All in April: Threatened Owls, Endangered Butterflies, Secret Ridges

The Wild Equity Institute has some great GGNP Endangered Species Big Year trips scheduled in April. Come check them out for your chance to win the GGNP Endangered Species Big Year!

• Sunday, April 11, 2010, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Join Kevin Phuong to remove invasive plants crowding out Northern Spotted Owl hunting grounds and help promote the endangered bird’s population at Muir Woods. Note: this satisfies the Big Year Conservation Action Item. Meet at Muir Woods National Monument main parking lot, Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley, CA, 94941. Rain or Shine. There is a limit of 20 participants only. Must RSVP: Call 415-561-3044.

Restoring Northern Spotted Owl Habitat.

• Thursday, April 15, 2010, 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: Join Michael Chasse and Ellen Hamingson, ecologists and local botanical experts from the National Park Service, at Nicasio Ridge for a day monitoring rare and endangered plants, including the Tiburon Paintbrush and the Marin Dwarf-flax. Nicasio Ridge is usually closed to public access, so this is a rare chance to visit one the most spectacular habitats in the Golden Gate National Parks! Note: monitoring does not satisfy the Big Year action item, but can count as a sighting. Meet at the beginning of Laurel Canyon Road at the intersection of Point Reyes-Petaluma Road, Marin, CA 94956, NW of the Nicasio Reservoir. Parking area is on the north side of Point Reyes-Petaluma Road near Laurel Canyon Road. Participants will carpool up to the ridge. Due to the sensitivity of the habitat, and the requirement to coordinate with private Landowners for access to the ridge, the trip is limited to 20 participants only. Must RSVP: call 415-561-2857 or email Michael Chasse.”

Searching for Endangered Wildflowers at Nicasio Ridge.

• Sunday, April 25, 2010, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: Join lepidopterist Liam O’Brien at the old rifle range in Marin County’s Rodeo Valley to search for and learn about the endangered Mission Blue Butterfly. We’ll take a short hike around the abandoned rifle range in search of Mission Blues while learning the basics about butterflies and how to find them. Meet at the old rifle range in Rodeo Valley, which is within the GGNP’s Marin Headlands, off of Bunker Road, Sausalito, CA 94965. Email Liam O’Brien for questions about the trip. RSVP required: please use this web form to RSVP. Rain and/or overcast weather cancels.

The Endangered Mission Blue Butterfly.