Tidal Influence
Tidal Influence, 
2539 E. 7th St. Long Beach, CA 90804
​iwanttohelp@tidalinfluence.com
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Bird Migrations!

2/16/2015

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By Kelsey Condell

Now that we’ve introduced some of our winter visitors...
let’s talk about migration!


Why Migrate?

Migration is an annual seasonal movement, with birds usually travelling from northern areas to southern ones. Migration is mostly driven by food availability, changes in habitat and weather. The longer summertime days in the north provides breeding birds with more time to feed their young while temperatures are milder and food is plentiful. As fall brings colder weather, migrational populations of birds move south to winter in areas with less severe temperatures and more plentiful food.

For humans, it takes a GPS, map, directions, or at least a compass to navigate to far-away destinations. Birds, on the other hand, are able to rely on celestial cues from the sun and stars, the earth’s magnetic field, and mental maps. Birds seem to know when to migrate based on changes in day length, and some populations are so punctual that their movement can be predicted down to the day!


PictureThe Pacific Flyway
The Pacific Flyway

In North America, migrating birds use four major migratory routes- the Pacific, Central, Mississippi, and Atlantic flyways. The birds we see here in Long Beach are travelling along the Pacific Flyway, which extends from Alaska to Patagonia. The Pacific Flyway is unique because it contains the most varied waterfowl habitats in North America- from the Arctic to the west coast of Mexico, the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. In fact, 60% of birds on the Pacific Flyway and 20% of North America’s waterfowl population winters in or migrates through California!

Most migrators rely on stopovers during their migration. A stopover is like a rest area, it provides food and a place to rest so that birds have enough energy to continue on their migration. Here in Long Beach, the Colorado Lagoon and the Los Cerritos Wetlands provide a resting place for birds who are passing through or staying for the season.


PictureHistorical wetlands map from Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP)
Sadly, loss of habitat is the greatest threat to migratory birds in North America. Before the gold rush, 4 to 5 million acres of wetlands were present in California. Since then, 95% of historic wetlands and 90% of riparian corridors have been destroyed or greatly modified. The map below from the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project shows the extensive wetlands that used to be found in Long Beach. Most of these wetlands have since been converted to open water harbors and marinas.

Although public lands like Wildlife Refuges and National Parks provide critical stopover habitat to migrating birds, there is not enough land to provide all the food and habitat that birds need. Having more birds concentrated in smaller stopover areas makes populations much more vulnerable to threats like predation and disease. In addition, if there are too many birds using a given area they may actually damage their own habitat from eating too much of the vegetation as well as nearby crops.


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December Dabbling Ducks!

12/29/2014

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December Migratory Bird Blog
By Kelsey Condell

For the month of December, we want to turn the spotlight on some of our favorite visitors- dabbling ducks! These ducks breed in the north but spend the winters with us in more temperate regions such as Long Beach. Winter is a wonderful time to see these beautiful migrators.

Dabbling ducks are ducks that feed at the surface of shallow waters or by tipping head first into the water. These birds dive infrequently and also may forage on land for seeds and insects. Dabbling ducks tend to have broad, flat bills and float high in the water. Many dabbling ducks can be spotted here in Long Beach and Seal Beach.


PictureMale Northern shoveler, By Bill Thompson
Perhaps you have spotted a duck that looks like a mallard, but has a strange spoon-shaped bill. Northern shovelers (Anas clyptea) are a medium-sized duck with an elongated, flared bill which filters food out of the water. Males in breeding plumage have an iridescent green head, with a white chest and rusty sides. Females are grayish-brown with an olive colored bill. Some of the female’s feathers have light brown edges with darker centers.

Northern shoveler pairs are monogamous and stay together longer than most other dabbling ducks. During mating displays, males will utter a repeated, liquid, hollow "g-dunk g-dunk g-dunk" in flight as well as from the water. Courting behavior includes various calls, turns, dips, and wing flaps. These birds breed in Canada and north-central United States. Shovelers nest in vegetation near water, and build simple nests in scrapes lined with vegetation and down. Clutches are usually 8-12 eggs.

Northern shovelers spend their winters in California, coastal Louisiana, Texas, and Mexico. These birds travel south along the Pacific or Central flyways. Their wintering habitat includes fresh and brackish coastal waters and they are now being seen all over Los Cerritos Wetlands and at the Colorado Lagoon!

PictureWinter Cinnamon teal pair(male-left, female-right), By Davor Desancic
The Cinnamon teal (Anas cyanoptera) is a beautiful visitor we can find this time of year. The cinnamon teal is a small, brightly colored duck that can be found in waters throughout the American West. Adults have red eyes and small, light blue patches on the front of their wings which can be seen in flight. Males have distinct breeding plumage, with a bright cinnamon colored head and body. Their upper wings have the typical light blue patches surrounded by a white border. During the winter, males are rusty gray-brown, with small white areas around the bill. Females appear similar to males outside of breeding season, but the backs of their wings are brown with a little green. The male gives a thin whistled "peep" or "peer." Females have a guttural quacking.

Most cinnamon teal breed in the western United States. They form pairs before arriving at breeding grounds, and build nests in grassy areas and on islands. Females usually lay between 8-10 eggs. Females place their nests below mats of dead vegetation to conceal their eggs. In fact, she must approach her nest through tunnels in the vegetation. Cinnamon teal are seasonally monogamous, meaning they usually select new mates each year.

Cinnamon teal are early migrators in the fall, and often travel in groups with other species of ducks. Nearly all cinnamon teal winter in Mexico and Central America, but some winter with us in California and southwestern Arizona. Cinnamon teal are omnivores, and feed mostly on aquatic vegetation, aquatic insects, seeds, snails, and zooplankton.

PictureMale Northern pintail, By Jason Crotty
The Northern pintail (Anas acuta) is a large duck, named for the male’s long central tail feathers, which come to a distinct point. Males and females have blue-gray bills and grey legs and feet. The male has a chocolate head with a thin white stripe running from the back of its head to its mostly white undercarriage. Males have grey, brown, and black patterning on their backs and sides. Females have a more camouflaged plumage, similar to those of other female dabbling ducks. Hens make a coarse quack while males make a flute-like whistle. Both sexes can be identified by their slender, long necks.

This species breeds across northern areas of Eurasia and in Canada, Alaska, and the Midwestern United States. These birds are among the earliest nesters, and can be found in nesting grounds shortly after ice-out. Northern pintails build nests in scrapes in the ground and build their nests in brush or grass, lined with grass and down. Females lay clutches of 7-9 eggs, and the hen alone incubates the eggs until they hatch.

Northern pintails are also some of the first ducks to migrate south, and mainly winter south of their breeding ranges. They can be found dabbling in waters here in Long Beach. They winter in a wide variety of shallow inland freshwater and intertidal habitats. Northern pintails feed mostly in the evening and at night, and are usually seen resting in the water during the day.

Sadly, Northern pintail populations have been in decline for a number of years. Populations have declined by 69% in the past 40 years. They are currently listed as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN, but they have also been identified as a Common Bird in Steep Decline. These birds are threatened by hunting, habitat loss, disease, and lead poisoning.

PictureAmerican wigeon pair, By Sindri
Our final dabbling duck for December is the American Wigeon (Anas americana). You might recognize them when they fly by because their call sounds like a squeeky toy! Wigeons are medium sized ducks with short blusish-black tipped bills. Males have a white patch from their forehead to the middle of their crown and an irridescent green band from the eye to the back of the head. In flight, the white shoulder patch identifies wigeons. Females have a gray head with a brownish-black crown and brownish chest and sides. Males whistle “whee whee whew” while females vocalize with a “qua-ack.”

PictureMale American wigeon resting, By Paul Hueber
American wigeons nest farthest north out of the dabbling ducks,  with the exception of the Northern pintail. They breed in shallow lakes and marshes through Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, Alaska and the Northwest Territories. Courtship displays include tail-wagging, head turning, wing flapping, and sudden jumps out of the water. An unseemly courtship ritual is "the burp," in which the male emits high-pitched vocalization while stiffening his upper head feathers and his body in an erect posture. Nests are built in depressions in the ground and are lined with grasses and down. Wigeon nests are located in tall grass or shrubs, and are often far from water. Clutches range from 3 to 13 creamy white eggs.
They also reach wintering grounds very early, with Alaskan and Canadian populations migrating along the Pacific flyway. Wigeons use many habitats in winter, including ponds, lakes, and saline and brackish marshes with enough aquatic vegetation. Wigeons are mostly herbivores and graze on aquatic plants and on grasses and sedges on land. Wigeons are also known as “poachers” because they steal food from diving ducks!

American wigeons are also listed by the IUCN as species of Least Concern, however they have been identified as another Common Bird in Steep Decline. They are the fifth most hunted bird in the United States, and are also threatened by loss of habitat due to droughts and wetland conversion.


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Tidal Influence Grows in New Ways in 2015

12/8/2014

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A message from Tidal Influence Principal and Co-Owner, Taylor Parker:

Eleven years ago this coming April I started volunteering for habitat restoration projects in Long Beach. In that time I have been fortunate enough to see the Colorado Lagoon’s storm drains fixed, 83,000 cubic yards of contamination removed, over 15,000 plants installed, and tens of thousands of local youth educated. I have also seen a struggling conservation effort at the Los Cerritos Wetlands grow to a point where a government agency now owns approximately 200 acres of wetlands, a long-term restoration plan is on the books, endangered species are being carefully monitored, and positive engagement with the surrounding community is at an all-time high. More than all that, I have seen more young environmental leaders come to the conservation effort. One of the things I am most proud of is the opportunity to give internship and employment opportunities to over 65 young environmental professionals. A new generation of environmental leaders will rise through their promising careers with Long Beach as their training ground.  After these 11 years, it is time for me however to take the inspiration that I’ve received from these valuable projects and passionate people into new venues. As of January 1, 2015, I will not be on the Tidal Influence team working on these great projects. Starting in the new year the team that I helped train and build the foundation for will be in the most optimal position to take these conservation efforts even further.

Eric and I started developing our company in August of 2008. With the team of dedicated staff that we’ve been blessed with we’ve accomplished a lot. This team has included not just our staff, interns and volunteers but our non-profit and municipal partners . Eric and Tidal Influence will continue to dedicate their resources toward furthering the mission of protecting and restoring southern California’s natural resources.

With me leaving the company, an opportunity will open for new passionate eyes to look at our current environmental situation. A fresh perspective and a new level of commitment will emerge through the new leaders representing Tidal Influence under Eric’s guidance. Be prepared to meet some new faces in leadership roles at Tidal Influence. These people will be standing on the successes we’ve built together but with the added benefit of inspired eyes and a team of tried and true resources.

It has been my pleasure and honor to work on saving critical habitat and endangered species in and around Long Beach. Thank you.

Taylor Parker

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Welcome to our monthly Migratory Bird Blog!

11/24/2014

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PictureGrebe lobed toes
By: Kelsey Condell, Lead Intern

Many of us are looking forward to the cooler weather and the migratory birds that the changing seasons bring. Our very own Colorado Lagoon is an excellent resting point for birds. For our first migratory birds of the month, we want to talk about Grebes!

Grebes are duck-sized birds in the order Podicipediformes, but don’t be fooled, they aren’t actually ducks. In fact, unlike ducks, grebes have lobed toes that help them swim and walk through thick mud. These birds have unusual plumage- it is dense and waterproof and the underside feathers stick straight out from the skin with a curl at the tip. Grebes can control their buoyancy in the water by pressing their feathers against their bodies and can swim with only their heads and necks exposed. Grebes are excellent divers and dive for their food. In fact, they will often dive rather than run away from danger!

In the non-breeding season, grebes are plain-colored, with white, brown and/or black feathers. During breeding season, grebes sport distinct head plumage and often develop chestnut colored markings on their heads. Grebes build floating nests on vegetation and they often perform elaborate display rituals. Most grebes breed in freshwater lakes and ponds and some grebes migrate south to spend their non-breeding season with us along the Pacific coast.

Three of our most common grebes here in Long Beach include the Pied-billed grebe, the Western grebe, and the Eared grebe.


PicturePied-billed grebe in winter.
The Pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) is a pigeon-sized waterbird that is mainly brown, with a darker crown and back. Their brown color helps camouflage them in the marshes they live in. They have a stout whitish bill with a black ring around it during breeding season. Unlike other grebes, they do not have white under their wings when flying. In fact, Pied-bills rarely fly. When in danger, they slowly sink and swim away to safety.

The Pied-billed grebe is present in North, South and Central American year round. Pied-bills living in places that freeze migrate south and meet up with non-migratory populations in September and October. They lay up to two sets of eggs a year which are incubated around 23 days. Both parents raise the young, taking turns feeding them and carrying them on their backs. Pied-billed grebes feed on aquatic insects, small fish, and especially love crayfish.


PictureWestern grebe in winter.
The Western grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) is also known as the swan-necked grebe because of its long, slender neck. It is the largest North American grebe and is black and white, with red eyes and a greenish yellow bill.

Western grebes breed from British Columbia down to Southern California. They breed in large lakes with high tulle and rushes.  These grebes gather in dense colonies. They have the most elaborate breeding displays of the family. With both members of a pair paddling vigorously across the surface of water in an upright posture, necks extended. After breeding season, they winter in saltwater brackish bays and estuaries along the Pacific Coast, like the Colorado Lagoon!

Western grebes dive to spear fish, but also eat salamanders, crayfish, and shellfish. These birds are highly gregarious in all seasons and will usually be spotted in groups. During breeding season, pairs will build floating nests anchored to vegetation in shallow areas of the marsh. The female lays 3-4 eggs, and both parents help incubate them. Once hatched, the young leave the nest and ride on the backs of parents.


PictureEared grebe in winter.
Finally, the Eared grebe (Podiceps nigricollis), or black-necked grebe, is the most common grebe. It occurs on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. This bird is named for its breeding plumage- it has an all-black neck with a spray of golden plumes on both sides of its head.  In winter, its plumage is black, white, and gray, with white ear patches. Its bill is thin, dark and tilted slightly upward.

These birds breed in vegetated areas of freshwater lakes and migrate to salty waters. They feed at the surface of water or by diving down, and eat aquatic invertebrates, especially shrimp and insects. Courtship includes various elaborate displays by both mates, including swimming in parallel on the surface of the water, with necks extended. Eggs are laid at the edge of water in an open bowl of vegetation. 1-8 eggs are laid, and chicks are able to climb, swim and eat within an hour after hatching.  

The Eared grebe has one of the longest flightless periods for a flight capable bird, and will not fly for 9 months out of the year. In fact, this species is known to be one of the most inefficient flyers. Before migration, it doubles up its weight, accumulating great fat deposits while the pectoral muscles shrink to the point of flightlessness. They must fatten up in preparation for a nonstop flight to their wintering grounds in the Southern United States and Mexico. Before they leave for migration, their flight muscles and heart grow quickly while the digestive organs shrink.  They are usually the latest to arrive after migration, and only migrate at night.

Eared grebes are easily confused with the Horned grebe, which looks very similar. The Eared grebe has an all black neck, and breeding plumage includes wispy yellow ear tufts. In the winter, the Eared grebe has a darker face with white crescents at its rear. Its bill is thinner and appears slightly upturned. It has a steeper forehead peaking over the eye, and a steeper and more tufted rump.


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Horned grebe in winter.
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TI is searching for new interns!

8/12/2014

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Tidal Influence LLC is searching for enthusiastic, environmentally-minded individuals who want to learn and contribute toward Long Beach conservation efforts. Check out the TI Experience page for the full announcement. Applications are due September 22nd.
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This is just a photo of a purple sage flower to catch your attention. Go to the TI Experience page for full intern information: http://www.tidalinfluence.com/the-ti-experience.html
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Summer Science Shack!

7/7/2014

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This summer, every weekend, every Saturday and Sunday, each afternoon, come enjoy the nature of the Colorado Lagoon. From 1-5pm, Tidal Influence staff are at the Lagoon helping excited beach-goers understand that they are swimming in one of the most paid-attentioned-to wetlands in Southern California. This Lagoon is undergoing one of the most unprecedented restorations and the animals are responding to this activity. Tidal Influence is trying to share this with the thousands who enjoy it as a beach and a much-needed place to cool off during the hot summer days. Visit Alene, Matt, James and Cristina as they teach the kids about the fish and crabs and the adults about the water quality and biodiversity. 
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Exiting Intern Thoughts

5/30/2014

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 True restoration and conservation work requires educated and fiercely dedicated teams of people to have success in protecting these critical habitats in the long term
 -Alene
As a student you learn to see and analyze the world in one frame of view, learning concepts, theories, ideals and equations. Applying this knowledge in the real world doesn't always go according to plan and most of the time there are situations that occur that you never even learned about! Having an internship in your field bridges the gap between "school science" and "real world science."

Six of the Tidal Influence interns just finished their time learning and participating at the Los Cerritos Wetlands and Colorado Lagoon. Here are their thoughts on their time spent with us!

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James Reyes

The most important thing that I learned from this internship was that environmental restoration is basically a huge experiment in terms of success. We don't always have the best answers or solutions to the problems at hand and it makes science seem less precise than I previously perceived! This internship has definitely added diversity to my work experience. I did tasks that I did not know were part for restoration work such as assisting with small group management, providing nursery care, learning about irrigation and sprinkler systems and helping do minor repairs.

 My favorite flora was the Cholla cactus (Cylindropuntia fulgida), because it was a challenge to plant and it always presented an element of danger during events! My favorite fauna is the Snowy Egret (Egretta thula). I really enjoy watching them hunt and I like they're wispy plumage.

   The best advise that I can give to future interns is to not procrastinate on journals! Not because your being graded or anything, but because keeping a detailed journal allows you to look back and appreciate your time as an intern. Hardest part is dealing with the weather and some volunteers but as long as you invest yourself in the program, you'll walk away with great memories and experiences!



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Lanz Kim

The most important thing that I learned from this internship was the flora and fauna of the wetland, as well as the anatomy of the local ecosystem. My advice to the new interns, is to love what you do, and take the most out of the experience. As long as you go home with something new, the time and experience will not go to waste.

My favorite flora is the Beach Evening Primrose (Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia). Both the name and the flower it’s self is attractive. For the fauna, it has to be the Mourning Dove. The calling sound they make is very unique and owl-like, and I can easily distinguish them anywhere.


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Cristina Robinson

The most important thing that I learned from this internship was how to restore a wetland.  Obviously, that entails much more than just 1 thing, but I learned so much from this experience.  It gave me an idea of the blueprint of knowledge and understanding for everything that has to go into the planning and restoring from start to finish of bringing back a natural habitat.  It has also taught me that networking is huge, public outreach and education is a must, researching all the species (whether they be native or non-native), and then all the politics and business side are incredibly important too!  This internship was 100% valuable in building up my skill set and experience for future jobs.  I think my focus in marine biology will be wetland restoration and the few places I have had the chance at applying to volunteer for all have similar protocol.  All the applications ask for previous knowledge/skills, and I am now able to put so much down for those categories all from what I have learned with Tidal Influence!  I really never imagined I would have all the knowledge I do know about this field and am so happy and thankful to have had the opportunity to learn and do so much.

My advice to future interns would be to put as much time and energy as you can into the internship.  It's hard with school and work, but I was always happy to be outside planting or pulling weeds then stuck at school studying.  It was a nice time to relax and escape from school and the more you put into it the more knowledge you'll retain with you and the more familiar you'll become with all the species.  The hardest part for me was just juggling my crazy schedule around and wishing I had been able to have more availability to have more flex hours.  I think the most rewarding part was seeing all the outcome of all the hard work we had put in.  I also really valued the work I got to do with Julie and Jeff because those were outside experiences I would have never got to have!  I also really enjoyed everything I did at all the events (even when pulling weeds in desert weather), so even though I was super busy this semester I was a lot happier vs. when I worked at jobs that were stressful and a bad environment. 

My favorite fauna was the Ana's hummingbird (Calypte anna) because all the information I learned about them was fascinating (how people in the New World thought of them, Native American stories about them, their habits and character), plus I was super excited to be able to identify the different hummingbirds we have.  But also a tie with the Pacific green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) because as a marine bio major I love learning about threatened species and to find out so much about a group that practically lives down the street from me was awesome!  My favorite flora would have to have been 4 winged saltbush (Atriplex canescens) because I found it interesting that a lot of our plants had "cousins" that were non-native species and comparing them.  The 4 winged saltbush was native species and my favorite fact about it was that it needed to be under constant water threat or else it wouldn't survive, it also excretes all of the salt it takes from the soil and pushes it out of its leaves.


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Nina Whitsett

I think the most important thing that I got out of this internship was the real world application of my studies to this real world restoration situation. I absolutely, without a doubt, believe that this internship was valuable in building my skill set for future jobs. I now have experience in the field; doing hard physical work, learning plant and animal species names, working with the public, team work, and problem solving. The biggest thing is that all of these skills will help me get closer to my future goals working in the field I love. My advice for future interns would be something that Jeff said when we were just starting. He said to get as much out of it as you can. Be as involved as you can and go to as many things as you can. I wish I had more time to devote to this internship, but I was thankful to partake in some other opportunities such as the fish seines that were offered. The hardest part about the internship was probably just in the beginning because it can be intimidating and learning the procedure of how the program runs but once you get the hang of it and start learning plant and animals names it becomes easier and a whole lot of fun! The most valuable part would be talking to the staff and learning everything and anything you can from them, asking them tons of questions and getting advice from them.

My favorite flora is a tie between Black Mustard (Brassica nigra) and Mexican Fan Palm (Washingtonia robusta) because of the history element of both plants. The black mustard was spread along the padres trail to mark it (little did they know what they were doing) and the mexican palm fan became a symbol of southern California through ornamental gardening craze in the early twentieth century sometimes only planting them 40-50 feet apart. Fascinating! My favorite fauna was the California Least Tern (Sternula antillarum browni) because it is an endangered species so it was interesting to learn about ways their threats and ways they are trying to manage them. For instance, by using military lands and abandoned air bases as nesting sites, or how LA port tried to create a nesting site through imported sand and predator traps!


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Alene Spindel

It is difficult to select the single most important thing I learned through this internship. I would guess that because I valued so many things I learned, important knowledge gained has to be the overall ah-ha moment that protecting wetlands system like Los Cerritos Wetlands requires far more than a few volunteer plantings and trash pickups. True restoration and conservation work requires educated and fiercely dedicated teams of people to have success in protecting these critical habitats in the long term. I understand now that it can take a lifetime of work to see the restoration of a few acres of wetlands and it requires constant attention, research and support networks to sustain. Over the course of the internship I learned the most important thing without really noticing, though it may take a lifetime of work to restore and protect any wetland acreage, it is worth it. I now understand the worth of a life dedicated to protecting and advocating for the wetlands. I never thought I would feel as strongly as I do now about the importance of the wetlands. The internship is invaluable in skill building for future positions. It involves using an array of extremely important professional skills which include but are not limited to; independent research, professional speaking, professional writing, public outreach, leadership, field surveying and identification techniques, coordinating volunteer groups; species-specific plant care. Leadership at Tidal Influence provides any support interns need if requested regarding help finding jobs after their internship and are always willing to provide meaningful and honest advice and references for the job search. 

This internship was invaluable in skill building for future positions. It involves using an array of extremely important professional skills which include but are not limited to; independent research, professional speaking, professional writing, public outreach, leadership, field surveying and identification techniques, coordinating volunteer groups; species-specific plant care. Leadership at Tidal Influence provides any support interns need if requested regarding help finding jobs after their internship and are always willing to provide meaningful and honest advice and references for the job search. 

My favorite flora is Heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) and my favorite fauna is California two-spot octopus (Octopus bimaculoides).


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Los Cerritos Wetlands Record Breaking Event

5/11/2014

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The Los Cerritos Wetlands has had its fair share of volunteers, but on April 26th a new record was set.  Old and young, 163 volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spent four hours removing debris and brush.  This group removed approximately 100 cubic yards of debris and filled up two large dumpster containers! The before and after photos really show the significance of removing that much!

Each volunteer came with smiling faces and an amazing attitude to get some work done! Everyone was very curious to understand the importance of pulling up weeds and removing palm fronds.  The truth is that these tasks truly are helping the wetlands, by removing invasive species such as ice plant or mustard, we not only give space for native plant species but give the opportunity for native fauna to arrive as well.

This was a very large event to set up for and took a team of awesome individuals to prepare the site.  Typical events run from a couple of volunteers to up to 50, and usually get a significant task completed. This event blew typical events out of the water! Having that many individuals out helping made the work easier and they completed SOOO much more!

A big thank you goes out to all of the volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority.

Please Check out more photos from this event on our flickr site! 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tidalinfluence/sets/72157644282147416/

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 Tons of Moon Jellies at the Colorado Lagoon

1/15/2014

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Two weeks ago there was a massive influx of Moon Jellies, Aurelia labiata, at the Colorado Lagoon! You can still see some of them if you walk across the bridge and look closely! 

Moon Jellies are common along the California coast they feed on plankton in quite bays and harbors. They are circular, bell shaped, and translucent with short fine fringe (cilia). They swim horizontally, keeping the bell near the surface. The Moon Jellies sweep up their food with the cilia and store it in pouches until it gets digested by the oral arms. The color of the jelly often changes based on its diet. Although they Moon Jellies sting their prey, the sting poses a small threat to humans.


Scientists have determined that jellies reproduce best when the water has TOO many nutrients and too little oxygen. This unbalanced ecosystem can be common due to the run-off of water from land.


Many organisms depend on the Moon Jellies for food, such as tuna, sunfish, spiny dogfish, all seven species of sea turtles, and birds. Jellies are 90% water, therefore species that are dependent on jellies for food have to eat a lot! Unfortunately, drifting plastic bags look very similar and get mistakenly swallowed.  Thousands of birds and turtles die each year from the mistaken
identity.

Sources:
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Aqua.org

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New TI Interns 2013-2014

11/20/2013

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Welcome to our new TI interns! Hoping we can help you with achieving you future career goals!
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James Reyes

  Is a Geography major, who would like to explore restoration and human impacts on the natural environment as a future career option. On his free time, James enjoys art, music, reading and learning something new.


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Lanz Kim

Is an Environmental Science and Policy major, who would like to
work at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), become an environmental consultant or a professor as a future career. On his free time, Lanz plays the piano. 



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Alec Krueger
 
Is an Environmental Science and Policy major on the BS track. His
future goals are to learn about species living in the local wetlands environment
and work outside. On his free time, Alec is surfing, hiking or playing PS3. 



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Michael Cutt

 Is an International Business major, who is very open for future
careers!  He is not sure what path he wants to take but is enjoying starting to learn about the environment! On his free time, Michael is hiking, snowboarding, water skiing, or playing guitar.


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Kristine de Leon

Is a Microbiology major, who would like to have a career studying
microbial ecology for wetland communities, with an emphasis in doing research.
On her free time, Kristine is hiking, cycling, and taking photos, pretty much
anything that gets her outside.


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Cristina Robinson
 
Is a Marine Biology major, that would like to study octopi and cuttle fish in our local reefs. She would also love to work with wild dolphins and one day she would like to be an astrobiologist for NASA! On her free time, Cristina is surfing, hiking, sewing, painting, listening to music, playing with animals and eating burritos.


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Nina Whitsett
 
Is an Environmental Science and Policy major on the BA track. She
would like to in Coastal Management because the coastal zone is her favorite
habitat. She would like to see how humans interact and impact (positive or
negative) this environment, and what can be done to remediate or restore some of the land. Her research goals are to learn more about research in general and to volunteer with Sea Turtles in Costa Rica.  On her free time, Nina is reading, shopping, watching movies, hanging with her friends or cat, or is enjoying some time at the beach. 



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Alene Spindel

Is an Environmental Science and Policy major, who hopes to work
on the restoration efforts on the California coast. She wants to get a better
grasp on plant identification and understanding the interdisciplinary aspects of
research projects. On her free time, Alene is surfing, gardening or running.


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