Irvine Ranch Conservancy
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Spring is for the Birds (and Bird Lovers)

3/29/2013

 
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Bird migration patterns bring an array of colorful species to visit Orange County.

Why do the swallows come back to Capistrano? While legend has it that a miracle was involved, the swallows’ flight pattern is actually the result of much more earthly concerns. The barn swallows are following their instincts to migrate, and are returning from spending the winter in warmer southern locations.

During spring migration, swallows and other species follow the Pacific Flyway, which stretches from Alaska to South America. Along this route, migratory birds search for food and shelter in a variety of habitats, including the temperate Mediterranean climate zone of southern California. According to the National Audubon Society, at least a billion birds migrate along the Pacific Flyway each year.


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Wilderness Weeding: Saving Habitat with Simple Actions

3/18/2013

 
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Restoration activities across the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks reap big rewards.

Weeding in your backyard may keep your garden nice, but the same simple activity can have a much bigger impact when done in the wilderness areas of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. This simple task has major rewards for both the land and the volunteers who work on it.

Removing non-native and invasive plants such as black mustard and milk thistle is key to restoration work managed by the Irvine Ranch Conservancy. Particularly noticeable at this time of year, hills are full of tiny yellow black mustard flowers. They look pretty, but in a short time the stems will dry and harden, increasing the wildland fire hazard with every growing season. Plus, by now this aggressive weed has already stolen sun and soil resources from nearby native plant seeds that might bloom later in the season, thwarting the spread of native seed and a healthy diversity of plant life.


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Work it: Keeping Paths Clear with Volunteer Trail Work 

3/8/2013

 
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Trail work activities benefit land and visitors across the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.

Imagine walking with your family along a trail, enjoying the outdoors together. The path is clear, yet you feel immersed in the surrounding plant life. Then imagine telling your family how, just last week, you helped work on this trail to make sure that families like yours could enjoy it.

Trail work in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks is a rewarding volunteer effort. Not only do you get to enjoy some time in Orange County’s only National Natural Landmark, but your work benefits the land and enhances the wilderness experience for all visitors. Irvine Ranch Conservancy hosts regular trail work volunteer programs, as part of their stewardship work for landowners such as OC Parks, City of Irvine, and City of Newport Beach.


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    About

    Welcome to the Irvine Ranch Conservancy "News from the Field" blog. These articles are written by Conservancy staff about activities and projects in and near the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. 

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Irvine Ranch Conservancy  •  4727 Portola Pkwy. Irvine, CA 92620  •  714-508-4757  •  info@irconservancy.org

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  • Home
    • Landmarks Blog
  • What We Do
    • Programs >
      • Habitat Restoration and Enhancement
      • Wildfire Prevention
      • Community Engagement and Education
      • Invasive Species Control
      • Plant Materials
      • Monitoring and Research
      • Planning and Infrastructure
      • Volunteer Management
    • Where We Work
    • About Us >
      • Meet the Team
      • Our Partners
      • Careers
      • Contact Us
  • Volunteer
  • Donate