Category: News/Notices

Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is seeking birdwatchers to take part in its annual Christmas Bird Count. Previous birdwatching experience is desirable, but not essential. Christmas Count data is used in many scientific studies and constitutes the largest body of information about wintering bird populations anywhere in the world. Come spend some time with your most intersting neighbors- our local birds!

• When: Saturday, December 16, 2023, 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Where: Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, main parking lot
• What to bring: Lunch, water, binoculars, field guides, warm clothing (that you can shed).

Counters will be in the field all day.  For more information, contact Joe Zarki at 760-401-3903, or by email: jwzarki@gmail.com

Morongo Count Flyer 

 

During our November meeting of the board of directors of Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, two new board members were chosen from an impressive pool of applicants.

Tom Scanlan is a Preserve volunteer leading our boardwalk repair team and he is an education docent for school field trips.  Tom has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and, in his career, he has been responsible for multi-million-dollar capital and operating budgets.  Tom is an Archaeological Site Steward in the Cleveland National Forest and at Joshua Tree National Park.  Currently, Tom is enrolled in the California Naturalist Program, UC Riverside.

 

De Karlen‘s experience includes Interpretive and Wilderness Ranger with the National Park Service, a guide trainer for Desert Adventures,  she is a Certified California Naturalist and a Certified Interpretive Guide – National Association for Interpretation (NAI).  Currently, De is completing her Master’s degree in Public Administration with a specialty in Non-Profit Leadership.

Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve organized a great community event to clean up the Preserve from the after effects of Tropical Storm Hilary. Over 40 individuals cameto help in this project including middle schoolers, Marines and Navy personnel from the basin in 29 Palms, and “snowbirders” who seasonally migrate for warm winter weather. All of them helped to pull out the downed timber from over 17 trees that fell during the storm. In addition, the 5″ of rainfall germinated lots of Sahara mustard that was pulled during the morning. A roll-off dumpster priovided by BLM was filled in just 4 hours of work.
“It’s wonderful to work with partners who support conservation,’ Jihadda Govan, Sand to Snow National Monument Manger said. “It’s not just the preserve proper that volunteers are supporting, it’s the entire Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC).” A pizza lunch, provided by BLMm, was enjoyed at the end of the event.

Over 45 people were in attendance of the annual meeting of Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve.
Click here for the video of the meeting.

To highlight Black nature enthusiasts and to increase the visibility of Black birders, Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is partnering with the Bureau of Land Management and the Wilderness Society providing a free, family friendly introduction to birding. Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is an internationally known birding site with over 240 species of birds being recorded. Join Alicia Thomas, California Community Partnership Manager, The Wilderness Society, Jihadda Govan, Manager, Sand to Snow National Monument, and Kaeliegh Watson, Ranger, Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, will lead this introduction to bird watching, looking for migrating birds, as well as our year-round residents. If you don’t have binoculars, we see you! We have some pairs on-hand so you can closely observe these wonderful avian friends.

Registration is limited, please reserve a space using this link:  bit.ly/44S9KSN

Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve  is accepting applications for a  Preserve Host to assist with the day-to-day operations of the Preserve. This temporary (6 month) is a part-time position.  As this is a nature preserve and an internationally known birding site, no dogs are allowed, sorry. Full Hook-up including 30 and 50 amp electrical service, water, and septic. No internet, but hosts have used hotspots.  Duties include opening and closing the main gate, cleaning the bathrooms, and interacting with the visitors.

For more information, please call Kevin Wong, Executive Director, at 760-792-1843 or email director.bmcp@gmail.com

Saturday  January 14, 1 pm – 3 pm.

Are you looking for a New Years’ Resolution?

Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve will conduct new volunteer orientation on Saturday, January 14 from 1 pm – 3 pm.  We are recruiting volunteer candidates for the following teams:  Trails and Maintenance, Education Docents, Bird Walk Leaders, Native Plant and Pollinator Gardens, and Kiosk and Visitor Experience Ambassadors.

New volunteer orientation will explain the roles of the volunteers and the volunteer teams.  As the Preserve manages land that pertains to both Bureau of Land Management and County of San Bernardino, representatives from both organizations will be present to share the needs for management and stewardship of the Preserve.  Leaders for each of the five teams will discuss the opportunities to help fulfill the Preserve’s mission statement:  Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is dedicated to the exploration, preservation, and stewardship of the Preserve by protecting and managing its resources, and by providing educational programs, access for wildlife viewing, and recreational opportunities for the enjoyment of its visitors.

For more information, please call Kevin Wong, Executive Director, at 760-792-1843.

Dee Zeller

September 25, 1931- June 3, 2022

“If ever there has been a real world model for people who wish to make the world a better place whenever they meet someone, it is Dee Zeller.  In my view, his ethic of service to others is rarely matched.  And his respect for, and knowledge of, the natural world was always surprising me.  He has anchored the public interface with a very special place – Big Morongo Canyon Preserve – for so long.  We all owe him so much gratitude for who he is, and what he has done for all of us. “

– Jim Kenna, Retired California State Director, Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

Dee Alden Zeller passed away on Friday June 3, 2022, at 90, shortly after retiring as host from his position at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve.   He loved good music, all things nature and sharing a good story. 

Dee was preceded in death by Betty Zeller, his high school sweetheart and beloved wife of 64 years.  

Dee was born in South Bend, Indiana on September 25, 1931, to Don and Loa Zeller, the oldest of two children and raised in Bryan, Ohio.  His childhood stories entertained many with images of love, mischief, and exploration that led to a passion for reading, learning and celebrating life.  He passed these affections on to his five children who all inherited his love for music and reading, and shared adventures camping, beach trips and in search of the elusive bird de jour.  

After graduating from high school, Dee spent two years in the Navy, as a dental tech before moving his growing family from Ohio to Arizona and finally to California.  After several years driving for the Los Angeles Rapid Transit District, his retirement birthed a life of travel, discovery and birdwatching with Betty. 

When Dee and Betty retired, they packed their recreational vehicle and hit the road.  They toured the country following migratory bird routes for two years, which led to a second career as volunteer camp hosts at Thousand Palms Preserve and the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, where they lived for 26 years.   While leading the volunteer force and expanded education programs, Dee served as a bird expert guiding weekly bird walks, posting data from each walk and sharing rare sightings with new and seasoned birdwatchers.

He could be found on trails toting a chainsaw to clear downed trees and assisting with the following scientific efforts on the grounds: hummingbird banding; spring studies; vulture studies; and invasive plant and bird species.  While serving as volunteers and preserve hosts, Dee and Betty were honored, recognized, and awarded a list of accolades.  This list consists of the Chuck Osborne Volunteer of the Year Award by the Morongo Valley Community Services District, being named Grand Marshalls of the “Shortest Parade in the World” at the Fiesta Days in Morongo Valley, honored in Washington D.C. and presented with the Bureau of Land Management’s “Making A Difference” National Volunteer Award, and presented the Minerva Hoyt Conservation Award by the Joshua Tree National Park Association for their environmental stewardship and education activities.  

Dee truly believed in community, service to that community, and connecting to others through time well spent.   Fellow volunteers, his family, and visitors experienced this truth sitting with him, listening to his musical selections floating from inside the RV, while observing wildlife from the shade of his porch.  He felt our world could be improved is everyone dedicated a bit of their time towards the common good, took time to commune with nature, and enjoyed some be-bop jazz and a good laugh or two.  

His children survive him:  John (Susan) Zeller of Fountain Hills, AZ, Patricia (Edward) Cushing of McKinleyville, CA, Donald “Bear” Zeller of Morongo Valley, CA,  Shari (Perry) Clark of Peoria, AZ,   Karen (Kenneth) Cross of Missouri City, TX and 14 grand, 23 great grandchildren and 7 great great grandchildren as well as his sister, Sharon Zeller-Clark of St. Augustine, FL.

At Dee’s request, no services are planned.  However donations may be made in his honor to Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve at PO Box 780, Morongo Valley, CA 92256 or online at https://www.bigmorongo.org/donate/ .