Heather

__ Anacapa Island __

Anacapa Island is a amazing island to visit. If you look out to the ocean from the Ventura beach, and you see some islands, the one on the left is **Anacapa Island**. It is 14 miles from Ventura, 5 miles east of Santa Cruz, North West of Santa Barbra. Santa Barbra is farther away from **Anacapa Island** than Santa Cruz. Its Latitude is 34 degrees and its Longitude is -119.4 degrees. Although, the location is exciting, the apperence is amazing.

**Anacapa Island** is made up of three islets. It looks to me like a spear rising up from the sea. It is made out of igneous rock. Arch rock is a beautiful rock covered in guano. After weathering and being eroded, it has changed form. There are scars on the sides of the island from the waters crashing against it recklessly. Because of the waters rising, most of is now under water. The apperence is phenonal, but the plants are superb!


 * Anacapa Island Native and Endemic Plants **

__ Island Morning Glory __ __ (Calystegia macrostegia s. macrostegia) __ The **Island Morning Glory** flower is a beautiful plant that looks like a white, creamy colored horn with a yellow star shining brightly in the middle. They can be white, pink, or purple; all with beautiful yellow stars in the middle. It blooms in native rocky areas, like Santa Cruz, San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Anacapa and Santa Catalina Islands. The flower blooms from May to September.

__ Cliff-aster __ __ (Malacothrix saxatilis v. implicata) __ The **Cliff-aster** flower is a beautiful flower that is white, with a hint of light purple on the underside of the flower. It has a beautiful yellow center. They can be found on Santa Cruz, San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Anacapa and San Nicolas. They can also grow in your backyard. They bloom from March to September. The Cliff-aster plant can grow up to five feet.

__ Giant Kelp __ __ (Macrocystis pyrifera) __ **Giant Kelp** is home to more than 800 species of marine life. They can grow up to more than 120 feet. You can find Giant Kelp along the Pacific coast, from Alaska to Baja California. The Channel Islands giant kelp is brown. Giant Kelp can live up to 7 years and they can grow about 10 inches a day. The plants are ironic, the animals, even better!


 * Anacapa Island Native and Endemic Animals **

__ California Brown Pelican __ __ (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) __ The **Brown Pelican** was once endangered, but on November 17, 2009 the Brown Pelican was officially removed from the Federal list of Endangered Wildlife. The Brown Pelican currently lives on Anacapa Island and Santa Barbara Island. They have a 12 inch long bill, a throat pouch, and an average wingspan of seven feet. Did you know that is it is physically impossible for a pelican to straighten its neck? They have come up with their own comfortable way to sleep and relax. The brown pelican gets its food by plunge diving into the ocean. It eats anchovies, sardines, and mackerel. They hunt for food within five miles of land. They can dive from 10-30 feet in the air, sometimes as high as 100 feet in the air. They can eat as much as 4 pounds in a day. All in all I think the California Brown Pelican is a great bird to study.

__ Xantus’ Murrelet __ __ (Synthilboramphus hypoleucus) __ **Xantus' Murrelet** is a small seabird that lives near the Pacific Ocean. This bird breeds on islands off California and Mexico. It is a small black and white bird with a thin, sharp bill. It eats anchovies, sardines, and Sebastes rock fish. It dives into the ocean to get its food. It nests in small crevices, caves and under bushes on islands. It returns to its nest only at night. It is one of the most endangered species of birds. It is threatened by oil spills, rats, and feral cats.

__ Aggregating Anemone __ __ (Anthopleura elegantissima) __ ==== The **aggregating anemone**'s diet is a wide variety of small crustaceans, like shrimp. They live from Alaska to Baja California. These anemones collect small bits of shells and sand on their column that can act like a sunscreen and help protect them from drying out. It is found on rocky, tide swept shores in the Pacific coast of North America. It is blue with hints of dark purple along the edges; it has a bright yellow middle. ====

That's very awesome! You are super good at that! -Colton // I am awesome at this stuff-- Heather E. //