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April 1997, Volume 30, Number 7
Does the Mandarin Duck Count? | News From Our Ranch Literally thousands of people come to the Bolinas Lagoon Preserve ofAudubon Canyon Ranch every year for a rare opportunity to watch Great BlueHerons and Great and Snowy Egrets pairing up, building nests and raisingtheir young. It is usually difficult, if not impossible, for humans to seethese birds on their nests, because Herons and Egrets establish their colonieshigh in tall trees or on inaccessible islands--out of reach of most groundpredators and, incidentally, of humans. Here at ACR's Bolinas Lagoon Preserve,however, the nest trees grow in a narrow canyon where visitors can surveythe colony from an overlook on the south-facing slope, watching the birdsfrom about nest level. The Herons and Egrets have become habituated to onlookers,and the overlook is far enough from their nests that the presence thereof observers does not interfere with normal nesting activities. This year, the Bolinas Lagoon Preserve of Audubon Canyon Ranch will beopen to the public from March 15th to July 13th on Saturdays, Sundays andHolidays, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. On these days, ACR Ranch Guides have telescopessituated at the Henderson Overlook and are available to answer your questionsand interpret points of interest. Admission is free of charge, but donationsare welcomed! During the week, our Bolinas Lagoon Preserve is closed on Mondays andopen by appointment only Tuesday through Thursday, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. ACR'sBookstore will be open to visitors at this time, however, the number ofvisitors to the preserve is limited, so please call for an appointment. The Ranch is located on Highway 1, about three miles north of StinsonBeach in Marin County. |
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