City of Long Beach, El Dorado Nature Center and Regional Park

Our first babies are here!! Please remember to give them space as they walk around the Nature Center, and notify staff is anything seems wrong. Happy Spring!!!

Thanks for the shout out Jesse!! https://fb.watch/52JcipB0w_/

Naturalist Notes - Volume 51 Everyday is Earth Day Today we celebrate the 51st year of Earth Day. Being at the Nature Center reminds us of how beautiful the natural world is when cared for the right way. April 22nd has become a day when people all over the world, citizens of Earth, recognize our impact on the environment. It may seem overwhelming when looking at or reading about some of the environmental issues today. Remember that even you, just one person, can make a huge difference. Although the Nature Center is not hosting any public Earth Day events this year, we encourage households to clean up litter around their house, on their street, or in their neighborhood. After that, go on a hike or bike ride, take a deep breath, and enjoy all of the beauty that Mother Earth offers.

Check out this great event just added by the Department of Sustainability!! https://www.facebook.com/events/477969133333976

Naturalist Notes- Volume 50 Why Can’t We Pick the Flowers? During springtime at the Nature Center we are fortunate to have many different flowers blooming. Some we want here (native habitat plants), and others we don’t (weeds), but they both serve to nourish our local pollinators this time of the year. We ask that our visitors don’t pick the flowers. Plants need flowers to reproduce or make seeds, as well as feed the wildlife. If all the flowers were picked, we would eventual...ly lose the plant. Here is a great quote by Osho: If you love a flower, don’t pick it up. Because if you pick it up it dies and it ceases to be what you love. So if you love a flower, let it be. Love is not about possession. Love is about appreciation.

Naturalist Notes- Volume 37 Reindeer Games Reindeer in European/ Slavic countries, but Caribou to us here in North America, they are the only species of deer where both the males and females grow antlers. Males shed their antlers in fall, and the females keep them till the following spring. So, Santa’s rapid coursers are probably female. Believe it or not they all have red noses, not just Rudolph! Because of the extremely cold climate, reindeer have lots of extra blood vessel...s in their noses, and fur to help warm the air when they inhale. Those aren’t the sounds of bells you hear on the roof. Reindeer leg joints actually make a clicking sound when they walk. It’s thought that this sound helps the herds stay together in snow storms. So when you read this holiday poem you'll have a different perspective. He sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle: But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight- Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night. See more

El Dorado Regional Park and Nature Center will be closed on Friday, December 25th. Have a Merry Christmas!!!

Winter Solstice will bring the Great Conjunction and the Christmas Star that hasn't been seen in 800 years!!!

Naturalist Notes Volume 36 Some of our eagle-eyed patrons have been spotting cats on our trails recently. Unfortunately, sometimes people are unable to continue caring for their animals, and decide to release them on Nature Center grounds. Ultimately many of the former pets can fall prey to predators, or do considerable damage to the wildlife that call the Nature Center home. Fortunately, our recent kitties were caught by staff and volunteers and are going to some forever homes. If you see one during your visit, please report it to a staff member! If you need help re-homing an animal, please contact Long Beach Animal Care Services at (562) 570-7387. And remember, any pet is a big responsibilitykindly consider stuffed animals as an alternative to living pets this holiday season.

Naturalist Notes- Volume 35 It’s easy to get lost in the daily struggles of being an earthling. We often fail to remember that we are a very small part of a very large picture. This month may help give us a much-needed reality check. All you need to do is bend your neck back and look up into the night sky. This year, the Geminid meteor shower is expected to peak on the evening of Sunday, December 13th and into the early hours of December 14th. This display should be excellent... because the new moon falls on December 14th meaning we are expecting relatively darker skies. You can view throughout the evening, but the best time will be around 2:00 a.m. You also have the chance of observing a rare earthgrazer meteor. Unlike many other meteors that are seen, these are long-lasting and slow-moving meteors that move horizontally across the sky. The parent of the Geminid meteor shower is not a comet, as most are, but an asteroid named 3200 Phaethon that sheds debris as it passes near the sun. Every year, Earth passes through the orbital path of 3200 Phaethon and collides with these debris particles, giving us the annual Geminid meteor shower. So take a break from the television, tablet, or phone for one night and take advantage of a part of nature that has entertained earthlings for thousands of years.

California Native Plant Sale!!! Begins November 3rd 10am-1pm. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays while supplies last. For information please call (562) 570-1745.

Naturalist Notes Volume 28 Take a (Haiku) Hike! Nature and poetry are a classic combination, and a good celebration of both is haiku! Of ancient Japanese origin, Haiku are short three line poems, typically with a 5 7 5 syllable pattern. Traditionally they are about nature, perhaps with a seasonal reference. They’re known for their ability to paint a vivid picture in just a few words, often with the meeting of two images. ... On your next visit, challenge your Nature Center walking partners to pay particular attention as you travel the trails and see who can build a haiku or two with their observations. Can you guess what animal this haiku is about? Summer Evening By KN Soukonokov Big eyes blink. Hoot! Hoot! Tiny animals stop, freeze. Too late! She swoops down.

REGISTRATION BEGINS TODAY!!! Nature Detective After School Camp- Fall Sessions 8:00am online lbparks.org and in person at El Dorado Nature Center. For more information call (562) 570-1745. Scholarships available to LBUSD students. No classes the week of Thanksgiving... K/1- Tuesdays, Nov. 10 - Dec. 8 #43932 2/3- Wednesdays, Nov. 11- Dec. 9 #43933 4/5- Thursdays, Nov. 12- Dec. 10 #43934 Time change 3:00pm 4:30pm p.m. Medical check-in 2:45 p.m. $80 for the four-week session. Ages 5 -10, birthday must be before 9/2/2015

UPDATE- Police situation has been resolved. Regional Park and Nature Center will reopen at 1:30pm. Sorry for the inconvenience. Thank you.

Due to an Active Police situation on the 605 Freeway and the Katella Street on ramp, El Dorado Nature Center and Regional Park have been closed temporaily. Please call (562) 570-1745 for information on when we will reopen. Thank you.

Nature Detective After School Camp- Fall Sessions Registration Begins Friday, October 16th 8:00am online lbparks.org and in person at El Dorado Nature Center. For more information call (562) 570-1745. Scholarships available to LBUSD students. No classes the week of Thanksgiving... K/1- Tuesdays, Nov. 10 - Dec. 8 #43932 2/3- Wednesdays, Nov. 11- Dec. 9 #43933 4/5- Thursdays, Nov. 12- Dec. 10 #43934 Time change 3:00pm 4:30pm p.m. Medical check-in 2:45 p.m. $80 for the four-week session. Ages 5 -10, birthday must be before 9/2/2015

Naturalist Notes- Volume 27 It takes about 1 hour for a spider to spin a web, and two seconds for an unsuspecting person to knock it down. Usually made near porch lights at night to draw in wayward bugs, people are regularly greeted in the morning with the familiar spider dance while attempting to remove the sticky trap from body parts. Amazingly spiders make certain parts of the webs sticky and not sticky for walking on. Although depicted in images for Halloween, children’s books, and even visible on our trails, the round orb weaver web is not the most common. The basic cob web can be found all over the globe. So on your next walk look high, look low, and always in front of you while on the trails.

Naturalist Notes - Volume 26 Happy October everyone and happy fall! Now that fall season has begun, you might see quite a few unique birds stopping by our Nature Center and Regional Park as birds begin to migrate away from cooler temps and head towards warmer weather in the Southern hemisphere. A great example of a migratory bird is the Canada Goose. Although we have plenty that have decided to permanently reside in our parks, you might see a few flying up above in a V formation as they make their way down south. During your next visit, keep an eye out to see if you can spot a bird who might be making a pit stop!

Nature Detectives After School Camp There are still spots available in our Wednesday 2nd-3rd Grade # 43613 (additional class opening), and Thursday 4th and 5th Grade # 43614 sessions. Register at lbparks.org

If you have questions about the park or programs please call (562) 570-1745. We are unale to open our emails sent to Facebook at this time. Thank you.

Begins October 1st, 2020 El Dorado Regional Park and Nature Center Daily Parking and Annual Pass Fee Increases Daily Parking Tickets:... $6 Weekday $7 Friday $8 Weekend $9 Holiday RV/Truck with Trailer Daily Parking Ticket: $11 Weekday $15 Weekend $21 Holiday Annual Parking Pass: Senior 50yrs + or Disabled $40 Regular $65

Naturalist Notes Volume 25 Most days there is no need to walk very far past our front gate before experiencing the odd and beautiful creatures of mother nature. The small green heron can sometimes be seen standing in shallow water or balancing expertly on a low hanging branch, just off the first bridge! Keep your eyes open for its dark, iridescent wings, chestnut neck, and short, yellow legs. You may even hear it calling - kyowkkyowk

Nature Detective After School Camp Scholarships Available to LBUSD students. Email [email protected] for an application, or pick up at El Dorado Nature Center. Application must be submitted by Friday, October 2nd at 5pm. For information call (562) 570-1745.