AUDUBON CA NYON RA N C H Number 51 BULLETIN Fall 2012 INS I DE TH I S 50T H ANN I VE R S ar Y ISSUE TH A NKS FO R 50 YE ar S ACR HI S T O R Y HI GHL I GH T S HOW Bir DS SA VED Mari N Tri BU T E T O OU R BENEF act O R S PHO T OS , EVEN T S A ND M O R E Celebrating 50 Years Page 2 Audubon Canyon Ranch Celebrating 50 Years www.egret.org Leading the Environmental Community TH A NKS FO R 50 GR E at YE ar S by J. Scott Feierabend and Bryant Hichwa As we celebrate Audubon Canyon Leading environmental change shores of Tomales Bay in Marin Ranch’s 50th anniversary, we reflect on Because of the financial contribu- County to the wildlands of the remarkable accomplishments of this tions of our supporters and the tireless the Mayacamas Mountains in organization—and we thank and honor dedication of our volunteers, ACR is an northern and eastern Sonoma those who made these achievements enduring leader in the environmental County. possible . you! movement of the Bay Area: As we look to the past and all that The timeline in this Bulletin traces • Our science programs have we have accomplished together, we our collective journey through the past resulted in significant conservation must also look to the future and all that five decades. It is a remarkable story of gains for wetlands and other we aspire to achieve. impassioned support and unwavering precious ecosystems that sustain ACR is going greener commitment from our donors and herons, egrets and other wildlife One exciting and important change volunteers. associated with our preserves and is the greening of Audubon Canyon We are blessed to be standing surrounding areas. Ranch. In the coming months, a on the shoulders of giants—ACR’s • Our nature-based education number of projects to restore and founders. Their far-reaching vision programs—truly the gold improve many buildings and facilities provided clear direction and sense of standard—have forever changed will begin. By renovating and investing purpose for the critical work of our the lives of thousands of children in these physical assets, ACR will past 50 years. As we look at ACR’s and adults. attract new and greater public magnificent preserves and programs, we • Our preserves total more than support, prepare our preserves for the are constantly reminded how Audubon 5,000 acres, and the natural Canyon Ranch was built by and thrives resources they protect in thanks to its volunteers. perpetuity stretch from the continues on page 10 Audubon Canyon ranch FouNDEr Flora Maclise Julie Allecta Sam Dakin Stephen Smith Alan Margolis, M.D. L. Martin Griffin, M.D. George Peyton, Jr. 1st Vice President Jesse Grantham Lowell Sykes Dan Murphy Emeritus Director Helen Pratt André Brewster David Kavanaugh ACr ADvISorS Leslie R. Perry EMErITuS Paul Ruby 2nd Vice President Andy Lafrenz Gerry Snedaker Tom Baty DIrECTorS Jean Starkweather Diane Jacobson Amy LaGoy Betsy Stafford Sue Stoddard Secretary Gordon Bennett Deborah Ablin Helen McKenna Francis Toldi Barbara Kosnar Len Blumin Richard B. Baird BoArD oF Valerie Merrin Barbara Winter Treasurer Patti Blumin Nancy Barbour DIrECTorS Ivan Obolensky Patrick Woodworth Suzie Coleman Binny Fischer Directors Judy Prokupek Nancy Young officers Roberta Downey Leslie Flint Bryant Hichwa Bill Richardson Amy Blackstone Peter Ehrlich Robert Hahn President Diana Sanson Anna-Marie Bratton Tony Gilbert Jack Harper April Starke Slakey Kevin Consey Jim Horan STAFF Finance and Education, Matthew Danielczyk Jeanne Wirka Barbara Wechsberg J. Scott Feierabend Development Conservation Science Vegetation Management Resident Biologist, BP Cashier/Receptionist, Executive Director Didi Wilson and Habitat Protection Specialist Raquel Ximenes MGP John Petersen Director of Development Beth Gurney Gwen Heistand Community Outreach Preserve Stewardship Chief Operating Officer & Communications Director of Education Resident Biologist, MGP Coordinator David Greene Maurice A. ‘Skip’ Schwartz Trisha Fontan John Kelly, Ph.D. Julie Keating Administration Land Steward, CGRC Senior Advisor and Administrative Aide Director of Conservation Weekend Program Yvonne Pierce John Martin Executive Director Jennifer Newman Science Facilitator, MGP Executive Administrator/ Land Steward, BP Emeritus Annual Fund and Sherry Adams Theo Michaels MGP Manager Steve Trivelpiece Communications Officer Biologist/Preserve Resource Ecologist, BP Leslie Sproul Land Steward, MGP Stephen Pozsgai Manager, Modini Ingalls Sarah Millus Receptionist/Office Controller Ecological Preserve Helen Pratt Field Biologist Assistant, MGP Emiko Condeso Jennifer Potts Nancy Trbovich Ecologist/GIS Specialist Resource Ecologist, BP BP Manager Martin Griffin Preserve (MGP) • Bouverie Preserve (BP) • Cypress Grove Research Center (CGRC) Bulletin 51, Fall 2012 Page 3 Celebrating 50 Years Land Preservation, Nature-based Education & Conservation Science HI GHL I GH T S F R O M ACR’S HI S T O R Y Setting the Course 1962: Martin Griffin, M.D., president of the Marin Chapter of the National Audubon Society, is inspired to protect a sensitive West Marin heron and egret nesting colony from logging. To galvanize community support, Dr. Griffin, together with Aileen Pierson and Stan Picher, establishes Audubon Canyon Ranch as a local organization, independent of the National Audubon Society. The Bolinas Lagoon Preserve (later renamed Martin Griffin Preserve) is its first property. Photo by Tina Green Photo by Tina Tomales Bay view from Cypress Grove Research Center 1964: Local Audubon Chapter members greet visitors who wish to view the heronry at the Bolinas Lagoon Preserve, and thus the ACR Hosts program is launched. 1969: The U.S. Department of the Interior designates 1964: The Garden Club of America names ACR as a registered National ACR the outstanding conservation project in Natural Landmark. the United States. In gratitude for this award and the support of the club’s local branches, Bolinas Lagoon Preserve’s North Canyon is 1968: The 234-acre South Canyon of the renamed Garden Club of America Canyon, Bolinas Lagoon Preserve is purchased to be Photo by Wyn Hoag now known as Garden Club Canyon. used as an environmental education center. Nesting Great Egrets at Martin Griffin Preserve heronry 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1967: ACR, The Nature 1967: Helen Pratt, member Conservancy and others initiated of the Marin Audubon the purchase of the 110-acre Society, begins her study of Kent Island in Bolinas Lagoon. the Bolinas Lagoon Preserve The donation of this land to the heronry under the guidance County of Marin as a park is of Professor Richard Doutt critical in derailing the planned of U.C. Berkeley. Helen Bolinas Lagoon Marina. To continues to collect data on this day, ACR owns almost 10 reproductive success in the strategic acres of Kent Island. heronry for 32 years. 1967: The Marin County Parks and Recreation Department Helen Pratt purchases almost all of the perimeter shoreline and tidal flats extending from Bolinas Lagoon Preserve to the town of Bolinas. Photo by Wyn Hoag Martin Griffin Preserve from across Bolinas Lagoon Page 4 Audubon Canyon Ranch Celebrating 50 Years www.egret.org Land Preservation, Nature-based Education & Conservation Science HI GHL I GH T S F R O M ACR’S HI S T O R Y Expanding Our Impact 1971: The collision of two Standard Oil of California tankers in San Francisco Bay creates an oil spill that threatens pristine Bolinas Lagoon. Volunteers mobilize to stop the slick at the entrance to the lagoon. In appreciation, the ACR Board renames South Canyon as Volunteer Canyon. 1971: Pike County Gulch, the northernmost canyon of Bolinas Lagoon Preserve, is purchased from Mary and Alan Galloway. The buildings in this canyon are used as the administrative offices of Point Reyes Bird Observatory (PRBO) for decades. Photo by Wyn Hoag The Bouverie Preserve 1971: Clifford Conly states his desire to bequeath to Audubon Canyon Ranch his 10-acre parcel 1978: David Bouverie donates to 1982: After creating the on Tomales Bay. ACR a major portion of his ranch education program at the for education and preservation, Bouverie Preserve, the first forming the Bouverie Preserve, docent class graduates and ACR’s second main preserve. school groups begin to arrive. 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 Early 1970s: ACR acquires nearly 500 acres of tidelands and shoreline around Tomales Bay, including Toms Point (generously donated by Judi Hiltner and Meg Quigley), Hog and Duck islands, Walker Creek Delta and Olema Marsh. Hog and Duck islands were later donated to the National Park Service. 1970: The ACR Docent Program is born with docent training funded by the Junior League of San Francisco. ACR’s first docent-led programs for schoolchildren and public visitors begin at Bolinas Lagoon Preserve. David Bouverie Bulletin 51, Fall 2012 Page 5 Celebrating 50 Years Photo by Leslie Sophia Lindell The historic cabins of Cypress Grove Research Center Martin Griffin, Bill Tyukodi*, Clifford Conly, Clerin Zumwalt 1993: ACR assumes full ownership and management of Cypress Grove Preserve, land donated by Clifford Conly for ACR’s third 1998: A section of the old railroad berm that main preserve. This led to the establishment of the Cypress separated the Caroline Livermore Marsh at Grove Research Center. Cypress Grove Research Center from Tomales Bay is washed out by rainstorms and heavy runoff, transforming a created freshwater wetland to a transitional salt marsh. 1991: ACR initiates the ongoing Heron and Egret Project, and volunteers begin to monitor heron and egret nesting activities at all known colonies in the northern San Francisco Bay Area. 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 1994: David Bouverie passes away and leaves to ACR the remainder of the Bouverie Ranch, as well as 1989: ACR initiates long-term, an endowment.