Sea and Sage Audubon Annual Summer Barbecue – Dinner at the Marsh

An annual event that has become a summer tradition is the Sea and Sage Audubon Summer Barbecue at the Irvine Ranch Water District’s San Joaquin Marsh. The event is scheduled for Saturday, July 30, from 5-10 p.m.

The evening program will be presented by Martin Fletcher and Katie Chaplin from Friends of the California Condor Wild and Free. Their presentation will provide a summary of the California Condor Recovery program in Southern California. They be taking participants to the skies and nests of the condor and will discuss the condor range using GPS and telemetry that shows condor travel patterns.

Chaplin was instrumental in setting up the cameras in the condor nests and the video networks. She has wide-ranging experience with health checks, nest entries and tagging and has spent a night in a condor nest while a chick was given emergency surgery.

Condors were on the verge of extinction in 1987, with only 27 living as the last free-flying condor was taken from the wild. With the help of the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Condor Recovery Program, the condors were returned to their natural habitat beginning in 1992. The greatest threat to the California Condors in the wild is lead. The primary source is from lead fragments that the Califonria Condors eat along with the animals shot within their feeding range.

During the presentation, participants will enjoy chicken and freshly grilled hot dogs, salad, beans, chips, fresh fruit, cake, lemonade, and coffee. A veggie wrap will be provided for those who specifically request it on their reservation forms. The event is staffed entirely by Sea and Sage volunteers.

This family event will feature something for everyone:

• Dining in the meadow (6-7 p.m.)
• A sale of used nature books (5-7:15 p.m.)
• Evening walks around the marsh after dinner (6:30-7:50 p.m.)
• The California condor program (starts at 8:15 p.m.)

This event sells out fast, so reservations are a must. Tickets for the barbecue and program are $20 for adults and $7 for children under five. Tickets include meals and beverages, evening marsh walk and program. Activities will begin at 5 p.m. Arrive early to sign up for the wildlife walks, as they are limited to 20 people.

For more information, reservations, and directions, call Sea and Sage Audubon at (949) 261-7963. The marsh is a hidden oasis located in the heart of Irvine. For more information on the Marsh, please visit the IRWD website.