Links to other people and places around central California

LOCAL WEB INFORMATION

Artists Nature Preserves Nature Clubs Birding Information Bird Checklists Discussion Groups

Local Community Information Plant Checklists Research Sites Cultural Sites Museums/Zoos

Forests Parks Friends Websites

ART SITES
Bob Steele Photography - Specializing in bird photography, Bob has published in many magazines and won many awards for his stunning images. EK Schafhauser Photography - Ellen is traveling the world looking for elements that describe the "Human Experience". Her photography is a gift to those looking for the elements of being alive that elude some. Feral Flowers - Richard Dickey's beautiful website with spectacular wildflower images. Margaret's Gourds - An inspiring site with many beautiful creations. Rich Pelletreau Wildlife Art Gallery - A charming little log cabin in Wofford Heights leads to an interior full of interesting sculptures, crafts, and original artwork of wildlife artists from far and near. Keith Hansen Artwork - Keith is one of those rare talents that brings nature to life. Visit this site to experience his unique gift.
LOCAL NATURE PRESERVE SITES
Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge Blue Ridge National Wildlife Refuge Carrizo Plain National Monument - Originally purchased by members of The Nature Conservancy, the monument is a remnant of valley grassland and saline lake ecosystem. Home to pronghorn, elk, wintering cranes and raptors, nesting Prairie Falcons, Giant Kangaroo Rats, San Joaquin Kit Fox, and many more species. Desert Tortoise Preserve - In eastern Kern County, this preserve is situated south of Ridgecrest and north of California City. Home to many desert dwelling creatures and a forest of creosote bushes. Kaweah Oaks Preserve - A magical Valley Oak woodland Kern River Parkway - A group dedicated to maintaining a free flowing river through the southern San Joaquin Valley and allowing public access. Kern River Preserve - 1127-acres of cottonwood/willow riparian forest. Home to nesting cuckoos, flycatchers, tanagers and 91 other species of birds. Kern National Wildlife Refuge - website with information on the southernmost Great Valley refuge. Lokern Preserve Pixley National Wildlife Refuge - website for the Tulare County home to 6,000 wintering Sandhill Cranes Pixley Vernal Pools Preserve Red Rock Canyon Sand Ridge Preserve Semitropic Ridge Preserve Tule Elk State Reserve Valley Wild - home to information about birding and nature festivals in the beautiful Kern River Valley Windwolves Preserve - more than 97,000 acres create the largest privately owned nature preserve on the West Coast. From the San Joaquin Valley floor to the Los Padres boundary, the preserve preserves some of the amazing diversity that is Kern County.
LOCAL NATURE CLUBS
Kerncrest Audubon Society, Ridgecrest Mojave Desert Bird Club, Apple Valley Tehachapi Mountains Birding Club, Tehachapi California Native Plant Society - Kern County Chapter Buena Vista Group of Sierra Club - the Bakersfield group of the Kern Kaweah Chapter of the Sierra Club Sierra Club Condor Group - "Condor Flyer" online publication Tulare County Audubon Society, Visalia Kern Audubon Society, Bakersfield Audubon California - All of the information on California Audubon sanctuaries, centers, chapters. Birding tips and information.
LOCAL BIRD SITE GUIDES
Where to Bird in Kern County - by Alison Sheehey Southern Sierra Nevada & Kern River Valley Birding Tips - by Bob Barnes Birds of Eastern Kern County - Manuscript by Matt Heindel
LOCAL BIRD CHECKLISTS
Kern Bird Checklist - a list to print for field use Kern County Checklist - Checklist with thumbnail images Kern National Wildlife Refuge - Checklist Kern River Valley Checklist - Status and seasonal abundance codes Edwards Air Force Base - Checklist by USAF Indian Wells Valley - Latest Bird Sightings and checklist with status and abundance codes Checklist by Kerncrest Audubon Desert Tortoise Preserve - Checklist by Desert Tortoise Preserve Birds of Buena Vista Lake - checklist Birds of Hart Park - checklist Birds of Galileo Hill - checklist by Andrew Howe
LOCAL DISCUSSION GROUPS
Kern County Birding by Michael McQuerrey - A listserve discussion group of Kern County Birding CalBirds by Steve Sosensky - A listserve discussion of rare birds, birding events and other things significant to California birders The Bird Digest by Dave Ranney - A digest of bird discussion around California. The Butterfly Digest by Bruce Webb - A digest of butterfly discussion around the nation.
Local COMMUNITY Information
Kern River Valley Revitalization
LOCAL PLANT CHECKLISTS
Flora of the Kern River Preserve - list, thumbnail photos, country of origin CNPS Orange County Chapter - Plant Lists: A great collection of field trip lists with many Kern County locations compiled by Steve Hampson
LOCAL RESEARCH SITES
Southern Sierra Research Station - Conserving biodiversity through research. Rose-ringed Parakeets of Bakersfield - Research by Alison Sheehey USDA Forest Service Ecological Subregions of California -
LOCAL CULTURAL SITES
Allensworth State Historical Park Fort Tejon State Historic Park Keyesville Special Management Area Tomo-kani State Historic Park - very interesting website by Richard Sparks on the Tomo-kani village of the Kawaiisu Indians of the Tehachapi Mountains. California State Historical Landmarks - Kern County
LOCAL ZOO / MUSEUM SITES
Buena Vista Museum of Natural History - Bakersfield's own natural History Museum CALM - California Living Museum - Bakersfield's Zoo - now operated by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools. Native California Wildlife. Kern County Museum - Home to Lori Brock Children's museum, the Kern County Museum, and Pioneer Village. Kern River Fish Hatchery - Kernville The Kern Valley Museum - Kernville Maturango Museum - Ridgecrest's museum of the cultural history, natural history and geology of the Northern Mojave Desert emphasizing the Indian Wells Valley. Tehachapi Museum - Operated by the non-profit Tehachapi Heritage League as an all-volunteer effort. West Kern Oil Museum - Preserving the cultural heritage of the Taft area.
LOCAL FOREST SITES
Los Padres National Forest Sequoia National Forest
LOCAL PARK SITES
Bakersfield City Parks - 44 city parks Buena Vista Aquatic Recreational Area: l,585 acres, map of 112 campsites, 2 lakes Greenhorn Mountain Park: 160 acres, 70 family campsites, amphitheater Hart Memorial Park: 370 acres along Kern River, birding, Rose-ringed Parakeets, picnic areas, barbecues, paddleboats on Hart Lake Lake Isabella: 11,217 acres, boating permit required, camping nearby Lake Ming: 104 acres, birding, 2 boat launching ramps, water skiing, picnic areas Lake Woollomes: 455 acres, 1 boat launching ramp, NO camping, picnic area with 41 tables Leroy Jackson Park (in Ridgecrest): 13 acres with Maturango Museum Tehachapi Mountain Park: 5000 acres, 61 family campsites, Group Camp Reservation Area, Nuooah Nature Trail Tehachapi Valley Recreation & Parks District Kern County Parks and Recreation Neighborhood Parks - 40 parks throughout the unincorporated areas of the county. California City Parks & Recreation North Bakersfield Recreation and Park District West Side Recreation & Park District
Friends Websites
Vincent Flanders' Web Pages That Suck Mountain & River Adventures
Nature Alley is dedicated to protecting natural communities wherever they exist. She is involved in many scientific and educational programs, promoting environmental appreciation and ethics.