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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 7, 2026
Job Opening: Nursery Associate
Posted in Garden, Job Openings | Tags: Job Opening
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 7, 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 | August 7, 2026
Upcoming UC Berkeley Botanical Garden Events
See the events calendar for the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden at Garden Events
Posted in Class/Workshop, Garden | Tags: UC Berkeley Botanical Garden Events
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 7, 2026
Phoenix Species Project launches global effort to bring 100 of the world’s most threatened species back from the brink
ICUN reported
Read more at Phoenix Species Project launches global effort to bring 100 of the world’s most threatened species back from the brink – News | IUCNLed by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Re:wild and the Bezos Earth Fund, in collaboration with IUCN Species Survival Commission, the project is the largest single philanthropic initiative dedicated exclusively to recovering species classified as Critically Endangered and Extinct in the Wild, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM across continents.
Posted in Animals | Tags: Phoenix Species Project, Threatened Specires
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 7, 2026
Recent discoveries of ‘lost’ Mekong giant salmon carp renews hope for the fish
Monga Bay reported
A large fish once feared extinct in Cambodia has been recorded in the country’s waters for the fourth time since 2020, renewing hope for the species.
The Mekong giant salmon carp (Aaptosyax grypus), a critically endangered large-sized freshwater fish, was formally described from the Mekong River in 1991. Over the next 14 years, there had been only 20 formal records of the species; none since 2005.
However, Bunyeth Chan, a researcher at Svay Rieng University in Cambodia, and his colleagues confirmed three observations in a 2024 study
Read more Recent discoveries of ‘lost’ Mekong giant salmon carp renews hope for the fish
Posted in Animals
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 6, 2026
Tejon Ranch Upcoming Events
See All Upcoming Tejon Ranch Events at Events
Posted in Walks & Hikes | Tags: Tejon Ranch activities
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 6, 2026
Trump is lifting protections in America’s largest marine protected areas
NPR reported
Read more at Trump is lifting protections in America’s largest marine protected areas : NPRThe largest conservation areas in the U.S. are in the Pacific Ocean. President Trump is rolling back their protections.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: Marine Protected Areas Losing Protections
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 6, 2026
The rebuild of Tilden Park’s Environmental Education Center is on hold
Berkeleyside reported
Replacing the 1974 visitor center that’s near the Little Farm is paused indefinitely due to lack of funds, according to the EBRPD.
Read more at The rebuild of Tilden Park’s Environmental Education Center is on hold
Posted in Park | Tags: Tilden Park Environmental Education Center Rebuild
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 6, 2026
Rare Samar Rafflesia rediscovered in protected forest after 15 years
Inquirer.net reported
One of the country’s rarest flowering plants, the endangered Samar Rafflesia (Rafflesia manillana), has been documented once again inside the protected forests of Samar Island, marking its first confirmed sighting in 15 years and underscoring the island’s status as one of the Philippines’ most important biodiversity hotspots.
The rare parasitic plant was recorded during an exploratory survey conducted by the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) Protected Area Management Office, which wanted to determine the current distribution and condition of these species within the country’s largest terrestrial protected area.
Read more Rare Samar Rafflesia rediscovered in protected forest after 15 years
Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Samar Rafflesia
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 5, 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
Posted in Park, Walks & Hikes | Tags: East Bay Regional Parks
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 5, 2026
The unexpected animals quietly making California roads safer
SF Gate reported
Scientists found that when mountain lions are nearby, the odds of a vehicle colliding with a deer shrank.
Read on www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/mountain-lion-study-22373526.php
Posted in Animals | Tags: Auto-Deer Accidents, Deer Mountain, Lions
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 5, 2026
Job Announcement-UC Botanical Garden-Horticulturist
| Horticulturist, -Arid House/Deserts of the Americas
Are you a horticulturist with a passion for cacti, succulents, and other arid-adapted plants? We are seeking a skilled and enthusiastic horticulturist to lead the care, development, and interpretation of one of North America’s outstanding documented collections of desert plants. The successful candidate will be responsible for the cultivation, documentation, and continued development of the Garden’s Arid House, associated support glasshouses, and the Deserts of the Americas collection. |
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Posted in Garden, Job Openings | Tags: Job Opening
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 5, 2026
‘Exceptional’: Monterey Bay captain captures airborne killer whales and dolphins
See a great photo of an airborne Killer Whale and Dolphin at ‘Exceptional’: Monterey Bay captain captures airborne killer whales and dolphins
Posted in Animals, Photography | Tags: dolphins, Killer Whales
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 4, 2026
Virtual Plant Illustration Exhibit
Bloom: 2026 Plants Illustrated Virtual Exhibition
The University of California Botanical Garden is pleased to present Bloom:
2026 Plants Illustrated Virtual Exhibition in partnership with Northern California Society of Botanical Artists.
Posted in Wildflower Bloom Reports | Tags: Virtual Plant Illustration Exhibit
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 4, 2026
Bumblebees collect up to 7 times more toxic metals than honeybees
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 3, 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 | August 3, 2026
New species discovered on expedition to Channel Islands National Park
SF Gate reported
The animal was discovered over 6,000 feet below the ocean’s surface during an expedition of the deep ocean.
Read on www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/new-species-channel-islands-22367099.php
Posted in Animals | Tags: New Species
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 3, 2026
This common pesticide may be quietly wiping out future bumblebees
Science Daily reported
- A next-generation pesticide designed to kill crop pests may also be interfering with the reproductive health of bumblebees. Researchers discovered that low-dose exposure to sulfoxaflor changed gene activity, especially in tissues involved in reproduction, raising concerns about long-term impacts on bee populations. Because pollinators are essential for about one-third of the world’s food production, finding ways to protect them while controlling pests has become increasingly important.
Read more This common pesticide may be quietly wiping out future bumblebees
Posted in Animals | Tags: Bumblebees, Pesticides
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 2, 2026
New Audubon Report Shows Road to a Resilient Great Salt Lake
Audubon reported
Great Salt Lake is the largest saline lake in the Western Hemisphere and an irreplaceable global stopover site for millions of migratory birds, but the challenges facing the lake are vast. As the lake levels decline, the ecosystem’s food web and hydrologic connections begin to unravel. Developed by our team of scientists, with input from habitat and water experts, our new report, the Great Salt Lake Birds and Habitat Assessment, meets the urgency of this moment. Learn more about our Great Salt Lake Birds and Habitat Assessment and its findings.
Posted in Environment | Tags: Great Salt Lake
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 1, 2026
New monkey species with orange lips found ‘hiding’ in DRC forest
The BBC reported
A monkey that has striking pinkish-orange lips and a black face – and lives in the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo – has been confirmed as a new species to science.
The black-furred primate was spotted and photographed hidden away in the high tree canopy of dense tropical forests in Lomami National Park, in the central east of the country.
Read more New monkey species with orange lips found ‘hiding’ in DRC forest
Posted in Animals | Tags: Colobus congoensis, New Monkey Species
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 31, 2026
The Armored Catfish Known as L046: Protecting the Unnamed
Revelaotor reports on
Protecting the unnamed: The international aquarium trade loves novelty species. But many of these fish — bought and sold all over the world — still haven’t been named or identified by science, and we have no idea if the trade is sustainable. Wildlife-trafficking expert Vincent Nijman shines a light on this mostly hidden issue through the story of the armored catfish species once only known as L046.
Posted in Animals | Tags: International Aquarium Trade, Unnamed Species
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 30, 2026
‘Massive migratory flight of millions’: Rare butterfly swarm visits Tahoe, Lassen
SF Gate
An unusual wave of butterflies delighted residents in the Santa Cruz mountains in May. Now, a second tide of the orange-and-brown insects has emerged hundreds of miles away in the Sierra Nevada and near Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Regional biologists this week reported the insects, known as California tortoiseshells (Nymphalis californica), are swarming around Lassen Volcanic National Park, with smaller numbers fluttering around the Lake Tahoe area.
Read more at ‘Massive migratory flight of millions’: Rare butterfly swarm visits Tahoe, Lassen
Posted in Butterflies | Tags: California tortoiseshells, Nymphalis californica
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 30, 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
Posted in Park, Walks & Hikes | Tags: East Bay Regional Parks
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 30, 2026
Scientists have discovered only a tiny fraction of living insect species
Science reported
From half-meter-long moths to fairy wasps smaller than sand grains, insects come in a stunning variety of shapes and sizes and constitute the most diverse animal group on Earth. But the insect species discovered so far may represent just a fraction of the total crawling, flying, and burrowing around the planet, according to a new study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Using statistical methods borrowed from another field, a team of entomologists estimates there may be as many as 20 million insect species on our planet—more than three times the previous estimate.
Read more at Scientists have discovered only a tiny fraction of living insect species
Posted in Animals | Tags: Millions of Unknown Insect Species
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 29, 2026
Why are so many dead bumblebees appearing on sidewalks?
ScienceDaily reported
Bumblebees naturally have short lives, but extreme heat and human activity are making survival harder. Pesticides can poison bees or destroy the flowers they depend on, while habitat loss leaves them with fewer safe places to live and feed. Protecting native plants and using fewer chemicals could help these vital pollinators recover.
Read on www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260727012134.htm
Posted in Animals | Tags: Bumblebees
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 29, 2026
Whale of the Month: Rice’s Whale
The Revelator reported
These newly discovered whales are about as rare as rare can get, and the Trump administration isn’t helping.
Read more at Whale of the Month: Rice’s Whale
Posted in Animals | Tags: Rice Whale
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 28, 2026
Repatriated Yurok land to welcome guests to Calif. national park
SF Gate reported
California’s Yurok Tribe lost 90% of their land. Now, 125 acres have been returned in a historic partnership.
Read on www.sfgate.com/california-parks/article/historic-yurok-land-deal-near-redwood-national-19310940.php
Posted in Park | Tags: Redwood Gateway, Yurok Indians
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 28, 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
Posted in Class/Workshop | Tags: Theodore Payne Foundation Upcoming Events
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 28, 2026
Why Female Chickadees Leave Their Mates for Smarter Birds
AZ Aninals reported
- Being a faithful, intelligent partner still isn’t enough. There’s a surprising threshold at which even smart male chickadees lose out. See the cognitive threshold →
- Female chickadees with the weakest cognitive skills make a calculated mating move that reveals something unexpected about how animals compensate for their own limitations. Explore the female strategy →
Read more at Why Female Chickadees Leave Their Mates for Smarter Birds
Posted in Birds | Tags: Female Chickadee Behavior
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 27, 2026
‘The pigeon came to them seeking help’: California firefighters give oxygen to suffering bird
The Guardian reported
A crew in the San Francisco Bay Area city of Oakland spotted a pigeon ‘in distress’ after a vehicle fire
Read more at ‘The pigeon came to them seeking help’: California firefighters give oxygen to suffering bird
Posted in Birds | Tags: Firefighters Save Pigeon
Natural History Wanderings 