This is the schedule of events for the Conservation in the Vineyards program as they stand on Tuesday February 26, 2019.

May 2: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Arrivals
There will be a reception and hosted cocktail party at the Vineyard Inn. The hospitality room is on the ground floor. Just ask. It won’t be hard to find.
Friday May 3: Various tours as follows.
Breakfast will be ready at 7 AM for the early starters.
8:00 AM – 12 PM. Trophy Room Tour The first van will depart between eight and 8:30 and it will take nearly an hour to arrive at Rich Pierce’s trophy room in Clayton. Box lunch will be provided. Return by noon. (Limited to 20 people)

This 38 1/2 in wide buck is one of the larger bucks in Rich’s collection, maybe not the largest.
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Friday Ohlone Conservation Bank. Rob Fletcher will load his truck up with four guests and take them on a tour of the Ohlone Preserve Conservation Bank. This is a great time of year to view butterflies and wildflowers. (Limited to four guests)
11:00 AM Friday: Holm Ranch. Load up and travel to the Holm Ranch where former Livermore Chapter Chair Bob Holm will show you some of the best blacktail habitat in the East Bay Area. He’ll also provide a group of 8 people with a barbecue lunch. (Limited to 8 guests)

Greg and Emilee Selna with a Holm- Ranch buck killed on a donated youth hunt.
11:00 AM until 4:00 PM Friday. Wine tasting at Livermore Valley wineries. Passes and transportation will be provided.
1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Friday Tour a ranch and wind farm with owner Janice Marciel. Come learn about Wildlife Barriers in the Altamont Hills – wind turbines, freeways and aqueducts. The Altamont Hills are home to many threatened and endangered species.
Friday and Saturday Tour Leader Janice Marciel

Friday Evening 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM McGrail Vineyards
Social gathering at McGrail Vineyards. Hosted McGrail wine, heavy appetizers and a sausage table with some of your favorite venison – deer and elk.
This is a great opportunity to spend time one-on-one with MDF leaders, biologists, and land managers while trying out Livermore wines. Enjoy the fabulous view of the surrounding East Bay hills.
Saturday May 4. Open Space Tour 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM and load up the 4X4 pickups at 8 AM. This will be a caravan into Southeast Alameda County. The tour will be guided by many local experts and MDF supporters.
Here are some of the things you’ll be looking for:
Tule elk bull
Two deer in one day. A rare event these days.
Callippe butterfly on buckeye blossom.
Here they are again.
Western fence lizards are common in the rock outcrops.
nervous coyote
As I stopped to open the gate to our property, I spotted movement to my left. Turned out it was a group of jakes – about five or six in total. This was the best photo.
He stayed in place while I drove around to his front side for this shot from about 100 yards.
Mountain lion track in a muddy trail, early morning with ground frozen.
Checkerbloom I believe.
Rob pointed out some baby blue eyes – with bug.
These old toms have been hanging out near the neighbor’s barn.
Cooper’s hawks have narrow bodies and short stubby wings which allow them to manuever through trees.
The tour will cover three different management regimes. Although these open space lands may look the same, the underlying management goals are significantly different.
1. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission manages watershed lands throughout the Bay Area. Read about it. SF PUC San Antonio Reservoir
The mission of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is to provide their customers with high quality, efficient and reliable water, power, and sewer services in a manner that is inclusive of environmental and community interests, and that sustains the resources entrusted to their care.
Tour Leader Clayton Koopmann BIO Clayton third person short version with photo
2. East Bay Regional Park District East Bay Parks Stewardship
More information
Bio Doug Bell Bell_BioV2_2019 one pg
3. Fletcher Conservation Lands FCL web site
What is a private conservation bank?
About Rob Fletcher Rob Fletcher Manager, FCLands
Joe DiDonato biologist Joe DiDonato bio
Saturday Evening 6:00 PM to 10 PM at Poppy Ridge Golf Course

Sit down and enjoy the views. Choose from four meal options. Hosted bar.
Hear what MDF leaders have to say about the state of MDF, the Endowment Fund, major MDF projects and the future. We will ask for your financial support.
Side by side flyer
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