Natural History Wanderings

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 20, 2026

Dragonflies help protect water and ancestral Indigenous languages in Colombia

Monga Bay reported

Researchers investigating Colombia’s remote region of Guainía have identified nearly 120 dragonfly and damselfly species, uncovering a biodiversity hotspot for these insects.
Dragonflies rely on pristine freshwater ecosystems, but their aquatic habitats face growing pressure from regional deforestation, unmanaged waste and exponential tourism.
By naming in their ancestral languages and monitoring local dragonflies, communities are deepening their understanding of ecosystem health and connecting biodiversity and ancestral wisdom with water protection.

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Posted in Animals | Tags: Dragonflies

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 19, 2026

Photos from Regional Park Botanic Garden 9/16/26 Part 2

Photos taken in the Regional Park Botanic Garden in Tilden Park in Berkeley, CA on September 16, 2026.

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The Regional Parks Botanic Garden is a botanic garden of California native plants. The Garden is open Monday through Sunday from 8:30 AM to 5 PM. It is located within Tilden Park in the hills above Berkeley, California. It is a 10-acre garden for 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. To learn more about the garden visit the website at www.nativeplants.org .

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Posted in Garden, Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: Regional Park Botanic Garden, Tilden Botanic Garden

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 19, 2026

Where did the birds go? Once-abundant wetlands are drying up after federal staff cutbacks

Cal Matters reported

A long decline in the number of people managing wildlife refuges in California accelerated after the Trump administration’s DOGE staffing cuts.

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Posted in Birds, Environment | Tags: Loss of Wetlands

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 18, 2026

Upcoming Bay Nature Events

See the schedule of upcoming Bay Nature Events https://baynature.org/events/

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Posted in Talks, Walks & Hikes | Tags: Bay Nature Events

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 18, 2026

New Wild Cat Species: Meet Tilcayo: The tiny wild cat discovered in Bolivia’s cloud forests after more than a century – The Times of India

Science News: Scientists have identified a previously unknown species of wild cat in Bolivia’s cloud forests, marking the first time in more than a century that a n.
— Read on timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/meet-tilcayo-the-tiny-wild-cat-discovered-in-bolivias-cloud-forests-after-more-than-a-century/articleshow/134316459.cms

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Posted in Animals | Tags: Tilcayo

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 18, 2026

California faces highest shark numbers in years as great whites head north

The Guardian reported

California is set to see one of its sharkiest summers in a decade, with large numbers of juvenile great whites already on a reverse vacation from the warm waters of Mexico to cooler pastures along the western United States.

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Posted in Animals | Tags: Sharks

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 17, 2026

Dome Fire burns more than 1,000 acres near Yosemite – NBC Bay Area

Firefighters are battling a wildfire near Yosemite that has grown to more than 1,000 acres as of Wednesday, according to Cal Fire.
— Read on www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/dome-fire-near-yosemite/4144249/

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Posted in Park | Tags: Dome Fire, Yosemite

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 17, 2026

Costa Rica’s Wild Capuchin Monkeys Are Using AI Touchscreens

Tico Times reported

Wild white-faced capuchin monkeys in Costa Rica are learning to use a touchscreen in the middle of the forest, giving researchers a new way to study animal intelligence without taking the monkeys out of their natural environment. The system, called CapuchinAI, combines artificial intelligence, cameras, a touchscreen and an automatic food dispenser at the Taboga Forest Reserve in Guanacaste.

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Posted in Animals | Tags: Costa Rican Capuchin Monkeys

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 16, 2026

Los Padres ForestWatch Upcoming Events

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

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Posted in Birds, Talks | Tags: Los Padres ForestWatch Upcoming Events

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 16, 2026

Armadillos are in Ohio.

Dnuz reported

The leathery mammals, mostly associated with dry, sweltering locations like Texas, have been creeping northward over the last century or so. But last week researchers collected a dead armadillo by the roadside four miles east of Oxford, Ohio, near the Indiana border — the first formally documented armadillo to have migrated to the state.

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Posted in Animals | Tags: Armadillos

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 16, 2026

Why The Ocean Cleanup Hasn’t Solved the Plastic Pollution Crisis

The Revelator reported

The Ocean Cleanup is a social-media and fundraising powerhouse. So why hasn’t the nonprofit been similarly successful in removing much plastic from the ocean — and how many marine animals have been killed along the way? David Shiffman examines why some so-called big ideas fail.

Read more at Why The Ocean Cleanup Hasn’t Solved the Plastic Pollution Crisis

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Posted in Environment | Tags: Marine Plastic Pollution

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 15, 2026

The healing power of of birdwatching

Join us this Thursday, September 17 (7pm) online via Zoom

to hear therapist, birder, and author Tammah Watts speak on the healing power of of birdwatching.

Join Tammah Watts as she weaves together personal story and avian life to reveal the marvelous phenomenon shared among us and the many benefits experienced when connecting with our feathered friends at home, in the community, and beyond.

Tammah Watts is an avid birder, conservationist and environmental steward. She is an advocate for equitable access to nature, health and mental wellness. Her leadership includes work with her local Audubon chapter the San Diego Bird Alliance, Audubon California and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Her book KEEP LOOKING UP: Your Guide to the Powerful Healing of Birdwatching, chronicles her journey to healing by meaningfully connecting with birds.

RSVP Here

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Posted in Birds, Talks | Tags: the healing power of of birdwatching

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 15, 2026

East Bay Regional Parks Upcoming Events

See the calendar of upcoming events for the East Bay Regional Parks at https://www.ebparks.org/calendar

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Posted in Park, Walks & Hikes | Tags: East Bay Regional Parks

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 15, 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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Posted in Talks, Walks & Hikes | Tags: Anza-Borrego Foundation Events

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 15, 2026

BIRDING FOR EVERYONE FELLOWSHIP 2027

The BFE Fellowship Application is Now Open

This program is designed to cultivate the next generation of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) conservation leaders in our region.

If you are 18+, identify as a member of an underrepresented community, and live in the Bay Area, consider applying today.

Our BFE selection committee will award 10 individuals with a free year’s worth of GGBA classes, membership, and a supportive cohort environment with its own monthly outings and networking opportunities.

You’ll learn about birds, build relationships, and grow your leadership skills as a conservationist with a group of equally passionate individuals.

If you or someone you know would make a great candidate, please visit our program page, share this opportunity, and apply!

Deadline to apply: Friday, October 16th

Apply Today!

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Posted in Birds | Tags: Birding for Everyone Fellowship

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 15, 2026

Endangered Blackburn’s Sphinx Moth caterpillars found for first time since 1940s

The Pulse reported

Wildlife crews found 10 endangered caterpillars in Lānaʻi City, then discovered the same giant Hawaiian moth on Molokaʻi for the first time since the 1940s

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Posted in Animals, Butterflies | Tags: Blackburn’s Sphinx Moth

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 14, 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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Posted in Talks, Walks & Hikes | Tags: Anza-Borrego Foundation Events

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 14, 2026

Mexico in bloom: 5 wildflowers to look for

MND contributor Bel Woodhouse takes us on a tour of Mexico’s spectacular wildflowers, from vibrant sunflowers and cosmos to delicate poppies.
— Read on mexiconewsdaily.com/lifestyle/mexico-wildflower-season/

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Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Wildflowers of Mexico

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 14, 2026

Ocotopus Tool Use

SpaceDaily reported

The eight-armed engineers of the ocean floor may be more clever than we thought—this one just invented mobile shelter.

An octopus was filmed carrying two halves of a coconut shell across the seafloor to reassemble themlater as a portable suit of armour, one of the only clear cases of a wild invertebrate using tools.

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Posted in Animals | Tags: Ocotopus Tool Use

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 13, 2026

White Storks Make Historic Return to the English Midlands After 600-year Absence

Good News Network reported

The storks have now arrived as part of an effort to establish a healthy, wild, breeding colony on the River Trent.

Read on www.goodnewsnetwork.org/white-storks-make-historic-return-to-the-english-midlands-after-600-year-absence/

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Posted in Birds | Tags: Storks

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 12, 2026

All hail the horsetail, a plant that could survive anything

The Guardian reported

It looks like a toilet brush yet predates the dinosaurs. I can’t help but give it a stroke by the roadside, even if I get strange looks.

Equisetum arvense, or field horsetail, looks fluffy, but it is wiry and rough. One could serve effectively as a toilet brush. The bristles are rich in abrasive silicon, which gives the texture of sandpaper. This explains another of equisetum’s common names, scouring rush, from when it was used to clean wood and polish metal. If you are careful, a hollow jointed stem can be separated at its junction and then rejoined like children’s tubular pipes for building, slotting back in a satisfying way.

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Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Equisetum arvense, Horsetails

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 11, 2026

Trump Admin Reportedly Nixes $25 Million in National Park Projects

Yahoo News reported

The Trump administration has reportedly rejected more than 130 planned projects at national parks, putting at least $25M in previously secured funding on hold.

Read on www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/trump-admin-reportedly-nixes-25-231505017.html

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Posted in Park | Tags: National Parks Funding Cuts

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 11, 2026

Pacific gray whales facing ‘catastrophic’ die-off as climate crisis hits food supply

The Guardian reported

Climate change is driving a gray whale “catastrophic mortality event” in the Pacific Ocean as melting sea ice depletes food sources and the animals starve, environmental groups warn.

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Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 10, 2026

California confirms rare sighting of gray wolf in Mendocino national forest

The Guardian reported

Officials say sighting a sign species – driven to extinction in state before reintroduction in 2011 – expanding its range

A gray wolf has recently been seen in California’s Mendocino national forest for the first time since the species returned to the state 15 years ago, state wildlife officials confirmed.

Officials in Lake county, which is about two hours north of San Francisco, said last week the California department of fish and wildlife (CDFW) had received reports of sightings in the forest in late August. The agency verified the presence of a wolf in the far north end of the county, county supervisor Brad Rasmussen said in a statement on social media.

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Posted in Animals | Tags: Gray Wolf

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 10, 2026

The Many Faces of iNaturalist

Bay Nature reported on the difference and some of the history of iNaturalist and Seek

Once a Berkeley student project, iNaturalist is a social network—and a scientific database. Now, the public departure of its cofounder highlights the challenge of balancing the two.

Read more at The Many Faces of iNaturalist

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Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 9, 2026

Sonoma Land Trust Events

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

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Posted in Talks, Walks & Hikes

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 9, 2026

Photos of Regional Parks Botanic Garden 9/7/26

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

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Posted in Garden, Photos (Sandy's), Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Botanic Garden

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 9, 2026

Introducing the Plants for Monarchs Tool

from Xerces Society

The Xerces Society’s new Plants for Monarchs allows anyone to generate a list of native host and nectar plants that support monarch butterflies where they live.
Use the filters to match your preferences and site conditions, and create a shopping list with your local and online plant suppliers.
Learn more

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Posted in Butterflies, Garden, Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Plants for Monarchs

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 8, 2026

SANDHILL CRANE FESTIVAL TOUR REGISTRATION OPENS September 8, 2026 at 9:00 AM

Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival November 6-8, 2026

The 28th Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival will feature a full weekend of festivities, with guided crane tours offered throughout the event.

The Sandhill Crane Festival is bigger than ever this year, with brand-new tours, such as, Behind the Scenes Tour & Crane Fly-in at Staten Island and A Walking Meditation for Bird Watchers. You will also want to register right away for your favorite tours and the Evening Fly-in on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday night.

Register Here

There will also be a special pre-festival excursion, Farms, Floodplains & Flyways: Exploring the balance between agriculture and wildlife conservation, led by tour guide Allen Bacon on November 4 and 5.
So many wonderful tours to choose from. Mark your calendars now!
We look forward to seeing you in November.
Katherine KelloggLSCA Festival Co-Chair

Register Here

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Posted in Bird Festivals, Birds | Tags: Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 8, 2026

Amazing Turtle Journey

The Pulse reported

A Massachusetts turtle released from a zoo in 2011 vanished for a decade, returned as an adult, and 15 years later two of her own captive-raised offspring were released into the same marsh

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Posted in Animals

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Join us this Thursday, September 17 (7pm) online via Zoom

to hear therapist, birder, and author Tammah Watts speak on the healing power of of birdwatching.

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The BFE Fellowship Application is Now Open

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