SPRING 2015

ISLAND’S RESTORATION ATTRACTS NEW SPECIES

BOUNTIFUL BIRDS PAGE 2

MEMBERSPaxson H. Offield, Chair

Anthony F. Michaels, PhD

Maria Pellegrini, PhD

Alison Wrigley Rusack

BOARD OF DIRECTORSJohn P. Cotton, Chair

Stephen Chazen, PhD, Vice Chair

Victoria Seaver Dean, Past Chair

Ann M. Muscat, PhD, President & CEO

Robert Breech

Gordon T. Frost, Jr.

Blanny Hagenah

Henry Hilty

Kellie Johnson

Roger Lang

Geoffrey Claflin Rusack

EMERITUSRose Ellen Gardner

Robert Thorne, PhD

EXECUTIVE TEAMAnn M. Muscat, PhD President & CEO

Larry L. Lloyd Chief Finance & Business Development Officer

John J. Mack Chief Conservation & Education Officer

Bob Reid Chief Development & Communications Officer

Lisa Moss Director, Human Resources

CONTACT USP.O. Box 2739Avalon, CA 90704310-510-2595330 Golden Shore, Suite 170Long Beach, CA 90802562-437-8555CatalinaConservancy.org

EDITORS Bob Reid

Laura Mecoy

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Robin Weisz Design

Conservancy Times is printed on Endeavour gloss, which is Forest Stewardship Council-compliant and made from 30% post-consumer recycled fiber and is chlorine free. Endeavour is produced following the quality and environmental management standards set forth by the International Organization for Standardization via a “clean” mill with a sustainability charter.

Printed using soy-based inks.

Message from the President

Conservancy Times is a

biannual publication of the

Catalina Island Conservancy, a

501c(3) nonprofit organization

established in 1972 to protect

and restore Catalina Island for

present and future generations

to experience and enjoy.

One of California’s oldest

private land trusts, the

Conservancy protects the

magnificent natural and

cultural heritage of Santa

Catalina Island, stewarding

approximately 42,000 acres of

land and 62 miles of rugged

shoreline. Twenty miles from

the mainland, Catalina Island

is home to more than 60 plant

and animal species found

nowhere else in the world.

The Conservancy operates

the Airport in the Sky, Wrigley

Memorial & Botanic Garden,

two nature centers and

campgrounds. It provides

50 miles of biking and

nearly 150 miles of hiking

opportunities within its road

and trail system.

For more information, please

visit CatalinaConservancy.org

Catalina Island holds a very special place in the hearts of so many who have visited the Island once or many times over the years, in those

who have grown up here and among those who have chosen to live on the Island later in life. Generations of families, like the Jones Family featured in this issue of Conservancy Times, create lifelong memories during their visits to Catalina’s windswept shores, its wildlands and the special places found only on a hike or trek across the Island.

Millions of people have discovered a love of the outdoors by challenging themselves physically on the Island’s rugged landscape and in its rich marine environment. Others have challenged themselves intellectually through the numerous educational and research programs offered through the Conservancy and its many camp partners on Catalina.

As the state’s only destination island, Catalina gives us a rare opportunity to see California as it once was—wild and free of development—there for us to enjoy nature and rekindle our spirits. The Catalina Island Conservancy’s mission is to protect and restore the Island to ensure this generation and future generations will continue to have those opportunities. While the Conservancy has made great strides in fulfilling its three-part mission, conservation work in a lived landscape is never done—as you will see in this issue of Conservancy Times.

Our dedicated wildlife biologists and partners saved the Catalina Island fox from the brink of extinction after canine distemper virus decimated the tiny creatures’ population on the Island. But now the thriving foxes face new threats, caused mostly by their interactions with humans on the Island. The Conservancy is working to alleviate those

threats, while ensuring the public’s access to the 42,000 acres it stewards. Balancing these needs is at the core of the Conservancy and what makes it different than many land trusts.

As you can see on the magazine’s cover, the bird population is flourishing on Catalina mainly due to the removal of invasive species and the successful restoration of so much of the Island’s native habitat. The Conservancy’s staff and its partners have just begun to document the bird populations on the Island, and they have found rare and threatened species on Catalina. But much more research must be done to fully document Catalina’s bird population and determine how best to protect and restore native species in the Island’s complex ecology.

Every week, the Conservancy’s hard-working Facilities Department crews tackle the day-to-day challenges of keeping the Island’s wildlands open and accessible to the public. The work of these “unsung heroes” is recounted in this issue so you can see how essential it is to all of the Conservancy’s operations and your enjoyment of the wild side. Their work will never be done.

With 2015 already well underway, all of us at the Catalina Island Conservancy are looking forward to tackling the many challenges before us to protect and restore this extraordinary place. We cannot fulfill our mission without your support. Thank you for your commitment and your enthusiasm for the vital work the Conservancy does and for the Island we all love. Never hesitate to let us know your thoughts on the tasks ahead of us.

Ann M. Muscat, PhD President and CEO

FOLLOW US ON:

CONTENTSFEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

Bountiful BirdsWildlife biologists have used boats, boots and

binoculars to document the Island’s bird population, finding rare and threatened species of great interest

to scientists and birdwatchers.

Fox ProtectionHaving recovered from the brink of extinction, the Catalina Island fox now faces new threats, mostly from its interactions with humans.

Conservancy BallJoin the Conservancy on April 11 for a fun-filled evening

and help protect Catalina for the next 20 years.Hike Honors BrothersThe Conservancy sponsors hikes to honor the legacies of the late Graham “BZ” Jones and his brother, Thad Jones III. They were dedicated volunteers who are part of Catalina’s and the Conservancy’s history.

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6

11

CONSERVANCY STAFF

Unsung Heroes 16

VOLUNTEERS

Eco-Volunteerism 18

Donor Honor Roll 19

Conservancy Calendar 20

BECOME A CONSERVANCY MEMBERNot a member of the Catalina Island Conservancy? Don’t miss out on the opportunities and adventure. Join today!

Help protect this great natural resource.

Go to: CatalinaConservancy.org or call 562-437-8555 ext. 224

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On the cover: Peregrine Falcon

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BountifulBirdsConservancy Biologists Begin Documenting Catalina’s Avian Fauna

Beneath the stars, three wildlife biologists boarded a small Zodiac boat for a stomach-churning search for one of the world’s rarest seabirds, the Scripps’s Murrelet, off Catalina Island’s shores.

The tiny black and white bird is elusive because it feeds at sea and visits its breeding islands at night for only a few months a year. Once they are on the islands, the birds nest in rugged, inaccessible, cliff-side habitats.

Bouncing across the waves, the biologists used a spotlight to find the birds floating atop the dark waters by catching the Scripps’s Murrelets’ white undersides in the light’s beam. Finally, the biologists spotted a pair of the tiny birds together on the ocean alongside a rocky Catalina cliff, which was likely to be a nesting area.

“We use a 14-foot Zodiac inflatable craft to find, pursue and capture the birds on the water with a dip net. We then inspect the birds and band them,” said Tyler Dvorak, Catalina Island Conservancy wildlife technician and an avid birder. “We first found an actual nest on the Island in 2012, and we have conducted two more survey seasons since then because documenting which birds are living, nesting and visiting the Island is important to the Conservancy’s mission of restoring and protecting Catalina.”

CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY2

Anna’s Hummingbird, one of five species of hummingbirds on the Island.

FINDING RARE & ENDANGERED SPECIES

In recent years, wildlife biologists from the Catalina Island Conservancy and numerous other organizations have used boats, boots and binoculars to document the birds on the Island. They’ve only begun to survey the various species, and already their work has recorded the return of such endangered and threatened species as the Peregrine Falcon (see page 4) as well as the presence of species considered to be “vulnerable” like the Scripps’s Murrelet.

They have spotted such rarities as the lone Crested Caracara, which had not been seen before in the Channel Islands and rarely in California. Currently, they have evidence that there are 54 species of birds breeding on the Island, including some, such as the Caspian Tern, which had not been documented as breeding on Catalina before. They continue to track other bird species to try to get a complete picture of the avian fauna on Catalina.

Dvorak and other Conservancy wildlife biologists, the Institute of Wildlife Studies, California Institute of Environmental Studies, Santa Barbara Natural History Museum, University of California, Santa Cruz and other institutions, as well as individual birdwatchers, have contributed to the nascent knowledge of the bird populations on the Island.

CONFIRMING BIRDS’ PRESENCE ON THE ISLAND

They have used photographs taken from low-flying aircraft for researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz to determine that Caspian Terns were nesting on Ship Rock off the coast of Catalina Lion’s Head point. They have relied on birdwatchers, including one who recorded the first confirmed instance of a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher nesting on Catalina.

And Dvorak, along with Harry Carter and Darrell Whitworth, researchers from the California Institute of Environmental Studies, used their climbing skills to scale the craggy sides of Ship Rock to document the Ashy Storm-Petrels nesting there.

The nocturnal seabird is a “California Bird Species of Special Concern” because it is at risk of becoming threatened or endangered. Its presence had not been confirmed on Ship Rock or Catalina—although there were some early, unconfirmed reports of naturalists finding the small seabird’s eggs on Catalina in 1903 and 1937.

HABITAT RESTORATION ATTRACTS BIRDS

Dvorak said documenting the birds not only helps guide conservation decisions. It can also serve as evidence of the success of restoration and protection efforts on the Island by the Conservancy.

“Birds can be excellent indicators of ecosystem health because they can choose where they wish to live, nest or visit,” he said. “We see some birds returning and some bird populations growing on Catalina and the other Channel Islands because the removal of non-native species and the elimination of predators, such as feral cats, have resulted in improved habitat.”

On other Channel Islands, for instance, the removal of black rats eliminated predators that threatened the Scripps’s Murrelet. On Catalina, the Conservancy’s biologists and the California Institute of Environmental Studies are monitoring Scripps’s Murrelets’ nests and population size to determine the level of impact of multiple threats the rare seabird faces on the Island.

“While much more remains to be done, the Conservancy has been able to maximize its resources and gain invaluable information about the birds on the Island through the work of our dedicated staff and in partnership with other organizations,” said Ann M. Muscat, PhD, Conservancy president and CEO. “We encourage all Catalina’s visitors to experience the wildlands to see the diversity of the bird population and the other native species that we are seeking to restore and protect.”

BirdsGREAT PLACES FOR BIRDWATCHING Blackjack Campground

Haypress Reservoir

Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden

To see a video about the

Island’s birds, please

click here.

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PEREGRINE FALCONS RETURN TO CATALINA

Peregrine Falcons, the birds of prey known as the fastest creatures in the animal kingdom, once

thrived on the Channel Islands. But like the Bald Eagles, the use of the pesticide DDT caused their numbers to plummet, and they were placed on the endangered species list in 1970.

Today, through restoration efforts, they have been removed from the endangered species list and returned to the Channel Islands, where Peter Sharpe, PhD, Institute of Wildlife Studies (IWS) research ecologist, said he’s spotted two breeding pairs of the raptors on Catalina Island’s western coast.

But they’re not easy to find. Their gray, white and black plumage provides excellent camouflage on the cliffs where they lay their eggs on ledges in depressions in the dirt.

“You can stare at a cliff for days, and you won’t see them if they don’t vocalize or move,”

Dr. Sharpe said. “They’re not like the Bald Eagles, whose white heads make them

easier to see.” Dr. Sharpe, who leads the Bald

Eagle restoration program on Catalina, is conducting a survey of Peregrine Falcons on the Channel Islands, and says he’s finding greater numbers of the raptors on the islands than were known to exist before their precipitous decline in the 1950s and 1960s.

He attributes these findings to the decreasing levels of DDE, a metabolite of DDT, in the environment since the pesticide was banned in the U.S. in 1972. He also credits a new method for finding the falcons that was developed by Joseph G. Barnes, a wildlife diversity supervising biologist at the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

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To see a video about

Peregrine Falcons please

click here.

CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY4

Their numbers declined after DDE, a metabolite of DDT, caused THINNING OF THEIR EGGS, leading to the eggs cracking before the chicks were fully developed. Some chicks also died from dehydration due to thin shells.

PEREGRINE FALCONS RETURN TO CATALINA FACTSabout

PEREGRINE FALCONS

Some Peregrine Falcons are used to SCARE OFF SEAGULLS. Many cities have encouraged Peregrine Falcons to nest in skyscrapers, and several can be found in downtown Los Angeles.

They can reach speeds of more than 200 MPH when diving for their prey.

They are found on ALL CONTINENTS except Antarctica.

Their name, peregrine, means “wanderer.” THEY CAN MIGRATE UP TO 15,000 MILES A YEAR.

They are the birds commonly used in the SPORT OF FALCONRY.

To find the falcons, Dr. Sharpe travels by foot or boat to the cliffs where the birds are most likely to be found. He plays a 30-second recording of a falcon’s call and waits 30 seconds to hear or see a response. If none is noted, he plays the call again and waits five minutes for a response.

With this method, he’s had a 58% response rate, which is much more efficient than the previous methods of just using his eyes, ears and binoculars to find the falcons.

“We counted 48 pairs of falcons on the Channel Islands in 2014,” Dr. Sharpe said. “We are going to continue to monitor them to see if DDT is still negatively affecting them.”

In addition to the two breeding pairs Dr. Sharpe has documented on Catalina, birdwatchers have spotted many more migratory Peregrine Falcons visiting the Island.

The Catalina Island Conservancy has provided support and partnership to IWS in its successful efforts to restore and monitor birds of prey on Catalina Island.

“You can stare at a cliff for days, and you won’t see them if they don’t vocalize or move. They’re not like the Bald Eagles, whose white heads make them easier to see.”

Peter Sharpe, PhD IWS research ecologist

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FOX PROTECTIONT he success of the Catalina Island

Conservancy’s fox recovery program has

created new challenges for wildlife biologists.

The program brought the endangered Catalina

Island fox back from the brink of extinction

in less than 15 years, resulting in a population

of more than 1,700 in 2014. But more foxes

mean more interactions with the Island’s

human population. Those interactions can

have disastrous consequences for the tiny

native creatures.

In November alone, the Conservancy

documented 11 fox mortalities, eight of which

were associated with vehicle trauma. However,

biologists suspect that many more foxes die

from vehicle trauma, but their deaths simply

go unreported or undetected because the fox

does not immediately succumb to its injuries

while on the road.

In many cases, the dead foxes are found in

locations that are near trash cans. The food

trash in and around the cans lures the foxes to

cross the road more frequently, putting them

in danger of vehicles traveling through Avalon

and in the wildlands. The nutritionally deficient

trash itself can be harmful to the foxes, and

many of the tiny creatures have become

trapped and died inside the older trash cans.

CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY6

FOX PROTECTION CONSERVATION: A NEVER-ENDING RESPONSIBILITY

ANIMAL-PROOF CONTAINERS PROTECT WILDLIFE

This year, the Conservancy launched a new initiative to help protect these Island endemics by eliminating their access and

other animals’ access to trash cans. It is replacing existing trash cans on the 42,000 acres it stewards with animal-proof trash and recycling containers.

“Identifying and reducing threats to the health and survival of the endangered Catalina Island fox has been a crucial part of the Conservancy’s fox recovery program,” said Julie King, the Conservancy’s director of conservation and wildlife management. “The inadequate handling or containment of trash has become a serious threat to foxes and other wildlife. Installing animal-proof trash and recycling receptacles will prevent the foxes and other wildlife from entering the containers and help eliminate trash spills that attract the foxes and other wildlife into inhabited areas and roadsides, where they may be struck by a vehicle.”

150 NEW TRASH RECEPTACLES NEEDED

The new receptacles the Conservancy is installing are identical to bear-proof containers used in many state and national parks throughout the country. The 80-gallon containers require the user to reach inside a covered area to unlatch the lid and open it. The lid then swings shut when the user releases it, securing the trash or recycled materials inside and keeping wildlife out.

In doing so, these containers can reduce the litter that attracts seagulls, ravens and other wildlife, making the Island more attractive to visitors and residents alike. With a separate section for recycled materials, the new containers could also encourage more recycling on the Island.

Altogether, an estimated 150 new animal-proof trash and recycling containers, at a cost of nearly $2,000 each, will be needed to replace all of the trash cans on the land the Conservancy stewards and in a few high-risk areas in Avalon. The Conservancy is raising funds to finance the purchase and installation of the new animal-proof trash receptacles because they’re needed to protect the Catalina Island fox.

In addition to installing the animal-proof trash and recycling containers on the land under its stewardship, the Conservancy has donated some older style, wildlife-resistant trash receptacles to Avalon’s Machado Field. These receptacles replaced open aluminum trash bins with ones that have lids.

HUMAN ACTIVITIES POSE GREATEST THREAT

The new animal-proof containers are part of the Conservancy’s ongoing activities to protect the endemic fox from its most significant threat today—human activities—through focused conservation efforts and education. Each year, in addition to vehicle trauma, several foxes drown in uncovered water

“Identifying and reducing threats to the health and survival of the endangered Catalina Island fox has been a crucial part of the Conservancy’s fox recovery program.”

Julie King Conservancy director of conservation and wildlife management

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containers, are injured or killed by unleashed dogs or die from the ingestion of rat poison or other toxins.

The Conservancy has erected new signs along particularly perilous stretches of road to remind motorists to reduce their speeds and remain vigilant, especially at dawn and dusk when foxes are more likely to be present. It’s placed additional signs at trailheads and specific staging areas to remind the public not to feed foxes. The Conservancy also has expanded its education and outreach efforts to increase the awareness of Island residents and the visiting public about ways to reduce the hazards that may impact the survival of this endearing and endemic creature.

RECOVERY PROGRAM SAVED ISLAND FOX

The Conservancy’s wildlife biologists have been closely monitoring the foxes since their numbers plummeted from about 1,300 to just 100 in 1999 because of an outbreak of canine distemper virus (CDV) likely brought to the Island by a stowaway raccoon. An adaptive management program—which included captive breeding from 2001 to 2004, vaccinations against CDV, translocations and monitoring—restored the fox population to its pre-crash numbers.

“Recovering the endangered Catalina Island fox population so quickly is one of the great conservation success stories,” said John J. Mack, the Conservancy’s chief conservation and education officer. “The Conservancy is going to be engaged in active management of the foxes and many more species on this Island for generations to come because conservation work is never done, especially on an Island visited by nearly one million people each year. Humans have been a part of Catalina’s ecosystem for thousands of years, and the Conservancy is committed to becoming a leader in modeling conservation in a lived landscape.”

YOU CAN HELP PROTECT THE ISLAND FOX

Help protect these precious creatures from getting trapped in older trash cans. Please donate

today to purchase new, animal-proof trash and recycling containers.

To support these efforts and the Conservancy's fox recovery program, please visit CatalinaConservancy.org

or call 562-437-8555.

A donation of just $2,000 will pay for the installation of one animal-proof container!

Above, the new animal-proof trash and recycling containers the Conservancy is installing to protect the fox. At right, a vehicle nears one of the signs the Conservancy has installed to warn motorists.

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YOU CAN HELP PROTECT THE ISLAND FOX

Help protect these precious creatures from getting trapped in older trash cans. Please donate

today to purchase new, animal-proof trash and recycling containers.

To support these efforts and the Conservancy's fox recovery program, please visit CatalinaConservancy.org

or call 562-437-8555.

A donation of just $2,000 will pay for the installation of one animal-proof container!

CATALINA ISLAND FOX FACTS

HOW BIG IS THE FOX?The Catalina Island fox is about 25% smaller than its mainland relative, the gray fox, and is Catalina’s largest native land predator. Although it is often referred to as “the size of a house cat,” an adult Island fox generally weighs 4–6 pounds, while house cats average 8–10 pounds with some breeds weighing as much as 18 pounds.

WHAT DOES THE FOX

EAT?An omnivore, the Catalina Island fox’s diet includes mice, lizards, birds, berries, insects and cactus fruit. Taking advantage of many food resources enhances the foxes’ chances for survival on the Island. The foxes climb trees in search of food. But they’re hard to spot on the Island. They may be active during daylight, but most of their foraging for food is done at dawn and dusk.

HOW DO THEY REPRODUCE?Foxes generally form monogamous pairs. They breed once a year, usually in early February through early March. Pups are born from mid-March through May. Litter sizes may range from 1–5, but 1–2 pups are more common in the wild. Unlike most other species of foxes, Island foxes do not use formal dens. They generally just find refuge under thick brush or in a rock pile. Pups are born helpless, and both parents play a role in raising the young. Pups emerge from their den sites after about a month. They remain with their parents for approximately 6 months before dispersing in late fall to find their own territories and mates.

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HOW DOES THE FOXES' RECOVERY HELP PROTECT THE ISLAND?

Protecting the Catalina Island fox is crucial to the health of the Island’s ecosystem because it is considered a “keystone species,” which has a disproportionately large effect on its environment in relation to its actual numbers.

Island foxes are “opportunistic omnivores,” meaning that they feed on a wide variety of food items and focus primarily on what is most abundant or available. Through this approach, foxes are able to prevent certain animals, such as mice, from becoming overly abundant on the Island.

Foxes also support the spread and germination of seeds when plants are actively producing fruit. In the same manner, foxes do not exhaust a food resource entirely but rather shift to whatever item is easily attainable. In this manner, they support the balance of the ecological community.

From the management perspective, the Catalina Island fox is also categorized as an “umbrella species.” This means that the successful conservation of the Island fox and its habitat indirectly protects the many other species present in the community.

HOW DID THE FOX GET HERE?

Previous genetic research suggested that foxes first inhabited the northern Channel Islands more than 16,000 years ago, a few thousand years prior to humans, who arrived around 13,000 years ago. But archaeological and paleontological data indicated a much more recent introduction of approximately 7,000 years ago.

Considering both timelines, scientists generally answered this question by stating that foxes first arrived on the northern Channel Islands by rafting on debris or were introduced by Native Americans. Both theories have support.

Lower sea levels at the time resulted in the northern Channel Islands being a single immense island much closer to the mainland than the islands are currently. There is confirmation that several other species that have inhabited islands in other areas did so by rafting on debris. The connection between Island foxes and Native Americans is also very well documented, and there is no question that the foxes were introduced to the southern Channel Islands, including Catalina, by Native Americans. So which is it?

A genetic study led by Smithsonian predoctoral fellow, Courtney Hofman, provides some more evidence to support the hypothesis that humans were involved with the first introduction of foxes to any of the Channel Islands. Instead of using a fraction of mitochondrial DNA, as was done in prior genetic research, Hofman was able to analyze entire mitochondrial genomes.

Her results suggest that foxes did not arrive on the northern Channel Islands until 7,100–9,200 years ago, much closer to the time that humans first inhabited the islands. A confounding issue remains, however. The earliest fossil records for Island foxes reflect an already diminutive species, suggesting that the foxes had already evolved on the Island for thousands of years prior to human colonization.

Perhaps new advancements in genetic research or new archeological discoveries will once and for all solve this mystery. But for now, both possibilities must be considered.

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Saturday, April 11, 2015Avalon Casino Ballroom, Catalina Island

Doors Open and Hosted Cocktails 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Dinner and Dancing 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM

Silent and Live Auctions

Elegant 1920s-Style Black Tie

General Tickets: $275 per personSponsorships Begin at $1,500

RESERVE YOUR SEAT TODAY!

For event details, to purchase tickets, arrange sponsorships and preview auction items,

visit CatalinaConservancy.org

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On April 11, the Catalina Island Conservancy

will celebrate 20 years of the Conservancy Ball in

true 1920s style.

Whether you’re an art deco aficionado or simply

a fan of Catalina, please join the

Conservancy for a fun-filled evening and

help protect the Island for the next 20 years!

The Corsair Yacht Club will be returning as the Conservancy Ball’s co-host

for an unprecedented third time. The Corsairs hosted the first Conservancy Ball in 1996 with then-Commodore Randy Boelsems and Staff Commodore Bob Burnette at the helm.

Inspired by the desire to give back to Catalina for the many years the club’s members have enjoyed the Island at their Emerald Bay outpost, the Corsair Yacht Club co-hosted the 10th Annual Conservancy Ball in 2005. The Corsairs are excited to be back again for the 20th Annual Conservancy Ball—LEAPIN’ LIZARDS! AN EMERALD CELEBRATION.

This year’s event will take place once again in the historic, art deco Avalon Casino Ballroom—as it has every year for the past 20 years. The Conservancy invites you to join in the fun and help to make this year even more memorable than the previous 19 years!

“When we planned the first ball, we didn’t think there would be a second one,” said Boelsems. “But that first one was magic. It was really magic.”

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The magic will continue this year as guests dine and dance to the sounds of Society Beat, one of Southern California’s most popular, modern-day Big Bands. They also will have the opportunity to bid during a silent auction and a live auction on a wide range of one-of-a-kind items and adventures, including a day in the field fox trapping on Catalina and a crowd-favorite—a hand-etched balthazar of Rusack Vineyards wine.

“This year’s ball promises to be an evening filled with glamor, great fun and giving back to the Island so that its many natural treasures will continue to be enjoyed for generations to come,” said Bob Reid, the Conservancy’s chief development and communications officer. “We greatly appreciate the Corsair Yacht Club and the other ball sponsors for their very generous support. We urge all who love Catalina to help us celebrate 20 years of the Conservancy Ball.”

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Jones BrothersIT’S A HIKE THAT’S BECOME A PART OF CATALINA ISLAND’S HISTORY.

In 1956, Graham “BZ” Jones sailed to Catalina’s east end with his wife, Rosie; his brother, Thad Jones III, and two friends, Richard Lyon and Steve Royce.

Thad, Richard and Steve placed their hiking boots in plastic bags, tied the bags around their necks and then jumped into the frigid waters to swim to the rugged cliffs on the Island’s east end. The three men made the harrowing climb to the top of the cliffs and embarked on the first known one-day “end-to-end” hike of Catalina Island.

Thad had mapped out the course based on his many years visiting the Island and his time spent marching across it as a student at the Catalina Island School for Boys located at Toyon Bay. The three hikers followed Thad’s map and completed their hike from the Island’s east end to its west end in a remarkable 11 hours and 20 minutes.

SETTING A RECORD

“We were three very competitive guys, so we were determined to be the first ones to ever complete an end-to-end hike of Catalina in a single day,” said Lyon. He is the only hiker still alive today to tell the tale of the first recorded end-to-end hike.

But Thad recorded another end-to-end hike the following year, which started on the west end and ended on the east. In his letters, he said he completed the 1957 hike in just 10 hours and 10 minutes.

The hikes inspired Brad Avery, president of the Conservancy’s support group, the Marineros, to organize hikes in honor of the late Thad and BZ Jones. This year, on March 28, the Conservancy will host the Fifth Annual BZ Jones Hike.

HIKE SUPPORTS CONSERVANCY

This year’s hike will be easier than Thad’s hikes. It will be about 12 miles across the width of the Island, rather than the length of Catalina. Lunch and transportation will be provided, and hikers will end the day with dinner and a celebration at the Bluewater Grill in Avalon. Every other year, the Conservancy also hosts a Thad Jones Hike, which is a longer end-to-end hike and takes place over two days on the same weekend as the shorter BZ Jones Hike.

“The whole idea behind the hike is to get people closer to the Island and increase their appreciation of Catalina by hiking it,” said Avery. “When you’re crossing the Island at that pace, you really get a sense of how big and how special it is.”

The BZ and Thad Jones hikes also are fundraisers for the Conservancy, helping to support its mission of protecting and restoring the Island—a mission that the Jones brothers and their family have supported. As they have in previous years, BZ’s and Thad’s children and other family members will join the hike.

Above, BZ (left) and Thad Jones III with their mother, Agnes Jones. Right, Thad Jones on his boat.

Thad Jones III (left) with his father Thad Jones II and his brother, BZ Jones (right) on the family’s boat.

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Jones Brothers

JONES FAMILY TRADITIONS

“We will be there to honor our dads,” said BZ’s daughter, Laura Tomlinson. “We are really proud of them. They were fun, social guys who loved the Island. Their brotherhood, in the true sense of the word, has been passed down to us.”

The brothers have a long history with the Conservancy. While he didn’t enjoy hiking as much as his brother did, BZ loved boating and was a founding member of the Marineros, the first Conservancy support group. Thad and BZ volunteered at the Ackerman Native Plant Nursery, built benches, painted signs and engaged in numerous other volunteer activities.

“Both Thad and BZ participated in the volunteer quarterly work parties sponsored by the Conservancy, spending many hours in Middle Ranch and other parts of the Island,” said Thad’s daughter, Caroline Jones.

They also have a long history on the Island. Along with their third brother, Nelson, who usually attends the hike, the Jones boys grew up on the Island. Their father was a sailor who brought them to Catalina on a regular basis.

CATALINA FAVORITE DESTINATION

“They used to hang out with Humphrey Bogart and all those Hollywood types who hung out at Catalina,” Thad’s son, Thad “Moke” Jones IV, said. “Our family goes way, way back to the early days of Catalina as a destination for boaters.”

Both of the brothers were world-class sailors. Thad set a record for participating in the most Transpacific Yacht Races—22. BZ was aboard the maxi racer Kialoa II when she won the punishing 1971 Sydney to Hobart Race. He raced all the big offshore events in the Pacific and Atlantic.

While both brothers sailed to points around the world, Catalina remained one of their favorite destinations.

“The annual BZ Jones Hike and the biennial Thad Jones Hike are fitting tributes to these two men who lived life to its fullest and gave so generously of their time to support the Conservancy,” said Spencer Campbell, the Conservancy’s development manager. “BZ and Thad Jones are two of the best examples of the dedicated volunteers and supporters who have helped the Conservancy fulfill its mission of protecting and restoring the Island we all cherish.”

“The whole idea behind the hike is to get people closer to the Island and increase their appreciation of Catalina by hiking it. When you’re crossing the Island at that pace, you really get a sense of how big and how special it is.”

Brad Avery, Marineros president

BZ Jones’ daughter, Allie Dewey (right), and his granddaughter, Sabra Dewey, enjoy the BZ Jones Hike in 2013.

BZ Jones’ son, Ned Jones (center), long-time family friends Bill Uniack (left) and Ben Benjamin (right) on the 2013 hike.

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Unsung HeroesREPAIRING, REPLACING AND REFURBISHING CONSERVANCY FACILITIES

For several years, Catalina Island Conservancy’s Middle Ranch staff had to drive into Avalon to refuel the organization’s vehicles.

Soon, they will be able to avoid long trips into town to refuel because the Conservancy’s Facilities Department and local subcontractors are completing the installation of a new above-ground fuel tank at Middle Ranch.

They’ll also have all the water storage capacity they need because the Facilities Department and local subcontractors added a new 100,000-gallon water tank at Middle Ranch, replacing an old 25,000-gallon tank that often leaked.

Repairs, replacements and refurbishments are the Facilities Department’s responsibility for the 42,000 acres the Conservancy stewards. So is the maintenance of more than 220 miles of roads, the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden, two nature centers, the Conservancy’s headquarters building in Avalon, numerous vehicles, including the Jeeps for the popular Jeep Eco Tour, and many other facilities.

“The Conservancy has vast responsibilities for maintenance and operations on the 88% of the Island under its stewardship, and the staff works tirelessly to keep all our facilities operating and the wild side accessible and safe for the public to visit,” said Ann M. Muscat, PhD, the Conservancy’s president and CEO.

FACILITIES DEPARTMENT KEEPS WILDLANDS OPEN

Like the maintenance crews for a small county, the Conservancy’s Facilities Department keeps the roads open, maintains buildings and vehicles and removes hazards. Much of this hard work goes unnoticed and unheralded by the public. But without the Facilities Department’s unsung heroes, the Island’s wild side would be too wild for all the camping, hiking, biking and flying in Catalina’s interior.

Jose Soto (top photo) and Mark Saldana (bottom left photo) are among the Facilities Department’s unsung heroes replacing, repairing and refurbishing buildings, vehicles and more.

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Among its many recent activities, the Facilities Department and subcontractors refurbished the Airport in the Sky’s airplane hangar, ensuring it will last for many more years. Its staff also worked with a local contractor to repair a bridge on the road between Cherry Valley and Howland’s Landing to ensure safer travel to camps on the Island’s west end and to accommodate the heavier trucks occasionally used for supplies.

During the winter rains, crews worked hard to remove rocks that tumbled onto roads and repair washed-out roadways.

“The mud can get really slippery, so we often have to close down the roads when it rains,” said Tom Wassing, the Conservancy’s director of facilities. For Wassing—who recently joined the Conservancy as its facilities director, capping a long career in contracting and, most recently, with The Living Desert zoo and gardens in Palm Desert—the job’s biggest challenges are the logistics of working on the Island. Just getting to a work site can take more than an hour because of the rugged terrain. Replacement parts and supplies often have to be ordered from the mainland, which can further delay repairs and drive up costs.

Since his arrival in October, Wassing said he’s kept the facilities crews busy cleaning up an old dump site in Skull Canyon. They’ve removed steel and other metal for recycling, and they’re sorting through the remaining debris for hauling to the dump. Once that’s finished, he said he has a long list of building repairs and deferred maintenance to tackle.

“The Conservancy has vast responsibilities for maintenance and operations on the 88% of the Island under its stewardship, and the staff works tirelessly to keep all our facilities operating and the wild side accessible and safe for the public to visit.”

Ann M. Muscat, PhD Conservancy president and CEO

FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY

In its repairs and new projects, the Conservancy is seeking sustainable solutions to fulfill its long-term strategic vision and master plan, Imagine Catalina. One of the four goals guiding the master plan calls for the Conservancy to model sustainability in its facilities, operations and finances so that the long-term protection and enjoyment of Catalina is ensured.

The Conservancy is conducting sustainability assessments of camps and coves as it implements changes to conserve energy and water in its facilities. For instance, it recently replaced showerheads in Middle Ranch homes with low-flow models and washing machines and dishwashers with newer water-saving ones—all to reduce water usage. It also is experimenting with rain-catching cisterns to provide water for irrigation at a Middle Ranch home.

“Building on a long legacy of protecting the Island, the Conservancy’s vision for the future includes modeling sustainability in all our facilities and programs to demonstrate how to conserve our precious resources on the Island,” said Muscat.

Tom Wassing, the Conservancy’s director of facilities, has kept the facilities team busy cleaning up an old dump site at Skull Canyon.

Top photo, Oden Vanderwiel (left) and Evan Sutherland (right) keep the Conservancy’s vehicles operating. Next photo, DeeDee Conner, administrative assistant, keeps the team on track.

A Facilities Department crew removes a floating dock for winter storage.

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Eco-VolunteerismTourism Cares Helps the Conservancy

Digging ditches and pulling up posts is hard work, but the members of the

travel industry who volunteered with the Catalina Island Conservancy didn’t shy away from tackling those tasks.

Some 40 members of Tourism Cares, an organization that seeks to preserve and enhance the travel experience for future generations, came to Catalina in November for a challenging volunteer work day. Some spent the day digging and raking at the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Gardens as part of a project to reduce erosion and restore native plants. Others removed nearly 600 pieces of old materials from the Island’s wildlands, picked up trash and litter at Ben Weston Beach and pitched in at the James H. Ackerman Native Plant Nursery to help process native Ironwood seeds, which will be used in the Island’s plant restoration efforts.

“Tourism Cares has created a legacy of eco-volunteerism that supports the Conservancy’s mission, and we are grateful for the contributions of its many wonderful volunteers who devoted part of their weekend to supporting our conservation efforts and improving the visitor experience on Catalina,” said Ann M. Muscat, PhD, the Conservancy’s president and CEO. “The Conservancy couldn’t fulfill its mission without the help of the many dedicated volunteers who give of their time to protect and restore the Island for the nearly one million people who visit it every year.”

Jessica Ahern, Tourism Cares director of events, said the organization and the tourism community are dedicated to the “preservation and the conservation of places like Catalina—places that should be visited, appreciated and enjoyed for generations to come.”

Tourism Cares was established in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to bring together the tourism industry to give back to American tourist attractions and icons in need of care. This fall, the organization brought a group of travel professionals to San Pedro to improve its waterfront and then to Catalina to contribute time to the Conservancy.

By channeling the philanthropic passion and commitment of the travel industry to protect and restore valuable destinations, Tourism Cares has brought together nearly 4,000 travel industry professionals, who have donated 31,189 hours at a value of $600,000 to culturally and historically significant destinations around the country. The organization also donated $2,500 to the Conservancy to coordinate its trip to the Island.

“Catalina Island is truly a gem off the Pacific Coast,” said Ahern. “Working with the Catalina Island Conservancy to make a small impact and help in continuing its good works was an amazing experience for our volunteers, who now have a special place for Catalina in their hearts.”

Do You Have a Group That Would Like to Volunteer?Volunteer experiences with the Catalina Island Conservancy provide individuals, organizations and groups with an opportunity to give back while having fun and experiencing the beauty of Catalina. Group volunteer experiences can range from one day to several days. They can be tailored to the group’s abilities, age and skill level.

TO SET UP A GREAT VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION OR GROUP, PLEASE CONTACT:

Lesly Lieberman or Cindy Lazaris, the Conservancy’s individual and group volunteer coordinators at 310-510-2595 ext. 109. clazaris@CatalinaConservancy.org llieberman@CatalinaConservancy.org

Or visit the “Volunteer” page on the website, CatalinaConservancy.org.

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HONOR ROLL OF DONORS

(Conservancy Ball auction purchases and auction donations and Catalina: The Wild Side art purchases not included) July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014

$250,000 and Above

Steve and Pat Chazen

$100,000 – $249,999

Blanny Avalon Hagenah

$50,000 – $99,999

James H. Ackerman Family and The Evalyn M. Bauer Foundation

Victoria and Dorn Dean

Debi and Norris Bishton

$25,000 – $49,999

Geoffrey Claflin and Alison Wrigley Rusack

Maria Pellegrini

John and Cindy Cotton

Anonymous

$10,000 – $24,999

Gary and Kellie Johnson

The Boone Foundation

Bob and Mai Breech

Phil and Susan Hagenah

Jim and Vicki Warmington

C.M. and Edna Peyton Cotton Foundation

Earl B. Gilmore Foundation

G.T. and Shannon Frost

Richard and Marie Knowles

City National Bank

George and Gail Pla

Erickson Family Charitable Foundation

Gardner Grout Foundation

Misdee Wrigley & James M. Miller Charitable Foundation

$5,000 – $9,999

U.S. Bank

Bonnell Cove Foundation

John W. Carson Foundation

Jim and Anne Johnson

Frank and Joann Randall

Andy and Gaye Saxon

Shaun and Katy Tucker

$2,500 – $4,999

Tom and Gerda Sparks

Bruce and Lisa Gelker

Basil and Judith Witt

Wil Von Der Ahe

Lynne Brickner and Jerry Gallard

Mike and Gloria Sullivan

Tim and Sheila Collins

Janice Rutherford Hinds

Jack and Shirley Herron

David and Pat Lamb

John and Barbara Anglin

Alex and Janet Boggs

Doug and Audrey Bombard

James and Diane Connelly

Jeanne Frost

Gary Gray

Steve and Stephanie Hathaway

Jessica Hibbs

Howard Higholt

Todd and Tatiana James

Paulie Jenkins and Ted Carlsson

William and Kathleen Mudd

MVE & Partners, Inc.

Bob Reid

Anonymous

Richard Sahroian

Richard and Elizabeth Steele Fund

Scott and Tammie Stuart

Mrs. Dan Stuart

Tourism Cares, Inc.

Pamela Turbeville

Douglas West and Irene Ziebarth

Richard Woodward

$1,000 – $2,499

Terry and Paulette Chapman

Las Caballeras

Bob Voit

Los Angeles Yacht Club

Diane Wilkinson

Andrew and Corinne Dossett

Thornton S. Glide, Jr. and Katrina D. Glide Foundation

David Hutchison

The Kleiner Cohen Foundation

Geri and Richard Peckham

Helen A. Rich

Ryan Family Charitable Foundation

Los Caballeros

Trent and Linda Anderson

Martin and Bernardine Curtin

Steve and Linda Glanville

Bob and Mary Longpre

Howard and Jeanne Tuttle

Geraldine Knatz, PhD

Link, Murrel & Company

T.C. Collins & Associates, Inc.

Mary Lou Jefferson

David and Kathleen Renton

Thomas and Karen Linden

Ann Muscat and Jack Baldelli

Judy Banning

Philip and Shelley Belling

Sherry Bullock

Andrew Burg

Ben and Denise Carter

Marian Cormie

Nancy Dubois

John Ganahl

Gary and Mary Gordon

Gillian Groves and Gerald Petersen

Patty Hathaway

Dick and Alison Johnston

Patricia Linden

Newport Harbor Yacht Club

Julianne O’Connor

Michael and Linda Rivkin Fund at The San Diego Foundation

Ron and Cheryl Roberts

Hudson and Michele Saffell

Steve and Ronna Schreiner

Christian Spenker

Richard Vaught

Emily Vogler and Daniel Flynn

Eric Weld

Gifts listed in order of amount.

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M A R K Y O U R C A L E N D A R F O R A D V E N T U R E

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF THESE EVENTS, GO TO CATALINACONSERVANCY.ORG OR CALL 562-437-8555

CONSERVANCY CALENDAR

Catalina Island Marathon

March 14

This event will feature an exciting marathon course on Catalina’s wildlands, including much of the rugged terrain, spectacular vistas and special challenges enjoyed by noted runner Hans Albrecht and friends in the earliest days of the event. For more information, please visit runcatalina.com.

BZ Jones Hike

March 28

Join the Marineros support group for this one-day hike through Catalina’s wildlands in honor of one of the Marineros’ founding members and one of the Conservancy’s most dedicated volunteer leaders, the late Graham “BZ” Jones. The hike covers about 12 miles across the middle of the Island and includes a catered lunch, transportation and dinner and a celebration at the Bluewater Grill in Avalon.

20th Annual Conservancy Ball

April 11

Leapin’ Lizards! An Emerald Celebration is the theme for the 20th annual Catalina Island Conservancy Ball. Join us for an elegant 1920s-style evening of dining, dancing and supporting the Conservancy in the historic Avalon Casino Ballroom. Known to many as the Island’s “event of the year,” this year the Conservancy will partner with Corsair Yacht Club. Purchase sponsorships or tickets online now. For questions, please send an email to ball@CatalinaConservancy.org or call 562-437-8555 ext. 239.

Catalina: The Wild Side Salon

May 17

Save the date for this opportunity to meet two distinguished plein air painters, Jeff Horn and Michael Obermeyer, at Castillo del Mar in Avalon. The salon offers a rare glimpse into the artists’ creative processes, how they choose the landscapes they paint on Catalina and what is so special about the Island that keeps bringing them back.

Explore Catalina

Summer

This year, explore Catalina with a fun-filled hike on the Island’s west end. Join the Conservancy’s Marineros support group for a day-long hike featuring tremendous vistas and a Conservancy staff presentation. Lunch will be provided. Please watch the website and your emails for additional details and a date.

Explore the Channel Islands

Summer/Fall

Every year, the Conservancy explores one of the Channel Islands. The day-long sojourn with a naturalist guide will be to one of the fascinating northern Channel Islands in late summer or early fall. It will include transportation and lunch. Keep an eye out for additional details and a date.

Los Caballeros Catalina Trek

September 16 – September 20

Members of Los Caballeros, accomplished horsemen who are also members of the Conservancy’s Catalina Caballeros support group, will enjoy the 66th Annual Catalina Trek. This event is produced by Los Caballeros. For more information, please visit loscaballeros.org.

Las Caballeras Catalina Ride

September 29 – October 5

Las Caballeras will celebrate their 21st annual Island week of camping, camaraderie and cowgirl fun on this year’s ride. Las Caballeras are all enthusiastic members of the Catalina Conservancy. This event is produced by Las Cabelleras. For more information, please visit lascaballeras.com.

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Artist John Budicin shares his love of Catalina and passion for painting at the 2014 Catalina: The Wild Side Salon at Castillo del Mar.

CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY20

www.CatalinaConservancy.org Discounts with membership

Go Wild!EXPLORE THE WILD SIDE

OF CATALINA!

Naturalist-led JEEP® ECO TOURS. See the Island your way!

WILDLANDS EXPRESS to Airport in the Sky, hike Airport Loop trail, lunch at DC-3. NEW! Go to Shark Harbor and Little Harbor for a great full day getaway.

Stroll through the beautiful WRIGLEY MEMORIAL & BOTANIC GARDEN.

Call 310-510-2595 ext. 100 for information. GO WILD and see the Catalina most visitors miss!

Fifth Annual Catalina: The Wild Side Art Show & Sale at Newport Harbor Yacht Club

October 25

Don’t miss this annual event featuring plein air artists who have captured the Island’s restoration on canvas. A favorite event for those who love art and the Island, the proceeds from the sale of these unique works of art support the Conservancy’s programs as well as a permanent plein air collection that documents Catalina’s wild side and the restoration of the Island.

Leave your own lasting memory on Catalina

Remember the Conservancy in your estate plans.Call 562-437-8555 ext. 228

Attendees at the 2014 Catalina: The Wild Side Art Show discuss a potential purchase of one of Andy Evansen’s watercolor paintings.

Conservation & Education Symposium

November 13

Join the Conservancy’s biologists and educators, as well as invited researchers and scientists, for an insider’s view of the latest Catalina Island natural history discoveries and scientific advances at this annual, day-long series of presentations in Long Beach.

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P.O. Box 2739 Avalon, California 90704

NON-PROFIT ORG

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

MERCURY MAILING

SYSTEMS, INC.

Painting by Jeff Horn

Painting by Michael Obermeyer

Featuring Jeff Horn & Michael Obermeyer

SAVE THE DATE

ART SALON

May 17, 201511:30 AM to 2:00 PM

Castillo del Mar, Avalon Join us for this rare glimpse

into the artists’ creative processes!