Next Saturday, in collaboration with The Redwood Trail Alliance, we have a trail work day planned to make some minor modifications on the in-slope turns on Mac’s trail as well as clearing sight lines. Please find the link to register below. As always, FOBM will be providing lunch. For the trail crew, Cal Fire will allow camping at Calso camp this weekend only. Calso Camp has been closed to camping for several years so this is a rare opportunity. Please no wood fires. Propane stoves only. This is a dry camp so bring your own water and leave no trace.
Next weekend on Friday May second and Saturday May third Bike Monkey will be holding their 20th annual endurance race at Boggs. The event is a highlight of the year for the mountain biking community here in Lake County and the whole state bringing in professional and amature riders from all over to compete in the grueling race. Whether you’re a mountain biking enthusiast or just enjoy spending time in the forest I hope you’ll consider coming out to enjoy the fun. FOBM will have a booth selling beer, T-shirts, maps and other merchandise to support our goal of restoring all the trails at BMDSF. For more information you will find the Bike Monkey website with the race route and other details here.
Friends of Boggs Mountain members have recently taken on the installation of a Purple Martin nest box on Mac’s Trail. The Purple Martin (Progne subis), is the largest member of the swallow family in the world. They are uncommon spring and summer visitors to Lake County, and we have been fortunate to have them nesting in Boggs Mountain State Forest. Their typical nesting sites are natural tree cavities or abandoned woodpecker holes. However, throughout the United States the Martins are more and more breeding in human-made Martin houses. So, several members decided to see if they could entice the Martins to do so in BMSF. Darlene Hecomovich donated a nest house with four nesting compartments; Joe Fusek provided the expertise of mounting the heavy box on PVC piping to bring it to the desired height of 12 feet above ground level; and Peg Landini and David Thiessen rendered the yeoman’s work of helping Joe install it. This nest site was selected because the Martins have used tree cavities in this area in previous years.
The Violet-green Swallows as well as other passerines such as the Western Bluebird are also cavity nesters and may Tind the Purple Martin nest box desirable. What we don’t want to see is an appropriation of the nest box by either House Sparrows or European Starlings, both highly invasive species that would take over the Martin’s sites, destroy eggs, and kill nestlings.
So, Friends of Boggs Mountain extends an invitation to all of you to take a hike up Mac’s Trail and in approximately three-Tifths of a mile up the trail on the left-hand (west) side you will have a view of the nest, and hopefully, some Purple Martins!!!
Due to the extreme resource drawdown from wildfires across the state, including large fires in the Unit, and to limit potential ignition sources from the Forest, CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit has closed Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest to vehicle access as well as the Calso Camp Campground.
Non-motorized access to roads and trails remains open via the main parking area next to the forest headquarters.
