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- Written by: Editor
Berkeley resident Jennifer Joynt’s image of an American pika in Yosemite National Park earned the 2015 grand prize in the California Wildlife Photo of the Year contest.
The image of the furry, diminutive critter was chosen as the winner of the yearlong contest presented by Outdoor California magazine and California Watchable Wildlife Inc., and sponsored by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and the State Coastal Conservancy.
Joynt’s picture captures the animal as it crests a rock formation along a trail near Gaylor Lake.
The shot was the winner for the November/December issue of Outdoor California magazine, and in early January, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham selected it as the year’s top wildlife photo.
“The image of this pocket-sized American pika holding blades of grass that are nearly longer than its body length captures the imagination immediately,” Director Bonham said. “You can’t deny the ‘aww-factor’ that comes from the facial expression, but I see a pika on a mission to build its hay pile, its nest, its future. Such is the indomitable way of nature.”
Beginning Monday, the top eight images (including a second photo of Joynt’s) from the contest will hang as part of a week-long display at the Capitol outside the Governor’s Office. The photographs include all of the year’s top finishers and honorable mentions selected by the contest sponsors.
In addition to Joynt’s pika photograph, the photos on display include:
– Gray kit fox (Jennifer Joynt);
– American Rubyspot Damselfly (Phil Robertson, Lincoln);
– Northern river otter (Beth Savidge, Davis);
– Great Egret at marsh (Sandrine Biziaux Scherson, Irvine);
– Ferruginous hawk (Gary Kunkel, Visalia);
– Black bear cub (Brent Paull, Tulare);
– Summer tanagers (Brent Paull).
On Thursday morning, Joynt will join Senator Loni Hancock (D-Oakland) on the floor of the Senate, where she will receive a proclamation honoring her work.
This is not the first time Joynt has been recognized for her photographic skills.
Two years ago, her photo of a marmot pair near Tuolumne Meadows was selected as the honorable mention winner for the contest.
Her work has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, Bay Nature Magazine and Berkeleyside. She has also contributed multiple photographs to the East Bay Regional Park District for use in park signs, brochures and calendars.
Her favorite Bay Area wildlife photography locations include the East Bay Regional Parks and Point Reyes National Seashore.
In 2011, Outdoor California teamed with California Watchable Wildlife to launch an annual contest to acknowledge photographs that illustrate the state’s diverse wildlife and the viewing experiences found throughout its natural and wild lands.
California Watchable Wildlife celebrates the state’s wildlife and diverse habitats by promoting the value of wildlife viewing to individuals, families, communities and industries while fostering awareness of and support for conservation and protection efforts.
After a successful first year, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy joined as a contest sponsor to encourage more representation from a region rich with a diversity of wildlife.
The State Coastal Conservancy joined last year as a sponsor.
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NORTH COAST, Calif. – The State Water Resources Control Board and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are jointly hosting a public meeting for landowners in the Russian River Watershed on Tuesday, Jan. 26.
Staff from the two departments will provide information about residents’ water rights, the reliability of their water supply and actions they can take to reduce impacts on salmon and steelhead fisheries.
A variety of representatives from state, federal, county and local agencies will be on hand to answer questions, including the Sonoma and Gold Ridge Resource Conservation Districts and other entities with knowledge of the area.
Key topics include compliance with water reporting requirements and grant funding opportunities for water conservation and water storage projects.
The meeting will take place at the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board Hearings Room, 5550 Skylane Blvd., Suite A, Santa Rosa.
It is an “open house” format and attendees may stop by anytime between 3 to 7 p.m. Please RSVP at 916-319-0631 (reservations are not required, but are appreciated).
Despite recent rains, the state remains in drought status. The Russian River Watershed is critical habitat for endangered coho salmon, and water usage impacts the species.
Late last summer, some residents and area businesses took actions to enhance creek flows in some areas. Their efforts were a welcome contribution to the state’s efforts to help the salmon, and scientists hope to encourage others to take similar measures.
To receive additional information, subscribe to the State Water Board’s “California Water Action Plan/Statewide Instream Flows” email list located under “Water Rights” at the following webpage: www.waterboards.ca.gov/resources/email_subscriptions/swrcb_subscribe.shtml .
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- Written by: Carrie Wilson
Required to abide by boat limits when fishing on a party boat?
Question: I was on a party boat last month fishing for rockfish and lingcod. The captain/deckhand announced that we were on this boat limit system and I didn’t completely understand the regulations.
I ended up with a bunch of small fish that someone else didn’t want just because they are using bait/flies that catch small fish and they sorted out all the bigger fish prior to telling the deckhand. Then they put all of these dinks into my bag and I was told I had a limit of tiny fish.
Could I have opted out of it? (Tom)
Answer: When fishing on the ocean, boat limits apply (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 195(e)).
A boat limit for a species or species group is equal to the number of passengers aboard the vessel that are licensed or otherwise authorized to sport fish in ocean waters off California multiplied by the individual daily bag limit authorized for a species or species group.
This means that each boat must stop fishing once they have the number of fish on board that collectively equal the number of licensed fishermen on the boat, multiplied by the individual limits.
For example, on a boat with 20 licensed fishermen, if the bag limit is 10 fish per person, the boat cannot carry more than 200 fish regardless of who caught them.
Each person cannot leave the boat with more than an individual bag limit. That’s why the captain told the deckhand to fill the remainder of the bags to limits with the extra fish caught by other anglers.
Although this is legal under California law, it may not seem satisfying for people expecting to catch and keep only those fish they catch themselves.
Some fishermen are not as successful as others and are may be happy to accept fish others have taken, while others would rather only keep what they have caught. It’s a fine balance for the crew who are trying to keep everyone happy.
Keep in mind though that you are not obligated to take the fish from the captain. If you don’t mind going in without your limit, the captain cannot order you to take fish. However, this should be discussed with the crew BEFORE fishing has started, if at all possible.
If you have decided to only take the fish you have caught, and there is an extra limit of fish on the boat because everyone else who walked off had a limit, the captain may be in violation.
You could also advise the skipper when you board the boat that you will not be accepting fish, so don’t count you in on the boat limit.
All I can recommend for next time is to check with the boat captain ahead of time to see what their practice is and if you may not be able to catch all of your own fish. If so, you may decide to check around for another boat and captain.
Some boat captains want to be able to bring in the maximum amount of fish so that their catch report shows future passengers that they are successful at finding the fish. Other boat captains may have a different approach.
Finding the landing/captain that matches your mindset is a better bet than finding out otherwise once you’ve already paid your fees and are on the boat.
Trading services for smoked fish and fish parts?
Question: I want the spinal cord from a legally caught white sturgeon that was taken from a pier by a sport fisherman. I also want to smoke a good portion of the meat in exchange for some of the smoked fish.
Is it legal for my friend to give me the spinal cord? Is it legal to smoke the fish in exchange for a portion of the fish? (Catharine S., Oakland)
Answer: There is no law prohibiting your friend from giving you the spinal cord or any other part of a legally possessed fish, so long as all other laws are followed.
However, fish caught under the authority of a sport fishing license cannot be bought, sold, traded or bartered in any manner (Fish and Game Code, sections 7121 and 75). This includes any type of trade or barter of even parts with the expectation of receiving something in return.
Big game hunting with javelins?
Question: I just tried javelin throwing for the first time and it sparked an idea that I could hunt with this for big game mammals.
I can’t find this specified anywhere in the mammal hunting regulations booklet though, so does this mean since it isn’t mentioned, it’s illegal to use to take down an animal? (Brent L.)
Answer: You are correct. Hunting by spear or javelin is not a legal method of take.
Carrie Wilson is a marine environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week in this column. Please contact her at
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- Written by: Editor
UKIAH, Calif. – Mendocino College sophomore student-athlete Jamar King is attracting the attention of several four-year college football programs, including major FBS program at Ohio State University.
King played the 2014 and 2015 seasons for the Mendocino College Eagles football team. Led by head coach Frank Espy, he played on the defensive line for the Eagles.
King was named to the Bay Valley Conference All-Conference Team both seasons. Additionally, he was named to the California Community Colleges All-California Region II First Team Defense in 2015 and named the Region’s Defensive Player of the Year.
As part of the recruiting process, prospective recruits are able to make five official visits to colleges which they might attend (one visit to each college).
King was invited to visit Ohio State on Saturday, Jan. 16, while Mendocino College is on recess between the fall and spring semesters.
In addition to King’s excellent skills on the football field, he is playing center this season for the Mendocino College men’s basketball team.
King took time off from the basketball team last week to make this first official college visitation. The visit to Ohio State University, currently ranked fourth in the nation, came with a scholarship offer to play for the school’s nationally ranked football team. While there, King met with Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer.
Returning home this week, King mentioned the calls he was receiving from other nationally ranked college football teams, including calls from 2016 National Championship winner, Alabama Crimson Tide.
According to Mendocino College Athletic Director Matt Gordon, “It’s an incredible accomplishment for one of our fine players to be recruited by nationally ranked college football teams. Jamar has excelled on both the football field and the basketball court and we are proud to call him our own.”
Gordon also states, “King is a stellar student athlete. His personal, athletic, and academic development in his time here at Mendocino College is a true testimony to Jamar’s commitment and the commitment of our coaching staff. Each and every one of our coaches are devoted to our athletic program and take great pride in encouraging their players to excel both on and off the field.”
King did find time in his busy recruiting schedule to play with his basketball teammates in their Wednesday evening home game against BVC opponent Yuba College. The Eagles won that game 77-74.
Following King’s Wednesday night basketball game, he mentioned that he was scheduled to make a visit to the University of Alabama on Jan. 22. He also mentioned that he had been contacted by Michigan State University.
Although prospective recruits can make nonbinding verbal commitments to play for colleges as early as high school, the official first day they can sign a written commitment is the first Wednesday in February. This day, known as National Letter of Intent Day, is Feb. 3.
Although King can make a verbal commitment to sign with a college before that date, he cannot formally sign until February 3. He is free to change his decision until he signs.