{"id":228795,"date":"2016-06-17T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-06-17T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sdnews.com\/natures-best-big-and-small\/"},"modified":"2016-06-17T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2016-06-17T07:00:00","slug":"natures-best-big-and-small","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/natures-best-big-and-small\/","title":{"rendered":"Nature\u2019s best, big and small"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Audrey F. Baker<\/p>\n

From large to small, Mission Trails Regional Park offers an amazing variety of natural wonders. We boast the biggest and showiest examples of the Evening Primrose family, and the largest leaves of any native tree in North America, the Western Sycamore. On the other end of the spectrum, we have the world\u2019s smallest bee (.08\u201d), Perdita minima<\/em>. While Aussies and Thais make the same claim to bee fame, we diplomatically say, ours is the smallest in North America.<\/p>\n

\"Sycamore<\/a>
A park visitor holds his hand against a large Sycamore leaf. (Photo by Audrey F. Baker)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Come explore! Our MTRP Trail Guide walks are an opportunity to learn more about natural Southern California, with its unique landscapes, habitats, local history, plant and animal life. The walks are free, interesting, fact-filled, and geared to all ages and interests. Grab sturdy shoes, comfortable hat, water bottle and sunscreen and hit the trail!<\/p>\n

Morning walks<\/strong> are offered every Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. You\u2019ll start from the park\u2019s Visitor and Interpretive Center, 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Carlos. The walk beginning from the Kumeyaay Lake Campground Entry Station, 2 Father Junipero Serra Trail, at the San Carlos-Santee border, gives a different perspective of the park and its diverse habitats. These walks are offered from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month, and take in historic Old Mission Dam.<\/p>\n

Wildlife Tracking<\/strong> reveals the world of tracks, scat, bedlays and other critter evidence that indicate the presence of lesser-seen animals inhabiting the park. Join in for two hours of dirt-time fun \u2013 wear long pants for close-up observation. Meet your MTRP Trail Guide at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, July 2 in front of the Visitor Center.<\/p>\n

Discovery Table: Animal Tracks<\/strong> is your opportunity to participate in hands-on science and learn which track looks like a baby\u2019s handprint, whose is the largest of local wildlife and other interesting facts about San Diego wildland critters. See you at the Visitor Center lobby, Saturday, July 9 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.<\/p>\n

Bird Lake Murray<\/strong> with MTRP Birders Jeanne Raimond and Millie Basden. In summer months, locations near water draw the largest variety of birds. You\u2019ll enjoy the added bonus of viewing butterflies and dragonflies displaying aerial antics. Binoculars and bird book recommended. See you at 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 16 for a two-hour exploration. Meet at the far south end of the parking lot off Kiowa Drive, Lake Murray, La Mesa.<\/p>\n

Summer Twilight Walk<\/strong> is your opportunity to experience the nocturnal world of MTRP as dusk sets in and transitions into night. Bring jacket and flashlight for this Trail Guide-led walk through San Diego\u2019s open spaces on Saturday, July 16, 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. We start from the Bushy Hill parking lot, across from Kumeyaay Lake Campground Entry Station, Santee.<\/p>\n

La Mesa Walk and Talk<\/strong> combines a scenic lakeshore experience hosted by your MTRP Trail Guide with engaging topics in nature. This month, we\u2019ll chat up, \u201cWeather and Climate Change,\u201d examining nature\u2019s adaptations in modern times, then stroll. Meet at the boat docks Tuesday, July 19, 9 to 10:30 a.m., Lake Murray, 5540 Kiowa Drive, La Mesa.<\/p>\n

Star Party Sites<\/strong> delight under moonless skies with Saturn and Mars positioned overhead. Join MTRP Resident Star Gazer George Varga as he scans the skies. Scorpius and Sagittarius present Messier Objects for viewing, including Globular Clusters M4, Open Clusters M6 and M7, and the Lagoon Nebula. In Lyra, the Ring Nebula (M57) will be observable. Rain cancels. We view from 7:30 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 23, and gather at the far end of the Kumeyaay Campground Day Use Parking Lot, Santee.<\/p>\n

Family Discovery Walk<\/strong> presents nature\u2019s summer magic as a family experience and highlights the seasonal changes it brings. Learn about plant and animal adaptations by examining those transitioning into summer inactivity and those flourishing under sunny days. Our Trail Guide-hosted interactive outing focuses fun, childhood enrichment, and memorable moments in nature. Meet us inside the Visitor Center at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 24 for a 90-minute adventure in nature.<\/p>\n

Conceptos b\u00e1sicos de observaci\u00f3n de aves<\/strong> enhances your nature experience by identifying birds \u201cat a glance!\u201d MTRP Bird Guide Winona Sollock\u2019s class explains five simple techniques and gives tips on field guide use. Bring yours if you like. Class meets on Saturday, July 30 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. inside the Visitor Center.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, come on out and enjoy the park!<\/p>\n

Visita mtrp.org<\/a> for more information and our events calendar, or call 619-668-3281. Special walks can be arranged for any club, group, business or school by contacting Ranger Chris Axtmann at 619-668-2746 or at caxtmann@mtrp.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2014Audrey F. Baker is a trail guide at Mission Trails Regional Park. Reach her at aud1baker@gmail.com.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Audrey F. Baker From large to small, Mission Trails Regional Park offers an amazing variety of natural wonders. We boast the biggest and showiest examples of the Evening Primrose family, and the largest leaves of any native tree in North America, the Western Sycamore. On the other end of the spectrum, we have the […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":732,"featured_media":228796,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"11558","_seopress_titles_title":"Nature\u2019s best, big and small","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[11547,11558],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-228795","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","category-mission-times-courier"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228795","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/732"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=228795"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228795\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/228796"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=228795"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=228795"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=228795"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}