Members of the Bakersfield Danish Lodge join up with BCSS for the field trip to Wind Wolves
The group looking at pictographs
photo by Sydney Kelley
| Issue 8:5 | THE CACTUS PATCH | May 2005 |
Field Trips |
|
Windwolves Field Trip April 16th was the club's outing to Wind Wolves Preserve. A group of twelve of us gathered to meet with Preserve manager David Clendenen while he gave a brief history of the Wildlands Conservancy, The San Emigdio Ranch and information about "our" preserve. We all managed to fit into the van & be off on our tour. Jack always takes the best seat in front, so he can chat with Dave! We saw our first fauna right away -- a scout troop planting tress for an eagle badge project. Next we happened upon a gopher snake sunning itself on the road. One of Bill's office staff had to jump out to see it & then (after a request) pick it up, much to her delight -- Amber's not the snake's. We were able to see the nesting great horned owl again this year, concealed on the cliff, with the aid of Dave's spotting scope. It was oddly drier there than it has been for us in the valley, and so we were driven to higher elevations than on any of our previous trips. We were in search of the elusive Tule Elk, who managed to stay out of our way, no matter where we looked. We did see some wetlands (fenced off so the grazing cattle were prohibited) where there were flocks of Tricolor Blackbirds. These birds used to be much more plentiful eons ago (when Jack was a youngster). We also saw some Bullock's orioles. On the eastern side of the valley we saw wind wolves, many more wildflowers, petroglyphs, and a red-tailed hawk on her nest. It was an excellent day trip and we concluded again with a fabulous group luncheon, under the shade of some trees. |
| Lynn McDonald |
Members of the Bakersfield Danish Lodge join up with BCSS for the field trip to Wind Wolves |
The group looking at pictographs photo by Sydney Kelley |
| REGULAR FEATURES | |
|
Officers, Directors, & Chairpersons Executive Board Meeting Notes Announcements Calendar |
The Last BCSS Meeting Plant Of The Month This Month's Program Field Trips |
| ARTICLES |
|
Bakersfield Cactus in the Oil Patch by Bonnie East Too Many Nights Out A Letter from Bruce Hargreaves The Succulent Garden at Cal State by Linda Cooley Gone to Seed by Stephen Cooley |
| Other Issues of The Cactus Patch | Back to The Cactus Patch HOME PAGE |