Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District

Are you skilled in trail maintenance and small construction projects with a knack for identifying trail concerns and other needs in the field? Do you have a passion for seeking out new audiences to connect to the importance of trail systems and land stewardship? We invite you to apply for the position of Volunteer Program Lead of trails and infrastructure. The ideal candidate is a creative, independent leader with experience maintaining open spaces and coordinating volunteer activities. Click here to learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/3AFV2Ui 📷: Frances Freyberg

It’s been a very successful year for purple martins nesting and hatching chicks in Midpen preserves! Thanks to habitat enhancement work, 13 birds of this locally rare population hatched and successfully fledged, increasing their chances of survival into adulthood. This spring, staff swapped some existing nest boxes in the area with the hollowed-out pole segments that mimic natural habitat. One issue this species deals with (that bay area residents may know something about) is housing competition. Due to loss of natural habitats, western purple martins engaged in fierce, and sometimes deadly competition with other nesting birds to utilize these cavities. Midpen biologists monitor these inter-species interactions to better understand and manage the site. Researchers also outfitted several birds with colored identification bands to help differentiate individuals. While western purple martins have shown signs of site fidelity (the tendency to return to the same areas after migrating thousands of miles), the bands will help researchers conclude if the same individuals return year after year. In the photos and videos above, listen to the robotic warbling of the western purple martin, check out footage from different nest cameras at various stages of the chick’s life, watch an expert biologist with San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory outfit a bird with the plastic identification bands and see our lead biologist, Karine Tokatlian inspecting one of the cavities. For more information on what we’re doing to help maintain the health of the species, check out https://bit.ly/4cJLnJn

So happy to have hosted Beth Pratt, Neal Sharma, and our project partners VTA and Caltrans for a site visit near the future Highway 17 wildlife and trail crossing. These projects will help connect over 30,000 acres of publicly protected open space. Learn more at openspace.org/hwy17 #crossingsroadtrip #californiawildlifereconnected

Are you a collaborative, organized, and motivated procurement professional with a passion for the outdoors and preserving open space? Midpen is seeing a skilled professional to fill our Senior Procurement Technician position. The ideal candidate has strong technical and administrative procurement experience. We are looking for a methodical individual who is customer service-oriented and able to ensure the appropriate stewardship of District funds by facilitating procurement activities to obtain the best value while ensuring compliance with District policy. Click here to learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/3Z2lce0 📷: Katie Debski

Do you enjoy working outdoors? Do you have a passion for preserving open space? Midpen has an exciting entry-level opportunity for the position of Seasonal Ranger Aide! Ranger Aides provide visitor information and assistance while under the guidance of experienced Ranger staff. If you enjoy educating and informing the public about Midpen lands, laws and regulations while working outdoors in our open space preserves, this may be the position for you! Click here to learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/3X1Y8JC 📷: Elaina-Kyrouz

The results are in.... here are the winners of Midpen's 2024 Photo Contest!! 🥇Aspiring Photographers – "Lone Fern" by Owen Zimbauer taken at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve 🥇Trail Less Traveled – "Snow Day" by Marissa Kent taken at El Sereno Open Space Preserve 🥇Wildlife – "Smiling Pacific Gopher Snake" by Oonagh Degenhardt taken at Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve 🥇People in Nature – "Dappled Sunlight and Coast Redwoods" by Mallie Brathwaite taken at Thornewood Open Space Preserve 🥇Plant Life – "Nature's Skyscrapers" by Divya Konda taken at Long Ridge Open Space Preserve 🥇Landscape – "Under a Blanket of Stars" by Hsiu Ju Hsu taken at Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve Thank you to everyone who participated in the contest this year and congratulations to the winners! Did your favorite photos win?

The final category of Midpen's 2024 Photo Contest is here for voting! It's.... LANDSCAPES! 🌄 Cast your vote for the photo you think should win by commenting the corresponding letter. Voting on all categories will close at the end of the day on Sunday, so make sure to go back and vote for all your favorite photos!

It's Flora Friday and time to vote for the winner of the 🌿Plant Life🌿 category of Midpen's 2024 Photo Contest! Cast your vote for the photo you think should win by commenting the corresponding letter! Voting on all categories will close at the end of the day on Sunday.

Time for category number four of Midpen's Photo Contest - People in Nature! Vote for the photo you think should win by commenting the corresponding letter! Voting on all categories will close at the end of the day on Sunday.

In honor of #WildlifeWednesday today's photo contest voting category is 🐾wildlife🐾! As with the last two categories, place your vote for which photo you think should win by commenting the corresponding letter. Voting on all categories will close at the end of the day on Sunday!