Much of my free time in the past month has been spent seed collecting and identifying plant species for potential collections.  Although many parts of California have dried out completely, there are still many flowering species here on the wetland.

We have had some very large scale drug operations on the preserve lately.  This has restricted my work and collections as entire sections of the preserve have been shut down to all types of operations.  It’s one more danger to add to the already substantial list of potential threats.

Between the weather elements, the unfriendly environments, and additional dangers of our jobs, it has become abundantly clear that seed collection is not always a walk in the park!  I’m sure this type of work is not for everyone, but for me, there’s nowhere else I would rather be.

The wildlife viewing has continued to be outstanding here.  I regularly see coyotes, owls, pheasants, snakes, river otters, minks, deer, turtles, quail, eagles, hawks, turkeys, rabbits, lizards, and ground squirrels, among other critters.  We also have a large population of feral cats inhabiting the preserve and although cute and fluffy, feral kittens are born dangerous!

Most recently we have been doing work to prepare for the fall “flood-up”, when our artificial wetlands are flooded for the large numbers of migrating birds passing by.  I am hoping I will have the opportunity to see these magnificant creatures arriving by the thousands.