Happy 4th of July weekend from the Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve!
This weekend, we celebrate freedom as a nation, and on the Reserve, birds sing their songs of freedom!
This weekend, we celebrate freedom as a nation, and on the Reserve, birds sing their songs of freedom!
This time of year, several species of birds can be found nesting on the ground. When moving through grasslands, it is important to take care not to inadvertently crush a bird’s nest or chicks.
About Ground Nesting Birds
MPVGR friends, we have some sad news. Steve Simmons, ornithologist/wood worker/retired high school teacher and friend of the Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve, has recently passed away. Steve has been unwell for a bit and passed away last week.
Happy Earth Day from the Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve! Today is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, which was first recognized in 1970!
Joy Baccei has joined us as the new Director of the UC Merced Vernal Pools and Grasslands Reserve. As Director, Joy will oversee activities on the reserve related to the research, education, and public service mission of the UC Natural Reserve System. She will also work with our Tulare County Office of Education partners to help expand our activities at the new SCICON Field Station in Springville, CA. Joy has extensive wetland ecology and management expertise, and we are excited that she has joined the UC Merced and Natural Reserve System teams.
Applications are now being accepted for the Field Science Fellowship, a new undergraduate research program sponsored by the University of California Natural Reserve System (NRS).
Please join our 4rd Annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) on the Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve on Thursday, January 2, 2020 (7am-3pm). As part of the nation’s longest-running community science bird project (started in the year 1899!), the Audubon Society will be conducting bird counts between December 14, 2019 through January 5, 2020. Thousands of volunteers across the U.S., Canada, and many other countries in the western Hemisphere will be heading outside and tallying every bird that they see or hear. On the Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve, John Harris
By Blythe Nobleman, University Communications
UC Merced, University News
Reposted with permission
Reserve Director Monique "Mo" Kolster begins a tour of the UC Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve with high school students.
This last storm brought a wonderful amount of rain to the Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve (2.45 inches!), increasing our total rainfall this season to 3.66 inches. It not only is exciting to see water falling from the sky, but it is also exciting that all users can now get up-to-date information on local campus weather through a new weblink.
By Lillie Pennington, PhD student, Environmental Systems Graduate Group, UC Merced
