A Delightful Summer Snapshot

A juvenile gray fox photographed by the Wildlife Picture Index Project.

Baby bobcats, mountain lions, fawns, and other juvenile animals have been documented by the Marin Wildlife Picture Index Project. But since the project's initiation, photos of a gray fox kit were quite elusive--until now!

During a recent photo cataloging workshop, where volunteers sort through images take by 100 wildlife cameras on the mountain, a Marin Municipal Watershed Aide, Anna Dirkse, uncovered this rare find (pictured above). 

Perhaps you will be the next to spot something special! See below for the next Wildlife Picture Index Workshop where you can help catalog images captured from this project.

ONE TAM SCIENCE SUMMIT IS OCTOBER 5!

Save the Date! The 2018 One Tam Science Summit is October 5, 2018 at the Mill Valley Community Center. 

Come Into the Woods with us to explore Mt. Tam's forest systems and how they are changing. We'll look at how the mountain's forests are doing through multiple angles, and how they are affected by broader environmental changes happening in our region. We'll also take a close look at the tanoak - a common element of our region's landscapes, but very rich in natural and cultural history. Tickets will go on sale shortly at onetam.org. 

Interested in sponsoring the One Tam Science Summit? Contact mstafford@onetam.org about opportunities.

HIKE WITH US  

Thursday, August 9, 3pm-5pm: Geology and Grasslands at Rock Spring. Explore the Mountain's unique geology and it's influences on the surrounding plant life. Register >>

VOLUNTEER WITH US

Wednesday, August 8, 1-4pm: Wildlife Picture Index Workshop. Help catalog wildlife images from motion activated cameras for the Marin Wildlife Picture Index Project. Register >>

Thursday, August 9, 10am-1pm: Historic Landscape and Facilities Stewardship at Stinson Beach. Help keep Stinson Beach scenic and safe for all visitors through a variety of beautification projects. Learn More >>

Saturday, August 18, 9am-Noon: Habitat Restoration at Creekside Marsh. Come join this community-based effort to install a diversity of native plants and improve animal habitat at a site once dominated by weeds! Learn More >>

Saturday, August 18, 9am: Restore Open Oak Woodlands with MMWD. Volunteers will focus on removing young Douglas-fir trees that threaten to take over grasslands and oak woodlands. Learn More >>

Tuesday, August 28, 1-4pm: Wildlife Picture Index Workshop. Help catalog wildlife images from motion activated cameras for the Marin Wildlife Picture Index Project. Register >>

MORE AUGUST HIGHLIGHTS

Bat Monitoring Update 

The data is rolling in! Researchers are excited to find that bat calls have been recorded at 17 locations in Marin County during this summer's Bat Monitoring Project.

Katie Smith, Biological Monitor Technician, sets up a microphone tower to listen to bat calls.

In addition to listening to bat calls, the team will also conduct a roost study to see where bats are living as well tracking the bat's movements through radio telemetry.

Stay tuned for project results this fall!

Find out more about this project here>>

LINC Students Inform Forest Study

LINC students conducting sampling.

Over the past few years, the Marin Municipal Water District has been studying options for improving the condition of forests devastated by Sudden Oak Death. Three experimental plots were treated by masticating accumulated brush and fuels, while being monitored for forest stand structure, green house gas balances, and soil moisture.

In 2017, the LINC on Tam crew visited these plots to count the number of naturally occurring native tree seedlings. The findings? Almost zero. This worrisome absence of seedlings prompted MMWD to consult with the US Forest Service to design a reforestation plan, including planting seedlings of trees that are more resilient to drier and hotter climates.

A few weeks ago, MMWD invited this year's LINC on Tam team to help resample the same plots, and to their surprise they discovered numerous natural seedlings! This valuable and informative discovery prompted MMWD and the US Forest Service to rethink and fine tune their approach to replanting.
In addition to learning job skills, developing stewardship principles, and practicing teamwork, LINC is also an opportunity for students to contribute valuable data that assists in the care of the mountain.