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Wildlife Spotlight: Roadrunners

6/24/2021

 
PictureGreater Roadrunners
Part of the Cuckoo family of birds, the roadrunner is a large, slender ground-dwelling bird that can measure up to two feet from tail to beak. Also known as chaparral birds, roadrunners can be found living in the southwestern United States, from California and northern Mexico to the southwestern corner of Missouri.
 
Roadrunners can be identified by their unique, distinctive features including their brown and white streaked feathers with a spiky head crest and long straight tails. A colorful patch of skin behind each eye can range in color from white to blue and red.
 
Although roadrunners are capable of flying short distances, these birds prefer to spend most of their time on the ground searching for a meal that can consist of insects, small reptiles, fruits and seeds. Roadrunners are also known to eat venomous desert species like spiders, scorpions and even rattlesnakes.


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Celebrate the First Day of Summer with Coastal Hikes on the Landmarks

6/17/2021

 
PictureCrystal Cove Hikers
​This Sunday marks the first day of summer and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate than to get outside and explore the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks! With the weather warming up, there are a variety of coastal hikes on the Landmarks that are sure to help you beat the summer heat.
 
Crystal Cove State Park offers nature lovers just over three miles of beach and 2,791 acres of protected habitat. Make your way through wooded canyons, bluffs and trails, while taking in beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean. A map of the beachside trail system at Crystal Cove can be found here.


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Irvine Ranch Conservancy Staff Spotlight: Kate Fancher, Program Coordinator

6/10/2021

 
PictureKate Fancher, Program Coordinator
​Since 2005, Irvine Ranch Conservancy has been dedicated to the health and protection of the native wildlands that make up the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks and the wildlife that call these lands home. The Conservancy team regularly monitors the Landmarks by using a network of strategically placed heat and motion-triggered remote cameras to monitor the health and activity of wildlife in correlation with human activity on the land over time.
 
Kate Fancher, a Program Coordinator for Irvine Ranch Conservancy, helps track human activity through the Conservancy’s Human Access Monitoring Program, which uses the motion activated trail cameras to analyze how the public uses the trail systems throughout the Irvine Ranch Open Space, the City of Irvine Open Space Preserve and Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park. Using the images from the trail cameras, Kate can assess how human activity affects the Landmarks, as well as coordinate with land owners and law enforcement when illegal activity, such as trespassing, occurs.


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Celebrate National Trails Day by Discovering a Landmark Destination in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

6/3/2021

 
PictureConstruction of Emerald Canyon Bridge
​This Saturday, celebrate National Trails Day on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks and discover a landmark destination tucked away in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. Celebrated annually on the first Saturday in June, National Trails Day is an initiative set forth by the American Hiking Society encouraging the public to pledge to advocate for, maintain and, clean up public lands and trails.
 
Take the time this weekend to immerse yourself in all that the Landmarks have to offer by exploring seven-day access trails, including Emerald Canyon located in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. Emerald Canyon can be accessed from a few different locations in the park, with trail routes ranging from easy to difficult.   


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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 >
      • Careers
      • Meet the Team
      • Our Partners
      • Contact Us
  • Volunteer
  • Donate