California Brown Pelicans

One of my favorite things to do at Jalama is watch the brown pelicans as they soar overhead or skim along the surface of the water, rarely flapping a wing.  They are majestic in their flight, powerful in their dives, and rarely a visit goes by without witnessing several groups of these magnificent birds as they go about their lives.  Not that long ago, however, their very existence was tenuous and this is perhaps why I have such an affinity for them.  

It was many years ago when I first became acquainted with this magnificent bird while researching a paper that was to address conservation efforts for a species that was at the time on the USF&W Endangered Species List.  The California Brown Pelican had found its way to the list as its population was drastically waning due to reproductive failures caused by environmental pollutants.  Specifically, DDT, an insecticide widely used throughout the US, had infiltrated the food chain through water drainage finding its way to the fish in the ocean.  Unknowing pelicans were eating contaminated fish, primarily mackerel, sardines and anchovies, which altered the calcium levels in their physiology, resulting in weakened shells in the eggs being laid.  The weakened shells meant much fewer chicks were hatching each year and the result was decimating to the pelican population leading to its listing in 1970 as an endangered species.  Fortunately, with the ban on the use of DDT as well as other intervention policies put into place, the California Brown Pelican made a slow but dramatic recovery and was delisted as a stable species in November 2009. 

Thus my fascination began with this beautiful bird many years ago.  I have since learned that it’s large pouch  (which can hold 3 gallons of water!) is used not only to catch fish, but also for temperature regulation and as a feeding trough for young chicks.   Often brown pelicans catch their meals by plunge diving 20-60 feet after spotting the fish with their keen eyesight while in flight.  During the dive the pelican hits the water with so much force that fish up to 6 feet under water can be stunned.  The Brown Pelican is one of only two types of pelicans that fish this way, the other being the Peruvian Pelican, and both species have a network of air sacs throughout their body that serve as protection from the impact of these magnificent dives. 

While the California Brown Pelican ranges from Central Mexico to Vancouver, currently in the US, the only breeding colonies are in California on West Anacapa and Santa Barbara Islands.   Breeding season is winter through spring and nests are built by the female, often beginning with an indentation on the ground or a spot chosen by the male.  The male also gathers the materials for the nest which may include feathers, dirt and various vegetation.   Two to four eggs are laid each nesting season and incubation duration is 29-35 days.  The young are ready to leave the nest after approximately three months but do not reach sexual maturity for 3-5 years.  

Pelicans are social birds, living together in flocks and often flying together as well.  They will sometimes fly in a V formation but it is more common to see them fly in a single line.  And when they are skimming the water I always thought it was to catch fish, but alas, it is more often to make flying easier using nature’s physics of air in what is commonly referred to as ‘ground effect’ by pilots.  

While the California Brown Pelican is no longer threatened by extinction, the species does have other concerns.  Brown pelicans are hunted for their feathers which are prized decorations, nests are raided for the eggs and they are also slaughtered as they are seen as competition to fishermen.  For now, I am grateful for their recovery and for the opportunity to witness their grace in flight, hoping that we can continue to live together, respectful of the gifts we each bring to this world.  

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown_Pelican/lifehistory

https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/brown-pelican

http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/california_brown_pelican/

https://www.fws.gov/arcata/es/birds/brnpelican/b_pelican.html

https://www.fws.gov/arcata/es/birds/brnpelican/documents/1986%20Recovery%20Plan%20for%20the%20Brown%20Pelican.pdf

https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/pelican

World Oceans Day

World Oceans Day is today and a chance to celebrate and bring awareness to a part of Mother Earth that covers 71% of our world and holds 97% of all the water on Earth.  The concept for World Oceans Day was first proposed by the Canadian Government at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, in 1992.  After several years and the coordinated efforts of many organizations and tens of thousands of individuals, a resolution was passed in December 2008, and the United Nations officially began recognizing World Oceans Day on June 8th of every year.  This was an important step in turning the effort into a global one.  Since then the network of partners worldwide has grown to include approximately 2,000 organizations committed to preserving our oceans and the marine and plant life that call them home.  

We will be celebrating the day by spending some time enjoying mother nature’s gifts and recommitting to being better stewards of our environment.  Some changes that we have personally made include: to not use single use plastic bottles and opt instead for stainless steel or multiple use bottles; to use reusable totes or bags when shopping if possible; to not use plastic straws either at home or while out dining; picking up trash when we see it even when it is not ours; and to recycle/repurpose when possible.  We are also exploring other ways of reducing our use of plastic and impact on the environment and will be sharing with you in future posts what we have found successful.   

Help us spread the word and share how you plan to celebrate World Oceans Day this year and any changes you have made or plan to make to preserve our oceans and environment. Change starts with each of us…

https://www.oceanicinstitute.org/aboutoceans/aquafacts.html

http://www.worldoceansday.org

Earth Day 2020

Earth Day 2020

The first Earth Day was celebrated 50 years ago on April 22, 1970. It was founded by Gaylord Nelson, a US Senator from Wisconsin, after he witnessed the impact of a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California.  At that time it was the largest oil spill in US history and still ranks at number 3, behind only the Deepwater Horizon and Exxon Valdez oil spills.  It was Mr. Gaylord’s vision to have a “national teach-in on the environment” and energize the public to protect the environment by addressing water and air pollution concerns.  Over 20 million Americans participated in that first Earth Day celebration uniting many in a common cause that had been previously fragmented over several specific environmental concerns.  

This year, Earth Day celebrations will focus on climate action.  Given the current landscape with the pandemic, this may seem impossible or unachievable, however, I believe this is rather an appropriate back drop for creating change.  With the pause button hit for so many around the world in manufacturing, travel and even our day to day lives, there has been substantial change in air quality world wide.  Not only are blue skies and a pretty view a by product of cleaner air but so are health benefits for humanity, including fewer breathing problems and a lower mortality rate. 

Ultimately, however, I believe this demonstrates just how much our activities and choices impact this planet on which we live and that Climate Action is a perfect theme for Earth Day 2020.  Action can include discussions about the environment and the challenges currently faced from clean air and water to dwindling natural resources.  It may also include exchanging ideas about how to change or learning what different choices can be made in our day to day lives so that we may be more in alignment with nature.  Some changes may be difficult and others easy but right now many of us have time to reflect and think about how we want the world we live in to look, to function and most importantly what is sustainable.  We also have time to think and dream about how we might achieve those goals.  And if we don’t believe we have time, it is necessary to make the time, to have the discussions, to become educated and to make the choices.  To take action.  

The reality is, we have been blessed to live in this world we have been gifted, with its many natural wonders and incredible resources.  With that gift, we have also been given a responsibility.  The responsibility to take care of it so that our grandchildren’s great-grandchildren will have a place to call home.  No matter where you are we ask you to join us in this effort because you can make a difference with your choices and together we can save our beautiful home we call Earth.

Sources-

https://www.earthday.org

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1969_Santa_Barbara_oil_spill

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/04/05/satellite-images-provide-perspective-on-life-during-the-covid-19-pandemic.html

Jalama

Jalama has been a welcoming refuge for many different cultures and groups of people throughout the years.  I fondly remember my first Jalama Beach encounter was with friends who knew of the place.  It was a Sunday afternoon and we  embarked on a trip to the ‘beach.’  Instead of heading to a beach I was familiar with, we traveled a long and windy road that seemed to take us no where until the coastline met us.  It was then I caught my first glimpse of this beautiful place.   I recall only one other car in the ‘parking lot’ when we arrived and the parking lot was really just an area made of compressed sand and dirt, cleared to accommodate vehicles.  There was no asphalt or concrete roadway to be seen.  There were also no cabins or RV hook-up sites and no trees really other than a few stubby ones that I thought of as cypress trees.  There were no showers or running water, and If there was a store, it was closed and just a small nondescript structure.  What captured my heart though, was the untamed beauty of the beach.  It must have been low tide (I was newly a teenager and how tides worked was not something I was even remotely familiar with) and we walked north under overcast skies where there were tide pools in abundance.  I loved exploring each one as I scrabbled over the exposed shale, stood in admiration of the cliffs that bordered the land side of the beach and watched as surf birds flew overhead and played along the shore pound.  It was a short visit, but I digress as there were so many others that had experienced this area before I had the opportunity and it is their story I wish to share here. 

The first known inhabitants of Jalama lived in a Chumash village called Shilimaqstush which straddled the creek.  They were known for their blades and knives made of chert which was in abundance.  Arrowheads and beads can still be found as the sands shift and storms change the landscape of the surrounding hill side.  It is illegal, however, to remove these from the beach.  By 1812 few villagers remained as many had succumbed to European diseases brought by the Spanish in the late 1700’s or had relocated to neighboring La Purisma Mission.  With most of the indigenous people gone, it was about this time the Spanish began referring to the area as Jalama.  

In 1833 the Mexico Congress voted to sell the California missions to businessmen and that lead to several land transfers until the Atlantic Richfield Oil Company acquired it.  In 1942, RM Adam, Lompoc Record publisher and Lompoc’s representative on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, enters into the Jalama story. With Ocean Park becoming a part of Camp Cooke and looking to remain that way for the foreseeable future, Mr. Adam began looking for an alternative beach for Lompoc residents to call their own.  Despite the fact Jalama Beach was private property it was frequently used for camping and recreation by the general public.  It was also the closest accessible beach to Lompoc, thus Mr. Adam began negotiating with the Atlantic Richfield Oil Company, requesting the land be donated to Santa Barbara County.  Negotiations for free land are never easy and it wasn’t until a change in tactics and Fred Bixby joining Mr. Adam in his efforts, that the Atlantic Richfield Oil Company deeded 23.5 acres to Santa Barbara County in May of 1943.  

Improvements happened overtime as asphalt was laid, running water, flush toilets and showers installed.  Campgrounds were improved, hookups were added and the most recent addition are the cabins.  Many of the trees still standing were planted in the 1980’s but the myoporum of the past that sheltered areas of the park have been removed.  The Jalama Beach Store with its famous Jalama Beach burger, was taken over in 1979 by the Eittreim family and has flourished under their guidance becoming as famous if not more so than the beach.  Many people take the drive out just to sit and enjoy a delicious Jalama burger while listening to the waves and taking in the sweeping beach views.  

For me, Jalama is the place to escape the demands of the clock and society and return to myself as I enjoy the beauty nature has bestowed, smell the salt air and listen to the waves and the breeze as they play.  For others it is a place to fish, to surf, to windsurf (I love seeing the brightly colored sails decorate the skyline!) to beach comb, to camp, to spend time with family and friends or to enjoy a famous burger. Jalama has many different faces and so many different meanings to those that enjoy her refuge.  What does she mean to you?  

I hope you enjoyed learning a bit about the history of this treasure as much as I did.  Special thanks to John McReynolds and his exhaustive research which was published in his book, Seasons of Jalama.  There is so much detail and history recorded in his words of which I have shared just a speck. 

Much love to everyone!  Stay safe.  Stay home.  Stay well.  Share a smile.   Remember, this too will pass.   

Seasons of Jalama by John McReynolds

https://www.countyofsb.org/parks/jalama.sbc

https://explorelompoc.com/blog/complete-guide-to-jalama-beach/

Shaka!

~ A handshake, high five and hug as greetings and farewells are but memories at this time.  The elbow bump and toe tap enjoyed a brief experience in usage but even these no longer enjoy the light of day with the demands of social distancing.  Thankfully there are still several ways to acknowledge a nonverbal hello or good-bye, including a simple wave, peace sign, the Vulcan live long and prosper salute, heart hands and our favorite, the shaka. 

Throwing a shaka at friends has been recognized as a friendly gesture for many years within the surfing community and has made its way to more main stream usage.  But I wondered about it’s origins and if it truly meant what I had been lead to believe it meant.  So a little research revealed the following.  

The word ‘shaka’ is not of Hawaiian origins but most agree it is believed the gesture arose from a Hawaiian.  Hamana Kalili of Laie lost his middle three fingers from his right hand while working at the Kahuku Sugar Mill in the 1940’s.  From here there are two versions of how the gesture developed.  One is that Mr. Kalili used the gesture as a symbol of blessing.  The other is that after his injury, he went on to be a security guard for the railroad and to keep kids off the train he would gesture at them to disembark with his injured hand.  Not to be deterred from their fun, when Mr. Kalili wasn’t looking, the kids would communicate with each other by imitating his gesture, the middle three fingers of their hand folded down, that the coast was clear to hop on the train.

Next in the evolution of this gesture enters Mr. David (Lippy) Espinda, a Honolulu TV entertainer and car salesman.  He used the unique gesture to sign off from his show and when greeting his customers, furthering its exposure to the general population.  The name ‘shaka’ is believed to have been derived from an ancient Buddha that prayed with his hands together in a similar formation, named Shakyumuni or from the term shark eye.  Ultimately, however, it was Frank Fasi, the mayor of Honolulu, that cemented the use of the shaka gesture as a culturally accepted greeting when he used it in his 1976 mayoral campaign.

There are a few varying ways to throw a shaka but it is agreed that by making a fist and and extending the pinky and thumb while keeping the middle fingers curled down is the foundational basis.  Beyond this basic formation variations on how curled or tight to the palm the middle fingers are to be as well as what wrist action is to be used may be practiced.   It is my experience, however, that despite the differing qualities of a shaka gesture, it is universally understood as a friendly acknowledgment.  

What I loved most as I researched this gesture, was the intent behind it.  For the surfing culture and so many others, it means to ‘hang loose’ or to relax.  A reminder so needed in our busy, sometimes frantic schedules.  For the Hawaiians, it means to spread aloha in keeping with their belief of malama i kekahi i kekahi, which is take care of one, take care of all.   What a beautiful concept of community, all expressed with a shake your hand.  

Do you have a preferential greeting during these times of social distancing?  Let us know is the comments below.  In the meantime, stay safe.  Stay home. Stay well.  Share a smile.  And remember this too will pass.  Much love to everyone! ~

https://www.to-hawaii.com/shaka.php

https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/how-to-throw-the-perfect-hawaiian-shaka

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka_sign