Year: 2006

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE CHICKS!!

Update on White-tailed kites … In May we reported that the pair of white-tailed kites occupying the east nesting area on More Mesa had fledged three chicks. This eastern area on More Mesa, known as Oak Hollow, has consistently and persistently been occupied each year with breeding kites. It now appears they have fledged another brood of three, and these youngsters are already out and about flying and foraging.

At one of the other traditional nesting tree sites on western More Mesa, two chicks fledged in May. The parents of these chicks appear to have moved to central More Mesa for a possible second nesting site.

This brings the known and recorded total of white-tailed kite chicks this year to eight or possibly more.

Two of the three kites hatched from a second nest on East More Mesa. Photographed, July 9, 2006. 

Candidate Forum
On May 11th, the More Mesa Preservation Coalition (MMPC) hosted a Forum for all the candidates seeking the position of Second District Supervisor. About 100 people were present to hear what each candidate had to say, with regard to specific questions about More Mesa, and Open Space in general. Feedback from supporters and other members of the community was extremely positive, and media coverage (including a front page story in the News Press) was broad and balanced. Equally well received, and lauded, was our detailed reporting of the event, including all the candidates’ answers.

This feature, may be found here. (Also see our ‘Thanks” section this month to hear about people and organizations who helped create this event.)

Blue Grosbeak on More Mesa, June 10, 2006. 

Candidate Forum
As we reported last month, MMPC is sponsoring an informal forum among the candidates for Second District Supervisor. The purpose of the forum will be to hear how each candidate, if elected, proposes to preserve More Mesa, and other open space, in the Second District. The forum will be held on May 11th, between 5:30 and 7:30 in the Vista la Cumbre Common Area (end of Mockingbird Lane). For detailed directions, additional information, or questions, please contact us via the Contact page.

White-tailed Kites
We are extremely pleased to report that the pair of white-tailed kites currently occupying the east ancestral nest on More Mesa has already fledged three chicks. And … the parents appear to be building yet another nest for a second brood!  On the west end, two chicks have been seen and the parents appear to be thinking about a second nest. This news is especially heartening, since many of the other historical kite nests in the Goleta Valley appear to be empty this year.  A short walk onto More Mesa from the east will afford excellent views of the three youngsters practicing their hunting skills.

Juvenile kite on west end of More Mesa, May 9, 2006. 

WHO WILL DO MORE FOR MORE MESA?

You ask, they answer,
then you decide whom you want
for
Second District Supervisor

Last month’s news highlighted the importance of the upcoming election for Second District Supervisor.  In keeping with this theme, the More Mesa Preservation Coalition (MMPC) is pleased to sponsor an informal forum among the candidates for Second District Supervisor. This is an opportunity for all residents, especially in neighborhoods on the northeast corner of More Mesa, to find out what each candidate would DO to preserve More Mesa, as well as other open space in our community.  After a few prepared topics, the candidates will answer questions from attendees. 

What: Candidate’s Forum
Where: Common Area -Vista la Cumbre
Date: Thursday, May 11, 2006
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Who: Joe Guzzardi, Dan Secord, Das Williams and Janet Wolf

Since there is no parking on Mockingbird and parking is limited on Puente, we are encouraging neighbors to walk to the event, which will be held near the end of Mockingbird Lane.

For detailed directions, additional information, or questions, please contact us via the Contact page.

Cedar Waxwings were seen on and near More Mesa in recent weeks. 

This month’s news brings you excerpts of a recent MMPC press release.

South Coast residents face many challenges protecting our environment and quality of life, including traffic congestion, provision of affordable housing and protection of agricultural land and open space. Protection of irreplaceable agricultural land and critical open space is often the most hotly debated of these issues. Residents’ passion for open space protection is exemplified by successful efforts to protect coastal areas; i.e., Ellwood Mesa-Devereux Slough, Wilcox property, Carpinteria Bluffs and the debate over how to protect the Gaviota Coast. Among these coastal treasures, perhaps the most significant and threatened unprotected land is the 300 acres of stunning bluff top open space on More Mesa.

Located in the east Goleta Valley west of Hope Ranch and 2 miles east of Goleta Beach, this incredible open space has survived several past development efforts. However, the irreplaceable values of open space are threatened by the potential for development of 70 mansions onsite and by encroaching development of “McMansions” on surrounding properties.

How or whether to save More Mesa from potential development and how to address the environmental and visual impacts created by encroaching development will come into focus over the next four years. First, the “visioning process” currently underway in for the eastern Goleta Valley could change the Goleta Community Plan’s land use plan and policies which guide development on More Mesa and the surrounding properties. In addition, a new Second District Supervisor will be elected in November. The convergence of the election of a new County Supervisor for the District encompassing More Mesa and the emergence of a new or amended community plan create both opportunity for protection of More Mesa or increase the danger presented by new development.

The visioning process presents the community with an opportunity to foster protection of More Mesa and its resources through creation of new polices to protect public views, strengthen habitat protection, limit McMansion style development and encourage the County to actively pursue purchase of More Mesa. If championed by the Goleta Visioning Committee and a new Second District Supervisor, the protection of More Mesa could take its place alongside environmental victories such as the protection of the Ellwood Mesa. However, a divided Visioning Committee and a new Supervisor unsympathetic or hostile to protection of More Mesa could sow the seeds for a calamitous environmental defeat such as the development of critical coastal open spaces at Haskell’s Beach and Hammonds Meadow.

Citizens interested in the protection of More Mesa and its resources would do well to carefully follow the visioning process and to clearly understand the views of the candidates seeking the Second Supervisorial District seat regarding protection of More Mesa. The Visioning Committee and the new Second District Supervisor may well hold the fate of this critical coastal open space in their hands.

White-tailed kite over northwestern More Mesa, March 20, 2006