The Newsletter of the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center Volume 33, Number 3 SUMMER 2018 SUMMER

A facility of Hayward Salt Marsh-ing Area Recreation & B y K y le B lo o m s t e r Park District or children, especially for those of Of course, as with any other system the iPad generation, the vastness in nature, death is followed by birth. UPCOMING EVENTS of geological time can be tough Time is cyclical, and history is bound to AT THE SHORELINE to comprehend. During low tide, repeat itself. Just as we wait, hopefully, visitors to the Shoreline can marvel at the for the return of the barn swallows to the JUNE Fmuddy capillaries that trickle over the silt- Interpretive Center, who gobble up flies • 17th Annual Father’s Day Camp Out laden channel, adjacent to the Interpretive and amuse us with their antics, we also wait Sat. 6/16 - Sun. 6/17 Center, and envy the nimble shorebirds for the replenishing return of washed-off 3:00pm-11:00am who dance and scurry over the oozing dirt from the East Bay hills and the Sierra. See inside for program details. “quicksand.” The gleaming, fractal-like Gentle sedimentation – from the great h a a JULY y ni swirls of Bay water and mud captivate the river systems of the Sacramento and the w a o r • You’re Invitedr d, to c atheli f rambunctious kids – it’s like art with no San Joaquin, as well as from the smaller Hen Party artist, and they behold its weird beauty. creeks – is a welcome, counterbalancing Sat. 7/14, 9:30am-12:30pm “Friends,” I say, “have you ever played relief from the raking of the tides. But AUGUST with sand and water in a sandbox?” moderation is key. • “Yes!” they reply. Rougher, faster sedimentation, and Feeding Frenzy abrupt drops in salinity, could become the Sun. 8/19, 2:00pm-3:00pm “Well, this whole salt marsh is kind of norm over the next 50 years. By the end of like a sand box. Just like when you splash this century, the Intergovernmental Panel SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS water on your castles and moats and wash on Climate Change (the IPCC) estimates We conduct hands-on wetland them away, the tides pump salty ocean that the Bay Area will experience a 4 to 9 education programs for local water through the Golden Gate. That °F rise in average temperatures. Warmer air schoolchildren. Call 510-670- pushes water up into the marsh and when can gather water vapor more easily. Thus, 7270 to talk with the naturalist the tide goes out, the water flows downhill staff about reservations for the we can expect to see harsher downpours 2018-2019 school year. to the Bay, washing away some of the mud during the rainy season, sweeping not just and carving all of these channels. more dirt into our creeks but also more INFO & HOURS “Eventually, this whole salt marsh will trash and noxious pollutants from our roads We are open to the public be transformed.” and backyards. Warmer springs also mean every Friday, Saturday and that the snowpack in the Sierra will melt Sunday from 10am to 5pm. The end of the Hayward Shoreline salt marsh, like the demise of the Sun, more rapidly, compounding this problem. has always been inevitable, but not really Although these violent freshwater 4901 Breakwater Avenue Hayward, CA 94545 in a scary sort of way. Salt marshes are surges would spike down salinity levels telephone: 510-670-7270 simply the interface between the geological periodically, the expected long-term email: [email protected] processes of weathering and erosion, and trend is an increase in the magnitude and on the web: the lunar and oceanic process of the tides. frequency of droughts, and an increase in HAYWARDREC.ORG In fact, “salt marsh” might be a term better overall Bay salinity, in particular areas like understood as an activity, rather than a the South Bay, which already experiences thing; a verb rather than a noun. relatively higher salinity levels. This could

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2 The Newsletter oftheHayward Shoreline InterpretiveCenter

Volume 33,Number 3 2 Salt Marsh-ing of thesevaluableresources, including species. The endresultcould bealoss real estate isatapremiumforall intensely urbanizedBay Area, where featinthe meadows –achallenging establish themselvesinlow-laying would needto inlandand move freshwatermarshcommunitieslevels, Given thecorresponding riseinsea salt marshewithlower biodiversity. and cordgrass. These plantssupport resistant species,like pickleweed could bereplaced byhardier, salt- biodiverse freshwatermarshes, very Plants like tuleandcattails,foundin uniquewetland communities. disrupt Kamille Lang Kyle Bloomster Christine Cardosi Lauren Porter Ann Graham Adrienne DePonte Superv. Naturalist H.S.I.C. STAFF haywardshoreline interpretive center Naturalist Naturalist Naturalist Dir. of Care Senior Naturalist Hayward AreaRecreation andPark District

4901 Breakwater Avenue Hayward, CA 94545 FROM PAGE 1 Randy Gates ContributingNaturalist Miller Dominic Nguyen Karen Moran Zoey James Aliberti PomeroyEmily return, and securing the long-term andsecuringthelong-term return, we need,givingsomethingbackin “good” bacteria,what takingonly can choosetolike behave beneficial ourownpurposes–we toEarth serve manipulatingthe –recklessly viruses Instead ofchoosingtolike behave we demand thatitrespectus. just as seduces usanddemandsourrespect, an animal,withitsownvitalspirit,it is adynamic,ongoingprocess. Like andsprings. our wells be hardertofreshwater findclean,in our favoritespeciesofbird.It might be harderto catchthatbigfish,orspy benefits theyprovide. It mightalso the recreationalandenvironmental or Current Resident The Student Aide Student Aide Student Aide Naturalist Naturalist salt marshisnotstatic:it Rick Hatcher PereiraCarol A. Minane Jameson Paul Hodges Louis Andrade Board ofDirectors H.A.R.D. BOARD &STAFF greenbelts, andinvestinpublic efforts to minimizewaste, expand economy. community-wide Support transition to anequitablelow-carbon a on theirpromisesofsupporting employers accountable fordelivering elected leaders,businessleadersand warming).Hold driver ofobserved carbondioxide (theprinciple gaseous theupwardflowof less, ofreversing engineer methodsofdoingmorewith up ofharmfulwastes, we humanscan “good” bacteria minimizethebuild- health ofthewholeecosystem. Just as even aftereven lefttheShoreline. we have the mud,water, birdsandbrineflies– transportation. Attune ourselvesto

G Jean Clark Nature ProgramSupervisor Karen McNamara Superintendent ofRecreation Paul McCreary eneral Manager PERMIT NO674 HAYWARD, CA U.S. POSTAGE PRSRT STD PAID

SUMMER 2018 On, In, and Near Water ARTIST: Lauren Porter

OPENING RECEPTION: Saturday, July 28th, 2 pm to 4 pm

On exhibit from July 28 through October 7, 2018 EXHIBIT HALL Lauren Porter’s collection of creative imaginings, photography and scientific illustrations are influenced by her adventures on, in, and near water. The artist’s professional training as a biologist, coupled with her passions for traveling, outdoor adventures, photography, and art, have come together to create a diverse collection of paintings, photos, and scientific illustrations. Her affinity for all things aquatic including organisms found on, in, and near water is vibrantly displayed. In addition to photography, Lauren Porter’s art includes a variety of media such as watercolor, acrylic, oil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and pastel.

The Interpretive Center has a large exhibit space with vaulted inspiring the public. If you are an artist interested in holding an salt marsh salt ceilings and moveable display panels. We are always interested in art show at the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center, please any form of art exhibit that highlights local wildlife, wetland or Bay contact the Program Director at 510-670-7270. ecology, or any theme in keeping with our goal of educating and CREATURE FEATURE: VITAL STATS: Bat Ray Bat Ray id you know bat rays (

SCIENTIFIC NAME: californica) are found here at Myliobatis californica ourD shoreline? Imagine you are a bat larger shark PREDATORS: ray, floating into the channels of the species like sevengill; great Hayward Shoreline during high tide. white sharks have been Are you hunting for food, looking for known to eat juvenile bay rays a mate, or just enjoying the tidal pull FOOD: and into the marsh? mollusks BODY LENGTH: females These special rays have many unique have a wing-span up to 6 traits that help them survive in this special ecosystem found in the San Francisco Bay. They feet wide; males usually are love to stay close to the bottom, whether that be in an estuary, forest, or right here along smaller in size the shoreline. On the seafloor, bat rays will leave a small canyon in their wake as they forage for mussels, clams, and crabs. Their mouth, nose and gill slits are all located on its underbelly, HOW TO OBSERVE: classifying it as a “bottom feeder” that creeps over living on the seafloor instead of At high tide along the hunting prey head on. The teeth and jaw of a bat ray are specially adapted to crush shells. The shoreline, look for the flapping wings along the water’s surface. bat ray’s teeth look very similar to a human tongue; their teeth have been fused together into plates that help quickly demolish even the toughest shells. Bat rays live a relatively solitary lifestyle but have been known to group together. When in those large groups, something compels the rays to break the surface of the water, making fantastic leaps into the sky and landing back in the safety of salt water. Bat rays are born with a venomous spine that is used as protection from dangerous predators such as sevengill sharks and great white sharks. When a young bat ray is born, their spine is ready to use but is covered by a sheath to protect its mother during the birthing process. Once swimming independently, the protective sheath falls off and the ray is ready to strike and protect at a moment’s notice. Bat rays are generally seen here at the Shoreline by the paths that they leave behind in the mud. Look for the signs of a bat ray during low tide to see where they have rested or hunted next time you are at the Shoreline! - Kamille Lang

NEWS AND NOTES spotlight program: summer 2018

17TH ANNUAL FATHER’S Play the Game of Floods DAY CAMP A fun, interactive game about San OUT Francisco Bay’s Shrinking Shores

SATURDAY, JUNE 16 @3PM Collective Visioning about -TO - Sea Level Rise along the SUNDAY, JUNE 17 Hayward Shoreline @11AM Do you wonder how rising seas will impact our Hayward shoreline? Feast on barbecue prepared by the naturalist If you’d like to know what local staff and celebrate Dad’s special day. Bring governments and public agencies yourself, your family, and your sleeping bags are doing to prepare, then come and small aerodynamic tents for this exclusive join us to play the “Game of camping event (it will be REALLY WINDY, Floods.” Marin County created so be prepared!). We’ll provide dinner, snacks, this engaging game in an effort breakfast and all entertainment. Go fishing, to move communities towards find bugs, take hikes, build sandcastles, change. Come join us and be part play games, roast marshmallows, and learn Our flooded trail during the January 2017 King Tide, of the solution! about the animals and plants that make up the highest tides of the year, looking northwest the shoreline habitat. Moms, grandparents, Saturday, June 9, 2018 WHEN: June 9, 2018 aunts, and uncles welcome! WHERE: Community Engagement Hayward Shoreline Reservations Required. Meet at 3050 West Hike & Forum Interpretive Center Winton Avenue in Hayward. 4901 Breakwater Ave. TIME: Sign up online at haywardrec.org 10am - Noon A Hayward Area Shoreline Planning Agency (HASPA) event. OTHER: Members: City of Hayward, East Bay Regional Park District, FREE to the public. Adult and child pair - $120 Hayward Area Recreation and Park District All materials provided Additional Child - $15 Additional Adult - $30 THIS SPRING wildlife of all kinds was seen in the marsh. Notable sightings included:

• KILLDEER tap-tap-tapping its foot on the mudflats. 15TH ANNUAL 10K ON THE • BUFFLEHEAD released by Sulphur Creek after being BAY rehabilitated. • LEOPARD SHARK (one of 3!) caught during a fantastically fun Dust off those running shoes and join us out naturalist-led fishing birthday party. on the trail! This year’s 10K on the Bay is • VOLE courageously crossing the trail in the midst of a Sunday, August 26, 2018. schoolgroup’s silent hike. • MALLARD DUCK drake with a familiar white chest patch, Register online at and his mate who took up nesting in our planter for a second 10konthebay.org season in a row. • RED-WINGED BLACK BIRD swaying from the tops of towering wild mustard in bloom, making their signature call. • AMERICAN BITTERN astounding a birding group (who double- and triple- checked what they were seeing!). • CLIFF SWALLOWS and BARN SWALLOWS thrilling us with their spring return, swooping around the Interpretive Center. • GOPHER SNAKE found under said building, possibly checking out the spring sightings spring swallows’ new nests... • COMB JELLIES enchanting field trip students, caught during dipnetting at high tide.

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