HABITAT & SPECIES ALERTS
ORANGE COUNTY
BROWN PELICAN 2022
MESSAGE FROM KAREN MARTIN - BEACH ECOLOGY COALITION, INTERNATIONAL BIRD RESCUE, AND WETLAND AND WILDLIFE CARE CENTER
You have probably heard about or seen the unusual mortality event for Brown Pelicans in central and southern California. Hundreds of these birds have died or been taken into wildlife rehabilitation care, with injuries and/ or apparent starvation, since mid-May. Pelicans feed on forage fish, including California Grunion, but may be having difficulty finding food in recent weeks. We rarely see pelicans at night during grunion runs, perhaps one or two floating on the water. In mid-May during a nighttime run, I saw a dozen or so pelicans plunge-diving onto grunion out beyond the breakers, and one brave juvenile pelican on shore, gobbling up fish as they washed in. Very unusual behavior.
If you see an injured bird, please do not attempt to handle it but contact a local rehabilitation organization from this list: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Laboratories/Wildlife-Health/Rehab/Facilities . There is no evidence of disease or unusual parasites, so the cause of these problems is still under investigation.
For more information about the status, click here.
GRUNION 2022
JUNE 2022 - MESSAGE FROM KARIN MARTIN - BEACH ECOLOGY COALITION
Welcome to summer! Beach shuttles and summer camps are returning, as folks head for the beaches. The shorelines are our most important and popular public spaces, irresistible and irreplaceable. As people start to travel, we will see some challenges along with its pleasures. Extra gratitude for you ocean lifeguards who keep an eye out for danger and bravely perform hundreds of rescues.
New recreational fishing regulations for California Grunion start this week. The surfing silversides are running perhaps as early as Monday 5/30/2022 and on through Thursday night 6/2./2022 June is Closed Season again, as it was in 1927, so there is no take by recreational fishers until July. CA Dept of Fish & Wildlife are concerned that people follow the new regulations and remind us that poaching can be reported anonymously at CalTIP, 888-334-2258. They also have an app for your phone. As always, please continue to keep vehicles and mechanized maintenance shoreward of the high tide mark set this week, to protect any eggs buried under the sand.
For grunion regulations, click here.
June 15, 2022
Greetings Beach Professionals,
That bright full moon in June calls the tides to great highs and lows. There is a concern for flooding and beach erosion with the current high tides, and caution for beach-goers during those times. On the other side, the early morning hours have some of the lowest tides of the year, and a fantastic opportunity to see the edge of the sea for tide pooling.
The high tides bring the California Grunion to your shores as well, starting as early as tonight and continuing throughout the week. Please continue to avoid mechanized maintenance and vehicle traffic below the highest tide lines that will be seen on Tuesday morning, to protect any grunion eggs that may be hidden on shore. Remember that thanks to new rules, this is still Closed Season for grunion and there is no hunting, yet opportunity to observe the spawning runs without disturbance to the fish. If you go out to watch, take care, and never turn your back on the high tides and waves.
The Ocean Protection Council is holding a hybrid public meeting today, June 15, from 1 to 4 pm. Agenda items include adaptation for coastal resilience and climate change, and enhancing marine biodiversity. Register to listen in here; https://ca-water-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mz31BptqT-GtOJ5hfD7FIw
The summer heatwaves are just beginning. Our beaches remain incredibly important for humans and wildlife. Thanks for all you do to protect and conserve these habitats and the many different species that depend on them.
See you on the beach!
Karen Martin, PhD
Chair, Board of Directors
Beach Ecology Coalition
WATER CONTAMINATION INFORMATION (Provided by ConsumerNotice.org)
Every day, 2 million tons of sewage and other liquid waste pour into the world's water supply. Contaminated water kills more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.We believe knowledge is power and want to provide as many resources as possible to those who may be affected by water contamination.
For more information about the status, click here.