Mill Ponds Adventure

 The North Coast Land Conservancy offers a kids' day at the Mill Ponds each summer. J had the day off, so we were all able to go this year. The NCLC Executive Director had a great program that was perfect for kids. We talked about different ways to use our senses and animals who have built in sense-enhancers. We listened like deer, looked with owl eyes, and walked like coyotes (with quiet footsteps). Then each child was given an egg carton with a label glued to the top suggesting things to collect (a leaf, something red, etc.). We walked along the path of the Mill Ponds with the kids collecting as they went.

"Listen with deer ears!"

Dama's having a good time.

Parents and kids alike had fun looking for items to fill the egg cartons. There were many ripe blackberries along the way as well.

Collecting is serious business.

The Mill Ponds are comprised of three ponds: a man-made fresh water pond and two tidally influenced estuarine ponds (and therefore saline). There is also a small apple orchard, a forest, and a meadow nearby. This makes the Mill Ponds an incredible example of the "edge effect." When many different habitats abut, animals who need different resources from different systems tend to congregate. It's kind of like going to Fred Meyer or another "one-stop shopping" place. There is a richness to an area like this: it is ideal for bird viewing and for understanding coastal ecosystems in a condensed area.

The walk gave me a great opportunity to try Uncle Awesome's telephoto/macro lens. We saw mostly ducks, but I got some great photos of the local plant life.  I think I am in love.

Notice the water dripping from the moss.

 I feel a little guilty - I am not familiar with the plants enough to only photograph native plants. When I worked for the land trust, I did a series of bookmarks with photos of plants that Neal had taken. I actually made one with a beautiful photo of yellow flowers (Tansy, I think?) that turned out to be a shot Neal had taken to show how the invasive species had taken over on one of our properties. Luckily Neal caught it, but I'm always a little gun-shy... So I guess my disclaimer is that these photos are of things I find beautiful, not necessarily about ecological function or anything cool like the ones Neal takes...