Chaparral Prickly Pear Cactus
Throughout Southern California’s open space there are a number of plant and wildlife species that rely on each other to thrive. A perfect example of this kind of relationship can be seen between cactus, such as prickly pear and cholla, and the coastal cactus wren.
The coastal cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus sandiegensis) can be found in the southern parts of California and Baja California, as well as a few other neighboring states. Exhibiting year-long, diurnal activity, the coastal cactus wren finds its food by foraging on the ground and in low vegetation for insects and other small vertebrates along with cactus fruit, seeds and nectar. The coastal cactus wren, breeding typically from March to June, requires thickets of cholla or prickly pear cactus in order to nest. Coastal cactus wrens truly depend on their nesting locations and, unlike other types of birds, have been known to return to roost in their nests after fledging.
The coastal cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus sandiegensis) can be found in the southern parts of California and Baja California, as well as a few other neighboring states. Exhibiting year-long, diurnal activity, the coastal cactus wren finds its food by foraging on the ground and in low vegetation for insects and other small vertebrates along with cactus fruit, seeds and nectar. The coastal cactus wren, breeding typically from March to June, requires thickets of cholla or prickly pear cactus in order to nest. Coastal cactus wrens truly depend on their nesting locations and, unlike other types of birds, have been known to return to roost in their nests after fledging.
As dense cactus habitats required for nesting are already sparse and have been affected by habitat degradation, urban development and wildfires, the population of coastal cactus wren has decreased in recent years. In fact, the Natural Community Conservation Plan (NCCP) and Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) that were put in place to protect the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks were designed with the coastal cactus wren in mind, among other wildlife species of concern. For this reason, the IRC team, led by Project Manager Collin Raff and through a grant funded by the Nature Conservancy, has started a new project building a cactus nursery in OC Parks’ Silverado Canyon.
The Silverado Canyon location of this nursery had recently been home to another restoration project for the last eight years that already had the infrastructure and an irrigation system in place. As the project was phasing out, the IRC and Nature Conservancy teams began brainstorming and decided the development of a cactus nursery could have a significant impact down the road, allowing other restoration projects to pull from the Silverado Canyon nursery.
The nursery is still in its early stages and cactus can take years to mature enough to harvest the pads to plant elsewhere, so the goal will be to one day have a reserve of cactus that can be utilized where and when needed throughout the Landmarks. Both prickly pear and cholla cactus, the two types of cacti that the coastal cactus wren relies on for nesting, will be grown at the nursery in the hopes of being able to dedicate a number of the cacti to develop mature and thick enough patches for the coastal cactus wren.
To learn more about native species and ongoing habitat restoration projects, visit IRConservancy.org, LetsGoOutside.org or follow the Landmarks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
The Silverado Canyon location of this nursery had recently been home to another restoration project for the last eight years that already had the infrastructure and an irrigation system in place. As the project was phasing out, the IRC and Nature Conservancy teams began brainstorming and decided the development of a cactus nursery could have a significant impact down the road, allowing other restoration projects to pull from the Silverado Canyon nursery.
The nursery is still in its early stages and cactus can take years to mature enough to harvest the pads to plant elsewhere, so the goal will be to one day have a reserve of cactus that can be utilized where and when needed throughout the Landmarks. Both prickly pear and cholla cactus, the two types of cacti that the coastal cactus wren relies on for nesting, will be grown at the nursery in the hopes of being able to dedicate a number of the cacti to develop mature and thick enough patches for the coastal cactus wren.
To learn more about native species and ongoing habitat restoration projects, visit IRConservancy.org, LetsGoOutside.org or follow the Landmarks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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