San Pablo Bay. Photo by Marley Peifer

This October the North Coast Nature Journal Club will be visiting the critically endangered and often overlooked tidal marshes of San Pablo Bay, enjoying the beauty and using our journaling as a tool for citizen science.

Ninety five percent of tidal marsh ecosystem has been lost in the Bay Area despite the fact that it provides critical ecological services that directly affect our standard of living. We will learn about the ecological restoration project taking place at this particular site and hear from one of the biologists involved.

This critical marshland ecosystem contains a variety of unique and endangered species such as the salt marsh harvest mouse and the Ridgway's Rail. We will focus on drawing and learning about tidal marshland plants and animals and practice landscapes. How can we use our journals to capture the essence of the place and convey some of the fascinating ecological significance of this region?

We will begin the day early and watch as the low tide comes in and the composition of waterfowl changes in this awesome avian habitat.

Be prepared for sun and increasing wind as the day progresses, windbreakers, clips for your pages, and a hat that can handle wind are mandatory! Walking distances will be short on even paths that are mostly flat. Scooter accessible! If you want to get up close and personal with some of the marshland plants wear rain boots or go barefoot for the mud. Bring a folding stool if you like but there are also benches. Binoculars and scope would be very helpful. Bring a potluck to share on the trail and utensils for yourself.

We will meet at 9 am at the Sears Point Trailhead parking lot.  https://goo.gl/maps/ZRxxG8BpgqXAoYrV7  

Look for people standing around with sketchbooks. This excursion starts and ends earlier than our usual meetup to take advantage of the tide. 9am-1pm, potluck lunch at 12:30.

$20 suggested donation. No one turned away for lack of funds.