Published Articles
Photo by Michael Wackerman
Articles Published on behalf of SFC
Stockton Creek Preserve has limited damage following fire, by Greg Little, Mariposa Gazette
” In the big picture, what unfolded during the French Fire at the Stockton Creek Preserve was, in some ways, positive. The French Fire began in the evening of July 4 near French Camp Road north of Mariposa. But it didn’t take long for the blaze to jump Highway 140 as it headed into the preserve.” (excerpt)
Little, Greg, “Stockton Creek Preserve has limited damage following fire” The Mariposa Gazette 18, July, 2024
Healing, learning, growing, by Greg Little, Mariposa Gazette
“It was quite the scene last Thursday morning just off of 8th Street in Mariposa. Plants, buckets, irrigation lines, and people – lots of people. ‘This is part of a learning journey program’ said Bridget Fithian, Executive Director of the Sierra Foothill Conservancy.” (excerpt)
Little, Greg, “Healing, learning, growing” The Mariposa Gazette 16, November, 2023: Print (pdf)
He Gives a Hoot, by Kellie Flanagan, Mariposa Gazette
“His code name is Barn Owl Boy, or at least that’s his Yahoo email. But on this particular day, Coarsegold resident Dennis Christiansen is holding a great horned owl, and has two more burly specimens in cardboard animal carriers at his feet.” (excerpt)
Flanagan, Kellie, “He Gives a Hoot,” The Mariposa Gazette 2, December, 2021: Print (pdf)
When the Valley was Young by Doug Broten, Sierra Foothill Conservancy Docent
“I’ve always been pretty much of a nature nerd, spending weekends and vacations in the mountains. Since retiring, I’ve started to appreciate the rivers and foothills around us more, and eventually started asking myself, “I wonder what this place looked like before people showed up?”” (excerpt)
Broten, Doug. “When the Valley was Young.” The Mountain Press 29, July, 2020: 3. Print. (pdf)
SFC exceeds 40,000 acres with Hornitos acquisition by Lauren Miller, Sierra Foothill Conservancy Conservation Director
“Sierra Foothill Conservancy is thrilled to announce the conservation of SFC’s single largest acquisition to date. The 6,972-acre Hornitos Ranch is now officially part of SFC’s conservation easement portfolio, bringing total acres conserved to an impressive 41,810!” (excerpt)
Miller, Lauren. “SFC exceeds 40,000 acres with Hornitos acquisition.” The Mountain Press 22, July, 2020: 5. Print. (pdf)
Miller, Lauren. “SFC exceeds 40,000 acres with Hornitos acquisition.” The Mountain Press 22, July, 2020: 12. Print. (pdf)
The Most Valuable Bird in the Valley By Dennis Christiansen, Sierra Foothill Conservancy Docent
“I remember the day in 1991 when I re- ceived three little baby barn owls so ugly that only a mother could love. They were about 2 to 3 weeks old.” (excerpt)
Dennis Christiansen, Dennis., “The Most Valuable Bird in the Valley.” The Mountain Press 8, July, 2020: 7. Print. (pdf)
Dennis Christiansen, Dennis., “The Most Valuable Bird in the Valley.” The Mountain Press 8, July, 2020: 12. Print. (pdf)
High-Flying King of the Air by Cecelia Sheeter, Sierra Foothill Conservancy Docent
“Aero acrobat. Fierce defender of domain. Melodious chirper of the predawn darkness. The Western Kingbird is all of these.” (excerpt)
Sheeter, Cecilia. “High-Flying King of the Air.” The Mountain Press 1 July, 2020: 7. Print. (pdf)
Getting Creative by Greg Little, Mariposa Gazette
“In the case of the Mariposa Creek Parkway, the Conservancy took on a different role. They will be able to secure the land for the extension of the Parkway.” (excerpt)
Getting Creative, Local Groups Helping Shape the Future. (pdf)
Bouyant Black Phoebe by Bea Olsen, Sierra Foothill Conservancy Docent
“For a number of years at our home east of Clovis, my husband and I have enjoyed watching the antics of and listening to a handsome bird with a black head, breast and upper parts and contrasting white belly that is a Black Phoebe.” (excerpt)
Olsen, Bea., “Buoyant Black Phoebe.” The Mountain Press 24, June, 2020: 6. Print. (pdf)
Olsen, Bea., “Buoyant Black Phoebe.” The Mountain Press 24, June, 2020: 9. Print. (pdf)
Late Spring Mystery Flower by Michael Elsohn Ross, Sierra Foothill Conservancy Docent
“It was 1975, when I moved to El Portal from the Bay Area to work in Yosemite and I was becoming familiar with the plants of the lower Merced Canyon, species by species. Most of my plant identification had been learned in the field from professors and fellow students. One day in June I came across what I thought was a five petaled flower.” (excerpt)
Ross, Michael Ehlsohn. “Late Spring Mystery Flower.” (pdf)
The White Mountain Rose by John M. McDaniel, Sierra Foothill Conservancy Docent
“It had been called the White Mountain Rose, so named by Clarissa Kneeland who once lived in one of the few places on earth where this plant is found: on Black Mountain near Prather.” (excerpt)
McDaniel, John M., “The White Mountain Rose.” The Mountain Press 3, June, 2020: 6. Print. (pdf)
McDaniel, John M., “The White Mountain Rose: Part 2.” The Mountain Press 10, June, 2020: 11. Print. (pdf)
Vernal Pools: A Seasonal Treat by Linda Sward, Sierra Foothill Conservancy Docent
“Vernal pools may reveal their special beauty suddenly or slowly over time. These pools are a seasonal feature of the table mountains, the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys and coastal terraces of California.” (excerpt)
Sward, Linda. “Vernal Pools: A Seasonal Treat.” (pdf)
Sward, Linda. “Vernal Pools: A Seasonal Treat.” The Mountain Press 20 May, 2020: 7. Print. (pdf)
Discovering the Home of a Trapdoor Spider by David M. Weber, Sierra Foothill Conservancy Docent
“Alright, first the disclaimer. Although this is an article on the Trapdoor Spider, I am neither an expert nor even a budding field biologist. I’m just a hike docent for the Sierra Foothill Conversancy (SFC) who loves being outside, loves spending time on the SFC preserves, and loves to watch the raw excitement in hike participants (both young and old) upon discovery of something new and fascinating in our natural world. The home of the Trapdoor Spider immediately comes to mind.” (excerpt)
Weber, David. “Discovering the Home of a Trapdoor Spider.” The Mountain Press 27 May, 2020: 8. Print. (pdf)
A Colorful Farewell by Michael Elsohn Ross, Sierra Foothill Conservancy Docent
“In spring, hillsides in the Sierra foothills can be colored orange with poppies and violet blue with lupines. There may be swaths of yellow goldfields or white pop- corn blossoms. As spring ends and grasses turn from green to gold, a wildflower called “farewell to spring” can add splashes of pink.” (excerpt)
Ross, Michael Elsohn. “A Colorful Farewell.” The Mountain Press 13 May, 2020: 7. Print (pdf)
Ross, Michael Elsohn. “A Colorful Farewell.” The Mountain Press 13 May, 2020: 8. Print (pdf)
A Flash of Blue by Gary Woods, Mountain Press Contributing Writer
“If you’ve ever visited the McKenzie Preserve off Auberry Road, chances are you’ve noticed a bunch of brown boxes with a hole in them placed around the parking lot and along the road with a number on them. For the last dozen or more years those boxes have provided safe nesting structure for several species of birds that need cavities of some sort to build their nest in and raise a family. ” (excerpt)
Woods, Gary. “A Flash of Blue.” The Mountain Press 6 May, 2020: 7. Print. (pdf)
Raptors in Our Area by Deb Lapp, Sierra Foothill Conservancy Docent
“One day I was reading peacefully on the terrace facing the Kings River, near Sierra Foothill Conservan- cy’s Tivy Mountain Preserve, when I heard a squawk and a shriek. My dog lit off for the bank, and I watched as an osprey landed at the edge of the bank with a fish in its talons, still flopping and throwing the raptor’s balance off-kilter.” (excerpt)
Lapp, Deb. “Raptors in Our Area.” The Mountain Press 29 April, 2020: 4. Print. (pdf)
The Coyotes Among Us by Charles Siek, Retired Supervisory Natural Resources Specialist US Dept. of Interior
“If you, like most foothill folk, often hear the yips and barks of coyotes nearby, you might have a den full of pups closer than you think. Coyotes mate in January and February, with the pups making their appearance in March or April.” (excerpt)
Siek, Charles. “The Coyotes Among Us.” The Mountain Press 22 April, 2020: 7. Print. (pdf)