Eyes On Nest Sites

Meme Monday! While hiking along the trails of the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, always remember to keep personal belongings like face masks and car keys with you. Lost items like keys and jackets can be turned in at the Bolsa Chica Interpretive Center, however, personal items such as face masks will be disposed of for health and safety reasons. If you have lost something while visiting Bolsa Chica, please call us at (714) 846-1114 to see if your lost item has been found!

Today is National Art Day! Art and science are surprisingly close subjects, even though it doesn't always seem that way. Creativity is necessary to furthering scientific understanding and finding breakthroughs in how we understand the world around us. Art is frequently an expression of scientific knowledge and is used to demonstrate an understanding of said science. Even a simple photo taken on your phone is considered a scientific field observation! Show us your Bolsa Chica art in the comments!

It's National Make a Difference Day! However big or small, all of our efforts to make the world a better place are important. The Bolsa Chica Conservancy is passionate about protecting coastal wetlands and their inhabitants, which are affected by climate change. Climate change leads to rising tides, which will directly affect the animals living in Bolsa Chica. Some things you can do to fight climate change are -carpooling or using public transportation (when the pandemic is over) to decrease greenhouse gas emissions -decrease your energy usage (turn off lights in rooms you aren't in!) -raise awareness about climate change! What are some other ways you make a difference, comment down below! : Rebecca May

A softshell turtle was spotted at Bolsa Chica's Ecological Reserve! It looks like it might be a Texas spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera emoryi), which are non-native to California. Unlike their hardshell counterparts, softshell turtles have leathery upper shells. These soft shells allow them to swim through muddy water easier and walk on land faster. If you spot a softshell turtle at BCC, comment down below or tag us in a picture! : Rebecca May

Lizards, snakes, turtles, oh boy! Today we celebrate our cold-blooded friends because it's National Reptile Awareness Day! The lizard pictured here is a Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis). To avoid predators, they use their speedy reflexes and sometimes even defecate on the predator. Fun fact: the Western Fence Lizard's blood contains a protein that kills the bacterium that causes Lyme disease! What's a reptile you love? Comment down below! : Rebecca May

Spooky Skulls! For the month of October, the Bolsa Chica Conservancy challenges you to identify animal skulls found within the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve! This large wading bird is well known for nesting in the leftover palm trees near the center of the reserve. Their bills grow to be about 8 inches long, and are very sharp - perfect for catching fish and other prey. What animal does this skull belong to? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Meme Monday! We've always struggled with keeping the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve clear of trash and debris, especially since we are next to PCH. In recent months, the Bolsa Chica Conservancy and its many volunteers have picked up hundreds of face masks, cigarette butts, food wrappers, and more from along trails and off the side of the neighboring roads. If you're visiting Bolsa Chica, remember to properly dispose of your trash at the designated cans and dumpsters. You can help keep Bolsa Chica clean!

Happy Hatch Day to our oldest swell shark Charm! She hatched 1 year ago and came to us from the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium while still in her egg case. Swell sharks grow in an egg case called a mermaid's purse, for 9 - 12 months. The mermaid's purse has thick leathery walls to protect the growing shark along with string-like attachments called tendrils to attach to kelp. Kelp forests provide protection through camouflage and temperature regulation needed for these sharks to grow up big and strong!

Unfortunately, due to wetland destruction and pesticide use, the white-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi) population in North America is decreasing. Because of this, white-faced ibis are relatively rare sights at Bolsa Chica, but beautiful to see if you get lucky! Fun Fact: a group of white-faced ibises are called a "wedge!" : Rebecca May

Snowy Egrets (Egretta thula) are beautiful birds that are commonly seen in coastal wetland habitats like BCC. They have stunning white plumage and yellow feet. The snowy egret pictured here is wading in the water in search of food! Fun Fact: The oldest known snowy egret on record lived to be almost 18 years old! : Rebecca May

Today is the last day to score epic deals on top brands during Amazon's Prime Day, and how could these deals get even better? When you shop on Amazon Smile [smile.amazon.com/ch/33-0392527] and designate the Conservancy as your benefiting organization, a portion of your purchase will be donated back to the Bolsa Chica Conservancy. And it doesn't just work during Amazon's Prime Day, shop all year using the link above to contribute to the Conservancy's education and restoration programs!

In the last year, we've found or been given quite a few pets that have been abandoned on the reserve, like Rogue the ball python, our newest animal ambassador, who we found on 11/30/2019 after a visitor called to report a foreign-looking snake on the fenceline of Nest Site 1. Being native to Africa, she likely would not have survived long in the colder November temperatures, but was lucky enough to be found by BCC staff and given a nice, warm home. Others may not be so lucky; abandoning pets is dangerous to both the pet and the ecosystem around them, and they deserve better than that.