On Wednesday, May 23rd, we traveled to the Christian Lutheran School in West Covina to conduct an educational yet fun assembly for the students. Our intern and outreach director Yuwen gave a presentation about owls’ role in the ecosystem and the importance of biodiversity. The kids learned about owls’ function in the ecosystem and why we need to preserve their habitats. Thanks to Bob from Wild Wings California, the children also got the chance to see a screech owl and a barn owl in real life!
On Saturday, May 12th, our task force conducted the inaugural Diamond Bar BioBlitz. Biologist Dan Cooper helped us identify California’s native flora and fauna. We logged our findings on the iNaturalist app. It was an interesting and educational experience for everyone who joined us.
On May 4th, 2018, our Sierra Club Task Force collaborated with Wild Wings California—a bird rescue located in San Dimas—to relocate and release nine baby hummingbirds back into the wild. These birds were previously hurt by tree pruning and have sine recovered well under the care of Wild Wings California. We released five birds in three separate locations in Diamond Bar.
On April 21st, 2018, our task force participated in Diamond Bar’s Earth Day Celebration at the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
The chair of our task force, Cynthia Robin Smith, gave a talk highlighting the importance of biodiversity at the TEDxDiamond Bar event.
Our Outreach Director, Yuwen Wang, hosted a booth to interact with the local community. In addition to expanding our presence and influence, we also informed our community of the benefits of native gardening and the dangers of tree topping.
By: Robin Smith
Waterwise gardening is both simple and hard. There’s more to it than planting the latest popular “drought tolerant” plants.
Working with Nature is Simple
Nature is wise with a built-in, efficient system of providing everything natural vegetation (trees, shrubs, grasses) needs to thrive – even in drought. This natural system filters water, air, provides food and shelter for wildlife. Everything has purpose, is connected and functions in an ecosystem, otherwise known as the natural life-cycle. Nothing is man-made in the ecosystem.
Change is Hard
Most common folk are influenced and immersed in a ubiquitous consumeristic culture: everything is store bought. We are sadly out of touch with Nature and misguided by companies focused on profit. The landscape and gardening industries are huge and tend to exploit consumer ignorance. In fact, broader water wise campaigns, promoting drought tolerant plants, is a billion dollar industry. Drought tolerant plants are NOT necessarily native plants. There is an important difference.
Native vs. Drought Tolerant = Biological Function
Native trees and plants are self-managing because they “co-evolved” with the soil and weather conditions, along with insects, birds, animals, in their area, over thousands of years. Southern California has historical drought conditions so many native plants sustain themselves well during drought while also functioning to support native insects, birds, wildlife, forming “plant communities”, which create a vibrant working ecosystem. Biology is at work.
Drought tolerant plants may come from other states, Africa, China, Australia and be inhospitable to local plant communities. They are biologically low functionaing and do not provide food for native insects and birds. “Drought tolerant” sounds enviromental and beneficial but upon a closer look, we learn it’s not what we think. Biology is fragmented or shut down.
Native vs. Ornamentals, Invasives
Native plants form plant communities or plant alliances. Ornamental plants do not. If you want your garden to support life, avoid non-native plants (ornamentals) because the plants have little to no “biological function” in your local ecosystem. They are primarily decorative, needing high water and artificial life support from furtilizers, pesticides. They may cause harm to the ecosystem. Ornamental plants causing damage are called “invasive” – meaning they grow agressively and crowd-out natives – destroying the ecosystem. Nature rebels when plants are not in their assigned places! Agriculture and ornamental gardening has introduced so many invasives, removing them is a constant battle. Here are some Diamond Bar invasive plants. Continue reading “Waterwise Gardening”
By: Robin Smith, Yuwen Wang
Wildlife corridors are not “narrow” box like pathways. Rather, they are wide, varied natural vegetation “island” habitats that support wildlife, allowing them to feed, find shelter and a mate in order to survive and thrive. When natural landscapes are “permeable” they are high functioning, providing full sustainability of species.
The Puente-Chino Hills biological corridor stretches nearly 31 miles from
the Santa Ana Mountains to the Whittier Hills. Public interest in conserving open space has created a series of reserves and parks along most of the corridor’s length, but significant gaps in protection remain. The map below outlines the unprotected land needed for the complete corridor, also known as the “missing middle”, in blue.
By: Robin Smith
Why are oak trees protected by law?
In Los Angeles County, any native oak tree over 5 inches in diameter 4.5 feet above grade is protected by law and cannot be cut down without a permit. Los Angeles was one of the first counties in the state to enact an Oak Tree Protection Ordinance (SB 1334) in 1982. The 2014 Oak Woodlands Protection Act was implemented in 2015 with stronger protections.
The Mighty Oak: Tree of Life
Oaks play a unique role in the ecosystem. Oaks are a keystone species, functioning much like the hub of wheel. Over 50 species of insects, 58 species of reptiles and amphibians, 105 species of mammals and over 150 species of birds rely on oaks for their life cycle. If the oaks are gone, so are these associated species. In addition, oaks are held dear by many people, admired for their beauty, strength and longevity.
Tree removal, if approved, must not harm any native bird. The Migratory Bird Act, applicable to all native birds, prevents their killing, including destruction of nests with eggs or young. Nesting season is usually February through the beginning of August. Many species nest year round.
Protecting Endangered Species
Finally, the Federal and State list of Endangered species, Species of Special Concern and Sensitive Species includes several species that live in oak woodlands. These include Willow flycatcher, California gnatcatcher, and Least Bell’s vireo. Note that the Endangered Species Act protects not just the birds but also the habitat they may require to recover their populations. Land developers are required to pay for protocol biological surveys detecting the presence of these species and of nesting birds.
—- Daniel Guthrie, Conservation Chair, Pomona Valley Audubon
Oak Woodlands Protection Act 2014, CDFW Permit Program
Migratory Bird Treaty Act
