Tag: Tom Rusert

It’s that time again…

heidi08 Beavers December 14, 2013

Our good friends Tom Rusert and Darren Peterie of Sonoma Birding are the inspired brains behind the CBC4 Kids. This is a 90 minute course where children and their parents get out in nature and observe and count wildlife. It is a small scale version of the big Audubon event that has been performed by adults for 100 years, but it has the added bonus of getting kids interested in wildlife, getting kids outside, and teaching families to appreciate nature together. I am always awed and impressed with what Tom is able to do with his dream, and he has been invited to Washington D.C. and Canada to teach about this. Here’s his lovely PBS clip about the program. Tom was recently given the Ludlow Griscom award for his amazing hard work teaching the citizen science of bird watching to youth. You might recognize their faces as regulars at the beaver festival, where they are enthusiastic supporters.

Christmas Bird Count for Kids – With Tom Rusert

This story is timely in every way because Tom was recently instrumental in finding a new fiscal sponsor for Worth A Dam. Way back in 2008 I connected with Bill and Helen Feil of Land for Urban Wildlife in Pleasant Hill. That allowed us to receive charitable donations, apply for funds and accept contributions. I never in a million years thought Worth A Dam, our beavers, or our mission would be around all this time, but with Helen’s untimely death last year it was time for us to move on. Land for Urban Wildlife was a wonderful, supportive umbrella that allowed us to get on our feet. And since we apparently aren’t going anywhere, it was time for us to transition to a more formal sponsor relationship. Tom gallantly introduced us to his sponsor, Loren Cole of Inquiring Systems Inc, and recommended we become a new project. ISI is an organization like Earth Island takes on related sustainable NGOs throughout the world and provides non-profit status. I checked with a few friends who are with EI and found they weren’t thrilled with the process. Not to mention that EI takes 9% of proceeds and 15% of federal grants. ISI will require only 5% to pay for their services, and will take nothing at all on money we’ve already accrued.

ISI has provided project management, business management, fiscal sponsorship services, training and technical assistance services to 3,650+ primarily nonprofit and NGO organizations, along with some value-driven, socially responsible for-profit entities.

Which means to us is that Worth A Dam get help setting up its new bank account, new paypal relationship, filing its paper work, managing request for audits and the like. Leaving us to focus on the subject that we cared about in the first place: Beavers. What this means to you is that as of January 1st, 2014, any donation you make will be made out to Worth A Dam, ISI instead of LUW. As someone who’s been wading through the paperwork on my own for the last 5 years, I am enormously grateful for the help, and appreciative that Tom got me in the door.

Oh and just in case you haven’t opened your Contra Costa watershed calendar yet, go straight to June where you’ll be greeted by this smiling face! (No mention of Worth A Dam and a beaver photo by someone OTHER than Cheryl – but still a nod to our beavers and very good friend FRO!).

October features another hero Cassy Campbell who happily volunteered for a million jobs at the beaver festival. John Finger is the great artist behind the calendar and emailed for advice this year saying, (“I want someone associated with the beavers, but not political, any suggestions?”) Umm…a few. The other 10 months have nice people featured in the calendar we haven’t figured out how to get to help us yet.

Stay tuned.

Autumn Approaches

heidi08 Beavers or Social Ambasadors, Educational, Environmental September 16, 2013

If you were standing on the bridge last night you could feel that little nip in the air that told you autumn is approaching. You would have heard the shrill chirp of the circling osprey who is counting his days before migration. You would have seen a handful of yellow leaves fall into the water and thought briefly of the Hau flowers in Kauai, that begin their hyacinth morning dressed in yellow and then drop gracefully into the water where they ripen first into orange and then a deep scarlet by nightfall.

And you would be marking your calendars so you remember to join us for this: 1240459_10151846003023958_1177210572_n Cornerstone is a magically elegant place just about 40 minutes from Martinez at the easy edge of Sonoma. It’s artistic shops have amazing things that we probably can’t afford to buy but are very fun to look at, and its lush gardens might be the sight of a wedding for a politician’s daughter or some important corporate event. But on October 20th it will be the home of the SECOND ANNUAL NATURE & OPTICS FESTIVAL, planned by our good friends Tom Rusert and Darren Peterie of Sonoma Birding. Naturally minded folk will travel from the edges of the earth to see the 40 nature exhibits, 8 artist displays and 10 sponsoring Optic companies who will teach you personally what binoculars or equipment would best suit your needs. And in addition to sponsoring the event, the good people of Pentax, Zeiss or Swarski will pay the sales tax of any optics purchase you make that day. You can bet Worth A Dam will be there talking beavers to the wine tasting crowd and we couldn’t be happier to see yet another nature festival in the Bay Area. Last year they expected about 300 attendees and wound up with a thousand. This year who knows what could happen?

Oh, and when you see Tom and Darren be sure to tell them congratulations. The great state of California allowed them to get married this year, and I’m thinking that their continued happiness is a very good thing for beavers.

Yesterday was “beaver madness at the dam”, with a almost full cast of six characters on stage including the three new kits, our 2012 kit (who’s now a yearling), the ever-attentive new mom dad brought home in 2011 and an uncle (step-uncle?) who is one of the three 2010 kits our original mom had before she died. This uncle beaver is apparently less eager than most, and stayed behind after his siblings had dispersed. Here’s he is coming to see what’s going on. Only dad didn’t make an appearance last night, but he is a cautious beaver and we never known when he’ll show. If you can steal an evening some time in the next few weeks before it gets cooler, I wouldn’t miss the chance to see the family in person.

The Saddest Sound

heidi08 Beavers March 21, 2012

A man gets tied up to the ground

He gives the world its saddest sound

Its saddest sound

About 6 months ago I came across the soundscape work of bioacoustician Bernie Krause on this Science Friday episode. It of course made me think about beavers and wonder whether anyone had ever tried to listen for vocalizations under water. I asked around and eventually connected with Dr. Krause through Richard Dale at the Sonoma Ecology Center. He thought it was an interesting question and said he had not heard much beaver recordings even above the water, except for tail slaps and this:

I do have a rare recording of a male beaver vocalising. A colleague of mine who has been recording at a remote lake in Minnesota for many years, was visiting his favorite springtime spot when a couple of state fish and wildlife agents hiked in and dropped a couple of sticks of dynamite into the beaver dam that was the centerpiece of an entire micro ecosystem, and the cornerstone that held the infrastructure of the lake intact, killing the female and the offspring and wounding the male. That evening, our friend managed to capture the male, swimming in circles, crying out for its mate. Saddest sound I’ve ever heard from any living being, human or otherwise.

Well the internet is an amazing thing. You can be listening to a famous researcher one day and exchange emails with them the next. And it can do this – mind you, if Bernie’s description wasn’t warning enough to the compassionate souls reading this website add mine to the list. His recording is not for the soft of heart.

All this to say that tonight Dr. Bernie Krause will be presenting his awesome soundscapes in Sonoma at the Valley of the Moon lecture series.

March 21st (Wednesday) 7:00PM-8:45PM

The Great Animal Orchestra – The Sound & The Furry

Guest Speaker: Author/Naturalist/Sound Artist Bernie Krause There is a great tuning taking place – as wilderness and wildlife continue to perform their ancient songs in our increasingly noisy world. Who is listening, and what educational and entertaining delights does this ‘music of the wild’ still contain? Find out where you fit in the chorus of life, itself! Sonoma Veterans Memorial Building – 126 First St. West, Sonoma CA 95476. For additional info, email us or call 707-939-8007.

The entire evening should be fascinating! Beaver friend and bird wizard Tom Rusert does an amazing job pulling fantastic speakers together and giving them the best possible forum. If you’re free tonight you should have dinner in the wine country with friends and go listen! Hmm….what was was the topic 11 months ago? Well, that would be the Martinez Beavers!

Good News Comes in Threes

heidi08 Beavers elsewhere, Environmental, Festival, Friends of Martinez Beavers, In the News, Video June 19, 2011

THE IBIS TOM RUSERT was trying to release in Yolo County realized it had a good thing going with the avid birder and did not want to leave his side - make that head.

Rusert Earns Bird Award

Our good friend, Tom Rusert, of Sonoma Birding was in the paper Friday for some pretty amazing news. Seems he’s this years winner of the American Birding Association’s Ludlow Griscom Award for outstanding contribution in Regional Ornithology.

Given to individuals who have dramatically advanced the state of ornithological knowledge for a particular region. This may be through their long-time contributions in monitoring avian status and distribution, facilitating the publication of state bird books, breeding bird atlases and significant papers on the regional natural history of birds. This may also be through the force of their personality, teaching and inspiration.

Emily’s article is a great read and really gives you a sense of how remarkable this recognition is for someone who’s ‘spare time’ has created an exciting, national movement. Regular readers will remember that Tom is the director of the Valley of the Moon Lecture Series where I spoke about the Martinez Beavers this year. He has visions of beavers returning soon to Sonoma, bringing waves of birds and salmon with them. He’s already invited Michael Pollock to dovetail a lecture when he’s presenting at the State of the Estuary Conference in September. Not small world enough for you? Tom will be maintaining a booth and leading a children’s bird walk at this years Beaver Festival!

Congratulations, Tom with recognition much deserved! We couldn’t be happier for you!

mendenhall — Beaver dam at Mendenhall Glacier: Photo Bob Armstrong

Want more good news? Read this article about the long-haul beaver advocates in Juneau. Remember Bob Armstrong and Mary Willson whose lovely book on the Mendenhall Glacier Beavers you’ve probably seen lying around? Well they convinced US Forestry to come with funds to have Mike Callahan of Beaver Solutions out to teach them how to safely manage beavers. Now they’ve installed their first flow device and are excited to implement more.

Willson, who is a retired professor of ecology and co-leader of the Beaver Patrol, had been one of eight who worked last week to install the culvert. The group, who has worked since 2007 to preserve the resources, trails and animal residents of the Dredge Lakes area, spent a full day installing two of these apparatuses. Willson said they are called levelers and their installation will help lower and manage water levels in flooded areas and restore currently un-useable trails.

Great work, Bob, Mary, Mike & helpers! the beavers of Juneau thank you!

And finally, a rumor from a ranger at JMA lead me to check out this article from Patch and the Gazette and contact Mr. Chandler about adding possible beaver footage to the new City Channel 28. He wrote back Friday and suggested that they would be willing to air 10 minutes of promotion for the Beaver Festival, and possibly a review afterwards. Assuming the council gives it’s approval, look for this on your TV screen soon!

2 Weeks and Four Days

heidi08 Beavers elsewhere, City Reports, Creative Solutions, Environmental, Friends of Martinez Beavers February 25, 2011

Last night in Sonoma a group of wide-eyed and rained upon listeners were introduced to the tale of the Martinez beavers. It was an excellent setting and reception and Tom Rusert, who organizes the talks was charismatic and gracious. The crowd was a eco-savvy group, who understood exactly what it meant to get a city to do the right thing, or try to stop a city from doing the wrong thing! They laughed in the right places, gasped at the same things and thanked us profusely after it was over. We heard at least four rumors of beaver colony locations in the area and beyond, and Cheryl is ready for her fieldtrip to find beaver neighbors. Several pairs of inspired folk came up at the end, ready to advocate for beavers in the creek behind their house if any showed up, and challenged to think in new ways. Sonoma, as always, was a fairytale of a destination with cobbled alleys off free-parking streets and an excellent dinner for the crew at Taste of Himilaya before dashing off to the talk.

The title of this post comes from the fact that I am very pleased that I have two weeks and four days before my next talk in Yosemite. It was three weeks ago that I was presenting in Oregon and slightly less time before the State Parks Conference. It’s the four days I’m looking forward too, since it will take two weeks to figure out how to squish a talk I stretched from 40 t0 75 minutes, back into 35 minutes again while still saying what I want the park rangers to know. The four days are mine to squander and I plan on staring blankly at things for a good long while.

In the meantime, you should watch this PBS video of beaver reintroduction to improve arid habitat for fish runs. It features Michael Pollock who has confirmed he will be joining us in Yosemite. It’s a great look at the way beavers affect fish populations and I’ll try figure out how to keep it in the margins of this site for good.