Calendar

Full written descriptions and directions for each trip are listed below this calendar application. You may also find these trips on the corresponding Species/Actions page.

May

Thursday, May 1, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Train to become a GGNRA Weed Watcher, the action item you can take to help save the White-Rayed Pentachaeta! Includes training and an introductory hike. Bring your own lunch and water. Location: 1216 Ralston Ave., SF in the Presidio. Click here for directions. RSVP Required: (415) 331-5023. NOTE: to complete the weed watcher training action item, you must agree to do a survey for high-priority invasive species at least once a month for 6 months.

Saturday, May 3, 2008, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Celebrate the beginning of May with an exciting day of restoration at Milagra Ridge in Pacifica. Accompany Sue Gardner as she paints the picture of Milagra's past, including artichoke farming and NIKE missiles. Christina Crooker of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy will share her knowledge of the endangered mission blue butterfly and the park's efforts to ensure their preservation. Gaze off the ridge for breathtaking views of the California Coast, all the while helping to enhance habitat for Milagra's sensitive species. May is the peak of the mission blue's flight season, so this is your best chance to spot one of these truly gorgeous flyers. Dress in warm layers, wear sturdy shoes and bring lots of friends! We provide snacks, tools and gloves. Meeting spot is Milagra Ridge entrance gate. A carpool from Fort Mason (leaving at 9:15 a.m.) is available. Click here for directions to work site and carpool pick-up location. RSVP required: call 415-561-3067.

Sunday, May 4, 2008, 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Join local naturalist Matt Zlatunich on a six mile hike from Seal Rock to the Golden Gate and back in search of Southern Sea Otters. Meet at the Cliff House west terrance. Bring food and water. Click here for directions. RSVP required: mbzlat@yahoo.com.

Saturday, May 10, 2008, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Come on out to Mori Point, land of majestic wildflower displays, perilously rare species, cinematic fame, and historic whiskey shoot-outs! Sue Gardner will share some of Mori's spiciest stories while we roll up our sleeves to restore native plant communities around three new frog ponds. We'll be working in sensitive habitat and, if we're lucky, we'll see some California red-legged frogs and maybe even a San Francisco garter snake. If that's not enough, May is the perfect time to check out Mori's wildflowers - the point should be carpeted in a display of yellow and purple petals. Dress in warm layers, wear sturdy shoes and bring lots of friends! We provide snacks, tools and gloves. Meeting spot is Mori Point entrance gate. A carpool from Fort Mason (leaving at 9:15 a.m.) is available. Click here for directions to work site and carpool pick-up location. RSVP required: call 415-561-3067.

Sunday, May 11, 2008, 10:00 a.m.: Join Liam O'Brien at the Marin Headlands Golden Gate Parking Lot Overlook for a trip to see the Mission Blue Butterfly. RSVP required: call 415-572-6989.

Sunday, May 11, 2008, 1:00 p.m.: Join Brent Plater and Tim Sullivan for a hike into the usually inaccessible Crystal Springs to search for the San Mateo woolly sunflower. Park in the small parking lot just east of the junction of Crystal Springs Rd. and Tartan Trail Rd. in Burlingame. Click here for directions. RSVP required: email bplater@ggnrabigyear.org. Note: This trip is subject to final authorization.

Friday, May 16, 2008: Want to learn more about the Endangered Species Big Year? Come hear Brent Plater give a Big Year presentation to the California Native Plant Society in San Mateo. Location: San Carlos Library, Community Room A&B, San Carlos Library, 610 Elm St., San Carlos. Free and open to the public. Click here for directions. For more information: email CNPS President Kevin Bryant at mtngreen17@verizon.net.

Saturday, May 17, 2008, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Join Greg Reza of the Marin Open Space District to tour and restore habitat for the Tiburon Paintbrush. RSVP required: call 415-507-2818. Meet at the corner of Endeavor Dr. and Granada Dr. Click here for directions.

Saturday, May 17, 2008, 9:00 a.m. - Noon: Join Friends of Edgewood Park and the Edgewood Weed Warrior program in restoring habitat for the San Mateo thornmint. Wear sturdy shoes, long pants and bring water. RSVP required: email Drew Shell at dshell@microsoft.com. Meet at the West Kiosk. Click here for directions.

Saturday, May 17, 2008, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Check out the late wildflower bloom and stunning views of San Francisco Bay atop the ridges of Oakwood Valley while restoring habitat for the endangered mission blue butterfly. Join Sue Gardner as we remove invasive plants that are encroaching on the grasslands this species needs for survival. We'll take a special walk beyond the fence lines to spy these blue flyers in their natural habitat. Our chances of seeing one of these creatures are at their best as mid-May is the peak flight season at Oakwood Valley. Dress in warm layers, wear sturdy shoes and bring lots of friends! We provide snacks, tools and gloves. Meeting point is the Alta Avenue Gate at the top of Donohue Street. A carpool from Fort Mason (leaving at 9:15 a.m.) is available. Click here for directions to work site and carpool pick-up location. RSVP required: call 415-561-3067.

Saturday, May 17, 2008, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Join Peter Brastow of Nature in the City on a 5 mile hike through the Presidio's diverve habitats in search of wildflowers including San Francisco Lessingia, Presidio Clarkia and Marin Dwarf-flax. Meet at Lobos Dunes parking lot (Coming from the 25th Ave. gate into the Presidio, take the first right into the parking lot). Bring food and water. RSVP required: peter@natureinthecity.org.

Sunday, May 18, 2008, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.: Join the GGNRA Endangered Species Big Year for an Endangered Species Day Celebration! We’ll have informational displays about the GGNRA’s work to protect the park's endangered species and the special places they call home. Then after some free snacks and drinks, we’ll go on a naturalist-led hike to search for the tidewater goby, a small, endangered, nest-building fish that calls the GGNRA’s Rodeo Lagoon home! Click here for directions or take the Muni Bus #76 to Rodeo Lagoon.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008, 9:00 a.m. - Noon: Join Lew Stringer and Michael Chasse of the National Park Service at Inspiration Point to help count flowering Presidio clarkia and Marin dwarf-flax - the action item you can complete to help save these beautiful endangered wildflowers! Meet at the Crissy Field Center. RSVP required: call 415-561-4856. Click here for directions.

Sunday, May 25, 2008, 10:00 a.m.: Join Liam O'Brien at the Marin Headlands Golden Gate Parking Lot Overlook for a trip to see the Mission Blue Butterfly. RSVP required: call 415-572-6989.

Friday, May 30, 2008, 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.: A behind the scenes tour of one of the wildest and most striking areas of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area on a search for the endangered Tiburon Paintbrush, a beautiful plant that is still found in this great national park. Meet at Laurel Canyon Road along Point Reyes-Petaluma Road, just west of Nicasio Reservoir. Click here for directions. RSVP required: Call 415-564-4107. Maximum 15 participants.

Saturday, May 31, 2008, 1:00 p.m.: Join Jake Sigg, Ken Himes and the CA Native Plant Society as we work to remove the principal threat to the Fountain Thistle (i.e. pampas grass) at one of its few sites, the intersection of Interstate 280 and Highway 92. Caltrans is removing the bulk of the pampas grass, but is avoiding working in the immediate area where the thistle occurs, because of its sensitivity. That's where we come in! We'll be grubbing out pampas grass that are encroaching the thistle. The thistle grows in wet soil so wear boots and clothing that are appropriate. We provide gloves. You will probably find rescuing this beautiful plant a rewarding endeavor. Click here for directions. RSVP required: Call Jake Sigg at 415-731-3028. For last minute questions after 9am on May 31, call Chris Farron of Caltrans at 415-850-5964.

June

Saturday, June 7, 2008, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Join SPAWN staff and volunteers along beautiful Lagunitas Creek to help restore critical streamside habitat and learn about (and see!) endangered coho salmon and steelhead. It is not uncommon to also see wood ducks, pileated woodpeckers, hawks, and other cool creatures while we work along the creek. Wear sturdy shoes, appropriate clothing for weather and gloves. Families welcome! Breakfast, snacks and lunch will be provided. RSVP required: call 415-663-8590 x107 or email Kevin@SpawnUSA.org or Jenny@SpawnUSA.org (email preferred). Meet at SPAWN headquarters, 9255 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Tocaloma, approx. 1 mile west of Devil's Gulch State Park. Click here for directions.

Saturday, June 7, 2008, 9:15 a.m. - Noon: Join Laurette Rogers of the Bay Institute and Bill Cox of the California Department of Fish & Game to restore creek habitat of the California Freshwater Shrimp. The site is at the Ranch of David Jablons and Tamara Hicks in the Two Rock Valley area of West Marin. Meet at Jablons Ranch, 5500 Franklin School Rd. in Valley Ford promptly at 9:15 a.m. RSVP required: email liammail56@yahoo.com. Click here for directions.

Saturday, June 21, 2008, 8:00 a.m. - Noon.: Join Michael Chasse and Matt Zlatunich on this multi-species morning. From 8-9a.m. we will look for California Least Tern. From 9a.m. to 12noon we will join Presidio Park Stewards in restoring marsh habitat for the California Seablight (while still keeping an eye out for terns). Brown Pelicans are likely and there is potential for an afternoon jaunt to Inspiration Point for lingering Presidio Clarkia. RSVP required: email mbzlat@yahoo.com. Meet at the Crissy Field Center. Click here for directions.

July

Wednesday, July 2, 2008, 9:00 a.m. - 12 Noon.: Join Lew Stringer and Michael Chasse of the National Park Service at Lobos Creek Valley to help count flowering San Francisco Lessingia, a beautiful endangered wildflower in the sunflower family. RSVP required: call 415-561-4856. Meet at the Crissy Field Center. Click here for directions.

Sunday, July 6, 2008, 10:00 a.m. - 2 p.m. : Field sketching with Jack Laws! Join us for a day of field sketching in the Presidio's Lobos Dunes. Learn simple techniques to help you quickly and accurately capture your nature observations in a sketchbook. We will be practicing our sketching skills on the San Francisco Lessingia, a beautiful endangered wildflower in the sunflower family. Bring a sketchbook, your favorite drawing materials for working outside, snacks and water. A list of some possible sketching materials can be found here. Meet at the Lobos Dunes parking lot (Coming from the 25th Ave. gate into the Presidio, take the first right into the parking lot). Ages 12 and up. RSVP required: email mbzlat@yahoo.com.

August

Sunday, August 3, 2008, 8:00 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Join local naturalist Matt Zlatunich on a 5 mile hike through the Presidio's diverse habitats in search of endangered species including Brown Pelican, Western Snowy Plover, San Francisco Lessingia and Southern Sea Otter. Bring food and water. RSVP required: email mbzlat@yahoo.com. Meet at Baker Beach north parking lot. Click here for directions.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Calendar

May

June

July

August