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June 2006 |  |
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Protecting our ocean wilderness through public stewardship www.farallones.org |  |
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IN THIS ISSUE On the Sea's Side: 25 Years Of Protecting Our Ocean Wilderness Beyond The Golden Gate Saved From the Brink: De-Listing Of The Brown Pelican Spotlight: What's Flowing Into Your Beach? In the News : Wildlife Spotlight: 
Experience the beauty and mystery of the sea kayaking with FMSA July 8 with the Drake's Estero Paddle. Click here for the full schedule of kayaking trips. For more information and registration, email kmclaughlin@farallones.org or call 415-561-6625 ext 310.
Looking to get outside? Looking for a little Saturday fun? Come out and join FMSA in picking up Muir Beach, July 8th from 10am-12pm, at one of their quarterly beach clean-ups. For more information call JoAnne Mohr at 415.561.6625 x307 or email her at jmohr@farallones.org. FMSA is offering their annual Teacher Workshop on August 10th and 11th. This year, the workshop will focus on the rugged, diverse coastal ecosystems of San Mateo County. For more information contact Amy Dean at adean@farallones.org or 415.561.6625 x303. Thank you to the following grocers for their sponsorship of the Sanctuary Explorers Camp:
Rainbow Grocery Cooperative, Trader Joes, Whole Foods and Noah's Bagels Come see the Gulf of the Farallones. Every Saturday and Sunday Farallon Cruises depart from the SF Yacht Harbor at 8am. Oceanic Society Farallon Cruises are presented in conjunction with the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and the Point Reyes Bird Observatory. Reservations are required. Please call 415.474.3385. Surfrider will hold a Summer Solstice Beach Clean-up, Wednesday, June 21, at Ocean Beach, at the foot of Fulton near the Beach Chalet. The Beach Clean-up will begin at 6:36pm and will run until sunset.
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On The Sea's Side: 25 Years Of Protecting Our Ocean Wilderness Beyond The Golden Gate
By Linda Hunter, Executive Director Our 25th Anniversary celebration of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary was a huge success. Held at the Golden Gate Club in the Presidio on May 31st, the gala was a tribute to those supporting ocean stewardship and conservation of the sanctuary, its wildlife and habitat, and the future health of this ocean wilderness. Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein, and Congresswomen Nancy Pelosi and Lynn Woolsey received the FMSA 2006 Ocean Hero Award for their leadership in marine conservation issues. We were honored to have Leon Panetta, the founder of the Panetta Institute and Chairman of the Pew Oceans Commission serve as our Master of Ceremonies. Saved From The Brink: De-Listing Of The Brown Pelican
Spotlight: What's Flowing Into Your Beach?
Ocean water at the Duxbury Reef was found to be of good quality, within acceptable parameters for the field measurements and lab analysis. In 2004, Alder Creek, however, was found to have a relatively high count of E. coli bacteria.
In the News: Moratorium On Off-shore Oil Drilling Remains
On a late night in mid-May 2006, 25 years of California coastal protection against off-shore oil drilling was jeopardized, nearly lost, and then saved. The moratorium on expanded off-shore oil drilling remains nationally intact, upholding our coastal integrity for the moment. Richard Charter, steward and fighter for a California Coastline without off-shore oil drilling gives us an update. Continued >>
Wildlife Spotlight: The Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus Columba )
I'm Dedicated To The Environment And I Like Trees!Sustainer and Volunteer, Rick Whitney Offers His Perspective.
It's so easy to use your own bank and with the auto bill-pay service, there's nothing to remember, and along with that, our wonderful sanctuary benefits-while you choose the rate you are comfortable with. Here's how it works: Members can give a set dollar amount on a monthly basis throughout the year as an alternative to giving an annual donation. As a result, Sustainer Membership establishes an ongoing, dependable source of revenue to directly support FMSA's daily operations, outreach and development of future projects and education programs. Once a year we will send you a report tallying your monthly giving for your tax records as well as give you an opportunity to increase your giving for the following year. If becoming a Sustainer Member is something you would like to consider, CLICK HERE, or call Keri Hadfield at 415-552-6625 x315.
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© 2005-2006 Farallones Marine
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In May, the Brown Pelican heads up the California coast from its breeding and nesting sites on the islands in the Gulf of California and off Baja, Mexico, and on Anacapa and the Santa Barbara Islands in the Channel Islands National Park. After four or five months raising their chicks, the pelicans follow their food supply - anchovy, sardine, herring, and mackerel – north, as far as British Columbia. They feed in shallow coastal waters and are never seen inland. The Brown Pelican is the only pelican species that plunge-dives for food, using its large lower pouch as fishing net. They are able to spot fish and dive from heights of 20 to 60 feet. After a successful catch they let the 3 gallons of water drain out of the bill and swallow the fish whole. These large brown birds have up to a 2-meter wingspan. It is easy to differentiate between adult Brown Pelicans and juveniles because adults have white heads and juveniles have brown heads. 
On June 3rd, FMSA Volunteers joined the State Water Resources Control Board to monitor water quality at local beaches. They measured and recovered water temperature, turbidty, dissolved oxygen, conductivity (a measure of dissolved solids or salinity), pH (a measure of acidity), and phosphate. These water samples were sent to a laboratory to detect and analyze toxic pollutants.
Pigeon Guillemots (Cepphus Columba) are stocky black birds readily identified by their white wing patches and brilliant red feet and legs. They can be seen bobbing atop coastal waters near rocky shorelines from Alaska to California. Pigeon Guillemots often nest in loose colonies, though they are frequently found nesting singly. The male chooses the nesting site, preferring sandy bluffs and rocky cliffs, but sometimes chooses human-made structures such as wharfs and large open pipes. In crevices and small cavities, Pigeon Guillemots scrape into the soil and sand with their pointy beaks and sharp toes to form a small bed for their eggs. 
I decided to become a Sustainer Member because I truly believe in the work that FMSA does and I wanted them to use my contribution to protect harbor seals and provide vital beach surveys...and I like trees! Sustainer Membership reduces paper and mailing costs.