Naturalist Ed Series: Amphibians of Sonoma County
Fairfield Osborn Preserve
10:00 am
– 1:00 pm
Admission Fees: none
(Each participant should register separately)
Amphibians are extremely sensitive to changes in the environment and are more commonly observed during the wet season. Join us during the optimal time of year to learn about these amazing animals that include frogs, toads and salamanders! We will learn about the variety of species that occur locally and how volunteers are saving them, and then we will explore their natural breeding and upland habitats as we travel through Osborn Preserve.
Leader
Chileno Valley Newt Brigade (links to https://www.chilenovalleynewtbrigade.org/) is a non-profit organization concerned about the road-related mortality of newts and other amphibians associated with Laguna Lake in the North Bay Area.
Sarah Millus and Christyne Davidian are volunteers with the Chileno Valley Newt Brigade. Sarah is a wildlife biologist and both Sarah and Christyne have extensive experience saving and protecting local amphibians.
Photo credit to Christyne Davidian.
Details
Frogs, toads and salamanders are indicator species; they are sensitive to environmental changes and require moisture for at least a portion of their life cycle. After a slide show presentation about local amphibians, we will explore oak woodland, grassland, pond, creek, riparian and/or other vegetation communities at the preserve to find and observe a wide variety of amphibians. Along the way, we’ll discover interesting observations of these fascinating amphibians, how they are affected by climate, habitat loss and environmental degradation, and roads and learn about what we can do to support the conservation of these amazing animals.
Logistics
The events within the Naturalist Ed Series are held outdoors at SSU’s Fairfield Osborn Preserve, a 15-minute drive from SSU’s main campus. All events occur rain or shine.
The maximum hike is 1.5 miles with a 400-foot elevation gain.
Directions are provided in your registration confirmation email. A sink for handwashing, potable water and restrooms are available on site. Please arrive to park in advance of the registered event start time. The preserve gate will be unlocked 20 minutes before the event start time. You will be asked to sign a liability waiver upon your arrival. We will meet outside of the Learning Center which is across the footbridge on the east side of the parking lot. Pets and smoking are not permitted.
Parking is limited so please consider carpooling, and let us know if you plan to do this so we can open more registration spots accordingly.
What to Bring
Please bring a water bottle and snacks for the trail. We recommend layered clothing to wear indoors and outdoors, covered shoes, a hat and rain gear. Please bring binoculars (optional). We will be indoors for the slide show presentation and outdoors while we explore the Osborn Preserve.
About the Center
Sonoma State University’s Center for Environmental Inquiry empowers university students to work with community members on the environmental challenges of the North Bay. Our mission is to create an engaged and environmentally ready society, one where all people have the skills to find solutions to the challenges facing our earth. SSU Preserves are open to everyone engaged in education or research. Reservations are required.
Osborn Naturalists
We offer a Naturalist Ed Series (links to Calendar https://cei.sonoma.edu/calendar) to become an Osborn Naturalist every semester. Please contact Julie Wittmann for more information about how to become an Osborn Naturalist at julie.wittmann@sonoma.edu. You can also learn more about becoming an Osborn Naturalist here.