Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 23, 2026

Photos from Regional Parks Botanic Garden October 22, 2026

Photographed in the East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park in Berkeley, CA on October 22, 2026.

The Regional Parks Botanic Garden is a California native plant garden. It is located within Tilden Park in the hills above Berkeley, California, It is a 10-acre garden includes many of the state’s rare and endangered plants and a place for visitors to wander among trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses from plant communities throughout the state. There are free weekend and holiday tours.  Admission and parking are free. For more information about the garden visit the Friends of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 23, 2026

Theodore Payne Foundation  Upcoming Events 

Theodore Payne Foundation inspires and educates Southern Californians about the beauty and ecological benefits of California native plant landscapes.We are located on 22 acres of canyon land in the northeast corner of the San Fernando Valley. Our full-service native plant nursery, seed room, book store, art gallery, demonstration gardens, and hiking trails are open to the public year round. We offer garden tours and classes for adults and families, as well as field trips to TPF and in-classroom programs for children. Friendly on-leash dogs are welcome and there is no admission charge!

See upcoming events at  Theodore Payne Foundation Events – Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 23, 2026

Yosemite National Park’s bears are having a terrible year

SF Gate reported

If you visited Yosemite National Park this month, and stayed for at least three days, it is likely that a bear got hit by a motorist during your visit. Since Oct. 1, seven black bears have been struck by vehicles in the park, and four of those collisions were fatal for the animals, National Park Service spokesperson Rebecca Roland told SFGATE by email on Thursday.

Those strikes were on top of 26 that took place from January through September. At 33 bear collisions for 2026 so far, Yosemite has reached a 10-year high, according to National Park Service data, with more than two months left in the year. Conservationists say they are troubled, but not shocked, by the uptick.

Read more at Yosemite National Park’s bears are having a terrible year

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 23, 2026

The ornithological artist drawing 1,000 birds by hand – all for an app that wants you off your phone

The Guardian reported

The mission of the Flock app is quietly subversive: to encourage users to ditch their screens and explore the wonderful world of birding

Read on www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/08/birds-artist-flock-app-california

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 22, 2026

East Bay park district agrees to take on Golden Gate Fields

Berkeleyside reported
The district approved the $175 million deal to turn the racetrack into a park on Wednesday, though several boxes remain to be checked before the sale is final.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 22, 2026

Apply Xerces Society Research Awards

Now Accepting Applications for Student Research Awards

The Xerces Society is now accepting award applications from students in higher education who are studying invertebrate conservation. More than ever, we need research on declining invertebrate groups that can contribute to their protection. Applications must be submitted by December 1, 2026.

Deborah BanDrosky Award

Joan Mosenthal DeWind Award

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 22, 2026

Bison roughly doubled native plant diversity on a Kansas prairie over 29 years, study finds

Earth.com reported

Reintroducing bison to Kansas prairies doubled native plant diversity over decades, helping grasslands recover from drought and resist tree growth.

Read more at Bison roughly doubled native plant diversity on a Kansas prairie over 29 years, study finds

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 21, 2026

Photos from my garden 10/20/26

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 21, 2026

Chiricahua just became America’s 64th national park

SF Gate reported

The United States has a new national park. When President Donald Trump signed the Chiricahua National Park Act on Tuesday, the former national monument became the country’s 64th national park and Arizona’s fourth national park.

Read more at Chiricahua just became America’s 64th national park

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 21, 2026

‘New reality’: Calif. scientists uncover why rivers are turning orange

SFGate reported

Arctic waterways are becoming more vulnerable to thawing permafrost, which releases toxic elements through acid rock drainage.

Read on www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/california-researchers-orange-rivers-22449221.php

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 20, 2026

Nevada wildflower moves closer to gaining protections under Endangered Species Act

Fox5Vegas reported

A wildflower that grows in both Nevada and California is growing closer to gaining protections under the Endangered Species Act.

Read on www.fox5vegas.com/2026/10/19/nevada-wildflower-moves-closer-gaining-protections-under-endangered-species-act/

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 20, 2026

‘Fearless and quietly astonishing’: the dragonfly that migrates further than any other insect

The Guardian reported

Wandering gliders are descended from some of the earliest known insects – and breed as one global population

Read on www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/08/fearless-and-quietly-astonishing-the-dragonfly-that-migrates-further-than-any-other-insect

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 19, 2026

Officers in Santa Cruz chase after world’s second-largest bird

SF Gate reported

California Highway Patrol officers successfully rescued an emu that found its way into Santa Cruz traffic this week.

Read on www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/emu-rescue-santa-cruz-22481094.php

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 19, 2026

Prairie Restoration Success

Science Blog reported

Volunteers helped replant a former Illinois corn and soybean field with 82 prairie species, and a 2025 study found an average of 68.8 of them still present per plot six years later, matching the diversity of nearby prairie remnants

Read more Prairie Restoration Success

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 18, 2026

Yosemite National Park Job Announcements

Yosemite National Park National Park Service is hiring multiple seasonal positions for summer 2027, including various ranger jobs, natural and cultural resource jobs, maintenance jobs (ranging from animal packers to trail workers to gardeners to utility system operators), and more! Spend your days beneath towering waterfalls, ancient giant sequoias, and iconic granite monoliths making memories, stories, and friendships that will last a lifetime.
If you’d like to work in one of the world’s premier national parks, apply now at usajobs.gov. Applications open at 9 pm PDT on Sunday, October 18, and may close as early as Monday at 9 pm, so don’t wait!
☝️Pro tip: There are specific requirements for resumes. Visit http://usajobshelp.opm.gov/…/52839989720851-How-do-I… for details

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 18, 2026

How Australia is cracking down on wildlife trafficking

Mong1 Bay reported

  • Australian authorities disrupted an alleged wildlife trafficking ring in Sydney, seizing 36 reptiles and about AU$300,000 (more than $215,000) in cash and gold bullion.
  • The animals included 28 native Australian reptiles, including shingleback lizards, spiny-tailed skinks and lace monitors.
  • This bust was the first major wildlife crime operation conducted by the National Environmental Protection Agency (National EPA), Australia’s new federal environmental regulator.
  • The National EPA alleges native reptiles were supplied to foreign nationals for illegal export.

Read more at Reptiles, gold and money: How Australia is cracking down on wildlife trafficking

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 17, 2026

Podcast: Birds and Window Collissions

from Birds Canada

New Episode of The Warblers Podcast: Window Collisions

From science and building design, to art and community action, there are many ways to reduce bird-window collisions.

This is a significant conservation challenge, but we already have the tools and knowledge to make a difference.

Listen Now

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 17, 2026

 Los Padres ForestWatch Upcoming Events

See Upcoming Los Padres ForestWatch Upcoming Events at Home | Los Padres ForestWatch

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 17, 2026

Tejon Ranch Upcoming Events

See All Upcoming Tejon Ranch Events at Events

 

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 17, 2026

Is removing all nonnative plants always the answer?

The Revelator reported

s removing all nonnative plants always the answer? Our latest commentary explores how some species we label as “invasive” still serve a purpose by providing food or shelter to native animals.

Read story at Is removing all nonnative plants always the answer?

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 16, 2026

 Marin County Parks Upcoming Events

See the calendar of upcoming free events for Marin County Parks  Events Calendar – Marin County Parks

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 16, 2026

Almost half of world’s farmers poisoned by pesticides every year,

The Guardian reported

Using publicly available data from 2006-2023, the study, which was commissioned by Pesticide Action Network, found there to be an estimated 402-433m cases of unintentional acute pesticide poisoning of farmers and farm workers every year.

Based on a worldwide farming population of 934 million, this means approximately 46% of farmers are being poisoned every year. The greatest estimated number of poisonings was in southern Asia, followed by south-east Asia and east Africa.

Read more Almost half of world’s farmers poisoned by pesticides every year, experts find

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 15, 2026

Al Gore was right

from the Revelator

Lightbulb moment: When Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth came out 20 years ago, many people felt the movie’s first recommendation on how to fight climate change — replace your lightbulbs — was the equivalent of bringing a squirt gun to a wildfire. But as environmental journalist Jason Dove Mark explains, it turns out that Al Gore was right.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 14, 2026

Photos from Regional Parks Botanic Garden October 13, 2026

Photographed in the East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park in Berkeley, CA on October 13, 2026.

The Regional Parks Botanic Garden is a California native plant garden. It is located within Tilden Park in the hills above Berkeley, California, It is a 10-acre garden includes many of the state’s rare and endangered plants and a place for visitors to wander among trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses from plant communities throughout the state. There are free weekend and holiday tours.  Admission and parking are free. For more information about the garden visit the Friends of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 14, 2026

Sonoma Land Trust Events

Check out the latest events and news for Sonoma Land Trust at OUTINGS & EVENTS

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 14, 2026

Hundreds of sea lions are taking over a roadway in Moss Landing

SF Gate reported 

A small harbor on Monterey Bay has become a gathering point for hundreds of sea lions since the summer.

Sea photos an read on www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/sea-lions-moss-landing-22475916.php

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 14, 2026

Costa Rica to require wildlife crossings for roads when they impact fauna

Monga Bay reports

Costa Rican lawmakers unanimously voted to require wildlife crossings for new and existing road infrastructure when evidence shows the infrastructure interrupts natural connectivity and threatens wildlife safety. The measure, approved in August 2026, will help wildlife avoid being struck by cars while crossing roads and connect habitat, the regulation notes.

Read more Costa Rica to require wildlife crossings for roads when they impact fauna

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 13, 2026

Native Plant Gardening Talks 10/17

from Bring Back the natives there are a series of gardening talks at nurseries  this Saturday October 17. 

 See the schedule at Talks in the Nurseries

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 13, 2026

Jepson Worshop on Fire & Impact on Flora 10/17/26

Date: This Saturday, October 17, 2026
Instructors: Keith Gilless, Ayn J. Hunt, Jon Keeley, Tom Parker, Lynn Sweet, and Yana Valachovic
Location: Virtual, on Zoom Course fee: $25    To join this exciting event, please sign up here.This virtual workshop (held via Zoom) is aimed at answering a botanist’s questions about the role fire plays in California’s different ecosystems. Starting with an overview of how the California flora has adapted to fire, we will then look at the role of fire in forests and chaparral, and fire’s specific role as a restoration tool in grasslands, with experts in each of those areas speaking on their research. Finally, we will look at current fire policy and management.Start/End: Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 13, 2026

Anza-Borrego Foundation  Upcoming Events 

Anza-Borrego Foundation hosts a variety of events and educational programs, including hikes, botany walks, photography workshops, and more. See the schedule at  Events | Anza-Borrego Foundation

 

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