Ohh my goodness, things are getting exciting around here. Last night the silent auction received a breathtaking donation from photographer Suzi Eszterhas, (which I’ll say more about on Sunday!), we found out we received a 1000 dollar grant from the city (hurray!!!) and our own amazingly talented Amelia Hunter sent me the first official draft of the brochure. The event looks sooo irresistible and fun! But I’m especially fond of our new back page:

This has been such a major commitment of focus and resources, it makes me awed at the beaver-worthy campaign that has been the better part of a year in the showing, and longer still in the formation. Our little festival looks feather lightweight by comparison to the momentous achievement that spanned at least four cities and several public showings of this uniquely valuable exhibit. It must have required the coordination of volunteers and experts from one end of Oregon to the other, and it was an undertaking that had (understandably) never been attempted before. I’m talking of course, about the art exhibit “Beaver Tales” which is in its final legs in the month of August with several dynamic tours and lectures.

The Wetlands Conservancy, LNWC council and NCRD present Beaver Tales Traveling Art Exhibit

The exhibit opens on July 31^st at the North County Recreation District (NCRD) in Nehalem, 36155 9^th Street. On August 4^th, local naturalist and photographer Neal Maine will give a special presentation on Beaver Ecology at 6:30 pm, followed by a reception and viewing of the works in the NCRD Art Gallery. The exhibit will be on display through August 30^th.

The exhibit will feature juried art for purchase, a portion of the sales will benefit The Wetlands Conservancy and Lower Nehalem Watershed Council. The traveling exhibit includes artwork of all kinds, from paintings to fiber, wood, stone, glass and ceramics. With regional and local artists displaying their work, this stop in Nehalem will bring together a multitude of styles and creativity.

Along with the month long display, there will be tours and other activities around Nehalem and Manzanita. Following the opening, join The Wetlands Conservancy for an Open House on August 5^th from 1- 3 pm at the Doris Davis Wetland Preserve in Manzanita, located off Nehalem Rd at Beach St. The beautiful preserve is right in the heart of Manzanita. TWC’s land steward will be on site to lead a tour of this great North coast wetland.

The goal of the Beaver Tales Art Exhibition and events is to recognize the aesthetic and ecological significance our state animal plays in the creation and maintenance of wetland habitats. Beavers, though woefully misunderstood, actually create and sustain wetlands that aid in resuscitating wetland and riparian stream habitats. They play a central role in shaping our future as we prepare for transformations that a warming and changing climate may bring. The sponsoring organizations are working together to learn more about how we can work with beaver to conserve and restore natural systems.

What an amazing thing you’ve done touching so many lives and getting so many eyes to view beavers in a new way. I am completely in awe of you; Sara Vickerman Gage and Ester Lev. The idea of adding even a second half a day to the beaver festival fills me with soul-collapsing horror, I cannot imagine even for a moment how you had the energy and commitment to pull this off. It’s true that you work for large successful nonprofits that do big things and have huge talented staffs that actually get paid salaries, and admittedly you live in a state that has 50 more beaver IQ points than California, and 100 more than Martinez, but I am fully humbled by this undertaking, ladies. Hats off to you. You are truly my heroes.

In the meantime this plucky little beaver festival is chugging right along like the little engine that could. We’ll do what we can with what we have.

**Putah Creek Beaver Grooming: Ale Garcia**

Yesterday a video of this beaver was posted on the Putah Creek Wildlife Stewards page grooming in the middle of the day. Obviously all this rain had flooded them out of their den and they were adapting as best they could, Robin saw it and wrote that the beaver looked mighty fat and pregnant, and my initial reaction was that all beavers look tubby when bending over to groom, but I decided to check the date on that old pregnant beaver photo Cheryl took in 2008.

March 18. Pretty dam close.

Then Ale and I chatted about the what the beaver was doing and why mom would be more worried about water in the lodge at this time of year, especially if she was expecting kits any minute. Prompting him to ask me if I’d be interested in speaking at their conference in April – although he’d have ask the organizers. Could I tell him anything about my beaver credentials?

Hahaha.

I must say it was weird to be asked because I never, ever am. Because most of the people who have contact with me already know about the Martinez beavers or the website or the festival or the papers or whatever. I did my best to explain and get over being befuddled because I’d like to help those folks out. The details about beaver pregnancy spurred me to make this:

I was happy to learn to do a two page spread so that no white borders appear. It’s trickier than it looks! Actually, the time of year could explain what Robin say yesterday at the pond too, in Napa. Two kits feeding cheerfully and looking for all the world that mom had told them to GO PLAY and leave her alone. Looks like they’re doing an excellent job stripping that bark! Nice to see the two kits doing well after the winter storms.

Wouldn’t you know, in the middle of working I got a call from Suzi Eszterhas who I had asked a question about using urban beaver photos for the chapter. She said the rules meant she couldn’t until they were published but she enthusiastically agreed to donate another set of books for this year’s silent auction at the festival, plus the soon to be published rehab books! Hooray! Thanks so much Suzi!