On Saturday, March 28 earth team interns from Arroyo, San Lorenzo, and Skyline high schools returned to Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline to continue their habitat restoration project. They met up with Jaclyn and Barbara, ecologists from East Bay Regional Parks District, and learned more about this amazing park. In addition to being a stop on the Pacific Flyway, this spot is also an overwintering spot for monarch butterflies. Like many of the birds on the pacific flyway, monarch butterflies fly over a thousand miles twice a year on a multigenerational migration.
To support these migratory species, interns focused their restoration efforts on the pollinator garden. This garden is full of wildflowers and flowering shrubs, perfect food for birds and bugs. Interns planted 13 species of native plants including red flowering currants, CA sagebrush, yarrow, and buckwheat.
First, Interns pulled weeds and invasive plants from the area.
Next they dug a hole and installed their plants.
Pause for a tiktok break.
Finally, interns added mulch and water to their new plants!
While our goal was to monitor birds in the area, interns ended up finding many interesting insects as well! We found ladybugs, butterflies, and some interesting beetles.
Thank you so much to the amazing team at Oyster Bay: Jaclyn and Barbara! The interns love visiting the park and learning from you. Earth Team would also like to thank the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Alameda County Fish and Game Commission for the funding that makes these events possible. Your support brings interns out of the classroom into nature.
