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Stewardship Update

Written by Haley Sutton, Land Stewardship Associate and Kendra Smith, Education & Outreach Coordinator

Wrapping Up the Fiscal Year

Staff accomplished a variety of projects this month as we wrapped up our fiscal year.

We purchased more native plants from The Watershed Nursery Cooperative and planted them at Curry Canyon Ranch, Marsh Creek 1 and 7, and Mangini Ranch.

We also installed some large rocks at the interpretive gardens at our Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve to improve the habitat for lizards and snakes that seek shady spots to stay cool in the summer and areas to bask in the sun on chillier days.

Save Mount Diablo closed escrow on Ginochio Schwendel Ranch, and staff have begun putting together documentation that is used to record conservation values and inform management goals for the property.

The replenishing rainy days in March also served as a great time to inventory and organize tools in preparation for spring and summer projects.

Nest Boxes for American Kestrels

Save Mount Diablo staff and volunteers have been installing nest boxes in the region and subsequently monitoring them for activity.

The most common visitor is the American kestrel, a cavity-nesting falcon that has experienced population decline in North America for the last several decades.

There are 37 nest boxes installed around Mount Diablo, and seven of which have been monitored closely with wildlife cameras and regular visits by our staff during nesting season.

This year, with the  help of a grant from the Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, we will be installing an additional 12 cameras on 12 boxes that we have not been monitoring as closely.

The new 12 cameras on boxes bring the total number of boxes we observe to 19.

We hope this will support a growing American kestrel population in our area!

 

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Stewards in the Field

Property stewards have observed that water sources are flowing, and some trees and tree branches are getting knocked down by stormy weather.

The green hillsides are dotted with sprays of bright wildflowers, including milk maids (Cardamine californica), shooting stars (Primula species), houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale), and warrior’s plume (Pedicularis densiflora) to name a few.

Discover Diablo

Early Spring Wildflower Loop, March 14th.

Rescheduled for Wednesday, April 9th.

Green Hills, Ponds, and Newts, March 16th.

Despite the weather being cold and windy, participants had a great time searching for newts at Briones Regional Park. While it was difficult to find newts in the rough and murky water, a few were spotted along with their egg sacks.

There were also many tree frogs, a couple banana slugs, and early spring wildflowers beginning to appear.

On Belay – Rock Climbing, March 29th.

Participants joined Save Mount Diablo’s Land Programs Director, Sean Burke, for a fun day of climbing at Pinnacles National Park. This is perhaps the only free guided climbing opportunity in the state.

Spring Blooms and Birds, March 30th.

Canceled because of rain.

Trail Education Workday with Athenian School

Thirteen students from Athenian School came out to Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve for a trail education workday.

In line with their coursework, they learned about trail design, creation, and maintenance and assisted in the upkeep of the El Camino de Vacas trail.

The students loved learning about the preserve, seeing the cows grazing on the hills, and experiencing the hard work it takes to clear and level the trail, making it safe and accessible.

Thank you, Athenian students, for your help and enthusiasm!

Young Diablo Explorers Program with San Ramon Valley Christian Academy

On Wednesday, March 19th, 37 second grade students from San Ramon Valley Christian Academy attended a Young Diablo Explorers field trip to Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve.

Students engaged in a nature interpretive hike and the Interconnected Web Story curriculum to learn about the flora, fauna, and natural history of the preserve, sharing enthusiastic observations and ideas and thoughtful questions throughout the field trip.

Thank you to all the students, teachers, and parent chaperones for their positive energy!

Diablo Conservation Experience with Concord High School

On Friday, March 21st and March 28th, 113 students from Concord High School participated in a field trip to Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve as part of our Diablo Conservation Experience program.

This was the first year Concord High School students got to participate in the program, and it was the largest group of students to visit the preserve in this program’s history.

The day was divided into two enriching activities.

One group set out on an interpretive nature hike, culminating in a solo experience—an opportunity for quiet reflection and a deeper connection with nature.

Meanwhile, the second group took on the stewardship project of clearing trails to improve accessibility. Armed with McLeods—versatile tools designed for scraping, loosening, and leveling soil—students worked diligently to make the trails safer and easier to follow.

After a peaceful lunch beneath the shade of a California buckeye grove, the groups switched roles.

Those who had been clearing trails now embarked on their solo experience, while the others picked up tools to continue the stewardship work.

As students wrapped up their solo time, they shared reflections on their experience, revealing a noticeable shift in energy and perspective.

Save Mount Diablo was honored to host several students with physical and mental support needs at both field trips, providing modified programming to allow them the same access to this meaningful field trip opportunity.

A huge thank you to the Concord High School students for their hard work and dedication!