It’s all about water
On our recent trip to California, we visited the Pacific coast near San Diego and the desert at Anza Borrego Desert State Park. In both places, adapting to life with and without water influences everything. On the coast, we explored tide pools, where twice a day species that live on the margin between ocean and land showcase a myriad ways of staying moist when the tide goes out. The area we explored is a designated marine reserve which helps protect the rocky and sandy intertidal areas these species rely on.
In the desert, plants and wildlife tap into what little water there is and hold onto it with tenacity. We hiked along a dry wash up to a small oasis where birds, insects, and other wildlife find water and are sheltered by California fan palms, the only native palm tree in the state. Hummingbirds buzzed everywhere and I was thrilled to hear Canyon wrens and see a pair of Loggerhead shrike.
For people, too, it’s all about water. While its hard to argue the attraction to sunny weather and coastal living, the cost is clear. San Diego imports 90-percent of its water from Northern California and the over-used Colorado River. Ninety percent of California’s coastal wetlands have been paved over and built upon.
We visited a restored wetland at San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, and it was a treat. More than 40 percent of North American bird species have been sighted here as they migrate north and south. I haven’t encountered American Avocets or rattlesnakes in many, many years. So, despite being rather startled when I nearly walked over the snake, I consider myself lucky to have seen both.
Our journey through aquatic and arid landscapes underscored the profound importance of water as a critical lifeline. As I sketched and enjoyed these preserves, the value of stewardship was ever present. Our adventure in California was a vivid reminder that every drop counts.
Tips & Techniques- There’s so much to learn when traveling. Lead with curiosity and use your sketches as an opportunity to explore more!
Winslow Art Center’s Spring Fling Festival is coming up April 10-13. It’s a great chance to sample instructors and take advantage of free classes. I’m leading Sketchbook Happy Hour on Friday, 4/11. Check it out!
Drawn In 
What vivid and informative sketchbook pages. Glad to got to see so much on your trip. Personally I would have considered myself lucky to have NEVER seen the rattlesnake! I do, however, consider myself lucky to have signed up for the Winslow Center’s Spring Fling (and hopefully no rattlesnakes will be included).
No rattlesnakes at Spring Fling! Thanks for following my travels and sketches!
WOW!! Your Tide Pools sketch is amazing! Love, love, love it.
Thanks Pat! I love poking around and sketching in tide pools. I never know what I’ll find or how a page will turn out.
Your post and sketches … so exciting to explore, Jean! So worth the wait to virtually wander the tide pools with you. What pleasure to see you address the dire water situation of the West; at the Colorado River outflow. NM has been suffering too …. Water levels in the Rio Grande are critically low, with allocations being sent to downstream pecan farms, a very thirsty tree crop. Such a critical situation, it’s hard to imagine what the future will bring when the fresh water supply rapidly dries due to many reasons. Bringing attention to this issue was beautifully handled and an excellent topic for nature journaling.
Love how you encouraged us to ‘lead with curiosity’ (I may borrow that brilliant phrase), no matter where wonder might take us. Beautiful avocets, map, Yikes! Rattler!, yay, loggerhead shrikes and hummers (all but the avocets will arrive in central NM very soon). Thanks always for sharing your work, thoughts and tips.
Thanks Barb– I rambled around the southwest in my graduate school days and was always aware of the water situation. I’ve visited dams, canyons, and the trickle of the Colorado at the Mexican border. It’s only gotten worse since. I liked the way water connected these different places and experiences. Enjoy spring in NM!
Your sketches always teach me so much…….about art but also about nature and our environment. Thank you!
Thank Teresa– There’s so much to learn! I’m glad you are following and always appreciate hearing from you.
I agree with Teresam61 ! Jean, beautiful and informative as always!
It is all about the water… and the water colors! I really enjoyed your sketchbook summaries, loose and relaxed and vibrant. You’ve convinced me – I’ve added San Elijo to my future birding locations list, thanks!
Oh…you would like it there. If you are in the area, you could spend all day photographing. The trails are close to the wetland so you can view the birds up close. It looks like there a group of regular birders who do regular bird counts so you could contact the nature center to find out what’s there when you want to go.
Jean that was a great rundown on your trip to California, the lagoon is a delightful place, there is another one that starts on Vulcan Mt and goes on a trail all the way to Del Mar with a lot of interesting places on the way. I can get you more info if you would like! The tide pools are such lovely places to go and see all the little creatures that live there and survive the tides. We have a lot here but the critters are different because of the cold and rough seas. See you tomorrow!
I’ve fallen behind but just want to say this is a terrific post. Oh, I love Avocets & Stilts so much! We were staying right near Annie’s Canyon but never made it there. No problem, there was plenty to do and best of all was just slow walks on the beach. I love the kelp decor framing the first sketch, by the way. 🙂 Good for you for separating hummingbird species and how cool that you saw a Loggerhead shrike! A bird I’ve only seen a few times, way back in the 70s or 80s I think. They are very cool birds. I was just reading about a steep decline in our migrant hummer here – one, the Anna’s, overwinters and the Rufous migrates up. Apparently they are moving north and inland though so in this case it may be a northward climate-related change rather than an overall decline. But there’s no doubt insects and birds and so many other forms of life are suffering due to our stupidity. We need a big change, fast. OK, enough!
Thanks for all your recent comments! I don’t know how you ever keep up between your own posts and the blogs you follow. I’m glad your recent trip to CA is echoes a bit here. It’s a pleasure to explore the wilder places along the coast — and marvel how much wildlife exists in close proximity to people. Hope you’re enjoying spring!
The spring ephemerals are trying to outrun me! The Fawn lilies are gone already but I did get some decent photos. Tiny Calypso orchids and Shooting stars are both plentiful this year. If only we could freeze this moment in time and extend it for a month! Two months! 😉 I’m sure you’re enjoying it all as well.
I feel the same way…I need an extension!