Wetlands Group Jumps into Spring with New Programs

Watsonville Wetlands Watch kicked off its annual speaker series and a whole slew of spring programs last week with a talk by environmental journalist John Moir.

The author of Return of the Condor: The Fight to Save our Largest Bird from Extinction spoke to a group of wetlands volunteers and community members about the condors' saga and how the plight of that bird illuminates a growing issue of species extinction around the world.

"This is dramatically changing our planet," Moir told the audience, referencing what's become known as the "sixth extinction," a biological meltdown occurring around the Earth.

In 1982, there were only 22 condors remaining in the world. Thirty years later, the condor restoration program has increased the bird's population to about 370. Most people gathered for Moir's talk Thursday night had seen the distinctive condors, many in Big Sur.

"The bird's numbers are increasing," the author said. "I'm very optimistic the bird can be brought back from the brink."

Moir was the first in a series of speakers who will give talks every other month at the Fitz Weltands Educational Resource Center, at the top of the Pajaro Valley High School Campus in Watsonville.

Watsonville Wetlands Watch, a nonprofit born of residents' concerns about development of the area's sloughs two decades ago, also organizes the "Wetlands Alive!" tours. The one-hour walk explores the birds, plants and wildlife of the Watsonville sloughs. Participants are loaned binoculars for the half-mile- to mile-long walk.

The tours will be at 10 a.m. on April 9 and 17, and May 14 and 22. Tours are free, but reservations required 48 hours in advance by calling 831-345-1226 or e-mailing kathyfieb@yahoo.com.

In the summer, Watsonville Wetlands Watch will hold "Wild Wetlands Summer Adventures," a hands-on day camp for kids age 8-12. Register by June 1 for the program, which runs June 20-24 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Kids will check out wildlife and farm animals, go boating and birding, participate in Ohlone activities and make crafts and projects.

For other summer camp opportunities, check out this