19th Annual Celebration of Wetlands Conservation and Restoration

An animal handler introduces a Red-tailed hawk to the crowd.

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Volunteers and Natural Reserve System staff build rafts used as nesting materials for endangered birds.

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Two Love Your Wetlands Day volunteers are helping to complete the rafts that are provided for the Ridgway’s Rail to escape from high tides, build nests, and brood their chicks. They are tying the palm thatching that substitutes for cordgrass onto the frames of the basket covers.

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Kayakers embark on a tour by water to collect trash from the marsh.

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Kayakers embark on a tour by water to collect trash from the marsh.

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An animal handler introduces a Red-tailed hawk to the crowd.

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Dr. Stan Rodriguez, president of Kumeyaay Community College teaches volunteers to repair and construct traditional Native American tule boats.

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Volunteers tour the marsh and assist with clean up.

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Dr. Dick Norris, faculty director of the UC San Diego Natural Reserve System talks with visitors.

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From left: Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Corinne Peek-Asa, Dick Norris, UC San Diego Natural Reserve System; Dr. Stan Rodriguez, Kumeyaay Community College; Megan Cooper, State Coastal Conservancy South Coast Regional Manager; representative of Assemblymember Tasha Boerner; Chancellor Pradeep K. Kholsa; City Council President Pro Tem Joe LaCava; Kit Pogliano, Dean of the School of Biological Sciences; Andrew Meyer, San Diego Audubon.

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Chancellor Pradeep Khosla, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and City Council President Pro Tem Joe LaCava.

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A painter from a plein air artist group documents a marsh scene.

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Over 40 community booths were set up to welcome visitors to Love Your Wetlands Day.

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Among the trash collected for the day were car parts and lots of single use plastics.

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A group of the marsh's native inhabitants out for a stroll.

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Volunteers collect the materials used to build the tule boats.

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Marsh tours and clean up were held throughout the day.

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Love Your Wetlands Day is a collaboration of UC San Diego, San Diego Audubon Society, the City of San Diego and the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve.

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A spray of pretty but invasive wildflowers basking in the sun before being targeted for removal.

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An animal handler introduces some species native to the region while discussing their role in the ecosystem.

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Volunteers and participants included students and community members who came to learn, help and participate in marsh conservation activities.

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