Park Wavelengths
The full moon rises May 20 with a few early morning daylight low tides:
Tuesday, May 20 6:07 am -0.8
Wednesday, May 21 6:42 am -0.8
Thursday, May 22 7:18 am -0.8
Friday, May 23 7:56 am -0.7
Saturday, May 24 8:42 am -0.6
Sunday, May 25 9:22 am -0.4
For Nunamiut Alaskan natives it is 'the moon when the ice goes out of the rivers' while further south at San Ildefonso Pueblo it is 'the planting moon'.
Spring surveys and studies are beginning on harbor seals and spotted owls. One spotted owl nest has been observed so far; it is hoped more will be noted in the mature forests along Inverness Ridge.
Armchair wildlife viewing along the Bear Valley Road corridor - Wednesday, a river otter seemed to be scoping out the creeks and dropping in at the Red Barn Classroom; soon followed by a coyote. Two young male black tails, their antlers in velvet, put on a boxing match along the road. Further afield, the last of the northbound gray whales have been rolling along Drakes Bay, mother and calf pair observations were made on Thursday and Saturday.
Poppies are out all over Bear Valley pastures, along Abbots Lagoon, patches along local highways. Large, white blooms along roadways are Cow Parsnips - they always look like cauliflowers and the stalks can be 5 feet high.
International Migratory Bird Day will be observed this Saturday, May 10 at Muir Woods NM. Educational activities begin at 7:00 am (birdbanding demonstrations) and go through 12 noon. Other activities include smolt trapping, habitat restoration, and bird walks. A free shuttle will carry visitors between Muir Beach and Muir Woods. More information at (415) 388-2595
Brown Bag Lunch seminar coming up on Thursday, May 15 at 12 noon in the Red Barn Classroom is "Nutrients and Benthic Invasion Dynamics in northern California estuaries" This free talk is open to the public.
Reminder: A public meeting on the suggestion for a bridge over Lagunitas Creek from White House pool to the Giacomini wetlands is scheduled for May 14 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Dance Palace Community Center in Point Reyes Station.
A website from NOAA allows visitors to check on forecasts and weather: http://newweb.wrh.noaa.gov/mtr/forecast.php
