tackle.
In its repairs and new projects, the Conservancy is seeking sustainable solutions to fulfill its long-term strategic vision and master plan, Imagine Catalina. One of the four goals guiding the master plan calls for the Conservancy to model sustainability in its facilities, operations and finances so that the long-term protection and enjoyment of Catalina is ensured. The Conservancy is conducting sustainability assessments of camps and coves as it implements changes to conserve energy and water in its facilities. For instance, it recently replaced showerheads in Middle Ranch homes with low-flow models and washing machines and dishwashers with newer water-saving ones—all to reduce water usage. It also is experimenting with rain-catching cisterns to provide water for irrigation at a Middle Ranch home. “Building on a long legacy of protecting the Island, the Conservancy’s vision for the future includes modeling sustainability in all our facilities and programs to demonstrate how to conserve our precious resources on the Island,” said Muscat.
Top photo, Oden Vanderwiel (left) and Evan Sutherland (right) keep the Conservancy’s vehicles operating. Next photo, DeeDee Conner, administrative assistant, keeps the team on track.
“The Conservancy has vast responsibilities for maintenance and operations on the 88% of the Island under its stewardship, and the staff works tirelessly to keep all our facilities operating and the wild side accessible and safe for the public to visit.” Ann M. Muscat, PhD Conservancy president and CEO
A Facilities Department crew removes a floating dock for winter storage.
CONSERVANCY TIMES
SPRING 2015
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C O N S E R VA N C Y V O L U N T E E R S
Eco-Volunteerism
Tourism Cares Helps the Conservancy
PHOTOS: TOURISM CARES
D
igging ditches and pulling up posts is hard work, but the members of the travel industry who volunteered with the Catalina Island Conservancy didn’t shy away from tackling those tasks. Some 40 members of Tourism Cares, an organization that seeks to preserve and enhance the travel experience for future generations, came to Catalina in November for a challenging volunteer work day. Some spent the day digging and raking at the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Gardens as part of a project to reduce erosion and restore native plants. Others removed nearly 600 pieces of old materials from the Island’s wildlands, picked up trash and litter at Ben Weston Beach and pitched in at the James H. Ackerman Native Plant Nursery to help process native Ironwood seeds, which will be used in the Island’s plant restoration efforts. “Tourism Cares has created a legacy of eco-volunteerism that supports the Conservancy’s mission, and we are grateful for the contributions of its many wonderful volunteers who devoted part of their weekend to supporting our conservation efforts and improving the visitor experience on Catalina,” said Ann M. Muscat, PhD, the Conservancy’s president and CEO. “The Conservancy couldn’t fulfill its mission without the help of the many dedicated volunteers who give of their time to protect and restore the Island for the nearly one million people who visit it every year.” Jessica Ahern, Tourism Cares director of events, said the organization and the tourism community are dedicated to the “preservation and the conservation of places like Catalina—places that should be visited, appreciated and enjoyed for generations to come.” Tourism Cares was established in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to bring together the tourism industry to give back to American tourist attractions and icons in need of care. This fall, the organization brought a group of travel professionals to San Pedro to improve its waterfront and then to Catalina to contribute time to the Conservancy. 18
By channeling the philanthropic passion and commitment of the travel industry to protect and restore valuable destinations, Tourism Cares has brought together nearly 4,000 travel industry professionals, who have donated 31,189 hours at a value of $600,000 to culturally and historically significant destinations around the country. The organization also donated $2,500 to the Conservancy to coordinate its trip to the Island. “Catalina Island is truly a gem off the Pacific Coast,” said Ahern. “Working with the Catalina Island Conservancy to make a small impact and help in continuing its good works was an amazing experience for our volunteers, who now have a special place for Catalina in their hearts.”
Do You Have a Group That Would Like to Volunteer? Volunteer experiences with the Catalina Island Conservancy provide individuals, organizations and groups with an opportunity to give back while having fun and experiencing the beauty of Catalina. Group volunteer experiences can range from one day to several days. They can be tailored to the group’s abilities, age and skill level.
TO SET UP A GREAT VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION OR GROUP, PLEASE CONTACT: Lesly Lieberman or Cindy Lazaris, the Conservancy’s individual and group volunteer coordinators at 310-510-2595 ext. 109. clazaris@CatalinaConservancy.org llieberman@CatalinaConservancy.org Or visit the “Volunteer” page on the website, CatalinaConservancy.org.
CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
HONOR ROLL OF DONORS (Conservancy Ball auction purchases and auction donations and Catalina: The Wild Side art purchases not included)
July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014
$250,000 and Above
$5,000 – $9,999
Richard Sahroian
Ann Muscat and Jack Baldelli
Steve and Pat Chazen
U.S. Bank
Richard and Elizabeth Steele Fund
Judy Banning
Bonnell Cove Foundation $100,000 – $249,999 Blanny Avalon Hagenah $50,000 – $99,999 James H. Ackerman Family and The Evalyn M. Bauer Foundation
John W. Carson Foundation Jim and Anne Johnson Frank and Joann Randall Andy and Gaye Saxon Shaun and Katy Tucker
Victoria and Dorn Dean
$2,500 – $4,999
Debi and Norris Bishton
Tom and Gerda Sparks Bruce and Lisa Gelker
$25,000 – $49,999
Basil and Judith Witt
Geoffrey Claflin and Alison Wrigley Rusack
Wil Von Der Ahe
Maria Pellegrini
Lynne Brickner and Jerry Gallard
John and Cindy Cotton
Mike and Gloria Sullivan
Anonymous
Tim and Sheila Collins
$10,000 – $24,999 Gary and Kellie Johnson The Boone Foundation Bob and Mai Breech Phil and Susan Hagenah Jim and Vicki Warmington C.M. and Edna Peyton Cotton Foundation Earl B. Gilmore Foundation G.T. and Shannon Frost Richard and Marie Knowles City National Bank
Janice Rutherford Hinds Jack and Shirley Herron David and Pat Lamb John and Barbara Anglin Alex and Janet Boggs Doug and Audrey Bombard
Erickson Family Charitable Foundation Gardner Grout Foundation Misdee Wrigley & James M. Miller Charitable Foundation
Pamela Turbeville Douglas West and Irene Ziebarth Richard Woodward $1,000 – $2,499 Terry and Paulette Chapman Las Caballeras Bob Voit Los Angeles Yacht Club Diane Wilkinson Andrew and Corinne Dossett Thornton S. Glide, Jr. and Katrina D. Glide Foundation David Hutchison The Kleiner Cohen Foundation Geri and Richard Peckham Helen A. Rich
Jeanne Frost
Los Caballeros
Gary Gray
Trent and Linda Anderson
Steve and Stephanie Hathaway
Martin and Bernardine Curtin
Jessica Hibbs
Todd and Tatiana James Paulie Jenkins and Ted Carlsson William and Kathleen Mudd MVE & Partners, Inc.
Anonymous
SPRING 2015
Tourism Cares, Inc.
James and Diane Connelly
Bob Reid
CONSERVANCY TIMES
Mrs. Dan Stuart
Ryan Family Charitable Foundation
Howard Higholt
George and Gail Pla
Scott and Tammie Stuart
Philip and Shelley Belling Sherry Bullock Andrew Burg Ben and Denise Carter Marian Cormie Nancy Dubois John Ganahl Gary and Mary Gordon Gillian Groves and Gerald Petersen Patty Hathaway Dick and Alison Johnston Patricia Linden Newport Harbor Yacht Club Julianne O’Connor Michael and Linda Rivkin Fund at The San Diego Foundation Ron and Cheryl Roberts Hudson and Michele Saffell Steve and Ronna Schreiner Christian Spenker Richard Vaught Emily Vogler and Daniel Flynn Eric Weld
Gifts listed in order of amount.
Steve and Linda Glanville Bob and Mary Longpre Howard and Jeanne Tuttle Geraldine Knatz, PhD Link, Murrel & Company T.C. Collins & Associates, Inc. Mary Lou Jefferson David and Kathleen Renton Thomas and Karen Linden
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CONSERVANCY CALENDAR MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR ADVENTURE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF THESE EVENTS, GO TO CATALINACONSERVANCY.ORG OR CALL 562-437-8555
Catalina Island Marathon March 14
20th Annual Conservancy Ball April 11
This event will feature an exciting marathon course on Catalina’s wildlands, including much of the rugged terrain, spectacular vistas and special challenges enjoyed by noted runner Hans Albrecht and friends in the earliest days of the event. For more information, please visit runcatalina.com.
Leapin’ Lizards! An Emerald Celebration is the theme for the 20th annual Catalina Island Conservancy Ball. Join us for an elegant 1920s-style evening of dining, dancing and supporting the Conservancy in the historic Avalon Casino Ballroom. Known to many as the Island’s “event of the year,” this year the Conservancy will partner with Corsair Yacht Club. Purchase sponsorships or tickets online now. For questions, please send an email to ball@CatalinaConservancy.org or call 562-437-8555 ext. 239.
Catalina: The Wild Side Salon May 17
PHOTOS: LAURA MECOY, SCOTT STOLARZ, JACK BALDELLI
BZ Jones Hike March 28 Join the Marineros support group for this one-day hike through Catalina’s wildlands in honor of one of the Marineros’ founding members and one of the Conservancy’s most dedicated volunteer leaders, the late Graham “BZ” Jones. The hike covers about 12 miles across the middle of the Island and includes a catered lunch, transportation and dinner and a celebration at the Bluewater Grill in Avalon.
Explore Catalina Summer This year, explore Catalina with a fun-filled hike on the Island’s west end. Join the Conservancy’s Marineros support group for a day-long hike featuring tremendous vistas and a Conservancy staff presentation. Lunch will be provided. Please watch the website and your emails for additional details and a date.
Explore the Channel Islands Summer/Fall Every year, the Conservancy explores one of the Channel Islands. The day-long sojourn with a naturalist guide will be to one of the fascinating northern Channel Islands in late summer or early fall. It will include transportation and lunch. Keep an eye out for additional details and a date.
Save the date for this opportunity to meet two distinguished plein air painters, Jeff Horn and Michael Obermeyer, at Castillo del Mar in Avalon. The salon offers a rare glimpse into the artists’ creative processes, how they choose the landscapes they paint on Catalina and what is so special about the Island that keeps bringing them back.
Los Caballeros Catalina Trek September 16 – September 20 Members of Los Caballeros, accomplished horsemen who are also members of the Conservancy’s Catalina Caballeros support group, will enjoy the 66th Annual Catalina Trek. This event is produced by Los Caballeros. For more information, please visit loscaballeros.org.
Las Caballeras Catalina Ride September 29 – October 5 Las Caballeras will celebrate their 21st annual Island week of camping, camaraderie and cowgirl fun on this year’s ride. Las Caballeras are all enthusiastic members of the Catalina Conservancy. This event is produced by Las Cabelleras. For more information, please visit lascaballeras.com.
Artist John Budicin shares his love of Catalina and passion for painting at the 2014 Catalina: The Wild Side Salon at Castillo del Mar. 20
CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
Fifth Annual Catalina: The Wild Side Art Show & Sale at Newport Harbor Yacht Club October 25 Don’t miss this annual event featuring plein air artists who have captured the Island’s restoration on canvas. A favorite event for those who love art and the Island, the proceeds from the sale of these unique works of art support the Conservancy’s programs as well as a permanent plein air collection that documents Catalina’s wild side and the restoration of the Island.
! d l i W o G
E D I S D IL ! A W N E I H L T A T A RE C O L F P O X E Naturalist-led JEEP ECO TOURS. See the Island your way! ®
WILDLANDS EXPRESS to Airport in the Sky, hike Airport Loop trail, lunch at DC-3. NEW! Go to Shark Harbor and Little Harbor for a great full day getaway. Stroll through the beautiful WRIGLEY MEMORIAL & BOTANIC GARDEN. Call 310-510-2595 ext. 100 for information. GO WILD and see the Catalina most visitors miss! www.CatalinaConservancy.org
Attendees at the 2014 Catalina: The Wild Side Art Show discuss a potential purchase of one of Andy Evansen’s watercolor paintings.
Conservation & Education Symposium November 13
Discounts with membership
Leave your own lasting memory on Catalina
Remember the Conservancy in your estate plans. Call 562-437-8555 ext. 228
Join the Conservancy’s biologists and educators, as well as invited researchers and scientists, for an insider’s view of the latest Catalina Island natural history discoveries and scientific advances at this annual, day-long series of presentations in Long Beach.
CONSERVANCY TIMES
SPRING 2015
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P.O. Box 2739 Avalon, California 90704
NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID MERCURY MAILING SYSTEMS, INC.
SAVE THE DATE
ART SALON
Painting by Jeff Horn
Featuring Jeff Horn & Michael Obermeyer
May 17, 2015 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM Castillo del Mar, Avalon Join us for this rare glimpse into the artists’ creative processes! Painting by Michael Obermeyer