Speaker Series

Wildlife researcher Ellie Bolas reveals the private lives of local mule deer—see her recorded presentation

Wildlife ecologist Ellie Bolas shared discoveries from ongoing research, conducted in partnership with the National Park Service, about mule deer in the Santa Monica Mountains and Conejo Valley as COSF’s third Speaker Series presentation of 2025 on July 9. Bolas’ focus is on the impact of human-caused disturbance to the Read more…

By Anne Russell, ago

New Speaker Series talk: Ellie Bolas presents “Lions and Fires and Humans, Oh Deer!”

Please join us for the live online presentation of “Lions and Fires and Humans, Oh Deer!” by ecologist Ellie Bolas. Currently a PhD candidate at the University of California Davis (UCD), Bolas will discuss how mule deer in the Santa Monica Mountains and Conejo Valley navigate a dynamic landscape of Read more…

By Steve Clark, ago

Forest expert Kim Corella discusses new threat to our Conejo Valley oaks—see her recorded presentation

Kim Corella, who is Cal Fire’s Forest Pathologist with the Forest Entomology and Pathology Program for Southern California, addressed what could be a slow-moving disaster for our Coast Live Oaks in her Speaker Series talk “Oaks in Peril” on April 16. Having served with Cal Fire for the past 17 Read more…

By Anne Russell, ago

Wildlife educator Dana Stangel examines how humans and coyotes can peacefully coexist—see her recorded presentation

Dana Stangel, founder and executive director of Teranga Ranch Wildlife, shared her expertise and advice about how to live side by side with our most visible urban canid, the coyote. On January 29, 2025, as COSF’s first 2025 Speaker Series guest, Stangel presented “Coyotes Among Us.” Scroll down to watch Read more…

By Anne Russell, ago

Dana Stangel Speaker Series ‘Coyotes Among Us’ POSTPONED to January 29

We sincerely apologize, but widespread power outages today mean that we need to reschedule the online presentation, “Coyotes Among Us,” to Wednesday, January 29. The presentation will starts at 7:00 pm as previously planned. If you have already registered, the Zoom link you received will continue to work. Wildlife educator Dana Read more…

By Anne Russell, ago
Man and children examine pollinator game at UCCE Master Gardeners Plantpalooza booth

Third Annual Native Plantpalooza & Eco Fest Drew Enthusiastic Crowds

COSF launched Native Plantpalooza & Eco Fest in the fall of 2022 with the goal of producing a free outdoor live event to celebrate and support the Conejo Valley’s rich biodiversity. The community festival’s goal is to educate and inspire attendees about native plants, water-wise gardening and more sustainable living. Read more…

By Anne Russell, ago

Dr. Thom Davis Reveals the Conejo Valley’s Explosive Geologic History. See the Recording Here

Dr. Thom Davis, a California State registered geologist and founder and director of the nonprofit Geologic Maps Foundation, was the second guest in COSF’s 2024 Speaker Series on September 18, with his presentation “Trail Geology: A Look at Rock Formations, Faults and Landscapes in the Conejo Open Space.” He began by noting our open Read more…

By Anne Russell, ago

Landscape Expert Shares Guidelines for Gardening with Natives—and Why. See the Recording Here

Erik Oberg, owner of native-plant landscape design company Acorn Design Studios and chair of the Conejo Valley Audubon Society’s Conservation Committee, gave a talk in December 2023 about native plant gardening to a group of COSF open space enthusiasts. He walked the audience through his “Top 10 Reasons to Go Native,” as Read more…

By Anne Russell, ago

Water expert Jennifer Lancaster explains ‘weather whiplash’ phenomena –plus a recording of the presentation.

On June 28, Jennifer Lancaster, MS, appeared as COSF’s second guest in the 2023 Speaker Series as part of our special “Sustainability” theme. In “Water: Where it comes from, how we use it, where it goes—and why it matters” Lancaster, who is the principal resource specialist at the Calleguas Municipal Water District, Read more…

By Anne Russell, ago