The Field Biology Group is a student organization at California State University, Sacarmento that offers students the opportunity to explore conservation and biological issues through field experience, service and contact with professionals. The group is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Contact Allison Ferkovich aferkovich@gmail.com or Esther Tracy esther_tracy@yahoo.com for details.
New: http://csusfieldbiology.wordpress.com/
old google group Field Biology Google Group (do not use this one any more)
The Field Biology Group is a member of the Natural Sciences and Mathematics Joint Council of clubs (NSMJC). It is an official Sacramento State club. For information about other clubs, visit the Student Activities website.
Officers and Contact Information (Fall 2012):
For Fall 2012, the new officers are:
President: Esther Tracy esther_tracy@yahoo.com
Vice President: Eliza Hanson esh28@saclink.csus.edu
Treasurer: Angel Sprague as888@saclink.csus.edu
Secretary: Sam Borstein sam@borstein.com
Website: Sam Borstein sam@borstein.com
For Fall 2011, the officers were:
President: Allison Ferkovich aferkovich@gmail.com
Vice President: Nick Macias nm539@saclink.csus.edu
Treasurer: Emerson Kanawi ekanawi@gmail.com
Secretary: Rhiannon Mulligan rhiannon.ingrid@gmail.com
Upcoming Meetings and Events:
September 13, 2012. 5:00pm, Hmb 124.
?, 2012. We are going to do a massive data entry day to get as much of the campus tree data entered into the database. RSVP to Esther.
Ongoing Events:
Past Meetings and Events:
October 28-30, 2011. ask Allison for details. Organizational Meeting for the trip will be held on Oct 20, 2011, 5pm, Hmb 124.
Saturday, September 17, 2011, 9am, Alumni Grove, CSU campus. No need to RSVP. Help clean up the local stretch of the American River.
September 20, 2011, 5:00pm, Davis. The Field Biology Group has scheduled a talk and tour at the Yolo
Basin Foundation on the Mexican Free-tail bats living in California.
There presentation will begin at 5:00pm with the group heading out
together to the viewing site after. We will have the opportunity to view one of the largest colonies
of Mexican free-tailed bats in California as it emerges to hunt
insects at sunset. We meet at the Foundations headquarters building at 45211 County
Road 32B, Davis, CA 95618. RSVP to Allison.
Once again, the Field Biology Group was represented at the annual Dodgeball throwdown (September 6, 2011). While we may have failed to advance past the first round, we fought long and hard (okay, not very long). Nonetheless, we had a lot of fun. Where else do you get to throw a ball at a Professor???
Saturday/Sunday April 16/17 Mono Lake trip. Cost is $50 and we will be updating google groups on the fee due date as well as final accommodations. We would like to have a spaghetti pot luck on the evening of the 16 th. So break out that camping gear and have a great weekend learning about Mono Lake!
The Dry Creek Environmental Assessment Project continues....
April 26, Tuesday, 5-7pm. Save the frogs day! Located in Hinde Auditorium on campus. Bring friends and family, the auditorium seats 150 people so we want to fill it up. Ask your biology professors if they are interested in offering extra credit to their students for attending. If they are interested, let Kiel or Natalie know and they will give you a flier to give to your instructor.
Saturday, March 12, Pine Hill Preserve- Docent guided walk and bird watching. Bring a bag lunch and binoculars. Carpool may still be available, contact Allison.
Sunday, February 20, 9:00am to noon.Ancil Hoffman Park
Thurs, February 24, 4:30pm Hmb 124
November 10, 2010; 7:00pm, Hmb 124.
November 18, 2010; 7:30pm, Hmb 124
October 28 , 2010; 4:30pm, Hmb 124. Recent graduate, former Field Biology Group member, and current BLM
wildlife biologist Lily Douglas returns to her roots to share her recent experiences landing a gig with the feds. Learn about the Bureau of Land Management; Gain some insight into the life of a practicing wildlife biologist; Get some essential knowledge about how to prepare for ANY job with the federal government; and better understand the complex path to federal employment.
The Field Biology Group had a highly successful workshop on aquatic plants, led by Angela De Palma-Dow. We snorkeled the waters of Rancho Seco and collected samples of aquatic plants as well as water parameters (pH, dissolved oxygen, etc). The Saturday event was preceeded by a dry workshop on Thur Sept 31 in which Angela led us through identifying aquatic plants, and Dr. Tim Horner trained us on the use of various meters for recording water characteristics.
Margy Gassel spoke to a full house about the enormous vortex of plastic adrift in the Pacific Ocean. Here is a pdf copy of the flyer.
Unfortunately the waves were too high on Feb 13 for us to go whale watching. The trip is now officially rescheduled for April 10. Email Angela for details.
Tracy Audisio and Geo Groening led an expedition into the center of the earth... or at least partway there.
Dr. Lancaster gave us a presentation on his exciting work on Bats!
The Field Biology Group was well represented at this event which allowed club members to meet other students and faculty from the college.
Campus Restoration Weekend
Please RSVP to this event, remember we have both days available to work, Sat 27th and Sun 28th from 9:30 - 12:30 in the morning. We will meet at the arboretum entrance across from the parking lot that is adjacent to the student health center. We are going to be trail building, restoring, planting and weeding the riparian corridor around the north west bend of campus as well as maintenancing the CSUS arboretum. We have different duties for both days, from 9:30 - 12:30 sat and sunday, so students can work one or both days. This activity will be led by Professor Baad of the Department of Biological Sciences. This activity is a great way to positively effect campus and learn about native vegetation, please mark your calenders and come get down and dirty with the Field Biology Group! Contact Angela for details.
A determined group of FBGers headed to Half Moon Bay to go whale watching. Unfortunately, we experienced some of the largest waves this coast has seen in a while. In fact, the Mavericks surfing competition, which ONLY occurs when the surf is particularly gnarly was called to take place that day! (It didn't even happen last year because the waves weren't big enough). We got to experience just a taste of those waves. As our boat edged past the breakwater at Pillar Point marina, the captain (rightly so) decided that the waves were just too much for us to continue safely. We will be back! .
Once again, Field Biology Group put in a strong showing at the Annual NSM/EJC Turkey Bowl. A great time was had by all
Ron, Portia and Deniz participated in the Weed Warriers attack on Red Sesbania (Sesbania punicea), a non-native, invasive weed now found in the American River Parkway. Removal of Red Sesbania is an environmental stewardship project of the California Native Plant Society (Sacramento Valley Chapter). If you are interested in getting involved in this project, contact Frank Wallace (Project Director), Sacramento Weed Warriors. Email: frankw2@pacbell.net
Once again the Field Biology Group took to the arena to combat other teams at the Rec Sports Dodgeball tournament. Sadly, we did not fare well but there is always next year! Everyone had a great time.
