Sunday, December 23, 2007

Walking the Wall--Sunday Morning 12/23/2007


Decal on the Glass Wall


This is a follow-up post to my The Birds of Bolsa Chica Versus Brightwater's Wall of Glass post.
Above are the decals on the glass wall. The decals are hard to see in the area behind the models which have no tarp on the wall, but the birds are supposed to be able to see them. There are two per pane, both on the top portion of the panel which doesn't seem like much. Is it helping? It may be. How much it will help when all the homes are in with inviting foliage behind the glass is questionable. Some birds are perching on the wall and leaving poop dripping down it. Not many birds and not much poop. The question is will migrants see the wall as quickly or will there be a learning curve? Bolsa Chica has a high percentage of migrants that use its wetlands. In addition, I wonder when the homes are in, the lights are on, and the sun goes down, how many migrants will be confused by the lights inside the Brightwater development homes as they migrate at night. Time will tell.



Look sharp, and you will see the decals on the wall.



Reflection is still a problem.




Another strategy, a cactus barrier.


There are notices informing the public whom to call if they see a dead bird. And there are new plantings of cactus growing in front of the wall.





The Department of Fish and Game is the authority in the Bolsa Chica Ecological Preserve.




Reflections of Bolsa Chica




More reflections.




The inviting backyards of Brightwater.




The doggie poop bags on the trail. No trash cans though. People piled their dog poop bags at the entrance on the ground.


One thing that was sad to see was the amount of trash already being dropped on the trail and over the fences. Some of it may be coming from construction workers who have not been educated in pack it in, pack it out, but much of it is probably from the people of all ages who walk the trail. Hopefully, education will help people be more considerate of the environment and make sure trash is taken out of the Reserve.


Trash at the wall. And yes, I did pick it up. What I could reach.

Plastic cup over the wall in the Reserve.


This trash is not funny.

Candy wrapper.



Cup from an office water cooler.


Hot and spicy pork rinds package

I also saw poop in a few places, but I will spare you. It was a nice walk overall. Great views of raptors and Western Meadow Larks.



Western Meadow Lark. I took this picture at the other side of Bolsa Chica.


We need to be watching the wall to see how it affects the resident and migrant birds who use the Reserve and see what else can be done to keep them safe.



Links

Amigos de Bolsa Chica
According to their website, The Amigos de Bolsa Chica is an environmental preservation organization that seeks to have all the wetlands area and the open space around the Bolsa Chica in public hands. The first Saturday of the month they conduct a free tour of Bolsa Chica. They also have other tours the public can request for a donation. Includes information about the history, the geography, and more of the Bolsa Chica Wetlands.


Bolsa Chica Conservancy
In their own words, "The Bolsa Chica Conservancy is a non-profit, non-political organization established to ensure the preservation, restoration, and enhancement of the Bolsa Chica Wetlands in Huntington Beach, CA."

Bolsa Chica Land Trust
In their own words: "The Bolsa Chica Land Trust was formed in 1992 by a small group of Californians who believed that one of the last standing wetlands ecosystems in Southern California was worth preserving for future generations. The Land Trust now includes more than 5000 members from throughout California and twenty other states. " Tours 3rd Sunday of the month. Check website for details.

























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