Volume 34 * Number 2 Summer * 2011 Foundation Route 1, Box 62 Carmel, CA 93923 831-625-1470 www.PointLobos.org

Features Officers 6 30-Year All Stars! President Skip Flohr Pat Bova Vice President Sandy Hale 8 30 Years 4 Months 6 Days Secretary Judd Perry Dana Goforth Treasurer Jay Sinclair 10 Weedbusters Ed Clifton Directors

Departments Dick Dalsemer Steve Dennis Stan Dryden Bill Eckert 3 Message from the President Sharon Hoffman Jeff Johnson Skip Flohr Augie Louis Lynne Miles 4 Under My Brim Rick Pettit Kathy Petty Ranger Chuck Bancroft Carl Voss 5 Observations

12 Quotes from the Docent Log Docent Administrator Edited by Rick Pettit Stan Dryden 16 Memorial and Tribute Gifts

Fund Development Coordinator Photo Contributors Lisa Cook Chuck Bancroft Eddie Bartley Docent Coordinator/School Group Caroline Brady Wayne Cipperly Dave Evans Dida Kutz Coordinator Rick Pettit Paul Reps Melissa Gobell Pat Sinclair Carl Voss Dave Weller Cooperating Association Liaison Dana M. Jones

Point Lobos Magazine Editorial Director Copyeditor Dida Kutz Charles Schrammel [email protected] Use your smartphone to visit our website and archived magazines.

Point Lobos Magazine The mission of the Point Lobos Foundation is to support is printed on recycled paper interpretive and educational programs that enhance the visitor’s and published four times per year experience, and to assist State Parks in preserving by the Point Lobos Foundation. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. PDF versions available at www.PointLobos.org Cover: Black-crowned night heron courtesy Chuck Bancroft Message from the President: MAJOR COMMITMENTs Skip Flohr

By now most everybody even funded the maintenance knows California Parks and of the Park’s restrooms. Recreation has announced the The Point Lobos Foundation names of the 70 state parks that Board of Directors is now will be closed to help make studying ways to provide the solicit input on the GP. Times the $32,000,000 in budget cuts additional financial support to the and dates for these hearings ordered over the next two years. It Monterey District of State Parks will be published in the local has been decreed that they will be that will be required to maintain media. We will also include closed by July 1, 2012. Fortunately the high standards expected information about the hearings for lovers of the Point Lobos State by our members and visitors. on our website, www.pointlobos. Natural Reserve, our favorite I know we are all disappointed org. It is important to remember park is not on the list. However, that is slated that a general plan may include two other parks in Monterey for disclosure. Therefore I am restrictions on what can be District parks are on the closure asking the board of directors developed as well as what might list. They are Garrapata State Park for a “Needs Assessment” be considered for development. and . for Garrapata State Park to To make sure your opinions Although Point Lobos State help us determine if we can and ideas can be heard and Natural Reserve will remain provide enough assistance to considered, we ask that if you open, there will be additional the Monterey District to keep possibly can, attend the public pressures on maintaining this beautiful park open. hearings. You may also let us operation and maintenance This is also an excellent time to know how you feel on this, standards in the park. reconsider your personal financial as well as any other issues, Point Lobos Foundation is commitment to the Reserve by by adding comments to our committed to doing everything raising you membership level. website or by mailing them to: it can to maintain standards at    Point Lobos Foundation Point Lobos. We will continue A Memorandum of Route 1, Box 62 to fund our school outreach Understanding between state Carmel, CA 93923 program allowing over 5,000 parks and the Point Lobos Attention: Robert (Skip) Flohr students to visit Point Lobos Foundation has been signed every year. We will continue by both the state and the to fully fund training for our Foundation. This commits approximately 165 outstanding the Foundation to pay the volunteer docents, and financially lesser of $250,000 or one half support trail maintenance the cost of a new general plan and improvements including (GP, see Spring 2011 issue the building of trails meeting for details). This is the largest ADA specifications. Your financial commitment our Foundation also funds the Foundation has ever made. eradication and replacement A number of public of non-native plants and has hearings will be held to

Summer 2011 3 Under My Brim Spring is here at last, a time of renewal and rebirth. The hills are alive with multi-colored greens. The ocean has provided a variety of incredible blues. Clouds have filled the air with their giant pillow shapes. Warm sunshine has created an algae bloom that colors the waters of the bay and coves in various shades of green. Even the fog has blanketed us with cool, wet, natural air-conditioning and excitement, but you have to experience the floral on occasion. display for yourself. Every part of Point Lobos is Yet the most glorious with flowers. Make sure to see the harbor dramatic change seals and their pups, watch for the nesting herons, is the proliferation gulls, and cormorants, and listen for the woodland of color of the and meadow birds filling the air with their songs. wild flower Always at your service, bloom. Areas on the north side of Ranger Chuck the Reserve are awash in fields of California golden poppy, Douglas iris has lined up along the Sea Lion Point parking lot, and the entrance station has seen its own iris as well as fragrant wild lilac. Big Mound Meadow, Little

Mound Meadow, and the grassy shoreline have produced hundreds upon hundreds of sea pink, and blue-eyed grass lines the roadway to Piney Woods. I could go on and on with names and colors

44 Point Lobos Magazine Photos courtesy Chunk Bancroft. Clockwise from top right: blue-eyed grass, wood rose, tarweed, seaside daisy, johnny nips, checkerbloom. Observations Sparky Starkweather, State Park Squirrel

Many of the Point Lobos Docents have been the pups more than spending a great deal of time at Whalers Cove double their weight talking with visitors from around the United by the time they are States and the world about pupping weaned. The female season! Between April 9th and 25th, 26 new is an attentive parent pups arrived. And Whalers Cove is just one during the nursing of the eight beaches throughout the Reserve period. She noses where harbor seals haul out to give birth. the pup often. The Can you imagine the thrill youngsters pup may ride on experience watching a birth in the wild? One her back, nip at her birth took only 4 minutes. Another lasted over flippers, and chase 15. The variety of colors in both mom and pups her through the water. Females recognize their own was extraordinary. One mom we call Ginger has pups by vocalizations and by smell. After her pup a rusty-red neck and head. The unique color is is weaned, a mother shows no interest in the pup. due to the amounts of iron and selenium found in During the mating season, male harbor seals the waters of San Francisco Bay. Her pup has a exhibit underwater vocal displays during short beautiful silver coat with black markings. Mom’s dives, which are probably associated with mating. coloration is common there but rare here. Did she These displays take place near haul-out sites, come all the way down here from San Francisco? foraging areas, and travel routes between the The next few weeks and several months will two areas and also increase during times that be an exciting time to watch the new pups grow females are more likely to be in the water. After up and fend for themselves. And the mating the pupping season, males initiate true mating behavior is like a ballet in the water as pairs behavior by chasing, neck- and flipper-biting, and get together to produce next years’ pups. embracing. When approached, females respond    by growling, head-thrusting, and flipper-waving. Red-Pelaged Harbor Seals of the Copulation usually takes place in the water. A male San Francisco Bay Region harbor seal may mate with several females. “ Sarah G. Allen, Mark Stephenson, Robert W. Risebrough, Lyman Fancher, Alan Shiller and Don Smith Journal of Mammalogy Vol. 74, No. 3 (Aug. 1993), pp. 588-593 Published by: Amerian Society of Mammalogists Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1382277 Unlike most seals, which fast while nursing, harbor seal mothers leave their pups during the nursing period to forage at sea. Researchers believe they may do this because their relatively small body size cannot store enough fat to withstand a fast. On average, harbor seal milk is about 45% fat, 9% protein, and 45.8% water, with traces of lactose (milk sugar). These figures may vary among individuals and may fluctuate throughout the nursing period. The extremely high fat content of the milk helps

Photos courtesy Chuck Bancroft. Summer 2011 5 30-Year All Stars! Profiles by Pat Bova

Visiting the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve NORMA DAVIS is a special occasion at any time, anyseason, any moment. For many, a solo visit can represent Joining the Point Lobos peaceful meditation or the opportunity to enjoy docent program in 1981, nature at its most dramatic and inspirational. Norma has established For others, assistance from a member of our herself as a “taskmaster” skilled docent community (160 and counting!) and all-encompassing provides answers to our questions or the volunteer, as she enjoys enhancement of our joy while visiting. all aspects of her docent On special occasions, your questions may be life. She loves to greet answered by one of our five “30-year-docents,” visitors and loves to who essentially initiated the Point Lobos docent share her knowledge of program in 1981. As “renaissance persons” the Reserve with visitors they remain our noble specialists and expert from around the world. interpreters. The following only begins to spotlight Norma has a the docent careers of these special few. Look broad spectrum for them on your next visit to the Reserve. of experience gained by volunteering at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, the Aquarium, , and Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. She has been a frequent passenger on special Zodiac boat tours at the Reserve. Her joy and excitement is contagious!

MARY BEACH Mary uses her creative perspective to highlight the previously unseen, unfelt, or unheard treasures found at this natural reserve. So you never got to see an actual whale spout or breach? Just ask Mary, who is also known as our “Whale Whisperer,” and she will help you find them. A talented artist and photographer, she co-produced a film of great beauty entitled Lobos Legacy, a collection of her beautiful photographs set to readings of Robinson Jeffers poetry read by Phyllis Kelley (call 831-625-1470 if interested in purchasing a copy). It has proven to be an amazing outreach and training tool. This 30-year-docent also proudly states that she visited the Reserve for many, many years before becoming a volunteer.

66 Point Lobos Magazine WAYNE KELLEY JOY OSBORNE Visitors that Joy has been have been an active fortunate and lively enough to volunteer attend one vital to of Wayne’s establishing public walks and archiving certainly information always have for the a memorable Reserve. experience. From its From observing his “rope presentation” about beginnings in a very small, damp, and older marine mammal size comparisons to listening to shack, the collection has evolved into a remarkable his rich voice reciting Robinson Jeffers poetry, the functioning library. Beginning with only 50 donated experience is always a memorable one. His portable books, the collection has now grown to over 600 scope allows all to see whatever Wayne discovers books, DVDs, and tapes. It has become an important in the coves, the rocks, and the plant communities. resource for Point Lobos docents, staff, and trainees. Wayne was proudly part of the first “Otter Joy has an impressive background of leading Count,” a program that still continues at the many visitors on nature walks, as well as assessing Reserve. He was also a very important influence perfect tidal conditions for a tide pool adventure in the “Adopt a School” program to aid out-of- at Weston Beach. Many visitors have had their first district schools, introducing many children to the intertidal experience under Joy’s watchful eye. beauties of Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.

REID WOODWARD Not only was and opening of our Information Station. Following Reid Woodward this accomplishment, he played a role in the among the first to development of the “easy access” trail at Sea graduate from the Lion Point. This Americans with Disabilities newly formed docent designation allowed all future visitors access to program, he also the beauty of one of our most popular trails. proudly became the His sense of wonder, science, and humor (witness first lifetime member that Davey Crocket hat!) have been a source of of the “Point Lobos enjoyment and learning to over 3,000 local 3rd Natural History grade students, parents, and teachers. Teamed with Association,” Ranger Chuck Bancroft, Reid has been instrumental now referred to as in providing a first class outdoor learning the Point Lobos experience at Point Lobos, for the past 20 years. Foundation. Reid’s    accomplishments In honor of their 30 years of service to the include being Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, a new pin appointed to be was designed to present to our five special the first docent administrator, responsible for volunteer docents. Created by noted silver the interface of the volunteers and the State of jewelry artist Pete Irish, the sea lion symbol California. He was instrumental in the redesign has never looked better (see opposite page).

All photos courtesy Paul Reps. Summer 2011 7 Tucked in a forest of Monterey thousand acres of territory. At Will Rogers, Pines, Chuck and I settle in old, metal, government- I was doing historical interpretation. It issue chairs. We’re in his office surrounded was nice but something was missing.” by years of trailside findings; a stuffed kestrel Fortunately, Chuck got itchy feet after three years in flight, skulls of small rodents and other down south and wanted to come back. He applied interesting objects. Beside me, a worn radio for a position, first at Mt. Tamalpais in Marin and crackles with static. I place a small recorder then Point Lobos. He was turned down for both. between us, hoping Chuck isn’t intimidated. However, a call came in mid-December. A position Inspired by the San Francisco rock music was open at the Reserve, would Chuck like the job? posters, Chuck headed to college in 1966 intending “I remember my first night at Point Lobos: to study commercial art. That was a short-lived January 6, 1981. I moved into the Whalers Cabin dream. As he says, “I couldn’t see myself sitting and was sitting on the front step at dusk. Wow! in front of a drafting table, all day, every day.” As I’ve landed in paradise. I drove out to the south he leans back, the metal chair squeaks affirmation. shore and watched the sunset over the Pacific. “I left school to explore the world. While my best Idyllic!” He leans forward and puts his hands friend and I were camping, we met a number together in emphasis. “The next morning I got of rangers who loved their job. Wow, I thought, up early to watch the sunrise. Beautiful shades what an idyllic lifestyle, I could do that.” of pink in the clouds drifting over the ridges of “I attended night school and found a job the Santa Lucia Mountains. How did I get so making plastic light fixtures. All to save money so lucky? And I still have those same wondrous I could go to school fulltime.” Can you imagine? feelings every time I see a sunrise or sunset, or I look at the handsome, uniformed man with a harbor seal or pup with its mom.” twinkling eyes and can’t imagine him any place Many adventures were waiting for Chuck. He other than this magical part of the world. “In met amazing artists, including and 1971, I enrolled in the Forestry Tech program John Sexton. “One of my greatest joys was seeing at Santa Rosa Junior College. I volunteered at Ansel drive to Pebbly Beach (now Weston) in several parks in Santa Rosa and got my first park his big, long, white Cadillac. He was wearing a job in 1973 at the Petaluma Adobe SHP [State cowboy hat and John was usually riding shotgun. Historic Park] and Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.” He’d sit out there and talk to people. They would “I eventually enrolled at Sonoma State and bring their Instamatic cameras, and he’d tell graduated with a degree in Environmental them about taking pictures. He loved people. Studies. I loved it.” Chuck chuckles. “They didn’t And he loved to share. It was incredible.” require math or chemistry for graduation.” I could Chuck smiles at the memories. “I’ve met painters relate. Math still sends shivers down my spine. and poets, photographers and naturalists. We walk In 1976, he was offered a park ranger the trails and explore. But my best experiences are position. After two years of ranger training, ones of learning. And amazing people to learn from. Chuck pitched for job openings in Southern Jud Vanderveer, Vern Yaden, Alan Baldridge, Brian California. He landed at Topanga, then Weed, and so many others. I am humbled when I moved to Will Rogers Historic State Park. think about all the inspirational people I met.” “I drove a Dodge four-wheel-drive Voices from the radio interrupted our and rode a horse. We patrolled over eight conversation. Chuck picks up the chipped, grey

88 Point Lobos Magazine microphone. His voice is even and professional. I forward. The government chair is ominously silent. look out the window and watch several docents “There’re a number of us who love to photograph talking to guests. “When I got here,” he continues the wildlife. I picked up a camera for the first time “the first docent group, about 25 people, were in 1978. Part of my ranger training at Asilomar training with two amazing women, Helen Lind included a slide show on local wildlife. I chose sea and Sister Anna Voss. Anything you needed to urchins. My photos were pretty bad back then so know you asked them. And I was learning too. I borrowed some slides and passed live urchins I’d never seen an otter before I moved here! We around for emphasis. But I was very interested in had an information trailer filled with material photography. When I transferred south, I attended that we literally hauled out in the morning and Pierce College in LA. I started with color slides put back at night. Today, we have professional, and moved to black and white images. I loved well-educated people with a passion for this doing my own processing! Then I moved up here place. Honestly? We can’t do without them.” and decided to stick with color. Everything was so I wondered what changes he’s experienced beautiful, especially the mushrooms! Several years in his 30 years, both at Lobos and with the state ago, I switched to digital. I was so driven to take park system. “I’m not supposed to be political in pictures of birds and the digital format was perfect uniform.” He crossed his legs. The ancient chair for capturing them in flight. I’ve been fortunate screeched as he leans back and plucks imaginary enough to be in the right place at the right time.” lint from his green trousers. Uh-oh, I thought, “My obsession with birds holds true for not a good direction to take the interview. Chuck wildflowers and mushrooms too. But there’s continues anyway, “When I first got here, there something special about getting that one shot of were four rangers and two trucks. When we a bird in flight that keeps me going and going. I weren’t driving on patrol, we walked trails, carried often think, what new thing will happen today?” a spotting scope and spoke with people. We were “It’s been tremendous. I couldn’t have imagined encouraged to develop educational programs. how good this career would be. Idyllic? You bet. Back then, we only covered Carmel State Beach Especially the people I’ve met and the experiences and Point Lobos. Now we work Garrapata to I’ve had… it’s been really, really good. I would Zmudowski. Now, like then, we are responsible hope that the next generation feels the same not only for educational programs, but public and I hope that the state parks will continue assistance and law enforcement as well. Ignore with the generalist aspect where we can do a the drama, smell the flowers.” Enough politics. little bit of everything. As Sister Anna taught Chuck is articulate and not the least bit shy. me years ago to ‘Pass it on with wonder!’” I think he’s forgotten about the recorder. I want ______stories! Chuck describes his love of birding and Our interview was a few of the amazing sightings he’s witnessed wrapping up when a over the decades. His eyes shine with excitement. volunteer popped into “Prior to January of 2009, I’d never seen an the office. A lone harbor osprey at the reserve. Now we have one that’s seal just gave birth on the here almost every day and there are reports small beach in Whalers of a second one down by Whalers Cove. They Cove. Ranger Chuck hunt between Carmel River lagoon, where the was out of the chair water’s brackish, and at Whalers, which is salty. in a heartbeat. “Come So I guess they decide, do I want steelhead trout on.” We jumped in the truck and headed out. At today or blue rockfish? What’s on the menu?” the edge of cliff were several photographers with “You see things like this everyday. One day, a impressive lenses angled toward the shoreline. couple of deer ran out of the Piney Woods picnic Chuck pulled the truck to one side and with a casual area, jumped into the ocean, swam out to the rocks, excitement, walked to the gathering. I watched and then jumped back into the water, swam ashore as he conversed with the people, peered through and disappeared. Had no idea why that happened.” lens, gesturing toward mother and pup. Naturalist, Chuck continues with enthusiasm. His hands photographer, teacher, and birder; Ranger Chuck are gesturing toward the woods as he leans is in his element. Idyllic lifestyle indeed.

Great blue heron and chicks courtesy Chuck Bancroft. Summer 2011 9 Of all the threats to the ecosystems of Point such as mustard and thistles. But in the second Lobos State Natural Reserve, the greatest is year, both Carl and Wayne took the training probably that of invasive plant species. Fast- required by the State and became “licensed to growing and reproducing quickly, these species spray.” The Point Lobos Association (Foundation) out-compete native species, thereby reducing provided protective clothing and the necessary biodiversity and potentially altering forever the gear and our weedbusters augmented the State Reserve’s natural beauty. They also can harm staff (particularly Mary Paul) in an assault on the Reserve’s animals by restricting their cover, the invaders. Today, they continue to attack the Weedbusters Ed Clifton

food resources, and freedom of movement. weeds once a month. Their effort continues to Non-native species have probably existed at be supported by the Point Lobos Foundation, as Point Lobos for nearly as long as non-indigenous do other weed-killing efforts in the Reserve. humans have been here. The composition of Poison hemlock is one of the dominant weeds grasses in coastal meadows that graced this area in the coastal scrub and has taken over large for centuries changed markedly following the tracts of this community. Wayne notes that, if arrival of persons of European descent. Most left to itself, the Reserve could be renamed “Point non-native plants are not invasive, but a few can Hemlock.” During the February weed busting, have a disastrous effect. Mary Paul and Dida Kutz Wayne discovered poison hemlock in an area where provide an excellent description of the invasive it had not been seen before: the tract of coastal species of greatest concern to the Reserve, on pages scrub enclosed by the wheelchair- accessible loop 8 and 9 of the Winter 2008 issue of Point Lobos to Sea Lion Point. Carl and Wayne have tried to Magazine (see http://www.pointlobos.org/sites/ keep this enclave of native vegetation free of the default/files/magazine/pdf/2008_Winter.pdf). In 2005, then-docent coordinator Ranger Matt Buonaguidi began an invasive weed-pulling program for the Point Lobos docents, and in 2006, growing awareness of the problem led the Point Lobos Natural History Association (our name then) to initiate an invasive weed mitigation program. As President of the Association at the time, I asked Carl Voss, a new board member with an extensive agricultural background, to chair a new committee dealing with this problem. Carl enlisted the help of a neighbor, Wayne Cipperly, in mounting a counterattack against the weeds. Both had connections to the Reserve. Carl was the nephew of legendary early Point Lobos docent Sister Anna Voss, and Wayne was a Point Lobos docent. In the first year of the program, weeds could only be removed by hand, a laborious approach that is effective with certain weeds, Invasive French broom

1010 Point Lobos Magazine invasive weeds. That particular stand of poison hemlock will never reach maturity, but the seeds will continue to be blown in from adjacent areas. The state, with financial support from Point Lobos Foundation, is attacking the thick growth of poison hemlock south of the Information Station. Matt Buonaguidi has cut a set of barely-passable paths through the poison oak to allow the state’s natural resource maintenance staff, under the direction of Amy Palkovic, access to the hemlock. (Amy is an environmental specialist who oversees all the invasive weed spraying in the Reserve.) Carl led me through this maze of newly budding poison oak and showed me a couple of stands of young poison hemlock that Weedbuster Carl eliminating ice plant on Granite Point. Photo by Wayne Cipperly. the sprayers had missed. Bright green foliage densely blanketed the ground in these stands, which will soon, them to go off-trail, they have seen the themselves, be obliterated. I could only imagine how Reserve in a way privileged to few others. this whole area would appear without the spraying— Foundation members and docents indeed, how the entire coastal scrub tract at Point alike can help with this effort in several Lobos would look if this weed spread unabated. ways. First, we can learn to recognize the In addition to these efforts, the Foundation worst invasive species and alert State Park funds a professional landscape contractor who personnel to new infestations. Identifying sprays specific targets 12 times a year. Carl, targets is important. During the February Amy, and the contractor periodically walk the spraying, Ranger Chuck Bancroft showed properties to review the progress and to chart future Carl and Wayne a substantial outbreak of activity. The process is complex: different areas cape ivy along the road near the Bird Island require different treatment at certain times of the parking lot. Wayne applied the Roundup year, depending on the growth of the weeds. and that stand of ivy will disappear. For The weed killer of choice is Roundup, a glyphosate an excellent description of the worst that does not persist or spread through the soil. weeds, see the article by Mary Paul and Spot targets are carefully treated under conditions Dida Kutz mentioned earlier in this article. of low wind to avoid dispersal that could impact If you are interested in participating native species. The weedbusters are careful to in this important work, or want to not to spray anywhere where the herbicide could know more about it, please contact Carl enter the Reserve’s waters (creek or ocean). Voss, the current Foundation board Will this effort succeed? It is a never-ending member in charge of the invasive plant battle that, at times, seems discouraging. But it mitigation program, at 831-442-0964 is making an impact. Wayne notes soberly, “I’d or by e-mail [email protected]. hate to think what this place would look like without the work of the past five years.” Continuity is essential. The weedbusters’ dedication is phenomenal. Carl, after five years, is retiring from the spraying part, but still oversees the Foundation’s weed-mitigation efforts. Wayne continues to make the 300-mile round trip from his home in Manteca every month, and with Carl’s support, hauls the 30 pounds of sprayer and weed killer through the brush to reach selected targets. The two find additional rewards, however, beyond the knowledge that they are making a big difference. Because the spraying requires Wayne sizing up an ice plant infestation on Weston Beach. Photo by Carl Voss. Summer 2011 11 Swishing, swirling,…briefly March 13: Connie Dallmann silent Our stay so short On a family walk my son Voices mixed spotted two black oystercatchers With those of the birds apparently building a nest in a cleft in the rocks above Sea Lion Here, then gone. Cove. That was a first for me. The waves hit soft The wind blows smooth Nature calls out To seek the beautiful March 5: Phyllis Kurtz view On this day, 20 young women, 16 to 18 years old participating in a March 12: Stan Dryden leadership program, visited Point Lobos. Only two of them, most of On my last chance to whom are from the Salinas Valley, walk the Bird Island had ever been here. We took them Trail before it is closed for walks on Bird Island Trail and for conversion to being China Beach. Then we ended the fully wheelchair- afternoon reading the poems that accessible, I came March 14: Marty Renault each girl had been encouraged across someone who looked I hate good-byes but just had to to write while on Gibson like a serious photographer. It visit Bird Island one last time Beach. It was inspirational! [ed. turns out that he is indeed a before the area closes for a year’s Quotes from the Docent Log Elephant seals rescued, the art of summoning whales, a tricky harbor seal pup, and several fond farewells— until next year—to the Bird Island Trail

note: the following excerpt is professional photographer and worth of renovation. Whatever a piece of the collective poem wildlife tour leader from San the weather, this special place organized from the girls’ writings Francisco. He told me that he never disappoints. Ceanothus by Matt Buonaguidi – trails had seen and photographed blossoms splashed some blue chief, walk leader, and poet.] a very rare green hairstreak into the cloudy gray skies. Waves There’s a breeze that feels butterfly. When asked, he crashed against the rocks, adding Like the happiest place in the offered to send me the photo. to the mist. Golden poppies, However, after going home, world. wood mint, seaside painted he decided that it was not the The view makes me believe. cup, pearly everlasting, wild extremely rare coastal green Point Lobos is the place cucumber, zygadene lilies, and hairstreak, but the relatively To leave your worries behind. footsteps-of-spring brightened commonplace bramble variety the path. Cormorants in breeding With the blowing breeze (Callophrys perplexa). In any case, And waving waves that hit you plumage socialized on the islands it is uncommonly beautiful, no? while a few gulls watched. All With relaxing. who love this spot will miss it Eternal sea

1212 Point Lobos Magazine Bramble green hairstreak courtesy of Eddie Bartley; golden poppies courtesy Rick Pettit. keenly, even as we look forward half of them were chewing on wings to dry. Otters, at least to the opening of the new ADA the leaves of the miner’s lettuce. three of them with pups, throng accessible trail next year. What can you say? They got the cove. Calla lilies at the cabin their vitamin C and A, and their steps announce the spring, and March 16-18: Fred Brown attention improved. I made them an undaunted white-crowned Carmel Valley Middle School’s repeat Claytonia perfoliata a few sparrow concurs, singing from seventh grade held their nature times—they didn’t see my broad atop a sage bush. A slowly science camp at Point Lobos smile as we continued our walk. descending great blue heron from March 16 to 18. Divers draws my attention to the pines on Coal Chute Point, where brought up various sea creatures March 24: Celie Placzek from Whalers Cove—crabs, something else, hard to identify at No harbor seals lolling on octopus, , sea stars, this distance, is perched. Hauling rocks today, or sea otters sponges, nudibranchs—for the out the cabin’s spotting scope snoozing in beds along youngsters to examine. Then reveals a preening osprey. Soon a South Shore, or even sounds of they all went on a hike along brazen crow shows up to harass sea lions. All I could hear was the North Shore Trail. We it with figure-eight maneuvers; the clamor of crashing waves observed dolphins, a , eventually he leaves, apparently tumbling and roaring and cormorants, and sea otters. The satisfied with having made his colliding up against the rocky shore was being pounded point. And by large surf, creating then a class spectacular sprays off the of high- rocks below—probably schoolers the highlight of the walk. arrive at the cabin, all of whom get March 21: Fred Brown their first I was leading eight twelve- look at this year-olds on a walk on fierce and the North Shore Trail, and majestic bird. desperately trying my best to keep them focused on the March 26: plants they were required Dave Evans to identify for their class Driving to project. Knocking fish the Reserve, senseless with manroot (wild looking cucumber) was helpful, as shore. My heart pounded with forward to Ed Clifton’s walk poisons and easy fishing tend to pleasure as I was blown down on trace fossils, an email lets keep a young boy’s mind from the path, dodging rain drops me know the walk must be re- wandering. I did emphasize that and puddles along the way. scheduled. Rain is imminent. they should not touch the plants, Disappointment lasts but a as they are all protected in the moment ...to my right, a rainbow Reserve. Then we came upon March 25: Rick Pettit frames Ichxenta Point. The next a large batch of miner’s lettuce, A week of storms has left the few hours in the Reserve are “that indigenous peoples ate and forest thoroughly sodden; a soggy to be sure, but “tinted” the Forty-Niners munched on for slender waterfall cascades onto by yet another Point Lobos their health. If you were hungry the beach below. Whalers Cove is memory. Such memories and lost in the woods you could topped with thick foam, through must be as numerous as the just pick these and eat them.” I which harbor seals poke their rocks and sand in the Carmelo walked on ahead thinking about bewhiskered heads. A double- Formation conglomerate! the next plant encounter when crested cormorant stands on I turned around and saw that Window Rock, spreading its March 28: Paul Reps

Rainbow captured by Dave Evans Summer 2011 13 it was fishing, not nesting, but March 29-30: there could be a nest near-by. Gretchen Evans And the poppies out toward Two juvenile elephant Ichxenta Pt. are spectacular. seals that needed help were found at Point April 20: Greg Crawford Lobos on successive days. A team of My wife Nancy and I have greatly volunteers from the enjoyed setting up two scopes and Moss Landing Marine doing “team scoping” at Sea Lion Mammal Center arrived Point. Guests have loved learning about the nuances of these I was scoping on this brisk and after an alert visitor marine mammals as we compare sunny afternoon, when docent noticed a seal in distress. The and contrast their features and Mary Beach came walking by veterinarian determined a adaptations while using our with a couple of friends. I told rescue was needed—the young scopes as teaching tools. It is not the group that was standing weaner, nicknamed “Chip,” unusual for us to hear from the around that Mary is fondly was malnourished. He was guests that “Point Lobos is our referred to as the “Whale Lady,” hauled all the way up the stairs favorite place in the world.” so be prepared, we may now from Gibson Beach and then to finally see some whales. Before I knew it, Mary looked out at the April 26: Pat Sinclair ocean and said “Breach!” After Peering through a scope at about five seconds a gray whale the delightful sight of nursing breached directly in front of us! pups at Whalers Cove, we People didn’t know how to react noticed a thin, silvery-gray baby or what to say. All I could do was seal, a long distance from its nod my head with approval. mother, who appeared to have abandoned it. We then observed March 29: Jeff Johnson this lone pup make its way to Although officially closed for an obviously new mom. Her renovation, the Bird Island Trail pup, still sporting a bright pink was open on this day. I jumped the Bird Island Parking lot. umbilical cord, was just reaching at the chance to visit China Cove, The next day brought a similar up to nurse, but the silver pup my favorite place in the Reserve, problem at Weston Beach. nosed its way in, latched on to and to do some scoping. I spotted As with Tuesday’s seal, this the mother’s teat and began to an osprey in a Monterey pine youngster, nicknamed Dale, nurse. We stood there, astonished tree, set up the scope, and was appeared to have been born some as the mother allowed it to stay pleased that this beautiful bird time in January. Eventually, with on for a good twenty minutes! posed for several visitors. Then a bit of a struggle, the insertion When the older pup got its fill, I set up the scope on the bluff of the elephant seal into carrier the mother rolled over and began above and to the right of Pelican was successful, and a few Weston to make nose-to-nose contact Point, where I was able to view a Beach steps later, Dale was on the with it. She seemed confused, nesting pair of strikingly beautiful way to Moss Landing for medical and continued to sniff and paw black-crowned night herons, attention.: several elephant seals the silver pup, but didn’t harm several Brandt’s cormorants were released 4/21 at Weston, and it. Then her own small pup cried in brilliant breeding plumage, among them was one of the seals out, and she moved quickly and a half-dozen dozing harbor mentioned by Gretchen. Hurrah!] toward it. I learned afterwards seals. I’m looking forward to that while harbor seals typically next year when the new ADA- April 13: Connie Dallmann do not tolerate other pups, conforming trail will be more While leading a walk out there are documented instances heavily used than ever. toward Moss Cove, we sighted where an older unrelated pup a black-crowned night heron— will nurse off a seal other than 14 14 Point Lobos Magazine Gray whale breaching courtesy Dave Weller. Seal rescue photo courtesy Dave Evans. its mother. This can happen settles in nearby when the mother has only and eyes me hopefully. Just recently given birth, and has offshore an otter surfaces, not yet fully bonded to her grooms, rolls, then rears up own pup. Mystery solved. and dives again. After a minute or two she returns, empty- April 29: Paula Johnson pawed, and goes through the There were lots of people same routine. Then again. at the Information Station And yet again. Always with asking questions, wanting to nothing to show for her efforts. know all about the seals, and Intrigued, I count eleven such showing me pictures on their dives and resurfacings before she was now relaxed and at peace, cameras so I could help identify my wristwatch indicates (these and realized that she needed darned appointments!) that it’s to plan more trips to time to leave. Descending the Point Lobos . She lives stone steps to the parking lot, I nearby, but hadn’t imagine this admirably persistent realized the beauty that otter finally coming up on dive was so close to her. number twelve or thirteen with something really tasty. May 4: Rick Pettit A notably warm morning at the Reserve, May 18: Rick Pettit with a calm sea, and Update: impressive progress is the tide low enough to being made on the transformation reveal the vivid green of the Bird Island Trail into a of surf grass among the fully accessible route to Pelican rocks north of Cannery Point, the Reserve’s prime spot for seeing nesting Brandt’s flowers. One lady came along and Point. A cormorant with its beak cormorants, western gulls, and said she was the daughter of a crammed full of seaweed sprints black-crowned night herons. An former ranger, and had thus spent westward toward its nesting spot early phase is the constuction a lot of time as a teenager at Point on Guillemot Island. The high of a viewing platform—the Lobos. She had been all over the cries of unseen oystercatchers stone work is exacting and Reserve as a youngster, and was echo among the exposed rocks. time-consuming, but the result greatly enjoying her return visit. Violet-green swallows dart and chatter overhead, and a hungry should be well worth the wait.

May 2: Duffy Johnson I was shadowing a school walk, and took the trail sweep position, keeping the stragglers up with the rest of the group. One of the parents had been coming to Point Lobos since he was a kid. As we walked along he remarked that he was learning things from this walk that he hadn’t known even after all his visits. Another parent mentioned that although she started the day in a bad mood, complaining about everything,

Harbor seals courtesy Pat Sinclair. Lifeguard Kevin Brady catching some rare waves at Whalers Summer 2011 15 Cove; photo by Caroline Brady. Pelican Point photo courtesy Rick Pettitt. NON-PROFIT Point Lobos Foundation ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE PAID Route 1, Box 62 PERMIT NO. 35 Carmel, CA 93923 CARMEL 831-625-1470 CALIFORNIA

 MEMORIAL & TRIBUTE GIFTS 

Memorial gifts provide a In Memory of Dolly Thomas way for people to express their sympathy when words just • Norma Davis don’t seem adequate. Such • Winston and Joan Elstob gifts also play an important role in enhancing the programs • Betty Jean Stallings at Point Lobos. The name of the person whose memory In Memory of Jan Wheeler they honor is listed first • Elspeth Bobbs following the friends who have made memorial • Norma Davis donations. Your contribution to The Point In Memory of Barbara Patchell Lobos Foundation is sincerely appreciated. • Elspeth Bobbs In Memory of Ann F. Heischman Tribute gifts honor friends and loved ones on their birthdays, anniversaries, or other special occasions. • Elspeth Bobbs These gifts help keep Point Lobos a vibrant place. In Honor of Ranger Chuck Bancroft for 30 • Tostevin Accounting Corp. years of service to California State Parks

• Stefanie and Judd Martt • Joe and Patricia Bova In appreciation of the wonderful docent training • Roger and Macy Reynolds program: Pat Sinclair, Stan Dryden, Greg and • Betty Jean Stallings Nancy Crawford, Paul Reps, and Karen Bernstein • Deborah Ju • Joe and Carol Winningham Grants

1616 Point Lobos Magazine