Santa Fe Dam Nature Center May 2013 Newsletter. Snake Watching at the Nature Center

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1 Snake Watching at the Nature Center By Frank Bronzeagle Ayala The snakes were waiting for SFDNC volunteer Mike Hoare. Their biweekly feeding was the occasion. Three snakes that are in an enclosure include a Rosy Boa, King Snake and a Gopher Snake. Mike is the snake feeder of the Nature Center. On this feeding Mike had an audience. At the food was gingerly placed inside the enclosures the oohs and aahs could be heard as well as gasps. Therisa Haddix, JayKe Meza Sandra and Carlos Hernandez were watching the feeding. With Mike and Norma watching they asked all the questions that were asked of the snakes. Rosy boas are thick-bodied slow-moving snakes of deserts and rocky shrub lands in southern California. They are most often active at night, and in the evening. Rosy boas are commonly found crossing roads at night or underneath rocks in late winter and spring. Figure 1Mike Hoare, Norma Ayala (far back) Therisa Haddix, JayKe Meza, Sandra Hernandez and Carlos Hernandez King Snakes are active during daylight in cooler weather and at night, dawn, and dusk when temperatures are high. When disturbed, generally not aggressive, but sometimes vibrates the tail quickly, hisses, and rolls into a ball, hiding the head. A powerful constrictor coiling tightly 1

2 around its prey. Immune to rattlesnake venom. A popular pet snake. Many unusual color phases have been bred, including albinos. Gopher Snakes are active in the daytime and at night in hot weather. One of the most commonly seen snakes on roads and trails, especially in the spring when males are actively seeking a mate, and in the fall when hatchlings emerge. A good burrower, climber, and swimmer. A powerful constrictor; kills prey by suffocating them in body coils. A Great Find By Frank Bronzeagle Ayala One of my duties of the SFDNC is to keep the trails clear of trash. Every Saturday morning I walk the Nature Trail making sure it is clean. This past Saturday I grabbed my tools that consisted of gloves, a trash bag and the trash grabber. I was about half way down the west-side of the trail picking up trash that had been tossed into the plants without care during the week. I spotted some coffee cups in a sumac bush. I got one and went off the trail to retrieve the others. That is when I spotted a blooming flower I had not seen. Another item I take along with me is my camera. I learned in January when I first started volunteering here when I spotted an Osprey gently flying above me. 2

3 Well I put the tools down and started taking some photos to share here in the Newsletter and on Facebook. I used my copy of Wildflowers of the San Gabriel Mountains to identify the flower. MONTHLY EVENTS MAY 4, 2013 SAT 10:00 am: Nature Walk, come along and see the blooming flowers around the Nature. Be sure to bring your hat and your camera you will not be disappointed. MAY 11, 2013 SAT 10:00 am: Presentation of FLOWERS OF THE SANTA FE DAM NATURE CENTER. Stop by and see the photographs that were taken at the Nature Center. Followed by a short walk to see the blooming flowers in person. Be sure to bring your camera. MAY 13, 2013 MON 1:00 pm: Nature Walk. We are starting a once a month weekday afternoon for those that are not able to visit us on Saturdays. This will be our first one be sure to bring a hat and your camera. May 18, 2013 SAT 8:00 am: Bird Walk, stop by and walk along the nature trail, listen and see the birds around the Nature Center. Richard Montijo will be leading the walk. May 25, 2013 SAT 10:00 am: Habitat Rangers stop by and learn about nature. May 31, 2013 FRI 6:00 pm: Night Fishing has returned to the Santa Fe Dam. From 6 pm to 7 am for more information see the flyer at the end of the newsletter. 3

4 Working Together in Culture and Heritage April 6 th was a day of teaching and learning. The teaching was done by Kizh Nation Gabrieleno band of Mission Indians. More than a dozen tribes were represented at the Youth Cultural Meeting and Activities. It was held at the Nature Center and Natural Area of Santa Fe Dam. One of the results was the development of new curriculum resources and tools for Native American Culture and Heritage at Santa Fe Dam. Kizh Matt Teutimez led a group of young Native Americans on an hour long nature walk where he taught what the different plants were and how they were used by the Native Americans. Both for food and medicinal purposes. He made it fun to learn by interjecting some interesting facts that made the youth as well as the older guides smile and laugh. 2 Matt Teutimez teaching by hands on Afterwards and before lunch was served Kizh Chief Ernie Salas gave a blessing and a talk of the toils of the Native Americans in the region. It was a great day and thanks to all how helped put this together. 4

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7 Photographers Page These photos are named Bees in Action. 7