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Torrey Pinecone

A news bulletin for the Torrey Docent Society

June 2010 Science Fair stated that the Docent Society is one Presentations of very few organizations that offers Article Page outreach activities for each of the Science Fair Awards...... 1 by Sally Whitlock Gen Meeting...... 2 Our program for the May meeting awardees. The students' parents felt that the mentoring provided by our Children’s Program...... 2 featured informative and enter- POS tips ...... 3 taining presentations given by our judges, that continued after the day of the Fair, was of great value. DQOM ...... 4 four Greater Science and Refreshments ...... 4 We are very excited to learn that Engineering Fair awardees: His-Torrey-A-Z...... 5 Maia, Avery and Brock qualified to Maia Moran - The San Diego River Student article...... 5-6 compete in the State and the Factors Affecting Its Water The Struggle...... 7 Science Fair. Brock placed 1st in Quality Art in Pines Review ...... 7 Science and Avery placed 3rd Kylie Tumulak - Ocean Waves, Size BioBlitz at TPSNR ...... 8 in Zoology. Congratulations for Them Up, Do They Change Sand Bird Survey...... 9 outstanding achievement by these Buildup? Duty Calendar...... 10 very bright 7th and 8th graders! Avery Van Houten - Preserving Again, a huge "thank you" to our Coastal Marsh for the judge/mentors for a job well done: Belding's Savannah Sparrow Docent General Meeting Joan Adamo, Lou Adamo, Bill Key, th Brock Oury - Coastal Pines: Ability Walt Desmond, Lillian Lachicotte, Saturday, June 12 , 9 a.m. of Needles to Condense Moisture- Wes Farmer, Sheldon Krueger, Location: St Peter’s Episcopal Year II Rick Vogel, Paula Shaw, Sally Rec Hall, Del Mar Speaker: Ione Stiegler, Architect Each student received a check and an Whitlock, Frank Burham. Also, achievement award from TPDS, plus thank you to Rick Vogel for Program: How to build and how an opportunity to present his/her presenting the awards, Gill not to build with adobe: A case project at our May meeting and Williamson for moderating the study of the Torrey publish an article in our newsletters. meeting, Roger Isaacson Pines Lodge Kylie's and Maia's articles were for technical support and Sharon The presentation will briefly introduce featured in the May Torreyana; Thompson for designing the award the history and materials of adobe Avery's and Brock's articles are in certificate. Most of all, THANK construction. Adobe construction styles evolved from the Mexican era this month's Pinecone. YOU to TPDS for supporting our youth as they step forward into their period into the American era period. Pat Masters presented each student future.□ Adobe construction never completely with a one year parking pass to the disappeared and continued to be used Reserve, compliments of TPA. Walt DQOM (Docent Question on a modest scale through to today. Architects Richard S. Requa and Desmond started with a brief history of the Month) June 2010 of the Docent Society's involvement Herbert Lewis Jackson developed Torrey Needle Groove in the Science Fair and gave modern methods of using an ancient Courtesy of Jim Larrimore recognition to TPDS member, Theo building material, adobe blocks. The discussion will review how unique the Tanalski, for his dedication and Question: Are Torrey Pine needles ‘grooved’? lodge building materials and the contribution in developing judging associated restoration challenges are. and mentoring techniques. Walt Answer: See page 4

Torrey Pinecone June 2010 1 March Docent Lodge and hold their money for Training: (Sherry Doolittle) Ranger retrieval. Envelopes will be Only the final project remains for this Meeting Notes held in the desk in the Ranger office. dynamic group of trainees. Special Excerpted from notes from the TPDS Treasurer Report: (Ken King) thanks to Jeannie Smith for her extra General Meeting, May 8, 2010 by Museum Shop sales of $6,500 were efforts in filling in for an absent Secretary, Bill Eckles. Complete another record month; donations to Sherry. minutes in docent library. the society were down for the month. Trail Patrol: (Mike Pisor) President Rick Vogel called the Art in the Pines also contributed Thank you to Christie Anderson and business meeting to order at 10:30 substantial revenue, though final Richard Chance for their CD. Trail a.m. following refreshments. The accounting has not yet been Patrol buttons are in to be picked up general meeting had begun with four conducted. by recent trainees. Mike gave Jeff presentations by winners from the Rick Vogel reported for the Rangers special thanks for support of the Trail Science Fair. Rick presented them that Lisa Urbach, wife of Martin, will Patrol over the years. awards, Pat Masters presented be a new ranger and will serve as our Steve Tarkington for the Whacky parking passes and Sally Whitlock Cooperating Association Liaison Weeders and Walt Desmond for closed the presentation with thank- effective June 1, 2010. The Membership sang the praises of their yous all around. supervising ranger position is again groups and admonished the docent Walt Desmond provided glowing being posted. body to enter their hours promptly. comments about the quality of Torrey Pines Association: (Pat Rick adjourned the meeting at 11:15 Science Fair entrants and, especially, Masters) a.m. the winners. Pat has again been elected as The Docent of the Month is Suzan president of this organization. She Children’s Potuznik recognizing her excellent announced that TPA would purchase work as the Art in the Pines Artist a PA system for the Children's Relations Coordinator. Program. They will also print 33,000 Program trail maps for use by Reserve visitors. We are at the end of the school year, TPA will fund repairs to the Parry which gives us all summer to reflect Grove Trail steps and also the Guy on two pieces of good news for the Fleming Trail. Docent Society in general and the Children’s Program in particular. Connie Beardsley requested that the TPA support Art in the Pines. This First, the San Diego Women’s year's event enhanced the presence of Foundation has awarded a grant of the TPSNR and supported the $33,900 to the Torrey Pines Docent Children's Program. The TPA will Society for the primary purpose of donate all revenues to the Children's funding the salaries of Laura Program and pay costs associated Lowenstein and Diane Greening in with the event. Pat thanked Connie the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Beardsley, Suzan Potuznik, Steve Laura and Diane are crucial to the Rose, Irene Larrimore, Diane success of the Children’s Program. Greening, Sharon Thompson, While docents put in many volunteer Photo by Herb Knufken Barbara McCabe, Nancy hours, we rely on Laura and Diane for the day-to-day organization, Signature gathering for the Park Woodworth, Nan Danninger, Joan scheduling, communication with Access Pass exceeded expectations. Adamo and Laura Lowenstein for schools, and a myriad of details. "Yes on Parks" postcards contain their leadership roles in Art in the Without the grant, their positions, our substantial information and can be Pines this year. program, and a valuable service to the used to answer questions from our Communications: (Lou Adamo) community would all have been interested acquaintances. Carol Smith has taken over for Walt jeopardized. The San Diego Women's Desmond to send out email The grant was secured largely Foundation’s final list will be broadcasts to the membership. through the efforts of Pat Masters, released in about two weeks. Roger Isaacson has trained Laura Lowenstein and Diane Greening to who is now president of TPA, and For the time being, docents are edit the website information. Diane Greening. The two of them authorized to provide parking prepared and filed the grant envelopes to requesting visitors at the application. While considering the 2 Torrey Pinecone June 2010 application, the San Diego Women’s Tip of the month for the POS Foundation visited the Reserve and observed Ann Williamson’s Over the last few weeks, I've noticed presentation to a school group on the a recurring error in using the POS topic of , , and the system. You've entered the item(s) reserve. The Foundation’s that the visitor wants to buy and representatives spent considerable announce the amount that's to be time questioning people involved paid. The visitor hands you a card with the grant application and the and you swipe it. The credit card Children’s Program. There were a number goes into the system, but number of organizations competing WAIT. The system was looking for for the grants, and the award to the the amount tendered! Uh oh, the Society gives us reason to be both system now shows hundreds of proud and grateful. Rick Vogel, Pat thousands of dollars tendered! Time Masters, and Diane Greening will to back out of the system and start attend the formal presentation of the over. The easiest way to do that is to award and express the deep close the window by clicking on the x appreciation of the Docent Society at the top right of the screen. Re-open and TPA. the "sales" screen and give it another try. The second piece of good news was more of a surprise. Children from La A. If the customer is a docent or TPA Vorgna Elementary School member go through the "customer" (Temecula Valley District) made a procedure that you already know. generous contribution of over $170 to B. Scan or enter the item(s) to be the Children’s Program following purchased in the usual way. their field trip to the Reserve. The C. Enter the payment amount. funds will help with grants to pay for Typical letters inside: D. Since it's a credit card transaction, bus transportation so that schools that I was very fascinated by the stuff you click on the "exact change" button on lack resources to pay for buses can showed us. I was surprised of how the screen. participate in the children’s program. big the seed on the cucumber vine E. Click on the appropriate type of The contribution by the La Vorgna was. When we saw the road runner it card, Visa, Master Card, or Discover. students reflects the high reputation was so cool. Thank You for showing of the Children’s Program and its us around TPSNR and the plants. F. NOW, once it prompts you to importance to the schools. To receive swipe the card, you can swipe! Thank you for tiching me and a gift that comes from children’s own showing me. G. Print out the receipts. Have the contributions is especially gratifying. customer sign one and keep one. Put The Society can take pride in its Thank you for teaching us about the signed copy in the POS cash ongoing support of the program, and nature. drawer. the children from La Vorgna should I had a lot of fun yesterday and I Not so tough, is it? So the message take particular pride in themselves for learned that the Torrey Pine tree is summary is: Don't swipe the card their sense of generosity. really important and only grows until the POS system tells you to! What better feedback could we ask there. I told other people the story Thanks for doing lodge duty! for? Thank you, San Diego Women’s about the rat's nest. Foundation and La Vorgna students. Thank you for teaching us all the cool Ken King Tony Summers things like the pack rats and what they do and when they come out. Children’s Program Director A short message from the ...It's never boring working with President: Day Use Permits Children’s Notes to Docents children! As you all know by now, there has Here are some of the cute cards sent Kathy Dickey been considerable confusion about to us by the students this year. what to do about visitors who come

Please, don’t forget to sign up for desk duty. IF YOU HAVE TO CANCEL, PLEASE FIND A SUBSTITUTE OR INFORM Barbara McCardle or Irene Larrimore. See p 10 for Duty Calendar.

Torrey Pinecone June 2010 3 to the docent desk asking to pay for The second topic is suggestions. A At the Docent Society monthly parking. We have received approval Lodge employee suggested that meeting on May 8, 2010, Brock Oury from District management for a we encourage docents to prepare their presented his award-winning San parking procedure that should serve favorite dish for consumption at the Diego Science Fair project (see p. 5) both our visitors and the Docent meetings. Great idea… homemade about fog condensing on pine Society well. We now have a supply salads, breads, casseroles, chilies etc. needles, comparing the rates or of the “iron ranger” envelopes have all been a big hit. This will amounts of condensation on four available in the Docent desk. If a provide a little fun internal pines, one of which was our Torrey visitor makes it to the Lodge without completion as well; way cool. pine. Brock had refined and extended paying for parking, the desk duty So with Board Approval I propose his initial study of this topic in 2009, docent can hand him or her one of the for the July 2010 General Meeting which also won one of our Science envelopes. The visitor can fill out the that Docents with last names Fair awards. For 2010 he had envelope, put the day use fee inside, beginning with A-D bring a real photographed pine needles at 60x seal the envelope and give it back to food dish to share, homemade or magnification, and measured the the docent. The visitors will then not. The others bringing real food angle between the bottom two sides have a day use permit to place on items to share every month feel free of needles. Here’s what he found. their dashboards, and the docent will to continue. A bundle of pine needles starts at its deposit the sealed envelopes in the top as a solid cylinder that divides right hand desk drawer of the Staff Others can provide the donuts, candies, fruits etc as usual. Sadly the into symmetric parts, normally 5 desk in the front staff office. This needles for the Torrey pine, but way, docents don’t have to handle the sign up sheet for this type of refreshment has not been very Brock also found 4-needle and 3- money directly and the visitor doesn’t needle bunches. Therefore, a pine have to go back down the hill. The successful. If you want to sign up I will email you a reminder. needle has a rounded outside and two staff will collect the full envelopes flatter under sides, meeting at a and account for them. Thanks to all. If you have not been a supplier particular angle. The bottom angles Rick Vogel recently you could place a couple of he measured were 72 degrees for 5- bucks in the can. needle, 90 degrees for 4-needle and Refreshments Suggestions are welcome. 120 degrees for 3-needle bunches. Of by Chuck Anders course! The sum of the angles for What a pleasure it has been over the each bunch of needles has to add up years to organize our general meeting DQOM June 2010- Torrey to 360 degrees. break-time refreshments. Pine Needle Groove The magnified photos were stunning - All calorie contributors, many eager Courtesy of Jim Larrimore they show many parallel ridges, made assistants (you know who you are, Question: Are Torrey Pine needles up of tiny outgrowths - let’s call them THANK YOU) helping with set up ‘grooved’? ‘bumps’ - running along the length of and break down, additional event the needle, with equally tiny channels organizer’s cooperation and Lodge Answer: “[Torrey Pine] needles are in between the ridges. These ridges employees have made break time so about 8 to 10 inches long, and are are more pronounced on the outer successful. grooved,” says the green handout “The Torrey Pine (Pinus torreyana).” side of the needle, but they are also Without all the cooperation, That’s the same information in my there on the two under sides of the assistance, suggestions and 2004 Docent Training material. And needle. Look at a needle with a encouragement from the member- my answer to Question 2 of Joan normal magnifying glass and you will ship it would not have been possible. Nimick’s Training Program Quiz on just see tiny lines running along the Our General Meetings are truly a Flowers of Torrey Pines, April 3, length. great expectation and joy for me. 2004, “Why is the Torrey pine able to But where is the “groove”? There is Let me start with encouragement. grow naturally here at Torrey Pines no single groove on a live needle, as Two months ago a docent made a State Reserve?” was “Because of the the geometrical description above comment how pleased she was that frequent and persistent fog, which makes clear. But if you look at a dry she did not have to prepare both screens out the sun and fallen needle, you will find a groove lunch because of the great variety of condenses on the needles. The running down the underside. That food provided during break time. condensed water runs down the groove would seem to develop as the Wow. It would be wonderful to have grooves in the needles and falls to the needle shrivels around the two that much variety of food at every ‘drip line’ of the tree.” Is that answer vascular bundles running through the meeting. fully correct? diploxylon Torrey pine needle.

4 Torrey Pinecone June 2010 Brock found that Torrey pine needles These were a public plaza and civic simply, harmoniously and then are somewhat better than the other center, a great bay front, small open confidently invite comparison with pine needles he tested in condensing spaces, streets and boulevards, and a any park system in the world. It fog and postulated this is due to the system of parks. He stated that in a would give to the citizen’s health, joy larger surface area associated with city like San Diego, stretching for and more abundant life, and to the their larger - but still tiny - bumps. more than 20 miles up and down the city itself, wealth and enduring So, it is correct to say that the Torrey coast, with an almost infinite variety fame.” pine needles are especially good at of scenery, no single park is raking water out of the marine-layer sufficient. A system of parks is Science Fair Projects fog, as I like to tell visitors. But, the unquestionably demanded. This Abstract from Brock Oury story about water running down a system of parks would be connected Project title: Coastal Pines: Ability groove in the needles needs to be by boulevards and parkways. He of Needles to Condense Moisture, changed. There is no single groove. selected the following natural areas as Year II The tiny parallel channels between most important: City Park (Balboa School: Rhoades, Grade: 8 the ridge lines may guide the water in Park), Bay Front (Embarcadero), I tested the efficiency with which the channeling down the upper side of Point Loma, Beach Reservation native Torrey pine (Pinus torreyana) the needles. In any case the water (Pacific Beach area), La Jolla, is able to condense water from coastal does drip off the ends of the needles Soledad Mountain, Mission Cliffs fog in comparison to three other non- into the ‘drip line,’ helping it to go (Mission Valley area), Fort Stockton native pine species. The four species into the ground and be available to (Old Town area) and the Torrey pines tested were the Aleppo pine (Pinus nourish the tree. area. halepensis), the Canary Island pine HisTorrey A through He stated that “the final feature, the (Pinus canariensis), the Torrey pine Torrey pines, would form a unique and the Japanese black pine (Pinus Z: the letter N (the addition to the park system, one that thunbergiana). My hypothesis was the city could not on any account that the Torrey pine is able to Nolen Plan) afford to omit. It is probably the condense water from coastal fog with by Judy Schulman such effectiveness that it is able to f John Nolen would have had his supplement San Diego’s coastal I way, San Diego would now be a annual rainfall in order to survive in city of natural parks interconnected this typically arid climate. I also by parkways and boulevards. The hypothesized that the surface area of Torrey pines area would have been the Torrey pine (Pinus torreyana) one of those featured parks. needle is greater than that of the other three pine species, which allows the John Nolen (1869-1937) was a Torrey pine to be more efficient at nationally noted city collecting and condensing water from planner/landscape architect. He was the air. This surface area advantage considered an innovative urban was studied to determine any planner. He felt that San Diego’s advantages in the microscopic greatest assets were its location and structure of the Torrey pine needle. variety of natural beauty. I constructed a fog chamber using His professional philosophy included two humidifiers. I monitored the community planning, building codes, humidity using a hygrometer. Last zoning and affordable housing. He year I compared the same number of felt that city planning should be for bundles of needles in my tests. This the long term. It should take into year, to compare the four pine account what is best for all people, species, I instead compared the same not just for one class or special weights of needle samples in each of interest group. rarest tree our earth has ever the five trials. Hired by city father George Marston, produced, and by restoring the From the results of the twenty tests, in 1908 he published San Diego: A growth near Del Mar, a park the Torrey pine was the most Comprehensive Plan for its reservation of singular input would be effective species at condensing the Improvement. His plan had 5 main secured. Connect this system of parks humid air and was significantly more elements. by the boulevards and parkways already planned, develop it naturally, effective at collecting water than the

Torrey Pinecone June 2010 5 next most effective species, the Abstract from Avery Van crowding out my native plants. After Aleppo pine. I measured the water Houten a few weeks, I decided to weed since precisely and graphed five trials of Project Title: Preserving Coastal it looked like the native plants might data that compared the four species. I Marsh Habitat for the Belding's not otherwise survive. The Belding’s recorded how much condensation Savannah Sparrow Savannah Sparrows were always was produced, the hourly rate at School: Rhoades, Grade: 7 present in the Pickleweed, Salt grass which the water condensed, and the The Belding’s Savannah Sparrow is and Shoregrass that grew in my plots. percent of efficiency to condense the an endemic and I documented more than 30 bird fog. I concluded that the Torrey pine that lives year round in the salt species, including the Green-Winged tree seems to have unique adaptations marshes of . This Teal, the Northern Pintail, the which successfully help turn the fog bird is sedentary and requires long, Northern Shoveler, the Peregrine of the San Diego coast into continuous stretches of Pickleweed, Falcon, the Black-bellied Plover, and condensed water, creating “rain” for Salt Grass and Shoregrass habitat for many more. its own root system. its survival. The goal of my project Due to intermittent rainfall, I was I then examined the needles of the was to test which watering unable to discover which watering four species under a 60x microscope maintenance schedule, biweekly schedule, biweekly, weekly, or no to look for differences in the surface watering or weekly watering, would additional water, would best support of the needle structure. The Torrey best promote the growth of Salt Grass replanting efforts for Salt Grass and pine needles appeared to have a and Shoregrass at the San Elijo Shoregrass. However, I did discover greater density of microscopic Lagoon. Another goal was to that replanting efforts would likely projections along its needles than the document the Belding’s Savannah need providing protection from other three needle types. Sparrow’s presence and to also record animals, such as installing chicken other bird species observed at the wire. The invasive weeds were so lagoon. numerous and aggressive in my plots In October, I planted 90 Salt Grass that I had to remove them to keep the and Shoregrass plants in a two to one native plants alive. I would suggest ratio in three plots at the weeding be required. The Belding’s southwestern end of the San Elijo Savannah Sparrow (below) and many Lagoon. One plot was to be watered other bird species appear to be weekly, one was to be watered thriving at the San Elijo Lagoon. biweekly, and the third plot was the control. I recorded I also examined cross sections of each over 500 measurements. of the needles to find out the shape of Plant heights, air the needles to see if that would have temperature, windspeed, any influence on the surface area of relative humidity, soil the needles. I found that Torrey pine temperature, soil pH, soil needles come in bundles of three, moisture and the tide levels four or five. were noted each time I visited my plots. I watered weekly for the first six weeks due to drought conditions. I observed the Belding’s Savannah Sparrows’ activities and recorded the many birds I observed each time I visited

the lagoon. Photo taken in parking lot at last Based upon the findings, I would The first few weeks the Shoregrass minute. recommend further study of the and Salt Grass were watered, animals I plan to continue monitoring my microscopic features of the Torrey uprooted the plants, and I had to pine’s needles to discover how this three plots and documenting the birds replant. I installed rabbit wire. Then at the lagoon. □ might be related to the efficiency of rainfall finally came to San Diego.

condensation. □ Invasive weeds took over the plots,

6 Torrey Pinecone June 2010 From the Torrey Pines Historical Files: The Struggle or the story of the Guy Fleming house, 1975 to 1981, Part 2 of 3 by Maryruth Cox n 1975 the Guy Fleming house was I nearly 50 years old and badly needed repairs. The state park, short of money, wanted to tear it down to save on maintenance costs. But others, led by the TPA, prized the Lodge parking lot filled with artist booths. Photo by Roger Isaacson house for its part in Torrey Pines history. They also felt that a live-in campers.” The TPA again argued that ranger was needed to protect the park. the occupancy of the residence was Art in the Pines Festival The unresolved controversy stalled necessary for the security of the for two years till Tom Whitaker sent reserve. Furthermore, the association Raises Awareness and a letter of concern to the state park stood ready to help restore the officials in the fall of 1978. This building. Funds spurred Jack Welch, DPR manager, No doubt ruffled by pressures from ver 80 artists participated in the to send a private memo to Ron Sacramento, Ron McCullough OArt in the Pines Festival making McCullough, the superintendent of reiterated his belief that “continued it a huge success. The Torrey Pines District 6: “I do not think our plan to occupancy of the residence was not Association underwrote the event at remove all structures and relocate the vital for adequate protection of the $6,500, while Coldwell Banker, public facilities to south entrance is Reserve; the residence is an intrusion EDCO, and California State Parks very well known. We have not in the Reserve.” However, he did also contributed to the festival. publicized it in the interest of promise the TPA that no action The TP Docent Society earned over avoiding conflict. The association would be taken until a General Plan $4,800. The exact amount is feels very strongly that the Lodge and for the Reserve was submitted to the undetermined as commissions and residence have valid historical Coastal Commission. Unfortunately, checks are still coming in. Funds values.” a cypress tree, planted by Guy from Art in the Pines will go directly Pressures built in the media. James Fleming in front of the Lodge, had to help the Children’s Program at the Britton II (architectural critic) wrote a just been cut down without prior Reserve. That model program serves ‘sensitive, caring article’ about the notification, despite similar promises. so many children in the San Diego Lodge and the residence in the San The TPA renewed their efforts. They area with an exemplary curriculum Diego Union-Tribune, stressing the asked an independent contractor to tied to the school curriculum. Where role the residence had played in the estimate the cost of bringing the else can you go to have a great hike, history of Torrey Pines. When residence up to code. Worried at see dolphins, trap-door spiders and Welch’s memo leaked to the press, being over-run, the DPR staff asked learn about geology, all in a half-day the TPA decided to appeal to higher that two of their people be present at visit to the Reserve? authorities, namely State Senator the assessment. Imagine the scene: Interest in the event was much higher James Mills and Assemblyman Bob The TPA, the contractor, and the than we anticipated, with over 1000 Frazee. They pointed out that local DPR staff, all gathered around the attending, many of whom purchased residents across the lagoon had often little house, trying to be polite to each art. Attendees were pleased with the noticed accidents on the highway or other. How did they all feel when the quality of the art and of course the small fires in the park and had been contractor made an estimate of beauty of the Reserve as a place to able to telephone for help to the $15,000, just half of the DPR hold such an event, particularly with resident ranger, Kent Hartwell. Carol estimate? the wildflowers in bloom. Because of Hartwell, (Mrs. Kent Hartwell), said the unexpected numbers of people she “believes the ranger residence there were long waits for the shuttle will soon be demolished, is troubled at the two parking lots which will be at the thought of the frequent night noted for next year. time intruders, smokers or illegal

Torrey Pinecone June 2010 7 Fifty artists entered the Plein Air Art Competition. Three judges, Richard Keely, Scott Prior and Anna O’Cain announced the winners who were: Ying hui Feng, first place for her watercolor painting,“Morning”; Stanislav Prokopenko, second place for his untitled oil, Marjorie Taylor, third place for her oil, “Pines on a Cloudy Day.” Jeffrey Field and Margot Wallace both received honorable mentions. The Minerva Classical Quartet and the Meow Now Band provided music while food was served in front of the Photo by Roger Isaacson Lodge. The nature walks were full BioBlitz: Scientists and the workshops and by Ann Williamson demonstrations well attended. On May 21-22 the San Diego Natural History Museum brought BioBlitz to Many docents helped with the event. our Reserve. Fifty-five scientists It couldn’t have happened without from the Museum and from several them. Many commented on the universities searched the Reserve for numbers of capable, competent and 24 hours. Some of the scientists did enthusiastic volunteers who were their identification work on the front working that day. The participation porch of the Visitor Center, so we got was truly fantastic. In particular the Microscopes were in use everywhere, in to talk with them and learn more and around the Lodge. Photo by Roger Committee worked many long hours about some local species. There was a Isaacson to develop and implement Art in the wonderful trapdoor spider to watch, Pines. The following docents live scorpions, and beautiful algae. deserve special recognition for their BioBlitz: Docents commitment to making this a success: At 3:00 p.m. Dr. Michael Wall, by Ann Williamson Director of Biodiversity Research Diane Greening designed six Artists’ Relations-Suzan Potuznik; Center of the and Curator education tables so that docents and Logistics-Steve Rose; Children’s of Entomology at the Museum, other volunteers could help visitors Activities-Diane Greening; announced the BioBlitz results. The learn more about the Reserve while Graphics-Sharon Thompson; TPA final results will be available online attending BioBlitz. Paleontology was Representative-Pat Masters; in a few weeks. The Museum is still especially popular with young Museum Shop-Nancy Woodworth, working on the counts. Some very children who used paintbrushes to Nan Danninger; Docent Booth-Joan preliminary numbers are as follows: brush away sand and discover fossils. Adamo; Volunteers-Laura Mammology was a delightful station. Insects 516 Lowenstein; Publicity-Barbara Kids and adults tried to match each Spiders and relatives 79 McCabe; Nature Walks-Irene track with an animal. Then they tried Snails and clams 8 Larrimore. to match a scat photo with the Algae and diatoms 28 Kudos to all. Birds 72 corresponding animal. Connie Beardsley and Cindy Mammals 25 Wollaeger Reptiles and amphibians 11 Co-chairs, Art in the Pines Plants 324 Grand Total 1063 Zoo Nooz Magazines needed for the Visitor Center- There was excitement about a Please bring old Zoo Nooz magazines to the ranger/aide salamander found close to the office so we can keep the supply surface, an unusual plant, and going for kids to pick up a free possibly a new spider species. Joe Allen (Audubon Soc.) with visitor. copy when they visit the Museum Definitely better than the Academy Photo by Ann Williamson Shop. Thanks. Awards! Ornithology featured an amazing

8 Torrey Pinecone June 2010 BioBlitz. Other scientists said it was helpful to have the tables there for the public because it provided activities in addition to the interaction with the scientists. This allowed the scientists to focus more on identification and determining the counts.

Trapdoor Spider on exhibit. Photo by plants and several chaparral plants for Barbara Wallach visitors to learn before going on trail. Michael Wall (on left) announcing results. Hawk’s nest, a Cooper’s hawk, and a One of the biggest draws was Photo by Ann Williamson Pacific Loon. Diane’s wingspan Herpetology (Photo above). Visitors Laura Lowenstein recruited and board allowed a visitor to spread his loved interacting with John Neville’s organized the BioBlitz volunteers. arms and compare his own wingspan snakes. Besides the fantastic docents Laura and Diane thank everyone who with that of an osprey, brown pelican, at the tables we had docent guided did such a good job staffing the and other local birds. At Entomology walks every hour for our visitors. education tables, guiding walks, you could select an insect specimen Michael Wall noted in his 3:00 p.m. setting up the displays, and taking and follow a tree diagram to identify remarks that this was the best set of down all the tables and canopies. the insect type. Botany included education tables he had seen at a What a team! samples of several

Torrey Pines Docent Society Bird Survey: May 6, 2010 Total of 80 species Gadwall 30 Double-crested Long-billed Curlew 10 Cassin's Kingbird 1 Northern Mockingbird Eurasian Wigeon 1 Cormorant 6 Marbled Godwit 3 Western Scrub-Jay 5 1 American Wigeon 61 Great Blue Heron 1 Least Sandpiper 44 American Crow 37 California Thrasher 3 Mallard 11 Great Egret 8 Bonaparte's Gull 60 Common Raven 12 European Starling 1 Blue-winged Teal 9 Snowy Egret 7 Heermann's Gull 13 Tree Swallow 113 Orange-crowned Cinnamon Teal 6 Black-crowned Night- Ring-billed Gull 20 Violet-green Swallow Warbler 1 Northern Shoveler 13 Heron 1 Western Gull 17 1 Yellow-rumped Northern Pintail 21 White-faced Ibis 20 California Gull 18 Northern Rough- Warbler 14 Green-winged Teal 17 Osprey 1 Mourning Dove 9 winged Swallow 48 Common Yellowthroat Lesser Scaup 22 Cooper's Hawk 1 Greater Roadrunner 1 Cliff Swallow 2 8 Surf Scoter 19 Red-shouldered Hawk White-throated Swift Bushtit 22 Spotted Towhee 7 Bufflehead 2 1 70 Bewick's Wren 2 California Towhee 25 California Quail 17 Red-tailed Hawk 5 Anna's Hummingbird House Wren 7 Savannah Sparrow Red-throated Loon 1 American Kestrel 2 31 Marsh Wren 5 (Belding's) 2 Common Loon 2 Peregrine Falcon 1 Rufous/Allen's Ruby-crowned Kinglet Song Sparrow 12 Pied-billed Grebe 2 Common Moorhen 1 Hummingbird 2 1 Red-winged Blackbird Western Grebe 290 American Coot 28 Nuttall's Woodpecker 4 California Gnatcatcher 28 Brown Pelican 5 Killdeer 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 3 House Finch 51 Brandt's Cormorant 10 Willet 7 Black Phoebe 11 Wrentit 37 Lesser Goldfinch 12 Whimbrel 2 Say's Phoebe 2

Observers: Herb Knufken, Will Cox, Kathy Dickey, Blair Francis, Jack Friery, Gary Grantham, and Anonymous

Torrey Pinecone June 2010 9 Torrey Pines Docent Society PO Box 2414 Del Mar, CA 92014 (858) 755-2063 or 755-8219 www.torreypinesreserve.org

The Pinecone, a calendar of events, notes from business meetings, and other items of specific interest to the docent membership, is published bi-monthly (even months). For odd months we publish the Torreyana. Please submit items by the 20th of the month to the Editor [email protected] Items for publication may also be left in the Torreyana mailbox in the docent library.

June 2010 TPDS Visitor Center Duty Calendar- updated 5/30/10 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1Maids 2 3 4 5 L- Marshall L-C&B Hornbeck L- L- L- W-Sanseverino L- Ivany L-Fiorentino L- M Lewis L-Vogel L- Geist W- L-K Dickey L- L- L-Isaacson L- 6 7 8 9 10 11 2x hrs-Meeting 12 L-Rowbottom L- L- L- L- L- Burke L- W-Farness W-Farness L- Dewhurst L- Vogel L-Alper L-Fiorentino L-M Lewis L- L- W- Kamen W- L- L- L- L- L- L- L- 13 14 15 Maids 16 17 18 19 L-C&B Hornbeck L- L- Alper L-C&B Hornbeck L- Bogan L-Martineau L- W-Bedinger W-Sanseverino L- L-F Doolittle L-Ivany L- L-Dewhurst L- Vogel L- Hill W- W-Stiegler L- L-S&S Rose L- L- L- L- L- 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 L- Schulman L- Arnold L- Marshall L- L- Bogan L- Burke L-McGee W- Rowbottom W-Bedinger L- Schulman L- Vogel L- L- L- L- L-Hill W- W- L-Benton/Hartung L- L- Lombardi L- L- L- L- 27 28 29 Maids 30 Lodge Duty Hours Walks L- L-Arnold L-Tarkington L- L- 9-12 W-Brav W Sat/Sun/Hol 9:30 (Start 10:00) L- Phillips L-F Doolittle L- L- L- 12-3 W- Geist W Sat/Sun/Hol 1:30 (Start 2:00) L-Benton/Hartung L- L-Lombardi L- L- 3-6 To sign up for an opening, call docent on duty (858 755-8219) to confirm the time & write your name in the Logbook. If you cannot do your duty, please try to find your own substitute by switching with another docent or using the short-notice list. Then call the docent on duty to make the change in the Logbook. Coordinators: Irene Larrimore & Barbara McCardle 10 Torrey Pinecone October 2009