Vegetation Monitoring-Coastal Cactus Wren neting Habitat

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We are investigating which plant species are growing in our cactus planting areas (future Coastal Cactus Wren habitat) at Lake Hodges by doing percent cover vegetation monitoring. No plant monitoring or botanical experience needed, just an interest in learning to identify local plant species. We will be working on our knees identifying plants in coastal sage scrub habitat. Once monitoring is complete in an area, we will be removing the invasive weed species with hand tools. Volunteers are welcome to monitoring and weed or only monitor or only weed.

This opportunity will give volunteers to help improve future Coastal Cactus Wren (locally-imperilled species) habitat and will allow them to learn to identify many local plant species. The Coastal Cactus Wren, Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus, is a locally-imperiled bird species dependent on large strands of cactus in order to breed successfully in their natural habitat. In coastal Southern California, wren populations have declined to very low levels compared to their historic numbers. Without efforts to increase this species' habitat, the Coastal Cactus Wren will likely be extirpated from coastal, cismontane Southern California.