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SURF 2018

The Stanford-US Russia forum brings together Americans and Russians for a week-long conference at Stanford and in Washington, DC, where they share their collaborative research projects. But before the academics begin SURF kicks off at Fort Ross, wher....More

MEP Number Three!

On Monday, March 26th, FRC Instructors Charon Vilnai and Hank Birnbaum completed our 3rd Marine Ecology Program of the year! A great return group from Point Arena Elementary with the wonderful teacher, Cristin Allen. We loved our time spent with this....More

Strawberry Fields

Corallimorphs are not true anemones. The most obvious difference is that their tentacles end in knobs (club-tipped tentacles). Corallimorphs are also very similar to corals in some other characters, but lack the hard coral skeleton. This species is o....More

Kedry Spring Celebration 2018

There are certain plants, some unique to Sonoma County and some found throughout the world, that will tell you when spring has arrived. The willow trees that grow with such vigor near our waterways grow buds that swell and burst with bright yellow fu....More

Welcome!

Welcome to the Fort Ross Conservancy Blog!  We hope you enjoy this collection of observations made the dedicated and enthusiastic staff.  Each one of us is a passionate naturalist, finding joy, beauty and importance in every moment we get to spend ....More

Spring Has Sprung!

Well, it seems to be Spring all of a sudden here at Fort Ross, never mind it's just the beginning of February!  Regardless, it's been simply stunning here all week. Balmy, near 70 degrees without our typical Spring winds.  The ocean is still and c....More

Sea Lion Survey Project News - April 25, 2018

During our last monthly sea lion survey of the Fort Ross Sea Lion Rocks, FRC’s Director of Programs, Song Hunter, spotted the first tagged animal we’ve seen during one of our surveys! The animal was a California sea lion, and from the yellow tag ....More

Spring Equinox

While traveling North from Bodega bay after a training with Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods, we (Song Hunter and Charon Vilnai) witnessed a concentration of migrating whales like we had never seen before! Dozens must have been traveling along wit....More

Beach Watch Survey - April 9, 2018

Last Monday’s Beach Watch Survey was an especially active one, with many new species (to us – Charon and myself) and a few very unusual sightings! Each time we go out we feel giddy with excitement, like kids on a treasure hunt.  ‘What do you ....More

Burrowing Owl

This owl was observed for the third time on December 14, 2017 by Jamie Hall, Charon Vilnai, and Song Hunter on their monthly Beach Watch survey at Fort Ross State Historic Park.  Information from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Owls are unmis....More

Grey Whales, Stellers, and Mergansers, Oh My!

During our last Beach Watch survey of Fort Ross State Historic Park, Charon Vilnai and I (Song Hunter) were lucky to see a few less common/seasonal species (to FRSHP) and a few very common species up close and personal!....More

Learning to Prune in the Historic Fort Ross Orchard

On March 10, 2018 I arrived at the historic Fort Ross Orchard on a foggy late-winter day, there was a chill in the air but the winds were calm. I heard cheerful sounds coming from the trees and as I followed the sounds I saw a group of friendly fac....More