Diario del proyecto Biota of Marrowstone Island

The area around the brackish lagoon and adjacent to the research station is an amazing and rare habitat. The wildflowers that are blooming there now are unique and increasingly rare. Following the path from near the parking area near the station entry, look to the west to see an astounding field of checkered lilies. Near the dunes, the habitat evolves into a sandier environment, where American beach grass and big head sedge can be seen. A round trip past the rifle range on the other side of the lagoon is a third rich habitat. Watch for birds in the willows and, of course, around and in the lagoon. Go now while the lilies are in bloom!

All are welcome to join a bioblitz of Rat Island. There will be a nice almost minus 2' tide around noon. The plan is to row or paddle from the boat ramp at the lower campground of Fort Flagler. We can beach on whichever is the lee side of Rat Island that day. Prior to the max low, we can document as many species as we can from the dunes down to the low intertidal zone. We can then boat over the eel grass beds south of the island, and document what we might see there during the max low.

An iNaturalist project has been set up for this event: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/rat-island-bioblitz

Here is a useful link for the tides that day: http://www.dairiki.org/tides/daily.php/tow/2019-05-21

When: 10am Tuesday May 21st.
Where: Meet at the Fort Flagler Lower Campground boat ramp
How: Some means of personal transport will be needed to get to the island. A small human powered craft is most advisable, but I guess some good hip waders might work. (joking)

Questions: Direct them to kurtsteinbach@hotmail.com