VERNAL POOLS
 ISLA VISTA, CA

KATHRYN MILLER

GREAT BLUE HERON

SNOWY EGRET

CANADIAN GEESE

GREAT EGRET

THE TOLERANCE OF PLANTS TO PERIODS OF FLOODING CREATES
DISTINCT PLANT RINGS AROUND THE POOLS. WHEN THE POOLS
ARE FULL THE NIGHT IS FILLED WITH SOUNDS FROM A LIVELY AND
VOCAL FROG POPULATION.  BIRDS COME TO FEED ON THE FROGS.

IN 2007, 2008 AND 2009 RAINFALL LEVELS WERE TOO LOW TO FILL
ANY OF THE VERNAL POOLS IN ISLA VISTA.

BY PHOTOGRAPHING THE POOLS EVERY MONTH OVER A ONE-YEAR
PERIOD, I LEARNED THAT THIS IS A FRAGILE AND BEAUTIFUL
LANDSCAPE THAT IS OFTEN OVER-LOOKED AND ABUSED.  THE AREA
IS SURROUNDED BY HIGH DENSITY HOUSING, ROADS, AND NEAR AN
AIRPORT AND RAILROAD TRACKS.

I CREATED A 4 1/2 MINUTE MOVIE TITLED “EVAPORATION. ” IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN VIEWING THIS PIECE, PLEASE CONTACT ME.