Friends of the River Banks
Contact FORB
  • Home
  • Calendar
  • Priorities
  • About Us
  • What's Out There?
  • Important Issues
  • FORB Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Resources
  • Wildlife Species at SLP
  • Insects at Sutter's Landing Park
  • Education Materials
  • iNaturalist Observations
  • Walk on the Wildside@

International Bat Night Included Arden's Story, A Local Tale by Kathy

8/29/2021

0 Comments

 
More than 60 bat experts from 40 countries were showcased on Facebook Live for International Bat Night hosted by Nils Bouillard, a Bat Conservationist from Europe, from 8-27-21 at 10 pm PDT to 8-28-21 at 2 pm.  We are very proud and honored that our very own JoEllen Arnold of Sacramento, California, was one of the participants who gave a fascinating illustrated talk about a Hoary Bat named Arden.  

JoEllen has had a passion for bats for many years. She loves to travel around the world to see and photograph some of the more than 1400 species of bats and to share what she learns.  About 10 years ago, she started helping with the rescue and rehabilitation of our local native bats with NorCal Bats.  

For the International Bat Night event, she told the story of "Arden", a Hoary Bat who came into care with NorCal Bats in February.  Arden was found on a gravel driveway in a residential neighborhood off Arden Way.  She looked fine but could not fly.  Her right wrist was swollen, and over time, Arden’s wing membranes deteriorated horribly. It is thought that she was suffering from Wing Wasting Syndrome which is caused by a bacteria in the soil.  After being treated with antibiotics, the deterioration was stopped, but Arden will probably never be able to fly well enough to be released. Toward the end of April however, it became clear that she was pregnant!  

Arden gave birth to a male and a female pup in early May, right on schedule for a Hoary Bat.  Sadly, the female pup did not survive her first night, but the male has grown up to be a beautiful Hoary Bat.  He will be going to a flight cage for flight practice and it is hoped that he will be released shortly thereafter.  

Thank you JoEllen for all you do in rescuing and caring for our local bat population! Go to NorCalBats.org to learn more about how you can help our local bats. Donations and volunteers are always needed!

If you would like to see the video about the Hoary Bats, it is the first 20 minutes of this segment from International Bat Night. Click on this link:  
https://www.facebook.com/NilsBouillard/videos/168692255346876/


Note from webmaster: Many thanks to Kathy and JoEllen for collaborating on this important story. Many of you will remember the inspiring and very popular evening bat conservation programs JoEllen has hosted for FORB over the years. We can't wait until that becomes possible again. Meanwhile, you can listen to an interview, "Getting Batty With JoEllen" she did during this local radio show episode (starts at min 6:28). 
Picture
International Bat Night - JoEllen Arnold, NorCal Bats
Picture
1995 Photo of JoEllen holding a Hoary Bat
Picture
Arden The Hoary Bat with a Swollen Right Wrist
Picture
Arden Giving Birth to the First Pup
Picture
Male Pup on the Right - Female on the Left
Picture
Arden Cleaning her Male Pup
Picture
4 Day Old Male Pup
Picture
10 Day Old Male Pup
Picture
Male Pup After Eating Meal Worms
0 Comments

Tide Study (and tidy work) at SLP by Mark

8/13/2021

1 Comment

 
Picture
Jax might be measuring tidal movement...
(Check out the updated video at the bottom showing ongoing cleanup work along the river 8/29/21)

After many years of visiting Sutter’s Landing, I could never figure out why the river was always at different levels. I always wished I could figure out when they were releasing water so I could better pickup trash. Then one day a couple months ago, while paddling with my friend Tom, I became aware that there was a tide. I was shocked how simple it was. I couldn’t believe I never realized it before. Then I found out that many of us didn't know about our river tides, so I wanted to share. 

My study is located on the large pipe, just past the downstream fence at SLP. Past the rope swing. 

This month’s high tide, which happens twice a day, varies between 1.9’ and 3.3’. Low tide varies from -0.1’ to 1’. The Sacramento tide chart is measured at the Sacramento River in Old Town. SLP’s tide is different.

According to the Sacramento tide chart, on Aug. 6 at 2:58pm there was a 0’ low tide. At 2:58pm I set my yardstick at 1”. By 4:20, the water had dropped 2 more inches. Hoping that was low tide, I readjusted my yardstick down to 0. The next day the chart said there was a 3.2’ high tide at 5:57am. . I was there at 6:40am and measured a 28” tide, the stick was dry above telling me we were at high tide. On Aug. 11, I took a picture that showed watermarks on the yardstick that showed several tide levels. 

I don’t know how scientific this is but hopefully you find it interesting. I have been obsessed with the river recently and have learned so much about it’s ecology and politics from some masters of the river. Thank you.
. 
This year I decided to take my vacation at Sutter’s Landing. It has been a fantastic trip. I have explored much of the lower river and spent half the days, with my dog (Jax), cleaning between miles 3 and 4 across from SLP. It is beautiful over there, much cleaner than I expected. 

In the last 2 months, I have cleaned dozens of abandoned camps and thousands of pounds of trash from right next to or in the river. FOSL and county maintenance crews have been very supportive. 

It has been wonderful meeting so many dedicated people in love with the Parkway. 

Mark Baker

My new motto:
“Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but footprints”

webmaster note:
Mark has raised the bar greatly this year with frequent nautical outings to float trash back into containers. Who says a person can't make a difference!
A great place to check on the latest river flows and temperatures for the lower American River is the Water Forum website.

"How Mark Spent His Summer Vacation"

Link to video clip of Mark and Jax towing a load after cleaning up the island across from SLP

💥UPDATE: Chris Smith, another amazing volunteer, put this video together of the ongoing cleanup work: American River Cleanup at Sutter's Landing
Picture
Effective trash collection by boat!
Picture
On the hunt for more trash to remove. Photo by Chris
Picture
Fully loaded for removal. Photo by Chris.
Picture
Quite a haul & all in a days work
Picture
Mark and sidekick Jax have been busy again!
Picture
No small feat to collect and haul so much trash!
Picture
Picture
Mark and Chris and their packed raft trash masterpiece
Picture
Making a difference!
Picture
Mark and Chris showing what can be done. Kudos!
1 Comment

    Author

    various contributors

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    October 2011
    September 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Education
    Mushrooms
    Nature
    River
    Swainson
    Wildlife

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.