State
Parks Migration Festival Scheduled for February
By Kristen McLaughlin
To celebrate the journey of the
many creatures that migrate into and through the area, all ages are
invited to the annual Migration Festival presented by California State
Parks on Saturday, Feb. 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Festival events take
place at four sites of distinct natural beauty: Natural Bridges, New
Brighton and Seacliff state bea-ches and Henry Cowell Redwoods State
Park. Parking is $6, and is good for all day at any of the state parks
or beaches. The theme for this year's event is: "State parks are making
way for wildlife." The theme intends to highlight how parks provide a
safe path and essential habitat for animals in migration. Part of the
fun is that visitors can "migrate" from park to park for special
activities.
Ladybugs, Newts
and Whales
The festival will include educational booths, crafts, food and
entertainment for all ages. The lineup includes children's games, an
appearance by Monarch Man and Monarch Woman, live music and more,
according to Barbara Cooksey, interpretive specialist at Natural
Bridges State Beach. "It's actually about all the migrating animals,"
Cooksey said. "We have booths and people in the community who come to
talk about migrating animals including ladybugs, newts and whales."
Community organizations participating in the festival include the
following: Save our Shores, Marine Mammal Center, Ano Nuevo State
Reserve, Ventana Wilderness Society, Quail Hollow County Park, Elkhorn
Slough Reserve, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Ecology Action,
Coastal Watershed Council, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, Dawn Reis
Red Legged Frogs, Web of Life and Semper Virens.
The Douglass Michel Butterfly Plant is a local nursery. "They always
come with their milkweed to sell at the festival, in case someone wants
to do a butterfly garden," Cooksey said. The Native Plant Society will
conduct a native plant restoration from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Natural
Bridges, and local historian Sandy Lyon will be a guest speaker at New
Brighton State Beach at 1 p.m. Among the food offerings will be hot
dogs and chili, popcorn, baked goods, and homemade butterfly cookies.
Monarchs Move
South
The migration festival was originally held at Natural Bridges, but a
few years back, the program started incorporating other beaches,
Cooksey said. "They celebrate other kinds of migrating animals at those
sites," she explained. Of the four festival sites, only Natural Bridges
is listed as one of California's monarch butterfly overwintering sites.
The park operates its own Monarch Preserve, which is wheelchair
accessible and normally provides excellent winter viewing of the
butterflies clustering in the eucalyptus trees. However, after a snap
of cold weather in the fall, the monarchs flew south.
"Right now, we do not have any left," Cooksey said. "We've had some
cold winters all the way down to sea level," she explained. "Normally
it is mild along the coastline." Butterflies are tropical, Cooksey
added. "They are looking for warmer temperatures to survive in the
winter or they will freeze to death. They will go to an area that is
warmer," she said. When the monarchs sensed the colder weather coming,
they left in late fall, possibly explaining why some overwintering
sites to the south have reported more butterflies than usual, including
the monarch sanctuary in Pacific Grove and in George Washington Park.
Birds Also Included in Festival
Needless to say, there are plenty of other fascinating animals to
observe in the area including migratory shorebirds such as sooty
shearwaters and pelagic birds, along with trout, salmon and even bats.
All proceeds from the festival go to the non-profit Friends of Santa
Cruz State Parks.
"They support all of our environmental education programs," Cooksey
said. Natural Bridges park staff and volunteers provide five tours a
day for school groups, senior citizens and private organizations, "so
we're always busy," Cooksey added.
The event happens rain or shine. For more information call 831-423-4609.
