Coastal protection
Diane Hichwa, a member of the Madrone Audubon Society, observes birds off the shore of the Sea Ranch in Northern California. Hichwa is a leader of a group of people who encouraged the Coastal Commission to ban the annual public fireworks in the town of Gualala, seen in the background. (Robert Durell / Los Angeles Times)
Gulls and chicks sit on a rock island off the coast of the Seach Ranch as a cargo ship passes in the background. The state Coastal Commission has banned an annual fireworks display nearby because it would disturb the nesting birds. (Robert Durell / Los Angeles Times)
Sid Waterman, a member of the Gualala Festival Committee, stands at the site where the group had planned to shoot off fireworks. (Robert Durell / Los Angeles Times)
Gualala is on Highway 1 in far southern Mendocino County. (Robert Durell / Los Angeles Times)
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In addition to lodgings, Gualala offers supermarkets and other stores and services patronized by residents of the Sea Ranch, an affluent community to the south near the island where foes of the fireworks show say birds were harmed. (Robert Durell / Los Angeles Times)
Diane Hichwa of the Madrone Audubon Society walks past an island that is home to various seabirds off the shore of the Sea Ranch. (Robert Durell / Los Angeles Times)
