Blog Archives

Happy New Year from Irvine Ranch Conservancy!

12/28/2022

Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve.

The Irvine Ranch Conservancy team is wishing all our friends and family a healthy and happy new year! IRC is extremely grateful for the hard work of our volunteers and a community of nature lovers whose continuing efforts enhance the Landmarks for everyone to enjoy.

As this holiday marks a clean slate, it’s a great time to set personal goals for the upcoming year. This year, IRC is encouraging the community to make getting outdoors and getting involved a priority for 2023.

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Bird Monitoring on the Landmarks

12/21/2022

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IRC's bird monitoring volunteers.

For years now, Irvine Ranch Conservancy has dedicated its efforts to bird monitoring and habitat restoration throughout the open spaces of Orange County, including OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve, Agua Chinon and Weir Canyon. The data findings from these monitoring projects are significant as they contribute to IRC’s understanding of wildlife populations and the impact of rehabilitation and enhancement efforts.

Using a “point count survey,” 2-3 volunteers visit specific points on the land together and count every bird that’s seen or heard within five-minute intervals, recording the total number and species of birds observed. These point count surveys typically take place during the spring migration, April-June, and the fall migration, September-October, with an additional survey of overwintering birds occurring in January.

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Butterfly Monitoring & Habitat Restoration

12/14/2022

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Butterfly restoration and enhancement plots in Limestone Canyon.

Local pollinators, such as butterflies, are key to the health of native habitats on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Native plants rely on them to help produce new seeds, which then create new plants, supporting a wide range of native wildlife. However, scientists have seen a general decline in pollinator populations throughout the world in recent years. In order to try and bolster local butterfly populations and ensure they thrive in Orange County for years to come, IRC staff and volunteers have been monitoring several species through regular butterfly counts and have begun enhancing butterfly habitat through a new project in OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon.

For more than a decade now, IRC volunteers have been doing point count surveys throughout the landmarks; counting the number and types of butterflies for a fixed period of time in a designated area so that IRC staff can understand how these butterfly populations are changing over time. This data also helps IRC’s Habitat Restoration and Enhancement team identify which butterfly species are in need of the most help, such as the Bernardino Blue and Monarch butterflies, and where to focus restoration efforts to have the most impact.

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Landmarks Spotlight: Red Rocks

12/2/2022

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With a fascinating history of beekeeping and mining, legends of hauntings, unique geological formations and rich plant and wildlife, Black Star Canyon has been a prominent talking point throughout Orange County for years. As the gateway to the backcountry of the Cleveland National Forest and the Santa Ana Mountains, Black Star Canyon Wilderness Park contains countless natural wonders that continue to attract visitors from day to day.

One of the major attractions of Black Star Canyon is a striking geological formation known as the Red Rocks. The two-toned Red Rocks highlight the ever-changing landscape and the rich history that has carved its way through the canyon. These sedimentary rocks were formed approximately 20-40 millions years ago during the Cenozoic Era, when the climate was changing from humid to dry.

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Happy New Year from Irvine Ranch Conservancy!

Bird Monitoring on the Landmarks

Butterfly Monitoring & Habitat Restoration

Landmarks Spotlight: Red Rocks

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