Hipcamp launches a 2026 California Superbloom Forecast using 150,000 iNaturalist observations to find wildflowers and nearby campsites.
— Read on petapixel.com/2026/03/11/hipcamp-launches-interactive-california-superbloom-forecast/
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 12, 2026
Hipcamp Launches Interactive California Superbloom Forecast | PetaPixel
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 11, 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
Posted in Talks, Walks & Hikes | Tags: Anza-Borrego Foundation Events
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 11, 2026
National park evacuated due to volcanic eruption, rock storm
SF Gate reported
For the second time this year, a massive volcanic eruption has rained hazardous materials over Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii island, leading to an evacuation of the Kilauea volcano’s summit.
The volcano began to erupt at 9:17 a.m. on Tuesday, according to a park press release, with lava fountains reaching up to 1,300 feet. As that lava cools in the air, it transforms into tephra, which is made up of volcanic rock, ash and glass particles…
Posted in Park | Tags: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 11, 2026
Garden Photos 3/10/26
What’s blooming in my garden right now
Posted in Garden, Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: Garden Photos
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 11, 2026
Underwater Photographer of the Year
The Guardian has posted the top photos from the Underwater Photographer of the year at Seals, shipwrecks and a screaming swallower: Underwater Photographer of the Year 2026 – in pictures
Posted in Photography
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 11, 2026
Microplastics have reached Antarctica’s only native insect
ScienceDaily reported
- Even Antarctica’s toughest native insect can’t escape the reach of plastic pollution. Scientists have discovered that Belgica antarctica — a tiny, rice-sized midge and the southernmost insect on Earth — is already ingesting microplastics in the wild. While lab tests showed the hardy larvae can survive short-term exposure without obvious harm, those exposed to higher plastic levels had reduced fat reserves, hinting at hidden energy costs.
Read more Microplastics have reached Antarctica’s only native insect
Posted in Animals, Environment | Tags: Belgica antarctica
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 10, 2026
How new border wall barriers are dividing bighorn sheep from resources
KPBS reported on how the border wall in southern California is creating serious problems for Big Horn sheep as it fragments their habitat.
Read at How new border wall barriers are dividing bighorn sheep from resources
Posted in Animals | Tags: Big Horn Sheep, Habitat Fragmentation Harms to Wildlife
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 10, 2026
The Race to Stop Wildlife Trafficking in Africa – The New York Times
In Nigeria, customs officers and conservationists are confronting the grim impacts of the $20 billion trade.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2026/03/10/magazine/wildlife-trafficking-africa.html
Posted in Animals | Tags: Wildlife Trafficking
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 10, 2026
Xerces Society Events
The list of events will be updated regularly. To view past webinars, please visit our YouTube channel. We also announce events on social media and via our e-newsletter. If you have questions, please email outreach@xerces.org.
To see the current list go to Events | Xerces Society
Posted in Butterflies, Talks | Tags: Xerces Society Events
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 10, 2026
Sea Levels Are Rising Globally. Around Greenland, They’re Projected to Fall
Science Alert reported
Around the world, sea levels are rising. But, strangely, in Greenland, they’re actually forecast to fall in the coming decades.
In a new study, a team led by geophysicist Lauren Lewright at Columbia University combined real-world measurements with computer modeling to estimate how relative sea level around Greenland will change this century.
Read on www.sciencealert.com/sea-levels-are-rising-globally-around-greenland-theyre-projected-to-fall
Posted in Environment | Tags: Changing Sea Level
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 9, 2026
Shrinking North American bird population is getting worse faster. Experts blame agriculture, warming
AP News reported
Billions fewer birds are flying through North American skies than decades ago and their population is shrinking ever faster, mostly due to a combination of intensive agriculture and warming temperatures, a new study found.
Nearly half of the 261 species studied showed big enough losses in numbers to be statistically significant and more than half of those declining are seeing their losses accelerate since 1987, according to Thursday’s journal Science. The study is the first to look at more than the total bird population by examining the trends in their decrease, where they are shrinking the most and what the declines are connected to.
Read more Shrinking North American bird population is getting worse faster. Experts blame agriculture, warming
Posted in Birds | Tags: Population Decline
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 9, 2026
Esther Gulick, Kay Kerr and Sylvia McLaughlin: They saved the bay — and thousands of bayfront acreage
from Berkeleyside
Gulick (1911-1995), Kerr (1911-2010) and McLaughlin (1916-2016) were retired homemakers, some of whom could see the Bay from their homes, when they learned about the Army Corps of Engineers’ plan to fill in much of the Bay Area waterfront for commerce.
At that time, much of the Bay Area waterfront was already polluted and included Berkeley’s own municipal dump, now Cesar Chavez Park.
“These retired homemakers were underestimated,” Alexandra said. “They were savvy and did their research and knew how to talk to the press.”
In 1961, the women founded the nonprofit Save the Bay, which continues their environmental work today.
The McLaughlin Eastshore State Park, an 8.5-mile shoreline park, was renamed in honor of McLaughlin in 2012. The park includes 1,833 acres of uplands and tidelands along the waterfronts of Berkeley, Oakland, Emeryville, Albany and Richmond.
“If it were not for those three women, our entire region would look completely different,” Alexandra said.
LEARN MORE
- KQED’s Rebel Girls: The 1960s women whose environmental activism saved the Bay
- Berkeleyside: Sylvia McLaughlin, co-founder of Save the Bay, dies at 99
- UC Berkeley Library: Hear the voices of Bay Area’s bygone environmental activists in history exhibit
Posted in Environment, Park | Tags: McLaughlin Eastshore State Park, Save the Bay
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 9, 2026
Coral reef food chains have shrunk by up to 70 percent – Earth.com
Earth.com reported
Coral reefs look tough. They build massive limestone structures that can stretch for miles and last for thousands of years. But inside those bright underwater cities, something fragile is happening.
A new study shows that human activity has quietly shrunk the very food chains that keep reefs alive.
Read on www.earth.com/news/coral-reef-food-chains-have-shrunk-by-up-to-70-percent/
Posted in Environment | Tags: Coral Reef Loss
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 8, 2026
Over 6,000 acres of former ranch land purchased by Bay Area land trust
SF Gate reported
Santa Clara County just gained thousands of acres of protected open space, thanks to the purchase of two large ranch properties by a Palo Altoenvironmental nonprofit.
On Tuesday, the Peninsula Open Space Trust, or POST, announced that it had secured Mead Ranch, a 1,921-acre property in Santa Clara County’s Coyote Valley that was previously owned by members of the Bechtel family. The purchase comes several months after the nonprofit made headway into acquiring Sargent Ranch, a sprawling parcel at the southern terminus of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The two properties, one of which was owned by a prominent industrial engineering family, connect critical habitats in Santa Clara County.
Read on www.sfgate.com/local/article/south-bay-ranch-purchases-21959906.php
Posted in Park | Tags: New Land Acquisition, Peninsula Open Space Trust, Sargent Ranch
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 8, 2026
Cornell Birds of the World Website
Very cool website. Look up any bird and you will see the bird and hear the bird. Easy to use.
Click here
Posted in Birds | Tags: Cornell Birds of the World Website
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 7, 2026
Check Out the Yerba Buena CNPS YouTube Channel
There are speaker series presentations on YouTube. Check out our channel for all 72 of our videos! Here are the latest:
Butterflies of the Bay Area with Liam O’Brien
A Natural History of San Francisco with Greg Gaar
The California Current’s influence on San Francisco’s weather, people, and plants with Darren Peck
Keeping Pathogens Out: Best Practices to Prevent Phytophthora in Native Habitats
Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Botanical Talks on YouTube
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 7, 2026
Regional Parks Botanic Garden Photos 3/7/26
Photographed in the East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park in Berkeley, CA on March 7, 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.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 7, 2026
Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve
Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve reported
Contrary to the news articles, this is not a “superbloom” year. While there is no definition of what a superbloom is, when many people envision one at the Poppy Reserve, they think of carpets of poppies over the hillsides that stretch as far as the eye can see. This is not one of those years. It is clear that more time will not improve the bloom conditions. Some poppies are already producing seed capsules. Visitors will be wowed with lots of wildflowers, especially owl’s clover, but not acres of poppies. That being said, it is GORGEOUS. How long will the bloom last? That entirely depends on the weather. If we get warmer temperatures, the bloom may be over sometime in April. If it is cooler, the bloom could last longer. Only the Mojave desert knows.
Posted in Park, Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 7, 2026
8,000 Suggestions Later, a Newly Discovered Deep-Sea Species Gets Its Name
Discover Magazine reported
A new deep-sea species now carries a scientific name chosen by the internet, and researchers say the crowdsourced approach could help conservation efforts.
A newly discovered deep-sea creature has officially been named, and unlike most species descriptions tucked quietly into academic journals, this one belongs to the internet. After more than 8,000 suggestions poured in from across social media, researchers have christened a rare deep-sea chiton Ferreiraella populi — a name that literally means “of the people.”
Posted in Animals | Tags: deep-sea chiton, Ferreiraella populi
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 6, 2026
Wildflowers Abound in Regional Parks
from East Bay Regional Parks
Spring is a great time to get outdoors in the East Bay Regional Park District. Hillsides and meadows are bursting with life, vibrant colors, and one of spring’s greatest gifts on full display—wildflowers!
View hundreds of wildflower species at Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve, Ohlone Wilderness Regional Preserve, Briones Regional Park, and Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, among many others. Visit Wildflowers In Your Parks to learn more about wildflowers and where to see them.
On weekends from late March to early May, Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve hosts special wildflower season hikes and programs. Arrive early to sign up for programs at the Visitor Center, as space is limited. Visit the activity calendar for more information about the Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve Wildflower Season programs.
Other Regional Parks also offer naturalist-led wildflower-themed programs. Check out the activity calendar for a complete list of wildflower programs.
Posted in Park, Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Wildflowers in East Bay Regional Parks
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 5, 2026
Upcoming CNPS Events
See the calendar of upcoming events of the California Native Plants Society at https://www.cnps.org/events
Posted in Talks | Tags: Upcoming CNPS Events
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 5, 2026
Upcoming Events at East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden
See upcoming events at East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden at events.
Posted in Garden, Park, Talks, Walks & Hikes | Tags: East Bay Regional Parks Upcoming Activities
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 5, 2026
Monitor Pass Open
Posted in Drives | Tags: Monitor Pass Open
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 5, 2026
Regional Parks Botanic Garden Photos 3/3/26
Photographed in the East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park in Berkeley, CA on March 3, 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.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 4, 2026
Xerces Society Upcoming Events
See all Xerces Society upcoming events at Xerces Society Webinars
Posted in Butterflies, Talks | Tags: Xerces Society Webinars
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 4, 2026
Photos From My Garden 3/2/26
Posted in Garden, Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: Garden Photos
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 4, 2026
Avian flu strikes California’s northern elephant seals; area quarantined
Monga Bay reported
- Experts confirmed that seven young northern elephant seals on the beach at California’s Año Nuevo State Park carried a deadly form of avian influenza, H5N1, the first recorded infection in these seals.
- This highly contagious virus has circulated the globe since 2020. The U.N. estimates that as of December 2025, H5N1 had infected some 598 bird species and 102 mammal species. In 2022-23, the virus devastated seal colonies off South American coastlines, sparking increased surveillance of North American marine mammals.
- This northern elephant seal population has been carefully studied for about 60 years. With close monitoring, researchers quickly discovered that sick pups were infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1.
- Since this avian flu strain emerged, there have been 131 human infections globally, including 71 in the U.S. As a precaution, California officials have banned visitors from the elephant seal beaches and canceled guided tours.
Read more at Avian flu strikes California’s northern elephant seals; area quarantined
Posted in Animals | Tags: Bird Flu impact on Elephant Seals
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 4, 2026
In polar regions, microbes are influencing climate change as frozen ecosystems thaw
McGill University reports
A global synthesis shows microbial activity is accelerating carbon release and mobilizing toxins, complicating climate projectionsMicrobes across Earth’s coldest regions are becoming more active as glaciers, permafrost and sea ice thaw, accelerating carbon release and potentially amplifying climate change, according to a new international review from McGill University.
Posted in Environment | Tags: Microbial Activity and Climate Change
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 3, 2026
Why the Calif. superbloom is more ‘a kind of hype’ than actual science
SF Gate reported
According to experts interviewed by SFGATE, there’s no concrete way to define a superbloom. And even if there were, some find the term problematic altogether.
Read on www.sfgate.com/national-parks/article/calif-superbloom-death-valley-21951556.php
Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Superbloom hype
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 3, 2026
Fire at Yosemite’s Ahwahnee forces hotel and dinner guests to evacuate
SF Gate reported
Hotel and dinner guests were evacuated Monday after a fire broke out in Yosemite National Park’s Ahwahnee Hotel
Read on www.sfgate.com/national-parks/article/yosemite-ahwahnee-hotel-fire-21953201.php
Posted in Park | Tags: Fire at Ahwahnee
Natural History Wanderings 