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Scenic Bennett Valley property and wildlife corridor protected
Going to the birds for a day
Getting ready for baaaackpacking
Out on a limb for fire safety
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January 2010 Nickles for Nonprofits
Thank You!
Artisan Cheese Festival returns
Coming up
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| Questions or comments? Email Sheri Cardo, managing editor. Copyright 2010 Sonoma Land Trust. All Rights Reserved. Newsletter produced by Athena Design Group. |
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A beautiful 34-acre property on the flank of Sonoma Mountain in Bennett Valley is now permanently protected with a conservation easement thanks to a generous donation by landowners Peter and Kathy Drake. The Drakes chose to donate the easement to protect their property’s significant natural resources, which include oak woodlands, perennial and annual grasslands, a seasonal creek and pond. Located at the southern end of Bennett Valley, the property boasts sweeping views and is located in an important wildlife corridor between Annadel and Jack London State Parks.
With the purchase of the Jenner Headlands, the Sonoma Land Trust was able to invite birders onto the property as part of the Madrone Audubon’s 43rd Annual Western Sonoma County Christmas Bird Count (CBC), which took place on January 3. The CBC is an early-winter bird census during which thousands of volunteers across the U.S., Canada and 19 other Western Hemisphere countries go out over a 24-hour period to count birds. The data collected over the past century allow researchers, conservation biologists and other interested individuals to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America. The birders at the Headlands saw a wide variety of birds, including ferruginous hawks, pygmy owls, rock wrens and horned larks, like the bird in this photo.
On SLT’s Ward Creek conservation easement, which protects a steep creek canyon north of Cazadero, the monitoring team includes some mountain goats — literally! Each year, landowner Ali Pearson brings along her Boer goats, Ouija and Gyro, on the monitoring visit. The goats are training to accompany Ali and her husband Bill on backpacking adventures in the Sierras. During the monitoring hikes, Ouija and Gyro stay out of mischief (mostly) and do their best to stay in earshot of Ali. They also inspire the two-legged monitors to hoof-it to the top of a nearby hill for spectacular views of the Ward Creek canyon.
Fire safety is a high stewardship priority at Little Black Mountain Preserve due to the property’s remote location and forested terrain, so SLT was thrilled when professional tree-climber Josh Brown agreed to help trim back overhanging limbs from above the caretaker’s cabin. SLT has also recently installed a water storage tank with hydrant outlets for fire safety and is currently working with CalFire and the Cazadero volunteer fire department to develop a fire preparedness plan and map for the property.
The Whole Foods store in Santa Rosa has selected the Sonoma Land Trust as a “Nickels for Nonprofits” recipient from January 18 to April 11. When you bring your own bags for groceries, you will have the option to donate five cents per bag to a selected charity — be sure to say “Sonoma Land Trust” when you check out!
The highly anticipated fourth annual Artisan Cheese Festival returns to Petaluma March 26–29 and the Sonoma Land Trust will be there! This nonprofit festival celebrates the artisan cheesemaking community by bringing cheese lovers together to support, enjoy and learn more about handcrafted artisan cheeses. In addition, the festival helps the artisan cheesemaking community by contributing a percentage of all ticket proceeds to nonprofit organizations that support the cheese and agricultural industry, including the Sonoma Land Trust. This action- and food-packed weekend boasts a line-up of top artisan cheese experts, authors, chefs and winemakers conducting seminars, pairings, tastings and cheese-filled demonstrations. And the Marketplace is not to be missed!