STORIES FROM THE WILDLANDS CONSERVANCY
Meet Corby Hines: The New Ranger Leading Adventures at Jenner Headlands Preserve
Corby Hines, the newest ranger at Jenner Headlands Preserve, has a personal mission to connect people to land. Learn more about Coby including his favorite spot on Jenner Headlands Preserve.
Restoring California’s Native Coastal Prairie Grasslands at Jenner Headlands Preserve
Discover how Wildlands is working to restore one of North America’s most biodiverse ecosystems—California’s coastal prairies. Using targeted restoration tools, we are helping native species thrive, improving wildlife habitats, and reducing fire risks. Learn how our sustainable approach is enhancing the beauty and health of Jenner Headlands Preserve while ensuring these vital grasslands are protected for future generations.
Meet Sonoma Coast Preserve Steward, Quinn Whisman
For Quinn Whisman, preserve steward at the 5,630-acre Jenner Headlands Preserve, no two work days are the same. Raised in Bodega Bay, Quinn has spent his entire life on the Sonoma Coast with the only exception being pursuing his bachelor’s degree in wildlife management at Cal Poly Humboldt. Quinn got involved with Wildlands back in 2021 at Jenner Headlands Preserve as a trail steward and has returned each summer, eager to help further the mission of The Wildlands Conservancy.
Building Wildfire Resiliency on the Sonoma Coast
Due to climate change and other contributing factors, California wildfires are only growing in severity, and the wildfire season persists for longer. As of August 6, a total of 4,886 wildfires have burned a cumulative of 791,432 acres. Year-to-date, the number of wildfires and the number of acres burned are higher than the five-year average. For this reason, The Wildlands Conservancy welcomes innovative approaches to forest management in order to bolster wildfire resiliency at our Sonoma Coast preserves and throughout the state.
Trail Steward Spotlight: Glen Alpert
Glen's love of nature and Sonoma Coast knowledge is something he gets to share with our visitors as a trail steward for The Wildlands Conservancy. Glen says that working at Jenner Headlands Preserve these past few years has been a life-affirming experience. The beauty of the land has had a profound effect on his life, as well as the joyful exchanges with visitors on the trails, and the deep connections made with people he works with.
Northern Spotted Owl Surveying at Jenner Headlands Preserve
The federally threatened Northern Spotted Owl is an ‘indicator species’ meaning it can provide a greater picture of the health of these old growth forests. As part of restoration forestry efforts carried out by Wildlands staff and volunteers, The Wildlands Conservancy works to conserve and improve habitat conditions for rare, threatened and endangered species, protect water resources and water quality, and to manage wildfire resiliency at Jenner Headlands Preserve. In doing so, Wildlands staff routinely surveys the Preserve for Northern Spotted Owl activity to inform these efforts.
Restoring Fish Habitat at Jenner Headlands Preserve
Barriers to fish passage can have profoundly harmful effects on coastal watersheds and the species that live there, including population decline. Recognizing the importance of saving and restoring the populations of salmon and steelhead, The Wildlands Conservancy has worked to improve water quality and restore fish passage through barrier removal at Jenner Headlands Preserve.