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The discovery of information concerning Tejon Ranch is an ongoing quest of the Conservancy. We will provide updated information on these resources as it becomes available. On this page you can explore available sources of information concerning the natural resources of Tejon Ranch.
iNaturalist
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INaturalist is a place where you can record what you see in nature, meet other nature lovers, and learn about the natural world. Miriam Moses, a UC Berkeley undergraduate research assistant, developed an iNaturalist project for the Tejon Ranch Conservancy (thanks Miriam!). It can be accessed at: http://www.inaturalist.org/projects/tejon-ranch-conservancy
Baseline Surveys of the Tejon Ranch Acquisition Areas
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The Conservancy contracted with several organizations to help us document the biological resources (plants, reptiles and amphibians, and mammals) in the five Acquisition Areas on Tejon Ranch (the conservation easements for the 62,000 acres within the Acquisition Areas were acquired February 28, 2011). David Magney Environmental Consulting – botany Dr. Brian Cypher, Endangered Species Recovery Program, CSU Stanislaus – mammalsDr. Mark Jennings, Live Oak Associates – reptiles and amphibians
Le Conte’s Thrasher Surveys (September 2012)
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Le Conte’s thrasher (Toxostoma lecontei) is a species of Concern in California. In partnership with the Tejon Ranch Conservancy, PRBO Conservation Science surveyed 20 Le Conte’s Thrasher transects along the Tehachapi foothills on Tejon Ranch. PRBO detected two, and perhaps three, mated Le Conte’s Thrasher pairs and one unmated (but territorial) male during surveys. Get the full report here.
Mount Pinos Sooty Grouse Survey (May 2009)The Mt. Pinos Sooty Grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosus howardi), a priority 2 California Species of Special Concern, is an endemic subspecies of Sooty Grouse that historically ranged through the southern Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi Mountains, to Mt. Pinos.
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The Mt. Pinos Sooty Grouse requires mature conifer/fir forests for its habitat. This subspecies has not been observed in the southern portion of its range since the early 1980s, and discovery of an extant population on Tejon Ranch would be important to the conservation of this subspecies. In May 2009 the Conservancy conducted a focused survey for this species in the conifer forests on Tejon Ranch with Mr. James Bland, an authority on the species. Three days of surveys were conducted using standard protocols: walking transects through patches of forest habitat looking for sign (feathers and droppings) and listening for responses to recorded female grouse vocalizations. All suitable habitats were surveyed but no Sooty Grouse were detected. Download the Sooty Grouse report.
Tehachapi Upland Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (April 2013)
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The Tejon Ranch Company, with assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has prepared the Tehachapi Upland Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (TUMSHCP) and associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Record of Decision (ROD). These documents provide a wealth of information about Tejon Ranch. You can find these documents here.
Conservation Assessments
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The Conservation Biology Institute and its partners prepared a series of conservation assessments of Tejon Ranch.
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•Conservation Significance of Tejon Ranch (August 2003) – Discusses the general conservation values of Tejon Ranch, including vegetation communities and species expected to be present. •Conservation Assessment of Tejon Ranch (December 2003) – Identified and described the distribution of conservation values supported within four major landscape units that comprise Tejon Ranch•Proposed reserve design for Tejon Ranch (May 2006) – Presented a science-based reserve design that captures landscape functions and conservation values supported by Tejon Ranch.
Audubon Important Bird Areas
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Parts of Tejon Ranch are within two Important Bird Areas (IBAs) designated by Audubon California:
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Tehachapi Mountains•Antelope ValleyFor more information on the Important Bird Areas program and the criteria used to designate sites, see http://ca.audubon.org/important-bird-areas-9