Volunteers head out on trash pick-up duty. During the event, 323 pounds of trash and debris were removed from the marsh. All photos by Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego unless otherwise specified.
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Liam Mueller, a UC San Diego faculty member in the School of Biology and a birder, is scouting the terrain for different species with the team from Critter Lab.
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A Great Blue Heron stops to enjoy the view.
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Kayak cleanup volunteers entered the marsh and collected trash.
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Reddish Egret, two Snowy Egrets, and a few other birds in the marsh.
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A Snowy Egret on the hunt. These wetlands are vital fish nurseries, supporting the rich food webs that birds like this depend on.
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Artist Audrey Carver and the 40-foot-long New Horizon mural she created on site at Kendall Frost-Marsh.
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Kellie Uyeda (right), Executive Director of the UC San Diego Natural Reserve System, accepts a proclamation from a representative of Tasha Boerner, a member of the California State Assembly.
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U.S. Representative Scott Peters of California’s 50th District delivers remarks about the importance of maintaining areas like the wetlands.
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Andrew Meyer, Director of Conservation at San Diego Bird Alliance, cheers a statement from Joe LaCava, San Diego City Council President, at the lectern. Also in photo Martha Rodriguez and Gregorio Montes of the Kumeyaay Nation and Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Corinne Peek-Asa.
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Great Blue Heron flying through the marsh.
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Council President and District 1 representative Joe LaCava emphasized the need to fund the De Anza Natural Plan, advancing the restoration of vital wetland habitat in Mission Bay.
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Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Corinne Peek-Asa, who oversees the UC San Diego Natural Reserve System, delivers opening remarks.
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Gregorio Montes, Kumeyaay member from San Jose de la Zorra, blessing the event
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American Kestrel, Avian Behavior Conservancy’s animal ambassador
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Kellie Uyeda, Executive Director of the UC San Diego Natural Reserve System, delivers remarks
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Kayaker cruises through the marsh.
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Volunteers on a marsh cleanup at Crown Point stop for a photo op.
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A total of 39 bird species were observed and recording into a citizen science app, iNaturalist, throughout the day.
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Participants examine invertebrates at the Critter Lab booth stationed at Crown Point.
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Avian Behavior Conservancy animal ambassador, Great-horned Owl.
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The booth for the Programa de Aves Urbanas (PAU) Tijuana, a program that promotes the protection of urban bird populations, included an interactive puppet.
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Toyon and other native potted plant species set the stage for the new native nursery that the community proudly named the Jamo North Gathering Garden.
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Volunteer marsh cleanup crew lugs a waterlogged couch cushion out of the marsh.
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Native flowers in bloom as attendees lend a hand caring for the marsh from land to water.
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Sandpipers gather for a meal.
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This was the first event for the on-site native plant nursery, with seedlings starting to grow to be shared out with the community
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Artist Audrey Carver adds the final touches to the New Horizon mural spending more than a week of work bringing a vision of a restored marsh to life.
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Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Corinne Peek-Asa (center) with San Diego Bird Alliance staff.
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Handmade bookmark and greeting cars, embellished with hand-carved stamps created by San Diego Bird Alliance staff and artist Hailey Matthews.
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Students from EcoArts Kids share their artistic depictions of the endangered Ridgway’s Rail.
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Xavius Boone, a marsh walk leader and graduate student in a joint San Diego State University and UC Davis ecology program, shows off kelp.
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Karina Ornelas, Community Science Coordinator, offers a close-up look at a Topsmelt Silverside (fish) while encouraging participants to use iNaturalist.
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Invertebrate zoologists from the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California shared their expertise at the Critter Lab, sparking curiosity for all ages.
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Alejandro Gonzalez (pictured), an invertebrate zoologist from the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, shared their expertise with attendees who visited the Critter Lab.
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Lone kayaker in the marsh.
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Pamela Heatherington of Environmental Center of San Diego engaging attendees to protect public lands. Photo by Craig Chaddock.
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Nicole Yen (hand raised, center) from UC San Diego Extended Studies is speaking with their Conservation Leaders group. Photo by Craig Chaddock.
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Paddle for Peace booth. Photo by Craig Chaddock.
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The first science speaker of the day Anaí Novoa is a parasite ecologist and the Student Success and Summer Programs Coordinator at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego. Photo by Craig Chaddock
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San Diego Natural History Museum booth. Photo by Craig Chaddock.
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Visitors enjoy the view of the marsh. Photos by Craig Chaddock.
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