It's all about babies this month: Discover the little-known world of bat motherhood and follow along two purple martin pairs' nesting journey at Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve. Plus, get ready to vote for your favorite photo in our photo contest. See this and more on our July edition of Plug Into Nature.
Nature in July: It's Bat Maternity Season
As dusk gives way to warm summer nights, the sky in some areas buzzes to life with bats in pursuit of their insect prey. July marks the middle of maternity roosting season when female bats hunt for insects to sustain themselves and fuel milk production for their newly born pups.
While some bat species roost alone, colonial bat species, such as Townsend’s big-eared bats and Mexican free-tailed bats, often congregate to form larger maternity roosts. In late spring and early summer, pregnant bats settle in safe, warm and dark spaces like caves, crevices and barns to birth and raise their pups together.
Meanwhile, male bats are chased away from maternity roosting locations to reduce competition for resources mothers will need to rear their young. Males instead form separate bachelor colonies where they fend for themselves.
Between May and July, pups are born and begin feeding on milk from lactating mothers. The body heat generated by mothers and their pups maintains toasty roost temperatures between 85- and 105-degrees Fahrenheit, helping the pups develop quickly. As the pups grow, mother bats split up their nightly responsibilities – some leave the roost to hunt for food, while others stay behind to care for and protect the pups.
Bats are very sensitive during maternity roosting season and may abandon their young if disturbed. In addition to protecting thousands of acres of high-quality natural bat habitat, Midpen created multiple enhanced bat habitats at Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve so that mother bats have a safe, warm place to rear their young during the summer. Helping maintain healthy bat populations reduces insect populations, which in turn reduces insect herbivory (feeding on plants), leading to healthier, more resilient ecosystems.
Mexican free-tailed bats (MerlinTuttle.org)
Midpen Invites Organizations to Apply for New Grant Funding Opportunity
Midpen is pleased to announce $250,000 in funding is available through the 2023 Grantmaking Program grant round. Organizations are invited to submit pre-proposals by July 21, 2023.
Midpen is accepting proposals for three funding priorities. They are:
Partnership and network support - cultivating, sustaining, and growing conservation networks.
Access, interpretation, and education - educating and promoting open space protection.
Eligible applicants must be a public agency, affiliated with a K-12 school or academic institution, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, or an organization with a fiscal sponsor. Applicants from prior Grantmaking Program grant rounds are eligible to apply. Projects funded through this program must be complete and funds spent no later than three years after grant agreements are signed.
Questions? Send an email to grants@openspace.org to communicate with the Grants Program team.
Para obtener ayuda con el RFP puede contactarnos en español a: grants@openspace.org o por teléfono: (650) 691-1200
Follow Nesting Purple Martins on their Journey
Last month, we wrote about crews installing nesting sites to help support the western purple martin found in our Sierra Azul Preserve. Wildlife cameras were also included and now that purple martins are using the nest sites, we can peek into the nests and lives of these birds.
We're sharing weekly updates on two nesting pairs as they construct nests, lay their eggs and hatch, so you can join in their jorney. Although wildlife can be unpredictable, we hope to see chicks fledge. Follow Midpen on social media to track their progress!
Community-Inspired Public Access Improvements at La Honda Creek Preserve
Recently, Midpen staff and the La Honda Creek Preserve Public Access Working Group, made up of community members from La Honda and throughout Midpen's service area, spent a year exploring ways to expand public access into the central area of this vast preserve. The working group’s short-term recommendations are now being implemented.
In June, Midpen docent naturalists led a public hike along existing ranching roads through grasslands and redwood forests in the currently closed central area of La Honda Creek Preserve. Docents will continue offering these outings through Midpen’s guided activities program.
New trailside benches at viewpoints, equestrian hitching posts, a mounting block and interpretive signage are coming in a couple of months to the preserve's existing Harrington Creek Trail, near the Sears Ranch Road parking area. These amenities were suggested by the working group to improve and enhance public access.
Work continues to determine the feasibility of the working group’s longer-term recommendations, such as new trails and parking areas.
That’s a wrap! Submissions for Midpen’s 13th Annual Photo Contest have come to a close and the first round of judging is underway.
Want to have a hand in choosing the winning photos? Public voting will take place across our social media platforms at the end of July, so be sure to follow us and keep an eye out for your chance to vote!
2021 Aspiring Photographer Winner: Getting the Side Eye (Lucy Wang)
The photo at top shows what Bear Creek Road looked like on April 7, 2023. The photo below shows the repaired section of road on June 30, 2023. (County of Santa Clara Office of Communications and Public Affairs)
Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve One Step Closer to Opening
Last week, Santa Clara County reopened Bear Creek Road to vehicles near Midpen’s Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. Although vehicle passage is permitted, Bear Creek Redwoods Preserveremains closed until critical pedestrian crossing safety measures are re-installed to allow visitors safe passage across Bear Creek Road between the preserve’s parking area and trail system.
Bear Creek Road was closed in March after a culvert channeling stormwater running beneath the roadway failed, creating a sink hole just outside the preserve’s parking area. County crews and contractors have installed a new culvert and reconstructed the road section. Currently, the county and PG&E are continuing work to reinstall pedestrian crossing signage, and a power pole needed to reenergize the crosswalk safety beacons.
Midpen is supporting the county in completing the work as quickly as possible. We appreciate the community’s patience as we prioritize the safety of preserve visitors and drivers in the area before reopening the preserve.
In case you missed it or can’t get outside right now and need a dose of nature, you can catch Midpen’s newest episode of NBC Bay Area's OpenRoad with Doug McConnell on our YouTube page.
In this episode, we reveal rare wildlife discoveries in the wilderness of Midpen’s largest and highest preserve, Sierra Azul; follow along as San Jose middle school students experience their first visit to a Midpen preserve and explore how we care for decades-old ponds made for ranching on the San Mateo County coast that connect agriculture and conservation. Check it out!
PUBLIC MEETING UPDATES
Upcoming Public Meetings
Meetings may be viewed online. There is also a dial-in number to listen by phone. Links are included in the meeting agendas posted online 72 hours before the meeting.
Recently, a group of dedicated volunteers worked alongside Midpen staff to help complete our first fence project since the COVID-19 shutdown. The work involved replacing the split rail fence that divides the Skyline Ridge Circle Parking Area from Skyline Boulevard with wire fencing. The project took 43 t-posts and 1,000 feet of wire to complete!
Midpen always welcomes caring hearts and helping hands to restore and protect our public open space preserves. Keep an eye on the volunteer page to learn more about the different opportunities or to look for any openings for upcoming projects that fit into your schedule. No prior experience is necessary!
Free guided activities lead by volunteer docent naturalists offer a great way to explore a new preserve, learn about the natural environment or join others for ecologically sensitive outdoor recreation.
Join our talented and dynamic team as we work collaboratively toward our vision and put your passion for open space to work! Here are our current job openings:
You can also refer to our website openspace.org/careers for more information about working at Midpen.
Photo credits: Header: Zoey Lim; Mexican free-tailed bats: MerlinTuttle.org; Bear Creek Road: County of Santa Clara Office of Communications and Public Affairs; Grants: Dominican University; Purple martin: Midpen; La Honda Creek: Frances Freyberg; California quail: Lucy Wang; Kangaroo rat: Ken Hickman; Volunteer project: Midpen
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