Blog Archives

Silverado Fire on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks

10/30/2020

Fire is an increasingly common threat in Orange County

On Monday, October 26, the Silverado Fire broke out near Limestone Canyon and Black Star Canyon. The fire has now burned over 13,390 acres of open space land. As of Thursday, October 29, the fire was 40% contained. Tens of thousands of people were evacuated, but thanks to the efforts of many people and firefighters, no homes were reported lost in Irvine.

Most evacuation orders have been lifted as of today, but people should remain vigilant on current fire conditions and adhere to road closures and any further evacuation warnings. During this time and until further notice, all scheduled activities in and around the areas affected by the Silverado Fire are on hold.

Irvine Ranch Conservancy Continues Oak Woodland Restoration Project in OC Parks' Limestone Canyon

10/22/2020

Oak seedlings at the Augustine staging area nursery

Earlier this year, Irvine Ranch Conservancy embarked on a new restoration project in OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon with a goal to rehabilitate oak woodland habitats in the area. IRC staff and volunteers, as well as members of the public, planted locally-sourced acorns from oak trees throughout the area in the Augustine Nursery that would grow into seedlings in time for planting in the winter.

“Before the pandemic, volunteers planted approximately 480 Coast live oak acorns and helped water the seedlings,” said Irvine Ranch Conservancy Project Coordinator Matilde De Santiago. “Since the pandemic hit, all watering and care of the acorn seedlings has been done by IRC staff. The care includes watering, weeding, and removing pests from the seedlings to ensure their health and survival for the winter plantings.”

IRC Staff Spotlight: Matilde De Santiago, Program Coordinator

10/15/2020

Matilde with an oak seedling at the Augustine staging area nursery

The Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks are home to hundreds of native species that play an important role in our local ecosystem. Through various restoration projects and programs, Irvine Ranch Conservancy and partners OC Parks, City of Irvine and the City of Newport Beach protect the natural resources, while providing outstanding visitor experiences throughout the open spaces.

Matilde De Santiago, a program coordinator for Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s Restoration and Enhancement team, is responsible for staging area enhancement projects and trail enhancement projects across the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. She oversees nurseries at Quail Hill in the City of Irvine and the Augustine Staging Area in OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon, where native plant seedlings are grown for restoration projects on the Landmarks. Matilde also helps coordinate large group stewardship projects for corporate groups, schools, and other large organizations to get involved in helping to restore local native habitat.

Wildlife Spotlight: Western Bluebird

10/8/2020

Western bluebird

The Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks are home to a variety of wildlife all year long, but during the fall and winter months, you might notice a few additional visitors to our local habitats. As the weather starts to cool, you will often find a variety of bird species who consider the Landmarks their winter home.

Visitors to the Landmarks can spot the western bluebird, a fairly small species with a charming personality. These small, colorful birds are named for their distinctive blue plumage and can be found in oak woodlands and parks. Male western bluebirds usually have blue coloring on top with orange accents on their chest, while females have mostly gray coloring with orange and blue tints on the chest, wings and tail. The combination of colors distinguishes western bluebirds from eastern bluebirds, which have an orange throat, and mountain bluebirds, which do not have any orange coloring.

Fall Bird Migration Brings a Variety of Species to the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks

10/1/2020

Blue-gray gnatcatcher

Costa's hummingbird

Even though it still feels like summer outside, the fall season is upon us and Orange County residents will begin to see a variety of bird species who make the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks their home for the winter.

Taking advantage of our favorable winter weather, a variety of bird species travel south and bring our local habitat to life in the winter season. Winter bird migrations can begin as early as June and last through January. These migrations occur as a response to changing weather and availability of food and nesting locations. The abundance of seeds, fruits, and insects that occur as a result of winter rains make the Landmarks an ideal home for migratory birds.

Silverado Fire on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks

Irvine Ranch Conservancy Continues Oak Woodland Restoration Project in OC Parks' Limestone Canyon

IRC Staff Spotlight: Matilde De Santiago, Program Coordinator

Wildlife Spotlight: Western Bluebird

Fall Bird Migration Brings a Variety of Species to the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks

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