Welcome Home Blanca

Shannon Skalos was thankful for something unusual this Thanksgiving.

Blanca, a female Northern harrier equipped with a transmitter, returned to her winter home in the Suisun Marsh on Thanksgiving Day. The raptor touched down at Grizzly Island on the holiday after an 8,300-mile roundtrip migration to the Arctic Circle, a journey that marks the longest recorded migration of a Northern harrier.

UC Davis doctorate candidate Shannon Skalos is researching Northern harriers in the Suisun Marsh and tracking their migrations. Blanca clocked in with the most incredible journey of the eight wintering females Shannon has been tracking. In the spring, Blanca left Suisun Marsh on April 1 and arrived in Anchorage, Alaska, by May 19, says Shannon. She continued northward to the arctic tundra where she likely bred and nested. Blanca’s transmitter revealed that she began her return migration on July 24, and stopped several times along the way to rest and refuel.

The brackish tidal marsh at Rush Ranch, part of the larger Suisun Marsh, offers all the comforts of home for a Northern harrier.  These small raptors have adapted well to living in marshes and have earned the nickname “marsh hawks.” They hunt in the open marsh and grassland habitats.

Shannon and her team have found that there is two population of harriers in the Suisun Marsh. Those spotted in the summer, breed in the marsh. Wintering birds, like Blanca, go elsewhere, usually north, to breed in the summer. Shannon is tracking females from both populations, using light-weight tracking devices that look like tiny backpacks. Until recently, GPS telemetry transmitters have been too heavy for smaller birds, and harriers are considered small raptors.

“The Suisun Marsh is one of the largest marsh habitats left in California,” says Shannon. “It is vitally important to all marsh and wetland adapted species, not just harriers.”

To look for Northern Harriers, we recommend Suisun Hill Trail at Rush Ranch. Female harriers are brown from above, while males are gray. Both genders have a distinctive white patch at the base of the tail, and beautiful banded patterns from below. Remember: Northern harriers have a white patch on their derriere!

By Jasmine Westbrook, Project Manager. Photo of Shannon by Billy Thein, USGS. Other images courtesy of Shannon Skalos.

Nature Hike at King-Swett Ranches December 1st 9am-1pm

December 1 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Recurring Event (See all) Free

Come explore the hills between Fairfield, Benicia, and Vallejo. Solano Land Trust docents will guide you through this area, known as the King-Swett Ranches. They’ll share insights about the birds and other wildlife that call this area home, and give you a great workout! Take advantage of this special opportunity if you can because the King-Swett Ranches are otherwise closed.

You will meet the docent at the Park and Ride and then carpool to the trailhead from there.

REGISTRATION: RSVP Recommended

Please note! Registration opens approximately one month prior to the hike. Double check the date of the hike on the registration link.

WHAT TO BE PREPARED FOR: There is no drinking water at this property. There is usually no shade. A potentially strenuous pace hiking up to 6 miles up and down slippery, steep, and rugged hills that may be full of sticky seeds and thorny plants. Expect rough, rocky, uneven ground. Some travel may be off-trail. Sorry, no dogs allowed.

Meet at the (unmarked) Park-and-Ride lot, McGary Rd. & Hiddenbrooke Parkway, Vallejo, CA.

WHAT TO BRING: (1) A backpack with plenty of water and snacks.  (2) Boots or sturdy closed-toe shoes  (3) Long, sturdy pants and layered clothes (4) Protection from the elements
(5) Optional: bug repellent, your favorite gardening tools, and binoculars to enjoy the birds!
Note: Only really heavy rain may cancel.

Protected Lands: Rush Ranch

"Rush Ranch Wins Hearts." That could be the headline for any story about Rush Ranch. Whether you're a child or an adult, a hiker, birdwatcher, biologist, teacher, photographer, poet or painter, or just out for a picnic, this Solano Land Trust jewel will win you over.

Rising out of the northeast edge of the Suisun Marsh, Rush Ranch stretches across 2,070 acres of marsh and rolling grassland. Purchased in 1988 by Solano Land Trust, Rush Ranch provides recreational and educational opportunities to thousands of visitors each year. The Ranch, with its historical buildings and self-guided trails, is located approximately two miles south of Highway 12 on Grizzly Island Road.

With funding provided by the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Coastal Conservancy, Solano Land Trust has completed a new Nature Center to showcase the many natural and historical features of the property. Donate now to the Rush Ranch Stewardship Campaign.

Within the property’s boundaries is one of the best remaining examples of a brackish tidal marsh habitat in the United States. Once a continuous tidal marsh habitat, the greater Suisun Marsh is now a vast complex of wetlands owned privately by local duck clubs. Only about 10 square miles of the historic tidal marsh remains, one-tenth of which occurs at Rush Ranch.

What’s special about a brackish tidal marsh? It is an important habitat for fish, bird and plant species, including many that are threatened and endangered such as the salt marsh harvest mouse, Suisun ornate shrew, Delta smelt, Sacramento splittail, giant garter snake, California clapper rail, California black rail, Suisun song sparrow, and the American white pelican. Approximately 230 different species of birds have been seen throughout the marsh and grassland habitats, and plant communities range from spring wildflowers to native bunchgrass and marsh-adapted vegetation.

https://solanolandtrust.org/protected-lands/rush-ranch

Give Local Solano #GivingTuesday

Give Local Solano is a 24-hour giving event held in conjunction with #GivingTuesday. A day to celebrate generosity, kindness, and philanthropy by donating to nonprofit organizations all around the world. Donations to Solano Land Trust will be matched up to $10,000! Please help us reach our goal of $20,000!

Protected Lands: KING-SWETT RANCHES

The King-Swett Ranches are a hidden treasure yet to be discovered by most Bay Area residents. This nearly 4,000-acre expanse of land straddles the southwestern corner of Solano County. Views from atop King Ranch sweep across the Suisun Marsh all the way to the Sierras, with Mount Diablo rising to the south. On the western edge of Vallejo-Swett Ranch, views include the Golden Gate Bridge and Mount Tamalpais, the San Francisco and San Pablo Bays, and the Napa River and marshes.

The steep hilly grasslands, oak woodlands, and riparian corridors provide habitat for a wide variety of species, including many that are rare and endangered. Johnny-jump-ups provide habitat for rare butterflies. Several ponds provide prime habitat for the endangered California red-legged frog. Slivers of serpentine soils support native grasses such as purple needlegrass, blue wild rye, and numerous wildflowers. The hills are a raptor’s paradise where golden eagles, Northern harriers, burrowing owls, and Swainson’s, Cooper’s and red-tailed hawks scan the open grasslands for food. Birders will delight in spotting Northern orioles, towhees, Western bluebirds, Swainson’s thrushes, Western kingbirds, black phoebes, tree swallows, and western meadowlarks. Mammals include black-tailed deer, coyotes and ground squirrels.

https://solanolandtrust.org/protected-lands/king-swett-ranches

CANCELLED: REI Ridge Trail Day 2018

Rescheduled for November 17, 2018

 Photo Courtesy of the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council

CANCELLED DUE TO POOR AIR QUALITY

You Are Invited to Volunteer for... 

Ridge Trail Day 2018

When: Saturday, November 17

Time: 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM

Where: Newell Open Space & Lynch Canyon

On November 17th, hundreds of volunteers will join the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council and REI for the 11th Annual Ridge Trail Day all around the Bay Area. Volunteers will repair trail tread, build fences, remove litter, and give the Ridge Trail some TLC! After their hard work, volunteers will be able to socialize and have a chance to win great prizes from REI.

American Canyon - Newell Open Space Preserve and Lynch Canyon: 

Volunteers will join the City of American Canyon and Solano Land Trust for a Seasonal Wetland Restoration Project. Activities will include installing a fence around a mitigation pond to restrict cattle access and planting native seed species in order to restore the functionality of a Seasonal Wetland for California Red-legged Frog habitat. *Please Note: volunteers will have the opportunity to work with barbed wire if they are inclined. All ages are welcome, volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian. Project hours: 9:00 AM-3:00 PM.

Happy Trails!

#OptOutside & Walk-Off That Turkey

November 23 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Free

Not into the usual Black Friday overload of consumption-shopping and sports TV? Why not gather up leftovers for lunch, your out of town guests, and the kids and come calmly explore a quiet hidden gem of Solano County with Solano Land Trust docents. Part of REI’s #OptOutside campaign. Four to six miles. Please read more details in the registration link below.

Pre-registration strongly recommended.

Rescheduled REI Ridge Trail Day 2018

Rescheduled for November 17, 2018

 Photo Courtesy of the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council

You Are Invited to Volunteer for... 

Ridge Trail Day 2018

When: Saturday, November 17

Time: 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM

Where: Newell Open Space & Lynch Canyon

On November 17th, hundreds of volunteers will join the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council and REI for the 11th Annual Ridge Trail Day all around the Bay Area. Volunteers will repair trail tread, build fences, remove litter, and give the Ridge Trail some TLC! After their hard work, volunteers will be able to socialize and have a chance to win great prizes from REI.

American Canyon - Newell Open Space Preserve and Lynch Canyon: 

Volunteers will join the City of American Canyon and Solano Land Trust for a Seasonal Wetland Restoration Project. Activities will include installing a fence around a mitigation pond to restrict cattle access and planting native seed species in order to restore the functionality of a Seasonal Wetland for California Red-legged Frog habitat. *Please Note: volunteers will have the opportunity to work with barbed wire if they are inclined. All ages are welcome, volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian. Project hours: 9:00 AM-3:00 PM.

Happy Trails!

Helping Native Frogs

Citizen Scientists give a leg up to California red-legged frogs

On a cool summer night in August, a group of citizen scientists joined Solano Land Trust staff at Vallejo Swett Ranch for a very important purpose: to count frogs. The count supports a project designed to give California red-legged frogs a fighting chance in their bout with non-native American bullfrogs.


After the group walked a mile in the soft, dusk light, they talked in hushed voices as they approached a pond. Stewardship coordinator Ryan Lewis had already shown the group pictures and given instructions on how to use their flashlights and binoculars for a nighttime survey technique that reflects the “eye shine” of the frogs. With flashlights held close to their eyes, the group searched the pond, reeds, and bank for amphibians.

Amphibians sensitive to their environment

This survey is part of a much larger effort by Solano Land Trust to protect and monitor the CA red-legged frog, which is designated endangered by the State of California and listed as threatened by the federal government. Amphibians serve as the proverbial canaries in the coal mine for wildlife given that they are particularly sensitive to habitat degradation. Solano Land Trust is trying to give these native frogs a fighting chance against one of their biggest enemies, the American bullfrog.

Red-legged frogs are iconic Californians. The species is adapted to our dry, arid climate, and is easily identified by two prominent ridges on its back. They’re also famous! They are what launched Mark Twain’s career in 1865 when he featured them in “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.”

While it may seem that frogs of all kinds should be able to share a pond just fine, an adult bullfrog can be three times the size of an adult red-legged frog. The bullfrog, originally from the humid forests of the Eastern States, has invaded our dry, Mediterranean climate. Not only do they out-compete the red-legged frog for food and habitat, but they also consume them. Yep, frogs do eat frogs.

Our western hills of home

The western hills of Solano County have been grazed by livestock for at least a century. Wildlife has adapted or declined due to an increase in non-native annual grasses, the removal of trees and shrubs, and changes to water sources. To extend the grazing season, ranchers have dug shallow stock ponds and dammed streams throughout the hills to store water for cattle.

Several stock ponds on our properties are spring-fed and don’t dry up during the summer most years. These ponds have become especially important to amphibian critters, including the red-legged frogs. Unfortunately, the stock ponds also act as hosts to the enormous invasive bullfrog. To ensure the continued survival of the threatened frogs at Vallejo Swett Ranch, Solano Land Trust periodically drains one of the larger stock ponds in late summer, waiting to ensure that red-legged frog tadpoles have transformed into air-breathing adult frogs. As the pond shrinks, the slower-growing bullfrog tadpoles become easy prey for birds and other predators.

If the CA red-legged frogs were to disappear from our ponds, they may never populate them again. The good news is that this year’s monitoring found red-legged frog tadpoles in the spring and juveniles and adults in August, meaning there was likely a net-gain in the local population. The most recent survey detected no bullfrog larvae, meaning our pond-draining approach is working. This is good news for our red-legged friends!

Solano Land Trust has four properties on the western side of our county. King-Swett, Eastern Swett, Vallejo Swett, and Lynch Canyon are all considered critical habitat for CA red-legged frogs. With your support and our wonderful volunteers, Solano Land Trust provides a safe home for these frogs to increase their population.

(By Ryan Lewis, stewardship coordinator, and Sue Wickham, former project developer, and current volunteer citizen scientist. Photos by Ryan Lewis and Sue Wickham)

CRANEium For Kids!

A monthly gift designed by and for kids

Remember how excited you felt as a kid when something came in the mail with your name on the envelope?

Solano Land Trust’s CRANEium keeps that special excitement alive with a subscription package designed for kids ages 5-10 years old. It’s a fun and educational gift!

CRANEium was created by Brooke Abess, the 14-year-old daughter of Chris Abess, the volunteer race director for our annual Lynch Canyon Trail Run and Community Hike. Brooke, like her father, has volunteered and been involved with Solano Land Trust for many years. Clearly, volunteerism and a passion for the outdoors run in the Abess family.

This project is all Brooke’s idea. She wanted to do something that would benefit a nonprofit, share her love of nature, and help children experience what she calls the “joy of the envelope.” She coined the catchy CRANEium title and pitched the idea to us. CRANEium came from her own fond memories of getting an envelope in the mail with her name on it. Brooke’s genius idea and enthusiasm were so inspiring, that is was an easy decision to move forward with the project!

The idea is simple. Every month a child receives an envelope addressed to them containing something they learn, something they do, and something they get. They will receive a fact sheet about an animal that is native to the land protected by the Solano Land Trust (something they learn); a coloring page featuring the animal of the month (something they do); and finally, a handcrafted origami crane by a local teen artist (something they get).

Brooke says that her main goal with CRANEium is to share knowledge of the amazing wildlife around us in a fun and simple way. By receiving a CRANEium package, we hope that children will learn the importance of nature and wildlife and develop a life-long passion for nature.

CRANEium makes a great gift and is literally a gift that keeps on giving. This creative subscription is a refreshingly original gift idea for the kiddos in your family-or-friend circles. Proceeds from CRANEium are used to support Solano Land Trust’s mission.

Choose from two subscription packages:

•  Full-year subscription (12 issues), January-December 2019 ($30)

•  Half-year subscription (6 issues), July-December 2019 ($15)

ORDER HERE