Saunter down the main street of Paramount Ranch and you get the odd feeling that you’ve been here before. That sheriff’s office and the swinging door of the saloon look familiar, don’t they? Before the all-star BioBlitz team came to town, stars of a different variety filled this ageless ranch. More than 100 classic western films were shot here in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. … Continue reading Paramount’s Past
Disney animators created Simba, Mufasa, Nala, and Scar at a Burbank studio just north of Griffith Park, eastern outpost of the Santa Monica Mountains BioBlitz. But the Lion King stars aren’t the only big cats to prowl these hills: The Santa Monica Mountains are home to mountain lions (also known as pumas) and bobcats. Inventory teams routinely find paw prints and scat, but the animals … Continue reading Collared Carnivores
We’re just here to educate, engage … and survive!” says Karma Graham, District Interpretive Specialist with California State Parks. Paramount Ranch is abuzz with rangers sporting their classic uniforms, complete with hats and sequoia cone belts. Some serve as interpreters and educators, others manage logistics, security, and crowd control. Everyone is busy ensuring that all goes well in a two-day event that represents the culmination … Continue reading Kids + conservation education= A greener tomorrow!
The Santa Monica Mountains BioBlitz is underway! “Take a look around,” said Ray Sauvajot, chief of planning, science, and resource management for the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. “This is what we’re exploring, from Griffith Park all the way out to the western end of the Santa Monica Mountains at the Oxnard plane and Mugu Lagoon…. Jump over the top of these hills and … Continue reading Bioblitz Kickoff: 12pm PDT May 30, 2008
1. Competions: Akshay Rajagopal Wins National Geographic Bee On May 21, 2008, eleven-year-old sixth-grader Akshay Rajagopal of Lincoln, Nebraska, took top honors at the 20th National Geographic Bee held in Washington, D.C. He won a $25,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society. Akshay, who attends Lux Middle School in Lincoln, did not miss a single question in the preliminary, final and … Continue reading Four for Friday
