8 Photos You Missed This Week From The Pacific Southwest Region

There are over 40 National Wildlife Refuges in the Pacific Southwest Region, comprising more than 2.8 million acres in California, Nevada and the Klamath Basin of Oregon. The region also manages 3 National Fish Hatcheries, 1 Fish Health Center and 11 Fish and Wildlife Offices. Every U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service program helps protect a healthy environment for people, fish and wildlife. Here is a look at some of the region's photos from this week.

Western Gulls Said Hello At Farallon National Wildlife Refuge

Colter Cook / Via Facebook: SanFranciscoBayNWRComplex

Incoming! Farallon Refuge Intern Colter Cook snapped this photo before taking cover from this Western Gull. Farallon National Wildlife Refuge has the largest colony of breeding Western Gulls anywhere in the world.

Hand-raised Plover Was Returned To The Wild

Ashley Spratt/USFWS / Via Facebook: 684176251665713

At two months old, this hand-raised Western snowy plover chick was released into the wild at Coal Oil Point Reserve near UC Santa Barbara! Earlier this summer during plover breeding season, the egg was abandoned by his plover parents, possibly because of human disturbance or a predator. Our conservation partners incubated and cared for the chick until he was healthy enough to return to the wild. For more information about plover nesting season, and how you can help plovers recover, visit: http://go.usa.gov/3fSwD

Service Staff Helped A School Remove Nonnative Plants and Feed A Giraffe

John Cleckler/USFWS / Via fws.gov

Seeing Koobs Preserve, in Carmichael, California being overtaken by invasive plants, John Cleckler, from the Sacramento Field Office, got parents at the nearby Montessori school to form monthly work parties to remove nonnative plants, including acacia trees. Not wanting the acacia trees to go to waste, students made a trip to the Sacramento Zoo to feed some hungry giants!

YCC Crew Surveyed Mole Crabs As Part Of Their Summer Job

Robert Mraz / Via Facebook: SanDiegoNWRComplex

On June 22, six young adults from the Chula Vista campus of High Tech High gathered at the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge to begin their summer as members of the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) a summer job that is unlike any other. The YCC is a national program for students between 15 and 18 that funds conservation work on public lands like National Wildlife Refuges, National Parks, National Forests.

Quail Family at Modoc National Wildlife Refuge

Mary McGuire / Via Facebook: ModocNWR

This group of quails and their chicks were seen strolling at Modoc National Wildlife Refuge.

Biologitsts Used Special Coolers To Transport Califoirnia Condor Eggs

Condor Cave Staff / Via Facebook: TheCondorCave

If you ever see a biologist out in the field carrying a small cooler, there's a good chance it holds something other than a nicely chilled lunch. In fact, it may be holding a hatching egg! We use special modified coolers to help control the temperature and moisture of viable condor eggs out in the field, and keep them comfortable, safe, and healthy. When a pipped egg is ready at a breeding facility, it has a long and difficult path to go before it can replace a dummy egg out in the nest of a condor pair. However, it's great to know we can give pairs with infertile eggs a second chance at success, and captive-laid eggs a chance to hatch and grow up wild!

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Helped Map Nesting Birds

USGS / Via Facebook: usfwspacificsouthwest

This photo from Anaho Island NWR uses red pins to mark the individual location of nesting American white pelicans. Biologists monitor the waterbird populations at Anaho Island NWR to detect and evaluate changes in bird distribution and abundance. However, colonial nesting birds are sensitive to human disturbance and can abandon their nests if frightened. So the Service and its partners are using unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to conduct bird surveys from the sky, lessening potential impact on the nesting birds while gaining valuable insight into population trends.

Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Provided Swimming and Photo Opportunities For Visitors

Tim Griffith / Via Facebook: AshMeadowsNWR

For hot summer days, nothing beats a relaxing day at Crystal Reservoir. The clear blue water is fed from Crystal Springs and can provide a great escape from the heat of summer in Nevada.