Sea gull terrorist . . .

 Gull slamming into the ocean . . .

 and grabbing a crab . . .

He did 'share' a leg of the poor creature with his tag-a-long friend. I'm vegan so the idea of anything eating a crab doesn't appeal to me. I choose not to intervene in nature 99% of the time but I have to admit this was hard to watch . . .

Since 2010, the Monterey Bay Shores Eco-Resort has been fighting the California Coastal Commission in court over their decision to decline this mega-resort a permit to build. 

The stated mission of the Coastal Commission is to:

"Protect, conserve, restore, and enhance environmental and human-based resources of the California coast and ocean for environmentally sustainable and prudent use by current and future generations."

This issue is before the Commission once again and the public has an opportunity to support the California Coastal Commission in upholding the spirit of the Coastal Act and living up to their stated mission.

Bodega Head, Bodega Bay, CA

Please join me in writing an email urging the California Coastal Commission to vote to DECLINE the Coastal Development Permit for the Monterey Bay Shores Eco-Resort. You are welcome to use my letter as a template. I contacted the Commission and was told all communication regarding this issue should be sent via email to: montereybayshoresresort@coastal.ca.gov

(I previously posted an email address with 'shore', it should be as now posted above. I apologize for posting the incorrect address.)

Thank you so much for taking the time to write!


April 8, 2014

Mr. Steve Kinsey Supervisor & Chair & Commissioners
California Coastal Commission
Central Coast District Office
725 Front Street, Suite 300
Santa Cruz, CA 95060-4508

EMAIL: montereybayshoreresort@coastal.ca.gov

RE: DECLINE Coastal Development Permit to the Monterey Bay Shores Eco-Resort

Dear Chairman Kinsey and Commissioners:

I'm writing as a concerned citizen, a coastal dweller and a beach advocate. I walk the beach everyday and pick up trash left behind. The worst months are the summer/fall tourist season when beaches are littered with plastic bottles, plastic bags and cheap plastic beach toys. Building a resort along any coastal shoreline is an Eco-disaster waiting to happen. Our oceans are overburdened and suffocating with garbage washed out to sea. Adding more is unthinkable.

This project will add to the burden of park services to clean up the trash on the beaches. From my years of experience, much of the beach trash will end up in the ocean and in the stomachs of birds and ocean dwellers and the humans who eat fish. It will harm and even destroy sensitive nesting habitat of the endangered snowy plover. Construction of this mass resort will erode sensitive dunes and disrupt life of nesting birds and other marine wildlife

At a time in history when our oceans are barely surviving because of the impact of humans, the Monterey Bay Shores Resort project is irresponsible . . . there is nothing at all ecological about this project. Building any resort along our coastline is irresponsible. This is "green-washing" at it's worst.

I fully supported your 2010 decision to deny the Monterey Bay Shores Eco-Resort a permit to build. I continue to support your original ruling and urge you to decline the Monterey Bay Shores Resort a Coastal Development Permit for this project.

Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns.

With appreciation,


Darris B. Nelson

cc: Jana Zimmer, Vice-Chair ~ zimmerccc@gmail.com
      Carole Groom, Supervisor ~ cgroom@smcgov.org
      Gregory Cox, Supervisor ~ Gregcoastal@sdcounty.ca.gov
      Martha McClure, Supervisor ~ mmcclureccc@co.del-norte.ca.us

Beach trash (including cooler) found on where the Estero Americano meets the Pacific Ocean

Marine Mammal Center release June 2012 at Scotty's Beach

Great Blue Heron

Thank you to Surfrider for bringing this issue to our attention. For more information and to join in their email campaign go to the site: http://action.surfrider.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=9620
    

Autumn equinox at the beach . . .

Squid egg sac

Watercolor sunset

Teaching opportunity

I've watched this immature California gull pester it's mother for food for days now. The common tactic of the mother gulls is to present the food and let the offspring figure it out then ignore further pleas for a meal (my take of course). This mother gull seemed to be more patient than any other I've witnessed. She drug the crab beyond the waters edge and presented it to her offspring several times. Her 'child' attempted to eat for a moment and then gave up crying and begging. It's mother then ripped a leg off the crab and presented it; same crying and begging.  Often times I'll see the mother gull get bored or disgusted with the whole thing and fly off, leaving it's frantic offspring to figure it out. This mother persisted in her attempt to get the whiny bird to eat on his own. She repeatedly fended off mature gulls that swooped in to grab the prize. During one of these grab attempts, the ocean lapped up and pushed the whole crab (minus 1 leg) right to the feet of another waiting gull. The opportunistic bird promptly grabbed the crustacean and took flight. It was only then that the mother flew a short distance away leaving her offspring crying in helpless despair. 

As I watched this drama unfold it brought to mind my own parenting dilemma . . . when to assist and when to let your child fail and hopefully learn, seems to be a never-ending conundrum . . .

Tall Ships, Big Waves . . .

A ship load of visiting voyagers on a fog soaked day in Bodega Bay

With swells up to 10 feet, the surfers were out at sunset

Misty, gray, raucous ocean . . .

Brightened up to a steamy gold sunset as I ended my walk

I am where I want to be . . . 


Click here for 'Dark Side of the Lens' . . . a beautiful award winning video not to be missed . . 

 

Where sanderlings gather . . .

Sanderlings (Calidris alba)

According to Wikipedia; 

"The Sanderling is a small plump sandpiper, 18–20 cm in length. Its weight ranges from 40-100 g. The winter bird is very pale, almost white apart from a dark shoulder patch. The juvenile bird is spangled black and white, and shows much more contrast than the adult. It can be told from other small wading birds, given good views, by its lack of a hind toe."

They gather, they run, they probe for food, and then suddenly they're in flight . . .

Just as suddenly, they've landed. This pattern continues dozens of times as they move down the beach.

 

"The sun, descending the altar of the year, pauses ritually on the steps of the summer months. The great sun overflows; the year burns on. All these autumn weeks I have watched the great disk going south along the horizon of moorlands beyond the marsh. The turn of the sun's wheel, always the imperative, bright sun."

                                                                   ~ Henry Beston

                                                                        'The Outermost House'

Bottlenose Dolphins in Bodega Bay . . .

Bottlenose dolphin ~ Doran Beach, Bodega Bay, CA ~ Darris Nelson

Two women vacationing in Bodega Bay pointed out a pod of Bottlenose dolphins that were frolicking and fishing about seventy five yards offshore.

Susan from Texas & Anna-Alise from NV

 
It was overcast and the light was getting dim. Although the photos aren't the greatest, they do give you a sense of my experience. If you're patient you'll actually get a good sighting and action on the video.

The dolphins seemed to be fishing in two groups. I believe there was a total of six dolphins in the pod possibly more.

 

I watched and filmed from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. At about 5:30 my right contact dried up and folded in my eye and rolled back someplace that I wasn't able to find. I kept shooting hoping I was getting some worthwhile images. I called my husband at about 6:00 p.m. because I had a two mile walk ahead of me and I couldn't see my hand in front of my face! Besides, I knew he wouldn't want to miss this rare event.

 

 

Someday I might take the time to edit my photos and video but in the meantime they're straight out of my Canon SX 30 point and shoot.

 

Harbor seal checking out the commotion

 
It was a beautiful evening at Doran Beach . . .  

 

Salmon Fishing in Bodega Bay

Anglers are out trolling for salmon in Bodega Bay.  I counted thirty three fishing boats at 8:00 p.m. A fellow beach walking friend told me that he and his wife counted over seventy (70) fishing boats off Bodega Head on Sunday!

Doran Beach, Bodega Bay

I'm not a fisherman (fisherwoman?) but the USAfishing website appears to be a reliable source for up to date fishing information from Alaska all the way down to Baja (two of my favorite places).

Doran Beach, Bodega Bay

According to the USAfishing website: "The salmon bite is still hit and miss with some private boats whacking 3 or 4 quick limits and others struggling to find a fish per rod." 

Doran Beach, Bodega Bay

Our Bodega Bay mornings have been warm and calm with winds picking up in the early afternoon continuing into early evening then settling down by nightfall. Not much fog here in Bodega Bay and the moon is waxing Gibbous at 63% of full. We'll have a full moon on July 3rd. These windless mornings have my friend Tom out and about with his cameras . . .

Fog lifting in Tomales Bay ~ Tom Reynolds, photographer

  
Come visit our fabulous, fun, Bodega Bay Farmers Market (featured in Michelle Anna Jordon's column in the Press Democrat) every Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Bodega Bay Community Center!!

Bringin' home the greens . . .

Make it a beautiful stay in Bodega Bay! 


xxoo

Bodega Bay Surfers . . .

Six foot tide, big curly waves and 90 degree temps bring out the surfers

Grand Opening for the New Bodega Bay Farmers Market

When: Sundays from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm 

Where: Bodega Bay Community Center 2255 Highway One Bodega Bay, CA 94923 on the Community Center grounds by the bell tower

What: Local farmers and vendors gather with their fresh produce and items for residents and tourists alike. 

GRAND OPENING DAY FOR THE NEW FARMERS MARKET IN BODEGA BAY!!! LIVE MUSIC* FOOD* BEVERAGES* 

The farmers market event was created to support local farms and businesses as well as provide funds for the Bodega Bay Community Association. 

For more information or vending opportunities please email us at farmersmarketinbodegabay@gmail.com

Eat your VEGGIES!

Just for fun . . . (thanks Donna xxoo)

Mountain Lions Live Among Us . . .

'The Felidae Conservation Fund'

A few days ago I received the following anonymous alert from a reader of this blog:

"FYI, we stayed at Bodega Sand Dunes Campground Friday night and had a frightening close call with a mountain lion at 3:15 AM. After feeding the baby my wife left to visit the restroom without a flashlight. She had onlt taken a couple of steps when a cougar "screamed" at her no more than 25 feet away (sounded like less than 10). She froze and it screamed at her again. To me it sounded like a warning to stay away - a very scary warning that sends shivers down your spine. I called out to my wife who unfroze and dashed back into the tent. We were escorted out of the site as we were quite shaken. I wasn't overly concerned for the safety of my wife and I, but know that small children may be in danger so we left. I am an avid outdoorsman and have been my entire life (first backpacking trip at 6 months old), but those screams at my wife are still haunting. Best I can tell is the cougar was stalking a deer that was walking through our campsite. The cougar was down wind of us and deer footprints went right by our tent the opposite direction. My wife unwittingly opened the tent door and started walking towards its hiding place that wasn't far away and sent the warning screams at my wife. I have always wanted to see a cougar, but hope the next one we see uses better manners and says "please" and "thank you." :) We love the area and will be back again (just at a less remote camp site). Nice to know it is even more natural than I anticipated with even Mt. Lions." 

After reading this I immediately contacted two people whose knowledge and professionalism I greatly respect. They are professional tracker, Jim Sullivan, and 'The Felidae Conservation Fund' Founder, Zara McDonald. I will write a follow up post featuring comments and tracking information from Jim Sullivan. Zara McDonald is the author of today's guest post. 

 

Photo credit ~ 'The Felidae Conservation Fund'

The following is a Guest post by Zara McDonald, Founder of 'The Felidae Conservation Fund'   

"For many people, it can be disconcerting to realize that the beautiful wildlands we so enjoy around the Bay Area also serve as habitat for mountain lions (also called pumas or cougars). After all, the mountain lion is a fierce killer that can eat a human for dinner without a second thought, right? Well not exactly. The last time someone was killed by a mountain lion in the Bay Area was over 100 years ago, and it wasn't as a meal (a bite from a lion resulted in rabies). Though rarely seen, mountain lions live among us, and if we were on their menu, a lot more of us would be ending up as lunch." 

Zara with cougar ~ 'The Felidae Conservation Fund'

"Lions prefer to move and live in the wildest landscapes where their natural prey is abundant, but development and fragmentation of habitat has changed movement and dispersal patterns in lions. So we are seeing them more than was typical in the past."
  
"The Bay Area Puma Project (www.bapp.org) is working to change the fearful perception of mountain lions. The project partners are working hard to get the word out that the mountain lion is very rarely a danger to humans."

"Mountain lions are a ethereal animal that plays a critical role at the top of the food chain and are a keystone species in our local ecosystems. The mountain lions presence in the habitat is essential for maintaining the health and balance of the natural world we so enjoy. (Their mere presence lowers the risk of deseases such as lyme disease because lions feed on deseased and weakened prey)."

"The Bay Area Puma Project was created because rapid human development in the region is threatening the very existence of healthy puma populations, and if we lose them, the health of our environment will go into decline. We urgently need to change this course, and find healthy ways for humans to co-exist with pumas, and all wildlife."

"The Puma Project has already fitted 26 cats with tracking collars in the Santa Cruz Mountains, including 4 puma kittens, and is currently expanding the research to the East Bay and North Bay. More information about mountain lions, as well as a list of upcoming talks and events, can be found at Felidae's website: www.FelidaeFund.org".

Field team in Pakistan, photo courtesy of 
'The Felidae Conservation Fund'

I asked Zara, "What inspired you to establish 'The Felidae Conservation Fund?"

Zara McDonald, photo courtesy of
'The Felidae Conservation Fund'

"I was done with pre med and was moving away from medical school plans toward wildlife ecology, with a special interest in the role wild felids play in the ecosystem. I was an ultra marathoner at the time and had 2 separate sightings at the end of long runs, one very close, within 6 months of each other, in the Marin headlands. This was about 8 or 9 years ago.
A lion’s head popped out of the riparian at eye level to me and about 5 feet away. I stopped running and we stared each other down. I was struck by the beauty of the animal and how natural it looked in the landscape. It seemed to look right through me. I felt like an intruder, and although I was scared, I knew he was going to walk away, and 15 seconds later he turned and left as quickly as he appeared. My life was changed from that moment on, in a powerful, and at the same time a subtle way that grew as time passed. The memory haunted me, and I held it close. Yet I knew I needed to do more. It seemed to fit well with my direction and over the next 2 years with encouragement from friends and colleagues, I started Felidae. Our mission is to advance the awareness and conservation of wild felids and their habitats all over the world."

Zara and villagers, photo courtesy of
'The Felidae Conservation Fund'

Thank you Zara for generously giving your time and information, and for your critical work in saving big cats the world over.

For more information, events, photos, videos and audio about mountain lions and other big cats go to these outstanding websites:

CLICK HERE for the 'Bay Area Puma Project' website

CLICK HERE for 'The Felidae Conservation Fund' website

Have you ever had a sighting or an encounter with a mountain lion? Tell us, we'd love to hear your story ~