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About Us
Friends of Pajaro Dunes is a non-profit, 501(c)(3), public benefit corporation for the preservation and protection of open space in the Pajaro Valley. Our…
- Site Map (TOC)
  No description found for this item.
- History
  Friends of Pajaro Dunes began in 2000 when Sara Bakti, Leo Ruth, Barbara and John Vernon, all Pajaro Dunes homeowners, first met to discuss the formation of a…
- FoPD Board
  Friends of Pajaro Dunes Board Members John Vernon , president, Pelican HOA board, Watsonville Wetlands Watch, Watsonville Watershed Stewardship Committee …
- Wildways Illustrated
  Wildways Illustrated, a local design firm specializing in vivid watercolor illustrations of wildlife and landscapes, created the beautiful and informative…
- Contact Us
  Address: 2661 Beach Road, Bldg. 1, Watsonville, CA 95076 Phone: 831-761-7744 Email: Use the form below
“Last Mile”
The last mile of Watsonville Slough is a vital link between Monterey Bay and the Watsonville Sloughs System. This slough system is a network of approximately…
- Wetlands
  The Last Mile is part of Watsonville Slough Watershed -- it is one of the largest remaining freshwater marshlands in the state's coastal zone. The watershed…
- Beach
  The 1½ mile Pajaro Dunes beach provides a home for many creatures. The tangles of seaweed washed ashore by the tide serve up a banquet of tiny sea life for…
- Ocean
  Beneath the waves of Monterey Bay lies the nation’s largest kelp forest. This nutrient-rich habitat is home to thousands of species of marine life. Beautiful…
- Coastal Scrub
  Among the many California shrub vegetation types, “coastal scrub” is known for its lovely and fragrant flora. Mock heather, bush lupine, beach sagewort,…
- Restoration
  Assisting in restoring the last mile is a central goal for the Friends of Pajaro Dunes and it has been an ongoing project since 2003. In 2010 a master planting…
- Protecting the Snowy Plover
  The western snowy plover is a threatened small shorebird, approximately the size of a sparrow. The western snowy plover has been living on the Pacific Coast…
Community
We are either members of or are working directly with the following Community Groups monitoring and looking for opportunities to collaborate on projects…
- City of Watsonville
  Watsonville is a small farming community on the central coast of California. Watsonville produces a variety of fruits and vegetables, primarily apples,…
- Land Trust of Santa Cruz
  The Land Trust of Santa Cruz protects both working lands, like farms and timberland, and natural lands with high conservation value. The Land Trust has…
- Save Our Shores
  Save Our Shores is a marine conservation organization in Santa Cruz whose mission is caring for the marine environment through ocean awareness, advocacy…
- Wetlands Education Resources Center
  Friends of Pajaro Dunes has an on-going partnership with the Wetlands Education Resource Center (WERC) at Pajaro Valley High School. This incredible…
- Elkhorn Slough Foundation
  The Elkhorn Slough Foundation’s (ESF) mission is to conserve and restore Elkhorn Slough and its watershed. As a partner to the Elkhorn Slough National…
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
  The Monterey Bay Aquarium (or MBA, founded 1984) is a non-profit corporation located on the former site of a sardine cannery on Cannery Row on the Pacific…
- Watsonville Wetlands Watch
  The Watsonville Wetlands Watch is dedicated to the protection, restoration and appreciation of the wetlands of Pajaro Valley. In particular, the Watch…
Education
The Friends of Pajaro Dunes sponsors several activities throughout the year to educate residents and the public alike about the beauty of the Last Mile. Visit…
- Nature Centers
  Friends of Pajaro Dunes designed and installed two nature centers on both the north and south properties. The purpose of each center was to educate all who…
- Birds
  No description found for this item.
  - Swallows: Hirundinidae
    No description found for this item.
    - Violet-Green Swallow (Tachycineta Thalassina)
      Family HIRUNDINIDAE ( Swallows) Description This medium-sized bird looks like am abalone shell with its blue-green feathers. It is abundant in…
    - Barn Swallow (Hirundo Rustica)
      Family Hirundinidae (Swallows) Description The Barn Swallow is a native and found all over the United states. It is 5.9-7.5 inches…
  - Birds of Prey: Accipitridae
    No description found for this item.
    - Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
      Family ACCIPITRIDAE (Birds of Prey) Description Adult Cooper’s Hawks are a steely blue-grey color…
    - Golden Eagle (Aquila chrystaetos)
      Family Accciptriformes Description The family of the Golden Eagle includes the Turkey Vulture, and the California Condor.This native raptor…
    - Red Shouldered Hawk (Buteo Lineatu)
      Family ACCIPITRIDE (BUTEO LINEATU) Description The Red Shouldered Hawk is a fast and intelligent bird. It’s a large bird with a sharp beak and…
  - Falcons: Falconidae
    No description found for this item.
    - American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
      Family Falconidae (falcons) Description Kestrels are a beautiful bird with distinctive coloration. Kestrels are rusty brown above, with a black…
    - Peregrine Falcon (Falco Peregrine)
      Family FALCONIDAE (falcons) Description The peregrine falcon is a powerful, fast-flying bird. Peregrines hunt medium sized birds like pigeons,…
  - Woodpeckers: Picidae
    No description found for this item.
    - Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)
      Family Picidae (woodpecker) Description The common name is Downy Woodpecker and the family is Picidae . Other birds in this family are…
    - Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)
      Family PICIDAE (woodpeckers) Description The hairy woodpecker is the larger of two look alikes, it is a medium sized woodpecker with a fairly…
  - Bushtit: Aegithalidae
    No description found for this item.
    - Bushtit (Psaltriparus Minimus)
      Family Aegithalidae (Bushtit) Description The Bushtit (Psaltriparus Minimus) is found in North America`s open coastal scrub. It travels through…
  - American Vultures: Cathartidae
    No description found for this item.
    - Turkey Vulture
      Family Cathartidae (American Vultures) Description A turkey vulture is dark brown and the length of his wings is 64-81 cm. The turkey vulture…
  - Waterfowl: Anatidae
    - American Wigeon (Anas americana)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family ANATIDAE (Swans, Ducks, Geese) Description The American Wigeon breeds in northwestern North…
    - Barrow’s Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica)
      Photo by: Bill Hill Family ANATIDAE (Swans, Ducks, Geese) Description A medium-sized black-and-white diving duck is very…
    - Blue-Winged Teal (Anas discors)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family ANATIDAE (Swans, Ducks, Geese) Description Blue-winged teal are generally the first ducks…
    - Brant (Branta bernicla)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family ANATIDAE (Swans, Ducks, Geese) Description A small goose that is usually found in the ocean…
    - Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family ANATIDAE (Swans, Ducks, Geese) Description The smallest diving duck in North America, the…
    - Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
      Photo by: Patricia McQuade Family ANATIDAE (Swans, Ducks, Geese) Description Canada Geese are frequent visitors to the…
    - Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family ANATIDAE (Swans, Ducks, Geese) Description The Cinnamon Teal is a western relative of the…
    - Gadwall (Anas strepera)
      Photo by: Tom Grey Family ANATIDAE (Swans, Ducks, Geese) Description The Gadwall is a duck found in the slough year-round but…
    - Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family ANATIDAE (Swans, Ducks, Geese) Description The Greater Scaup is primarily a coastal duck in…
    - Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
      Family ANATIDAE (Swans, Ducks, Geese) Description One of the most familiar of ducks, the Mallard is found throughout North…
    - Oldsquaw / Long-Tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis)
      Family ANATIDAE (Swans, Ducks, Geese) Description This long-tailed duck is typically found offshore at Pajaro as it dives in…
    - Red-Breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family ANATIDAE (Swans, Ducks, Geese) Description A large diving duck with a long thin bill, the…
    - Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourette Family ANATIDAE (Swans, Ducks, Geese) Description A member of the tribe of "stiff-tailed ducks," the…
    - Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family ANATIDAE (Swans, Ducks, Geese) Description The so-called "Skunk-head" is most common scoter…
    - White-Winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family ANATIDAE (Swans, Ducks, Geese) Description A large black duck of coastal waters. Habitat…
  - Loons: Gaviidae
    - Common Loon (Gavia immer)
      Photo by: Don Roberson Family GAVIIDAE (Loons) Description Common loons are large swimming birds with long bodies that sit low…
    - Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)
      Photo by: Don Roberson Family GAVIIDAE (Loons) Description The Pacific Loon is usually found foraging in flocks beyond the kelp…
    - Red-Throated Loon (Gavia stellata)
      Photo by: Peter Osenton Family GAVIIDAE (Loons) Description Red-throated loons winter here after breeding in fresh-water lakes…
  - Grebes: Podicipedidae
    - Pied-Billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family PODICIPEDIDAE (Grebes) Description Pigeon-sized. A stocky, uniformly brownish water bird,…
    - Clark’s Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family PODICIPEDIDAE (Grebes) Description A white-faced version of the Western Grebe, the Clark's…
    - Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family PODICIPEDIDAE (Grebes) Description A small, slender-necked, slender-billed grebe. Similar in…
    - Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family PODICIPEDIDAE (Grebes) Description The Horned Grebe is a small, stocky-bodied grebe with a…
    - Red-Necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family PODICIPEDIDAE (Grebes) Description The Red-necked Grebe is rarely seen at Pajaro. It dives…
    - Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family PODICIPEDIDAE (Grebes) Description A large slender grebe with a long neck. The Western…
  - Shearwaters, Petrels: Procellariidae
    - Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus)
      Photo by: Don Roberson Family PROCELLARIDAE (Shearwaters) Description The Sooty Shearwater is usually the most abundant species…
    - Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family PROCELLARIDAE (Shearwaters) Description A gull-like relative of albatrosses and shearwaters,…
  - Pelicans: Pelecanidae
    - American White Pelican (Elecanus erythrorhynchos)
      Family PELECANIDAE (Pelicans) Description White pelicans are found at the lagoon that forms when the Pajaro River is blocked…
    - Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)
      Family PELECANIDAE (Pelicans) Description The Brown Pelican is on the U.S. Endangered Species List. It is classified as…
  - Cormorants: Phalacrocoracidae
    - Brandt’s Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus)
      Photo by: Jeff Poklen Family PHALACROCORACIDAE (Cormorants) Description The Brandt's is the most abundant cormorant in…
    - Double-Crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
      Family PHALACROCORACIDAE (Cormorants) Description Long hooked bill tilted upward when bird swims. Adults have short tuft of…
  - Herons, Bitterns: Ardeidae
    - American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)
      Photo by: Tom Grey Family ARDEIDAE (Herons and Bitterns) Description A stocky and well-camouflaged heron of dense reed beds,…
    - Black-Crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
      Photo by: Tom O'Connell Family ARDEIDAE (Herons and Bitterns) Description As its name implies, this noisy bird is largely…
    - Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
      Family ARDEIDAE (Herons and Bitterns) Description The largest and most widespread heron in North America, the Great Blue Heron…
    - Great Egret (Casmerodius albus)
      Photo by: Tom O'Connell Family ARDEIDAE (Herons and Bitterns) Description Distinguished from the snowy egret by its greater…
    - Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
      Photo by: Tom O'Connell Family ARDEIDAE (Herons and Bitterns) Description Distinguished from the great egret by its smaller…
  - Ibises, Spoonbills: Threskiornithidae
    - White-Faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)
      Photo by: Copyright George Jameson, used with permission. Family THRESKIORNITHIDAE (Ibises) Description Resident birder,…
  - Rails: Rallidae
    - American Coot (Fulica americana)
      Family RALLIDAE (Rails, Gaffinules, Coots) Description Coots are the most aquatic members of their family, moving on open…
  - Avocets, Stilts: Recurvirostridae
    - American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)
      Photo by: Tom Grey Family RECURVIROSTRIDAE (Avocets and Stilts) Description Avocets feed by sweeping their bills from…
    - Black-Necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family RECURVIROSTRIDAE (Avocets and Stilts) Description The Black-necked Stilt is both striking…
  - Plovers: Charadriidae
    - Black-Bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
      Photo by: Tom Grey Family CHARADRIIDAE (Plovers) Description A large, quail-sized shorebird of coastal beaches, the Black-bellie…
    - Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers) Description The Killdeer is a common, year-round, resident of this…
    - Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)
      Photo by: Tom Grey Family CHARADRIIDAE (Plovers) Description A small dark shorebird with a single band across its chest, the…
    - Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus)
      Photo by: Dave Dixon, CA State Parks Family CHARADRIIDAE (Plovers) Description The Western Snowy Plover shorebird in coastal…
  - Sandpipers, Phalaropes: Scolopacidae
    - Sanderling (Calidris alba)
      Photo by: Henry Robinson Family SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers) Description Habitat Height 8" Wingspan 14" Co…
    - Baird’s Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii)
      Photo by: Don Roberson Family SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers) Description "Peeps" is a name given to the small birds of the Sandpiper…
    - Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers) Description The Black Turnstone is sometimes found at Pajaro but…
    - Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers) Description The Greater Yellowlegs is a medium-sized shorebird…
    - Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers) Description "Peeps" is a name given to the small birds of the…
    - Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers) Description A slender, gray-streaked wader with conspicuous white…
    - Long-Billed Curlew (Numenius americanus)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers) Description A large curlew, warm brown and buff below, with…
    - Long-Billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers) Description A snipe-like, long-billed shorebird with white lower…
    - Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)
      Family SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers) Description Breeds on the central plains from Saskatchewan to Minnesota. Winters in…
    - Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers) Description "Peeps" is a name given to the small birds of the…
    - Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicaria)
      Photo by: Don Roberson Family SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers) Description The Red Phalarope is a very common migrant offshore during…
    - Red-Necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)
      Photo by: Don Roberson Family SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers) Description The Red-necked Phalarope is a sparrow-sized swimming…
    - Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria intepres)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers) Description In their nesting territories neighboring turnstones…
    - Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)
      Family SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers) Description "Peeps" is a name given to the small birds of the Sandpiper family which include…
    - Short-Billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers) Description A snipe-like, long-billed shorebird with white lower…
    - Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers) Description Habitat Height 7-8 in Wingspan 15-1…
    - Wandering Tattler (Heteroscelus incanus)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers) Description Wandering Tattlers are basically solitary birds, on…
    - Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri)
      Photo by: Don Roberson Family SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers) Description The Western Sandpiper is the smallest of the various dull…
    - Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers) Description A large shorebird with a down-curved bill. Uniform…
    - Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers) Description A large shorebird, gray-brown, with a long straight…
  - Gulls: Laridae
    - California Gull (Larus californicus)
      Photo by: Jeff Poklen Family LARIDAE (Gulls and Terns) Description A common winter gull of the West Coast, the California Gull…
    - Heermann’s Gull (Larus heermanni)
      Photo by: Tom Grey Family LARIDAE (Gulls and Terns) Description The Heerman's Gull is commonly found here in the Summer, Fall,…
    - Ring-Billed Gull (Larus Delawarensis)
      Photo by: Patricia McQuade Family LARIDAE (Gulls and Terns) Description This gull is named for the black ring on the adult’s…
    - Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)
      Photo by: Don Roberson Family LARIDAE (Gulls and Terns) Description A large, dark-backed gull of the Pacific Coast, the Western…
  - Terns: Sternidae
    - Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia)
      Photo by: Don Roberson Family LARIDAE (Gulls and Terns) Description As large as a big gull, the Caspian Tern is the largest…
    - Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
      Photo by: Tom Grey Family LARIDAE (Gulls and Terns) Description Common Tern is a regular at the river mouth in late spring and…
    - Elegant Tern (Sterna elegans)
      Photo by: Tom Grey Family LARIDAE (Gulls and Terns) Description The Elegant Tern is a medium-sized tern with a shaggy crest and…
    - Least Tern (Sterna antillarum)
      Photo by: Tom Grey Family LARIDAE (Gulls and Terns) Description A rare sight at Pajaro, some Least Terns may be occasionally…
  - Auks, Murre: Alcidae
    - Common Murre (Uria aalge)
      Photo by: Henry Robinson Family ALCIDAE (Awks, Murres, and Puffins) Description The Common Murre is a penguin-like bird that…
    - Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)
      Photo by: Don Roberson Family ALCIDAE (Awks, Murres, and Puffins) Description A chunky Pacific seabird, the Marbled Murrelet is…
  - Owls: Tytonidae
    - Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
      Photo by: Caroline Rodgers Family STRIGIDAE (Typical Owls) Description The largest of American "eared" owls, the Great Horned…
    - Barn Owl (Tyto Alba)
      Family TYTONIDAE (OWLS) Description The Barn Owl has a golden brown body, white chest and has grayish mottling on the wings and back. The barn…
  - Blackbirds, Orioles: Icteridae
    - Brewer’s Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)
      Photo by: Peter LaTourrette Family ICTERIDAE (Blackbirds, Allies) Description A shiny blue-green blackbird, the Brewer's…
  - Quail: Odontophoridae
    No description found for this item.
    - California Quail (Callipepla californica)
      Photo by: Tom Grey Family ODONTOPHORIDAE(Grouse) Description California Quail frequently visit the slough area and can be seen…
- Plants
  No description found for this item.
  - Morning Glory (Convolvulaceae)
    No description found for this item.
    - Dodder (Cuscuta salina)
      Note: Dodder is the orange strand around the pickleweed Family Cuscutaceae Description The Salt Marsh Dodder acts as a parasite…
    - Beach Morning Glory (Ipomoea pes-caprae)
      Family Convolvulaceae (Morning Glory) Description The Beach Morning Glory, also known as Goat’s Foot, is in the Convolvulaceae family. …
  - Carrot: Apiaceae
    - Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)
      Credit: www.nps.gov Family Apiaceae (Carrot) Description Once established, poison hemlock is highly competitive and prevents…
  - Fig-Marigold: Aizoaceae
    - Ice Plant (Carpobrotus spp)
      Credit: www.nps.gov Family Aizoaceae (Fig-Marigold) Description Leaves: Fleshy and triangularly shaped in cross sections, the…
  - Four O'Clock: Nyctaginaceae
    - Beach Primrose (Camissonia cheiranthifolia)
      Photo by: Sharon Kato Family Onagraceae (Evening PrimroseFamily) Description Although the family name indicates that it blooms…
    - Pink Beach Verbena (Abronia umbellata)
      Photo by: John Vernon Family Nyctaginaceae (Four O'Clock) Description Pink or beach sand verbena is a somewhat succulent…
    - Yellow Sand Verbena (Abronia latifolia)
      Family Nyctaginaceae (Four O'Clock) Description One of many common names of this flower is the Yellow Sand Verbena, it is a native to the United…
  - Goosefoot: Chenopodiaceae
    - Pickleweed (Salicornia virginica)
      Note: Pickleweed is typically surrounded by dodder. Family Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot) Description Leaves: succulent joints …
  - Grass: Poaceae
    - Creeping Wild Rye (Leymus triticoides)
      Family Poaceae (Grass) Description Habitat Moist and alkaline places. Height 1 to 3 feet Blooms June to…
    - European Dunegrass (Ammophila arenaria)
      Credit: www.nps.gov Family Grass Description Also known as European beachgrass. European beachgrass is an aggressive…
    - Pampas Grass (Cortederia jubata)
      Family Grass (Poaceae) Description Jubata grass (C. jubata), commonly called pampas grass, has bright green leaves that stand…
    - Salt Grass (Distichlis spicata)
      Family Poaceae Description Habitat Upper zone of coastal salt marshes Height 8 to 12 inches Blooms April…
  - Legume: Fabaceae
    - Yellow Bush Lupine (Lupinus arboreus)
      Family Fabaceae (Legume) Description Habitat Coastal sand dunes and bluffs Height Up to 6 feet Blooms April…
  - Mustard: Brassicaceae
    - Wild Mustard (Brassica sp.)
      Credit: www.nps.gov Family Brassicaceae (Mustard) Description Leaves: The hairy, lanceolate leaves of wild mustard are…
  - Poppy: Papaveraceae
    - California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
      Family Papaveraceae (Poppy) Description Leaves: Californa poppy has finely divided, alternate leaves that rise out of stout…
  - Rose: Rosaceae
    - Beach Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis)
      Photo by: Brother Alfred Brousseau. Courtesy of St. Mary's College of California Family Rosaceae (Rose) Description The coastal…
    - California Blackberry (Rubus ursinus)
      Family Rosaceae (Rose) Description Habitat Woods and damp places along the coast Height Trailer or partial…
  - Sunflower: Asteraceae
    - Beach Bur (Ambrosia chamissonis)
      Photo by: Sharon Kato Family Asteraceae (Sunflower Family) Description Also known as Silver Beachweed or silver burweed.…
    - Dune Sagebrush (Artemisia pycnocephala)
      Family Asteraceae (Sunflower) Description Also known as Beach Wormwood, beach sagewort, sandhill sage and coastal sagewort.…
    - Jaumea (Jaumea carnosa)
      Family Asteraceae (Sunflower) Description Jaumea is a low perennial, that spreads by rhizomes. It has small yellow daisy…
    - Lizard Tail (Eriophyllum staechadifolium)
      Family Asteraceae (Sunflower Family) Description A great nectar plant for small native insects and butterflies. Lizard Tail…
    - Marsh Gumplant (Grindelia latifolia)
      Family Asteraceae (Sunflower) Description Also known as the Coastal Gum. Habitat Upper zone of coastal salt marshes …
    - Mock Heather (Ericameria ericoides)
      Family Asteraceae (Sunflower) Description Habitat Upper zone of coastal salt marshes and sand dunes Height Up to…
    - Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus
      Photo by: Michael L. Charters Family Asteraceae (Sunflower) Description Leaves: The leaves of seaside daisy, or beach aster,…
- Articles & Brochures
  The Watsonville Sloughs Watershed Resource Conservation and Enhancement Plan (WSCEP) is a comprehensive document prepared for the County of Santa Cruz Planning…
- Fun & Games
  Have some fun learning about the birds of the Last Mile. Do you know the birds that live in habitats of the Last Mile? Take the Bird Quiz and see how…
- Links to Learning Resources
  Several regional and national organizations are passionate about teaching children and adults the science and mystery of the native habitats and wildlife. …
- Media
  No description found for this item.
  - Plover Movie
    ploverMovie
Galleries
The Last Mile is part of the Watsonville Slough System which has over 300 species of birds and over 100 species of plants. Within a very short walk along the…
- Bird Gallery
  See a slide show of Birds of the Last Mile See the Plant Gallery
- Plant Gallery
  See a slide show of Birds of the Last Mile See the Bird Gallery
How Can I Help?
Friends of Pajaro Dunes is a non-profit, 501(c)(3), public benefit corporation for the preservation and protection of open space in the Pajaro Valley. Our…
- Volunteer
  You can help Friends of Pajaro Dunes in its efforts to protect and preserve the wildlife and habitat along the last mile of the Watsonville Slough. Here are…
- Donate
  Friends of Pajaro Dunes is a 501(c)(3) public benefit non-profit corporation. Monetary donations are tax-deductible. There are several ways that you can…
Home
Welcome to the Friends of Pajaro Dunes website! We are celebrating our 10th Anniversary with a totally remodeled web presence. We hope you find it…
FOPD Blog
No description found for this item.
- Category: Uncategorized
  - Bad Weed
    In the article entitled "Bad Weed" from the North Coast Journal, you'd think it would be about Humboldt County's famous cash crop, marijuana, but it's not.…
  - Few great white sharks than scientists expected
    According to a recent study along the California Coast from Monterey Bay to Bodega Bay, biologists have found only 219 adult great white sharks. The…
  - Researchers focusing on rising sea level, and what to do about it
    Gary Griggs, a UCSC professor, recently gave a presentation on the effects of global climate change on the coast of California and, specifically, Monterey Bay.…
  - Sea otter deaths on the rise; 304 found dead on Central Coast in 2010
    304 sea otters were found dead along the California central coast from Half Moon Bay to Santa Barbara this past year according to a USGS survey. This…
  - Scientists alarmed by ocean dead-zone growth
    This article appeared in the SF Chronicle back in August of 2008, but is still very relevant as it describes the fragile ecosystems of the world's coastal…
  - Climate change threatens Sierra, delta, group says
    According to the Endangered Species Coalition, the Sacramento River Delta and the Sierra Mountain Range are two of the top 10 ecosystems where endangered…
  - Researchers study Pajaro Valley’s water problems
    Salt water intrusion has been a problem in Pajaro Valley for years. The Pajaro Valley Water Management District and a UCSC professor are studying the…
  - Santa Cruz grower's million in damages upheld
    A California state appeals court has upheld a million damage verdict awarded to Jacobs Farm Del Cabo, a Santa Cruz County organic grower, for the destruction…
  - New growth: Arboretum revives local plants, local knowledge
    A joint project of the Amah Mutsun tribe and the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum is trying to collect and cultivate more than 100 native plants for medicinal…
  - More Sierra red fox sightings prompt clan search
    Even though this red fox lives far away from Pajaro Dunes in the Sierra mountains, this story is a reminder that species of both plant and animal that we once…
  - Birdwatchers collect data for annual bird count
    On Saturday, December 20, birders throughout Santa Cruz County participated in the National Audubon Society's 110th annual Christmas Bird Count. Read the…
  - Clapper rail, bay wetlands may see billion more
    The clapper rail is rarely seen in the wetlands of Monterey Bay since it was listed as "endangered over 40 years ago. Good things are happening in the marsh…
  - Elkhorn Slough dam project will slow erosion
    The Elkhorn Slough in Monterey Slough is slowly eroding its mud flats which could ultimately reduce habitat and threaten the lives of sea otters, leopard…
american dune grass (Leymus Mollis)
Family POACEAE (grasses) Description The scientific name for the American dune grass is Leymus Mollis. It can grow up to 72 inches. Other plants…
Seaside Dandelion (Agoserius Apargioides)
Family ASTERACEAE “sunflower” Description The Seaside Dandelion is called an Agoseris Apargioides. It is a…
Raccoon (Procyon Lotor)
Common Name Raccoon Scientific Name Procyon Lotor Family PROCYONIDAE (Carnivora) Description The…
Blue Bush Lupine (Lupinus Perennis)
Family Fabacease (Pea Flower) Description The common name of the plant is Blue Bush Lupine and the family name is Fabacease. The plants that…
Common Name (scientific name)
Common Name Gopher Snake Scientific Name Pituophis Family COLUBRIDAE (Gopher Snake) Description The animal’s common name is…
Blue eyed grass (Sisyrinchium Bellum)
Family Iridaceae Description Blue eyed grass grows to 4-20 inches high but is typically shorter, with most plans in the range of 8 inches tall.…
Downy Woodpecker
Picidae The common name is Downy Woodpecker and the family is Picidae . Other birds in this family are yellow-bellied sapsucker and ladder-backed…
Beach Wild Rye (leymus pacificus)
Family POACEAE (Pacific Wild Rye ) Description This plant`s common name is Pacific Wild Rye and it family`s name is Poaceae.Same related plants…
Sand Dune Blue Grass (Poa Douglasii)
Family Dune Grass Description Sand Dune Blue Grass is a beautiful native plant from California. It can grow up to 30 inches tall. This plant…
Snowball Bush (Viburnum Opulus)
Family Adoxaceae (flowering plants) Description The common name of this plant is the Viburnum Opulus and the family name is the Caprifoliaceae.…
Glory Mat, Point Reyes (Ceanothus gloriosus)
Family Rhamnaceae (flowering plant shrubs) Description The Glory Mat is a…
Carmel Creeper (Ceanothus griseus)
Family Rhamnaceae (flowering plants) Description The common name is the Carmel Creeper and the family name is rhamnaceae. The size of the…
Places To Go
1 Año Nuevo State Park 2 Wilder Ranch State Park 3 Seymour Marine Discovery Center (Long Marine Lab) 4 Natural Bridges State…
- Año Nuevo State Park
  Fifty-five miles south of San Francisco and the Golden Gate, a low, rocky, windswept point juts out into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish maritime explorer…
- Wilder Ranch State Park
  The park has 4,505 acres, with 34 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian rails winding through coastal terraces and valleys. Several restored buildings once…
- Seymour Marine Discovery Center
  Visit a working marine laboratory. Exhibit halls, aquarium, touch tanks, tours to marine mammal research overlook, Ocean Discovery Shop, and unsurpassed…
- Natural Bridges State Park
  This beach, with its famous natural bridge, is an excellent vantage point for viewing shore birds, migrating whales, and seals and otters playing offshore.…
- Wetlands of Watsonville
  Walk the Wetlands of Watsonville Nature Trail. Six miles of paved trails with entrances throughout Watsonville. … more Places To Go…
- Elkhorn Slough National Reserve
  The Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve is the area's most famous wetland. The reserve covers over 1,400 acres and promotes education,…
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
  • Largest aquarium in the United States • Over 550 different species • Outer Bay exhibit holds 1 Million gallons of water • First aquarium to…
- Point Lobos State Reserve
  Although no camping is permitted in the park, visitors may enjoy a full day of hiking and bird watching. A 6.5-mile Perimeter Trail weaves in and out of the…

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