Barbary Coast Divers Newsletter

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News and Events

Looking for something to do?

C'mon and enjoy opportunities from the Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:
Sanctuary Interpretive Outing & Lecture
Mark this date on your calendars!

Guided Bird Walk at Bolinas Lagoon Sunday, March 29, 2003
Join experienced naturalist Lisa Hug on a birding excursion in Sanctuary waters at Bolinas Lagoon. This is a great opportunity to experience the over-wintering waterfowl and shorebirds before they leave to return to their more northerly breeding grounds for the season. We will meet when the tide is high and the duck viewing should be superb. There may be rafts of scaups and flocks of dabbling ducks such as Gadwalls, Northern Shovelers, Northern Pintails, and American Widgeon. We may be lucky enough to spot a Eurasian Wigeon on the walk. As the tide falls and the mudflats are revealed, the shorebirds should arrive to feed on the invertebrates that live under the mud. Marbled Godwits, dowitchers, Dunlins, and of course those frustrating but lovable little peeps ­ Western and Least Sandpipers. There may even be a surprise or two in the day¹s birding. Don¹t miss this opportunity to hone your birding skills in this beautiful Marine Sanctuary habitat. Beginning birders welcome. Space is limited, so call today.
When: 9:00 am ­ 1:00 pm
Where: Bolinas Lagoon. Directions will be sent when your reservation is confirmed.
Fee: $15 per person (FMSA members receive 10% discount)
For reservations, please call Amity Wood at (415) 561-6625 ext. 312

IN THE NEWS:
* Check out Cal Academy¹s web-site and learn about the skull exhibit if you missed Ray Bandar¹s tour last month. The exhibit is fabulous! http://www.calacademy.org/

* View the important final Pew Commission reports on Fisheries and Marine Reserves. http://www.pewoceans.org

* Read about Jay Holcomb and the local pelican rescue at
http://www.sfgate.com/cgibin/article.cgi?file==/chronicle/archive/2003/01/22/BA50543.DTL

* The Environmental Action Committee of West Marin has a web-site and newsletter pertaining to West Marin. Find out what¹s going on in Bolinas Lagoon. http://www.eacmarin.org

* Sea lion shot by an arrow? Read the article at http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file==/c/a/2003/02/08/MN158960.DTL

* Channel Islands Argonauts and the National Argonauts are ready to explore and discover the California Channel Islands with researchers and scientists. Find out more about the action that is taking place at one of your sister sanctuaries at http://jasonproject.org/jason14/home

* A Second Silent Spring? Will the West Nile virus devastate California's wild
birds? Article by Joe Eaton http://click.topica.com/maaaOlMaaVIbtbaKAHkb/

* The Whales of Winter, by Mark J. Palmer. Check out the article on gray whales. http://click.topica.com/maaaOlMaaVIb4baKAHkb/

 

Get Rid Of Sea Lions?

In the latest issue of the La Jolla (CA) Light newspaper, District 1 councilman Scott Peters has (once again) launched an effort to remove the seals from the "children's pool" area in La Jolla. see: http://snurl.com/sfv He goes on and on about childhood memories of swimming there, as if the children were there first. Now, I'm all for giving children a place to swim, but how about giving children a place to see truly wild large mammals in their natural habitat? Councilman Peters has even hinted that the seals may attract sharks, which may be true, but sharks have a place in the world, too.

Write to councilman Peters or call and tell him that we need to leave one place for people, including tourists, to come and see the seals:

Councilman Scott Peters
202 C Street, MS #10A
San Diego, CA 92101
Telephone: (619) 236-6611
>From North County (858)484-3808
Fax: (619) 236-6999
E-Mail: ScottPeters@sandiego.gov

They're at it Again...

Regardless of how you feel about LFA Sonar, the proposed reauthorization
Bill of the MMPA (Marine Mammal Protection Act) is not good for Marine Mammals. This is
going to move very fast and our representatives need to hear from as
many people as possible about our opposition to weakening the MMPA and
our objection to military exemptions to environmental laws that have
been tacked onto the Defense Appropriation Bill.

Please take a few minutes this weekend and write a letter (or three) to
your representatives. The take action alert that Seaflow and Earth
Island sent out a few days ago can be found on the web at

http://www.seaflow.org/pages/takeaction.html


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Updated 3/15/03