Friends of the Kern River Preserve

Volume 9, Issue 2 CAL I FOR NIA Fall 2005 Audubon's mission is "to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefi t of humanity and the earths' biological diversity." Habitat Diversity Explodes as Kern River Preserve Doubles in Size In March 2005, the Kern River Preserve more than doubled in size from 1,127 acres to 2,789 acres with the addition of extensive native grass meadows, seasonal wetlands, riparian forest, desert grassland, sagebrush fl ats, and gray pine/juniper woodland. The number of species of birds and wildlife protected within the boundaries of the preserve has increased signifi cantly with the addition of the new acreage and habitats. Audubon staff has worked hard for several years with a diverse group of agencies, organizations, and individuals to acquire this important habitat. Of course, the Sprague family who sold this beautiful property must be properly Sprague acquisition looking east from the gray pine/juniper woodland habitat thanked, without their vision and generosity to protect this along Fay Creek. Nichol Peak is the mountain in the background. © Nature Ali see Sprague page 4 Friends of the Kern River Preserve Appreciation Weekend Calendar of Events Saturday & Sunday, October 29-30: As the leaves change color and the birds migrate south, we look forward to KRP Friends Appreciation Weekend celebrating all who have helped keep the Kern River Preserve’s outreach and education programs running throughout the year. Saturday, Nov. 12 - Nature Photography with Alison Sheehey Without the numerous people who support the preserve through memberships see Friends page 6 Saturday, Dec. 10 - Bluebird Boxes with Jeff King Wonderful World of Nature Saturday, Dec. 31: South Fork Valley Emily Cohen began one of the most successful outreach programs for the CBC: Compiler Denise LaBerteaux. Friends of the Kern River Preserve in February of this year. She scheduled experts Email: [email protected] to lead free family nature programs each month and did all of the publicity and Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006: Kern preparation for these events. From hawks, wildfl owers, water, bird research, river River Valley CBC: Compiler ecology, native plant uses, astronomy, and nocturnal animals each program has Alison Sheehey Email: been attended by a diverse group of people and averaging about 30 people each [email protected] time. For information email: The fi rst program on falconry was by Bill Foster. He demonstrated the ancient [email protected] art of falconry with his juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, JoJo. Bill and his wife Birdie are retired zookeepers from the L.A. Zoo and now live in Weldon. see Nature page 2 Friends of the Kern River Preserve Fall 2005

The South Fork was the main channel thousands of Friends of the Kern River Preserve years ago and meanders through mountain meadows while descending through ancient volcanic fi elds. It wanders P.O. Box 833 through the into the Sequoia National Weldon, CA 93283-0833 Forest and rushes down through the Domelands Wilderness email: [email protected] before gently fl owing through the South Fork Valley. website: http://kern.audubon.org The May program was a MAPS The Kern River Preserve is managed by Audubon banding station with Ashley Sutton for the preservation of one of California’s largest and Emily Cohen. Visitors watched contiguous cottonwood-willow riparian forests and the banding and even got to listen to a wildlife it supports. bird’s heartbeat! Visitors observed The Friends of the Kern River Preserve is a birds being netted, weighed, identifi ed, membership organization that provides fi nancial support for tagged and released. Many got a Ashley Sutton with outreach, education, wildlife habitat protection, and land chance to release a bird after banding. Swainson's Thrush stewardship. The June program began with Your support is critical to the success of the Kern River a surprise, Reed Tollefson couldn't lead his walk in the Pre serve. Please consider making a do na tion by fi lling out the river due to the fact that the normally placid river was still membership form and mailing it to the Friends. raging. The late spring rains assured all of the guests a wet experience right on the fl ooded nature trail!Several people STAFF on the walk had never been to the preserve before and were PRESERVE MANAGER...... REED TOLLEF SON thrilled to learn about riparian forests and the role of the ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT...... SANDRA WIESER MAINTENANCE & OPERATIONS...... JEFF KING Kern River Preserve in protecting this endangered habitat. VOLUNTEERS The July program was on NEWSLETTER EDITOR...... ALISON SHEEHEY traditional uses of native plants BIRD FEEDING...... BIRDIE FOSTER & MARYA MILLER by TTerrierri Gallion. Terri went FESTIVAL SIGNS...... RON GILLENTINE far and wide to bring samples SPECIAL PROJECTS ERNIE FLORES, BILL FOSTER, TERRI GALLION, DEBBIE of many of the edible and KIGGENS, DAVE KURDEKA, ASHLEY SUTTON medicinal plants. From pinyon Single-needle Pinyon Pine pine to mugwort, native plants Nature continued from page 1 provide a wealth of wonderful The March program led by Alison Sheehey was an remedies and recipes for past and present cultures. adventurous tour of the Kern River Preserve’s wildfl owers. August sun is so hot... Sandra Wieser taught her group This program was multifaceted with a slide program, followed about the astronomy of our sun, why we need it, and some by a lesson in lawn botany, and ending up with a hike to the of the techniques animals use to beat the heat. preserve's wildfl owers. Attendance at this event was really great, The September a couple even came all the way from New York to enjoy this program was led by little wildfl ower walk. Wendy Rannals of the The April talk was Forest Service. She given by Melissa Amentt, showed how to survey hydrologist for the Sequoia for nocturnal animals. National Forest and Debbie Boxes with sooted plates Kiggens, on “What in the were placed all over the world is a WWatershed”.atershed”. Forty- preserve to see what eight people, many from the made the tracks. There Kern VValleyalley Hiking Club were skunks, mice, and North Fork Kern River © Nature Ali enjoyed an overview of the fox prints found on the Kern starting at the very top track paper. Friend of KRP, Dan Portway, of the headwaters of both the north and south forks of the Kern. Debbie Kiggens then examines tracks during the September nature program © Did you know the Kern River begins at the tallest mountain showed us how to make Nature Ali in the lower 48 states? Yup, it starts at Mount Whitney and is the plaster casts of tracks. only north - south fl owing river in the . The upper Check out the results in the visitor center. Kern Canyon is a deep fl owing gorge where the North Fork Our fi rst year of nature walks has been a wonderful of the Kern fl ows with many waterfalls and rapids through the series. Special thanks to Emily Cohen (who has moved on Wilderness down to the Giant Sequoia National to pursue her doctorate) and to all of our leaders. § Monument and through the Kern Valley. 2 Friends of the Kern River Preserve Fall 2005 KRP BRIEFS KERN RIVER PRESERVE HOSTED THE ELEVENTH ALAN JONES ... STAR VOLUNTEER ANNUAL BIOREGIONS FESTIVAL For two months Alan Jones a resident of Walla Walla, Another successful Kern Valley Bioregions Festival was spent countless hours repairing the new Sprague held in late April. Beautiful weather in the low country was the House. Alan helped move out the previous occupants... highlight of this year’s activities. This year's incredible snow desert woodrats... repaired the sprinkler system... planted pack limited access to the mountains, so the owling trips were trees... repaired the swamp coolers... repaired and painted the not as successful as hoped. The bioregions are always beautiful bathrooms...repaired the split rail fence... helped Jeff King and unpredictable. Each year brings new delights and surprises. chase cattle from the Kelso Creek Sanctuary and assisted Bill A big thank you to volunteers, Phil & Phyllis Allin, Bob Foster in building a brand new water feature for the Sprague Barnes, Darrell Barnes, Marlene Benton, Ron Bolyard, Joe House birds and other wildlife. While Alan has moved on, his Fontaine, Bill & Birdie Foster, Michael Gallagher, Ron legacy of bringing the new house up to livable condition will Gillentine, Richard & Liz Grotsky, Debbie Kiggens, Jeff be appreciated for years to come. § King, Dan Lockshaw, Fletcher Linton, Buz Lunsford, Michael BUTTERFLY COUNTS McQuerrey, Marya Miller, Gary Potter, Kelly Richers, John Bob Barnes has outdone Schmitt, Pat Seamount, Alison Sheehey, Steve Sosensky, Bob & himself in keeping the NABA Susan Steele, Ashley Sutton, Reed Tollefson, Bruce Webb, Carol butterfl y counts going. Three Wermuth, Sandra Wieser. Thanks also to Sequoia National Forest were held this year; South Fork Service employees, Teresa Benson and Wendy Rannals and the Kern River Valley, South Sequoia Cannell Meadow District for their fantastic job for again creating National Forest and Giant a wonderful festival in Kernville's Circle Park. § Sequoia National Monument Butterfl y Counts, all helped to SPRAGUE RANCH HOUSE HOSTS AUDUBON verify the status and distribution Pygmy Blue © Nature Ali CALIFORNIA BOARD OF DIRECTORS of butterfl ies in the area. The fi rst offi cial event at Interesting information coming the new Sprague House was an out of the counts are the benefi ts of the McNally fi re to this evening barbecue with many of region's butterfl ies, both diversity and population numbers the people who helped put the have increased. § entire deal together. The next FIRE AT MIGRANT CORNER day all staff and board members On Thursday June 23rd a fi re broke out at Migrant Corner of Audubon California held a Audubon Board & Staff along Sierra Way. The contents in a pickup bed caught fi re and meeting in the newly refurbished the owners tried to put out the fi re but the hill caught fi re when house. someone tossed a burning item into the dry brush. Michael The hit of the event were two rattlesnakes found in the McQuerrey, a Bakersfi eld birder, witnessed the entire event immediate vicinity of the house just prior to the activities. while leading a birding trip at the corner and immediately Appropriately housed in an aquarium the snakes were displayed called 911. By the time the fi re crews arrived the entire hillside for the enjoyment of all during the barbecue and meetings. The was on ablaze. snakes were released unharmed far away from the house a few Most of the fi re was days later. § contained to hillside RARE PLANT FOUND ON NEW KRP PROPERTY vegetation but 1-2 acres of A tiny plant that is sensitive riparian forest also burned. and found only in California Altogether fi re offi cials was discovered on the Sprague estimated a total of 19.2 Ranch section of Audubon’sAudubon’s acres consumed by the fi re. Kern River Preserve. The Pygmy Sixty percent of this was Poppy,Poppy, Canbya candida, is such BLM & Kern County Fire trucks on the BLM inholding and a diminutive plant that it is easily at the entrance to Migrant Corner the rest was preserve land. Trail © Nature Ali missed. It only grows on sandy The fi re consumed the Pygmy Poppy © Nature Ali desert soil and is frequently only juniper and elderberry native to the preserve and several crowded out when exotic annual very large cottonwoods and willows. We are looking to repair grasses overwhelm an area. the trail and fences with the help of volunteers. Last year Pygmy Poppy was also discovered on the Kelso Thanks to... Kern County Fire - Bureau of Land Creek Sanctuary making Audubon one of the most important Management... and Sequoia National Forest fi refi ghters for protectors of this tiny beauty. § responding and containing the fi re so quickly.§

3 Friends of the Kern River Preserve Fall 2005

Sprague continued from page 1 land, the viability and health of the Kern River Preserve and protection in the South Fork Valley. We need to continue to the surrounding Valley may have been forever altered. “The work with our established partners and build relationships addition of the Sprague Ranch is critical to conserving this to work more effectively with surrounding ranchers that valley’s natural heritage, and I can’t thank the Sprague Family want to preserve their agricultural heritage. By purchasing enough for working with us over the past several years to the development rights while allowing a viable farming complete this transaction” said Reed Tollefson. operation to continue, dedicated ranchers may be able to make a permanent commitment to protect their ranches rather than to sub-divide and develop. It can be a diffi cult choice where a world economy and the “almighty dollar” prevail in so many cases. We can help ensure our ability to provide food and fi ber to a growing population, while we help to preserve our open space and the adjoining Kern River Preserve. The Kern River Preserve is visited by people from all over the world, who are attracted to our unique wildlife and our beautiful rural setting. Local residents utilize the preserve’s nature trail for quiet contemplation and for exercise in a pristine environment. “Audubon’s work makes The Sprague acquisition is on the upper left - the it possible for California’s families to enjoy this jewel of original preserve is the forest on the right © Nature Ali the southern Sierra,” said Al Wright, director, California Wildlife Conservation Board. So how did the whole deal come together? Funding for “We are defi nitely experiencing some growing pains the acquisition was provided by the U.S. Army Corps of and working hard to improve our operating budget to Engineers, California Wildlife Conservation Board with support programs,” says semi-crazed and harried Preserve funds from Proposition 40, the David and Lucile Packard Manager Tollefson. However, staff and volunteers of the Foundation’s Conserving California’s Landscapes Initiative, Kern River Preserve look forward to restoration projects, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. A round of expanding our knowledge of the property and beginning thanks is due all of the partners. “It’s important to note that new outreach programs. As always help is needed by the funds from Proposition 40 bond, passed overwhelmingly by Friends of the Kern River Preserve to achieve these goals voters in 2001, were vital to making this acquisition possible. and to carry out new projects that are underway to protect California residents should be applauded for their role in this this beautiful watershed. Thanks to all of you who have important conservation effort” said Glenn Olson, Audubon volunteered and given generously to the Friends of the California’s executive director. Kern River Preserve, the Kern River Preserve wouldn’t The Sprague Ranch acquisition also secures key habitat for exist without you. § the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher and benefi ts more than a dozen other sensitive bird species, including the Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo. The 15-mile-long riparian corridor that makes up the has been identifi ed by Audubon as an Important Bird Area because it holds a globally signifi cant population of nesting species, including the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. Cottonwood willow (riparian) forest is one of California’s most threatened habitats with more than 90 percent lost in the past two hundred years. For twenty-fi ve years conservationists have been working to protect and restore land on the South Fork Kern River. These acquisitions strive to protect the The Sprague House © Nature Ali quality and character of life for the people of the Kern River Valley. The forest not only protects the plants and wildlife, it also provides a natural fi lter for pollutants in the air and water as well as helping to stabilize the river banks and reduce soil Sprague House erosion. While habitat protection was the goal of the Sprague acquisition, the Sprague house is a bonus that we are using Audubon’s Kern River Preserve including the Allen for guests of Audubon and to house fi eld researchers. Sanctuary and the Kelso Creek Preserve now encompass 3,462 acres, including fi ve miles of frontage on the South Fork This beautiful house sits in the middle of pastures that Kern River. But, we still have a lot to do to achieve lasting are bisected by the alluvial fan of Fay Creek. The house has 4 Friends of the Kern River Preserve Fall 2005

VOLUNTEERS REPAIR FLOOD DAMAGED NATURE TRAIL On Thursday July 7th, Darrell Barnes, Sandra Wieser, Jeff King, Reed Tollefson and Alison Sheehey repaired the damaged boardwalk portion of the nature trail. The high water fl ow this year pushed sections of the boardwalk downstream. The river actually fl owed through some sections of the trail requiring dirt to be moved to prevent trip hazards. Much of the trail was also blocked by an overgrowth of stinging nettle and mugwort, these were pulled and weedwhacked to clear a 5-foot path. §

ELEVEN YEARS OF CELEBRACELEBRATINGTING VULTURESVULTURES More forest and many acres of grasslands The vulture festival was attended by are part of the Sprague acquisition © Nature Ali 200 people who came from as far away as the Bay Area. The festivities were been rehabilitated thanks to star volunteer Alan Jones. attended by agencies, organizationsorganizations and vendors who displayed some beautiful At this time the oldest section of the house serves as the articles of nature from their lands and caretakers apartment while the master bedroom is used for guests. programs. A real hit at the festival was The living room functions as a formal visiting area and natural the display from the California State history museum. The south wing houses our conference room. We Turkey Vulture Parks TuleTule Elk Reserve in TTupman.upman. are also working with Kerncrest Audubon to begin a series of bi- Ranger Bill MoffatMoffat brought racks of monthly sub-chapter meetings for Kern Valley Audubon members antlers that were goliaths compared to the diminutive rack of and Friends of the Kern River Preserve. our local mule deer antlers. The conference room is usable in its present condition but Thanks to all of the agencies and organizations the if there are seamstresses among our readers or people good at attended. A special thanks to our festival volunteers, Charlotte creating shades, we are in need of light excluding coverings for the Goodson, Bill & Birdie Foster, Kelly Richers, Terri Gallion, windows, so that we can have programs during the day. Kate Goodson, Ron Gillentine, Lee Sutton, Shirley Sutton, Bill Foster and Alan Jones built a great pond that attracts all Noel & Ellene Gravelle, Dan and Brenda Burnett, John types of birds and dragonfl ies. Reed, Jeff King, and Alan planted Schmitt, Richard Bruns, Reed Tollefson, Sandra Wieser, ash trees and elderberries around the house to increase shade. Jeff King, Buz Lunsford, Richard Grotsky, Alison Sheehey, Debbie Kiggens and Marlene Benton. § Of course the house is beautiful but not without a few problems, the roof leaks (and is a shake shingle fi re hazard), some piers under the building have been undermined, and we have Kern Valley Pride Day termites. If anyone can help us repair these defects, please contact by Sandra Wieser Reed right away. § You have probably seen the ad on TV stating: “California is your home, why would you want to trash California?” Many people in Kern Valley want to encourage this attitude, especially in children. There is, of course, competition for prizes, but most people just want a clean and beautiful valley. Organizations, businesses, families and even individuals contribute. Trash can come from remote areas, decades-old “traditional” dump sites, or just the street in front of your home. If every community had a clean-up day, just think of how much more beautiful and safer California would be. Kern River Preserve did its share this year with 9 people bringing in 180 bags of trash. We had a minor set-back when our big trailer had a fl at. We still managed to claim 2nd place with what was already brought in. Fay Creek runs through the Sprague property © Nature Ali A hearty thanks to all who worked so hard. We are looking forward to next year. § 5 Friends of the Kern River Preserve Fall 2005

THANK YOU DONORS & NEW MEMBERS FRIENDS OF THE KERN RIVER PRESERVE WEEKEND Since our last newsletter 47 people and organizations have gen er ous ly sent in much needed donations. As of this year the entire At Kern River Preserve we want to thank “the Friends of Kern River Preserve budget comes from your donations. the Kern River Preserve” and celebrate another good year. If your name is miss ing or misspelled please let us know. We The Preserve has more than doubled in size and our partners enjoy providing rec og ni tion to our wonderful friends. A spe cial at the California Department of Fish and Game have protected thank you to all of our anon y mous donors. Your pri va cy matters, several thousand acres in the area as well. if your pre fer to re main anon y mous please state that on your do- We have also had good success with our festivals and na tion form. monthly events thanks to the dedication and generous help GRAY FOX ($500-$999) from some great volunteers. So plan on coming to our Chana Cortez Kerncrest Audubon Society appreciation weekend to fi nd out what you helped us achieve and what is in store for next year as we strive to protect one of GREAT BLUE HERON ($100-$499) California’s fi nest remaining riparian forests.This event is for Ohlone Audubon Society Robert Brewer members and volunteers – so join up if you haven’t. Richard Bruns Ernie Flores Saturday, October 29, 2005. Bugs & Joe Fontaine Sherry Gaskin 7:00 am – Birding KRP Headquarter/Visitor Center and Chris P. Hargrove Maggie Seely Nature Trail (easy to moderate) Joe & Cathy Cunningham - Sequoia Lodge 9:00 am – Continental Breakfast Tom & Kathy Stephens Peter Watkins 10:00 am – Nature Walk and Stewardship Update (easy to BOBCAT ($50-$99) moderate) Alan & Sheila Baldridge James D. Cehand Noon – Lunch. Location Sprague House – This is a good Johanna Dawes Thomas Duque chance to view the expanse of the new preserve addition Merle Dvorak Leslie Flint while you have lunch provided by Kern River Preserve. Theo Glenn Alan Jones 1:00 pm – PowerPoint Presentations Marilyn Jones Linda McGrew a. 2004-5 Preserve Managers Overview Charlotte Braun Pofeldt Barbara W. Porter b. Southern Sierra Research Station – Update and results of Richard Sproul Jim White monitoring and research. Chris Gotschalk & Kathleen Whitney c. Outreach Program – Alison Sheehey will review festivals Alan & Joan Woodman and events CALIFORNIA QUAIL (Family) ($40-$49) 2:00 pm – Round Table – everyone gets a chance to bring up Frank Gibson Roberta & Charles Reed suggestions and make comments on the past year. People Carolyn & James Shepherd Ashley Sutton may also advance new projects and make commitments for Jackie Williams the coming year. 3:00 pm – Walk About - on the new addition to the Preserve RACCOON ($25-$39) when we hike out to the Fay Canyon Area (easy to moderate Rosalie R. Cape Kathy & Blair Jarrett hike). Mary Merriman Kathleen Mugele Linda Redman H.T. & Marguerite Richter 7:00 pm – No host dinner at Peacock Inn David Rutz Jack Sanford Sunday, October 30, 2005. Dennis Sheridan Linda & George Sward 7:00 am to 2:00 pm – Allen Sanctuary - See part of the James & Jewel Wolfe Kern River Preserve that most people never get a chance to visit. This is a moderate hike grading to strenuous Friends cont. from page 1 from the Canebrake Ecological Reserve out to the Allen in the Friends of the Kern River Sanctuary. The fi rst part of the walk is easy, but the hike gets Preserve, then bird feeding, progressively longer and more diffi cult – so come for just the tour guides, checklists, even fi rst part if you like. We will meet at the Kern River Preserve toilet paper for the restrooms HQ and carpool to the trailhead, stopping along the way would disappear. Without the briefl y to view some watershed protection and stewardship core group of volunteers who highlights. Bring a sack lunch, water, sturdy shoes and fi eld help, then the festivals, the clothes. nature walks, and much of the maintenance of the preserve RSVP by calling 760-378-2531 or sending e-mail to Friend of KRP, Charlotte would not happen. Thank you [email protected]. Goodson provides children's our friends for all you do! activities at most festivals 6 Friends of the Kern River Preserve Fall 2005

Friends of the Kern River Preserve Membership / Renewal Ap plica tion

Name: ______Phone: ______Address: ______Fax: ______City: ______State: ______Zip: ______Email: ______Check for change of address / in for ma tion Application for: New Member Renewal Gift Anonymous Donation _____ $10,000 Golden Eagle _____ $100 Great Blue Heron Please send me _____ $ 5,000 Black Bear _____ $50 Bobcat information on planned _____ $ 1,000 Fremont Cottonwood_____ $40 California Quail (Family) giving / bequests. _____ $ 500 Gray Fox _____ $25 Raccoon Please send me information $ ______other Total $ ______on volunteer opportunities. All members in the Raccoon and above categories receive our newsletter. New members in the $50 Bobcat and above level are eligible to receive a KRP Friends T-shirt. Donations in the Gray Fox and above categories receive lifetime membership. Please be sure to indicate size if you WISH to receive a t-shirt. Extra T-shirts are available for $15 ($10 for members) plus $2.50 shipping. small ♦ medium ♦ large ♦ XL ♦ XXL Please make checks payable to : NAS / KRP Friends Mail to: Friends of the Kern River Preserve • P. O. Box 833 • Weldon, CA 93283-0833 V9 I2

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES to support many facets of the programs at the Kern River Live in the Kern River Valley? Would you like to help Preserve. Although other plants like the willow are important, feed the birds, help plant and maintain the hummingbird the cottonwood is the heart (look at its leaf) of the ecosystem. garden, or help with the trail projects? Then please contact This beautiful tree is in the willow family. It grows rapidly Reed Tollefson to help. Phone: 760-378-2531 or email: and can reach heights of 30' in less than 10 years. Re-creating [email protected]. cottonwood/willow forest along natural riverbanks is not KEYSTONE SPECIES hard to do at all. Maintaining them can be a problem with Our membership categories characterize keystone species ground water overdraft. People benefi t directly from natural that rely on intact ecosystems to survive. Our goal is to riparian forests as the roots decontaminate runoff. Several provide long-term sanctuary for these species through outright sewage treatment acquisition of habitat or conservation easements along the facilities use entire South Fork Kern River watershed. Although most of riparian forest as the property will not be owned by Audubon, staff of the Kern the fi nal treatment River Preserve are integral to the success of protection efforts for human waste. by government agencies and other private organizations. The trees and other vegetation Supporting the Friends of the Kern River Preserve by remove the becoming a keystone donor allows these important efforts harmful minerals to continue. Without you, none of this critical work can including nitrogen continue... Please unlock the potential of the Kern River from the water Preserve protection and education efforts by becoming a making the water member at the highest monetary level you can comfortably potable. afford. If the Friends FREMONT COTTONWOOD of the Kern River Fremont Cottonwood - Populus fremonti - is Preserve had sixty members in the Fremont Cottonwood one of the cornerstones of the valley riparian category then the currently unfunded Outreach and Education forest. A keystone member of the Friends of program for the preserve would be fully-funded. the Kern River Preserve in this category helps 7 NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID BAKERSFIELD, CA CALIFORNIA PERMIT NO. 110 Friends of the Kern River Preserve P.O. Box 833 Weldon, CA 93283-0833 Upcoming Events... Don’t Miss! October 29-30, 2005 KRP Friends Appreciation Weekend November 12, 2005 Nature Photography December 10, 2005 Building Bluebird Boxes December 31, 2005 South Fork Valley CBC January 1, 2006 Kern River Valley CBC

Please note the date of expiration on your mailing label. If it says "exp" then this will be your last issue. We appreciate your support in the past and hope you consider renewing your membership soon. Thank you.

The Kern River Preserve is located 1.1 miles east of the in- tersection of State Highway 178 and Sierra Way in Weldon, Kern County, California. Driving time from: Los Angeles...... 3.5 hours San Diego...... 5.5 hours San Francisco...... 6.5 hours Reno...... 7.5 hours

Cal Trans current road conditions: 1 (800) 427-7623

For further information about the Friends of the Kern River Preserve

Email: [email protected] or visit our website: http://kern.audubon.org