California Redwoods, the Spotted Owl and A Photography Adventure with Fort Bragg’s Ron LeValley June 26
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Pidgeon Guillemot's on the Mendocino Coast by Ron LeValley
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What: Learn how to take nature photos from master nature photography Ron LeValley
The Place: Hendy Woods State Park; Highway 128
Time: Saturday, June 26, – 9am-1pm
Notes: bring a lunch for a picnic
Cost: $25
Why: A fundraiser for MAPA – Mendocino Area Parks Association, the volunteer ground that supports Mendocino Coast State Parks
Learn more about Fort Bragg Area Redwoods Adventures
The spotted owl probably had more to do with saving California’s old growth redwoods than a legion of tree sitters.
Few people probably know that at the center the that effort to save the redwoods and the birds was Fort Bragg’s own Ron LeValley, a wildlife biologist who literally created the book for other biologists on how to count and track the endangered bird.
A few more people may know about Ron’s decades of experience taking ecotourists around the world to watch and photograph wildlife in the forests and ocean (especially birds and whales).
Internationally Ron is noted as one the world’s top nature photographers and, as person in the know, told me, he’s one of top 25 birders in the world.
If you’re a photograher, here’s the guy to spend a morning in a redwood forest with a camera.
The Backstory: The event is a fundraiser for Mendocino Area Parks Association (MAPA) & Hendy Woods. MAPA
funds the natural and cultural history programs in our local state parks, including payroll and education supplies for three Seasonal Park Interpreters, and supports six visitor centers such as the one in Hendy Woods.
“MAPA is honored that LeValley agreed to share his expertise in nature photography”, says Carolyne Cathey, MAPA Executive Director.
People will meet at the Hendy Woods campfire center next to the Visitor Center. Hendy is located off Highway 128, north of Philo, on Greenwood-Elk Road. Bring cameras, a picnic lunch, and questions on photography. After starting with a class discussion at the campfire center, LeValley will lead a nature hike into Hendy Woods, assisted by Fred Andrews, CA State Park Interpreter II, and Hendy’s Seasonal Park Interpreter, Peter Bidigare (funded by MAPA). The class winds up with a picnic (bring your lunch) during the Question and
Answer session. $25 suggested donations are encouraged and will help MAPA provide future education programs, Park Interpreters such as Bidigare, and interpretive equipment.
The new Nikon 5000 camera Bidigare will be using was made possible by a $1500 grant from Save the Redwoods League and by donations from Out of this World (Mendocino). An infrared camera for night-time photography was also
part of the grant. The Park Interpreters will use the new cameras to document Hendy’s flora and fauna for education purposes, and to provide excellent quality photos for the parks’ campfire programs. The previous grant from Save the Redwoods League purchased the laptop computer and PowerPoint Projector used to help make Hendy’s education programs the
highest-possible quality.
About Ron: LeValley is founder and Senior Biologist of Mad River Biologists, (http://madriverbio.com/staff/ronlevalley/) a biological consulting firm in Arcata California. Best known for the identification and distribution of birds along the Pacific Coast, he also has an extensive understanding of a broad range of natural history subjects. A lifelong interest in marine birds and mammals was enhanced by his involvement with Point Reyes Bird Observatory beginning in 1966, including serving as a biologist at the
Farallon Island research station. Ron gathered a world-wide perspective on ecological issues when he founded and for 15 years directed Biological Journeys, a pioneering ecotourism company. One of Ron’s outstanding attributes is sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with others.
As a professional photographer, Ron has compiled an impressive collection (over 70,000 images) of wildlife photographs that he uses for presentations and publications. Ron’s photography started back in the 1960’s and has evolved with the technology of the time. Presently he shoots three different digital cameras depending on the situation. More information on LeValley is
at http://www.levalleyphoto.com/
Ron is also a founding member in the Mendocino Coast Photographer Guild and Gallery <http://www.mcpgg.com/> , 301 North Main Street, Fort Bragg CA where his work is on display.