Wetlands on Agenda at Cabrillo Museum

The importance of protecting coastal wetlands in Southern California and the destruction of these vital areas will be highlighted as part of the Cabrillo Marine Museum’s observance of National Estuaries Day on Saturday.

Wetlands serve as the breeding grounds for more than 50 species of marine fish, the feeding and wintering grounds for migratory birds of the Pacific Flyway and feeding areas for many resident birds, according to the museum. The destruction of these areas has led to a decline in many species of birds. The light-footed clapper rail, Belding’s savannah sparrow and California least terns have been listed as endangered.

Museum naturalists will introduce visitors to the animals and environment of a salt marsh with tours of Salinas de San Pedro, a salt marsh created by the Port of Los Angeles in 1984 to help restore some of the wetland habitat. The Saturday programs are at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. A film on estuaries will be shown at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Call (213) 548-7562.

ASTRONOMY

As Voyager 2 heads into interstellar space, the success of its mission continues to astound even the most dispassionate scientists. El Camino College is resuming its planetarium shows for the fall with a “Neptune-Voyager Update” at 8:05 on Friday evenings through Sept. 29. Doors open at 7:45. Call (213) 715-3200.

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s Gladwin Planetarium program will also highlight the latest information from the Voyager flyby of Neptune on Saturdays at 3 p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. through Oct. 29. Call (805) 682-4711.

John Mosley of the Griffith Observatory will introduce participants to some of the other planets and constellations that can be observed in the clear desert sky in a class offered at the Desert Studies Center of Cal State San Bernardino near Soda Springs Sept. 30 through Oct. 1. Enrollment is limited. Deadline for registration is Friday. Call (714) 880-5975.

MARINE SCIENCE

Rangers from the Channel Islands National Park will discuss some of the inhabitants of the park in separate programs this month. Tide pool animals will be the subject at 2 p.m. Sunday. Sharks will be the program topic at 2 p.m. Sept. 24. Both programs will be at the Park Visitor Center in Ventura. Call (805) 644-8262.

Staff members of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History will lead visitors on a rare trip to Santa Barbara Island, the smallest island within the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and National Park on Sept. 23. The boat departs from Ventura at 7 a.m. and returns at 7 p.m. Space is limited, and reservations are required. Call (805) 963-1067.

NATURAL SCIENCE

Visitors can learn about the environment and natural history of Topanga State Park in a special “open house” program from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Guided walks of the area and slide shows are some of the activities planned. Call (213) 457-7170.

SCIENCE FOR KIDS

Kids will be able to look through telescopes on loan from the Griffith Observatory, learn about the autumnal equinox, the planets and the sun in programs at Kidspace Museum in Pasadena on Sept. 23 and 24. Telescope viewing is ongoing from 2 to 4 p.m. both days. Call (213) 449-9144.

MEDICINE

The Norris Lecture Series at USC will focus on the history of medicine for the 1989-90 academic year. Dr. Loren G. Lipson, associate professor of medicine, will discuss “The Black Death Comes to the Gold Coast” on Sept. 20 at 5:30 p.m. in Hastings Auditorium. Call (213) 224-7232.