Sightings

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Breaching Gray Whale calf by Kathy Bishop (Medium)
ARENA THEATER OCEAN FILM FESTIVAL
Saturday, April 9th

2:00 p.m. Family/Kids Animated Films - $5

  • Ain't No Fish (4 minutes)
  • The Great Wide Open (10 minutes)
  • Song of the Spindle (5 minutes)
  • Coralax (7 minutes)
  • A Sea Turtle Story (9 minutes)
  • Zoe and Her Adventures (3 minutes)
  • Net Positiva (11 minutes)

4:00 p.m.Ocean Films - $11 in advance, $12 at the door, $5 age 12 & under.

  • Whale Aware (8 minutes)
  • TBD: Q&A with Filmmaker Lauren Gilberston (10 minutes)
  • A Small Surfer Makes Big Waves (7 minutes)
  • Cordell Bank: A Sound Investment (4 minutes)
  • Feature: Sonic Sea (55 minutes)

7:00 p.m. Ocean Films - $11 in advance, $12 at the door, $5 age 12 & under.

  • Domoic Acid Attack (3 minutes)
  • Sanctuary in the Sea (18 minutes)
  • The Cook, The Hunter, The Whales and Their Watchers (5 minutes)
  • Feature: Of the Sea (55 minutes), includes Q&A with Filmmaker Mischa Hedges (15 minutes) Few California fishing families remain. In 1981, there were nearly 7,000 families; today there are only 1,800. To revive a fading way of life, Bay Area fishermen and entrepreneurs are exploring ways to support sustainably produced seafood.
All three screenings feature different films. Attend all with a $50 VIP Pass which includes local merchant discounts!
VIP Passes - $50 per person, Includes all screenings, discounted admission to Point Arena Lighthouse and other local merchant discounts. If purchased online before Thursday, VIP Passes may be picked up in Gualala at the Visitor's Center located at 39150 S. Hwy 1(west side) in the Forte Gualala building.
For Family & Kids: At nearby Point Arena Library, the festival will offer FREE ocean exhibits and children's activities Saturday from 11am to 4pm, with special presentations and free raffles for kids from 2:30 to 4pm.
Arena Theater
214 Main Street
Point Arena, CA
All Saturday screening tickets are available in advance at
www.arenatheater.org or at the door.
On Saturday Evening, 215 Main Wine Bar sponsors a special Festival Reception with featured filmmakers. All Adult Festival Participants are invited to attend. Come meet the film directors. Donations are welcomed at the door and raffle tickets will be available.
On Sunday Morning, to complement the Film Festival, the Greater Farallones Association and California State Parks will conduct a naturalist-led "Wildflowers & Whales" Walk at Salt Point State Park, starting at 10:00 a.m.
Sunday Wildflower & Whale Walk*
*Contact sara.heintzelman@noaa.gov  for $20 Walk tickets sold separately or call (415) 561-6625 x 315 for further information about ALL of these events.
Ocean-themed Indie Films; Festival Reception; Family Activities; Q&A with Filmmakers and Marine Life Experts; Great Raffle Prizes! Proceeds benefit the non-profit Greater Farallones Association's ocean education and science programs in Sonoma and Mendocino counties.

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Linda Bostwick and Mel Smith noticed this juvenile Red-tailed Hawk perusing their vegetable garden in Point Arena. The hawk is welcome to any tasty gophers it finds in there!

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk by Mel Smith

Here's a close-up of one taken by Sylvia Marie. Red-tailed hawks have so many different feather patterns and colors. It's a good thing the adults have that red tail!

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk by Sylvia Marie (Large)

Thanks to Mel and Sylvia for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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Dave Shpak photographed a great example of sea foam, created during the last big storm. He found it at Manchester Beach.

Sea Foam at Mancheser Beach by Dave Shpak

It's caused by the wave action. If you took a jar and filled it with ocean water and then shook it, you would make sea foam. It's made up of organic matter, such as dead kelp. It's quite startling to see!

Thanks to Dave for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

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Clay Yale  noticed two ladybugs mating and snapped this photo.

Ladybugs mating by Clay Yale

Male birds are singing to attract a mate - it's quite lovely to listen in. Steller's Jays are building a nest over our outdoor light fixture. Love is definitely in the air.

Thanks to Clay for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

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Irma Brandt came to our property to look at a few amanitas that appeared a several weeks ago. She discovered they were Amanita gemmata, Gemmed Amanitas. They are also called Jonquil Amanita. They are quite poisonous, so look but don't eat.

Irma Brandt with Gemmed Amanita, Amanita gemmata by Jeanne Jackson

It is perfectly safe to handle this mushroom as you see Irma doing. It takes ingesting it to make one sick. The photo below shows the mature mushroom, and the following  photo shows one just peeking up from the duff with the one Irma dug up next to it.

A Gemmed Amanita by Jeanne Jackson Two Gemmed Amanitas by Jeanne Jackson

There is great beauty in mushrooms, and the way they evolve as they grow is fascinating.