Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 3, 2026

Tejon Ranch Upcoming Events

See All Upcoming Tejon Ranch Events at Events

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 3, 2026

Antarctica just saw the fastest glacier collapse ever recorded

ScienceDaily reported

Antarctica’s Hektoria Glacier stunned scientists by retreating eight kilometers in just two months, with nearly half of  it collapsing in record time. The rapid breakup was driven by a flat, underwater bedrock surface that allowed the glacier to suddenly float and fracture from below. Satellite and seismic data captured the dramatic chain reaction in near real time. The findings raise concerns that much larger glaciers could one day collapse just as quickly.

Read more Antarctica just saw the fastest glacier collapse ever recorded Antarctica just saw the fastest glacier collapse ever recorded

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 2, 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 | March 2, 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 | March 2, 2026

Olympic National Park’s furry guardians could gain endangered status

SF Gate  reported

The Olympic marmot, a chubby, whistling ground squirrel found only in the high alpine meadows in and around Olympic National Park, has finally made progress toward federal protection. After nearly two years of silence about the creature’s dwindling numbers, federal wildlife officials have taken a long-awaited first step after a lawsuit accused the agency of missing legally required deadlines.

Read on www.sfgate.com/national-parks/article/olympic-marmots-endangered-species-21338309.php

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 1, 2026

Regional Parks Botanic Garden Photos 2/28/26

Photographed in the East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park in Berkeley, CA on February 23, 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 | March 1, 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:

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 1, 2026

A total lunar eclipse will turn the moon blood red on Tuesday

NBC Bay Area 

A blood-red moon will soon grace the skies for a total lunar eclipse — and there won’t be another until late 2028.

The spectacle will be visible Tuesday morning from North America, Central America and the western part of South America. Australia and eastern Asia can catch it Tuesday night. Partial stages of the eclipse with small bites taken out of the moon can be seen from Central Asia and much of South America. Africa and Europe will be shut out.

Solar and lunar eclipses happen due to a precise alignment of the sun, moon and Earth. There are between four and seven a year, according to NASA.

Read more A total lunar eclipse will turn the moon blood red on Tuesday

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 28, 2026

Pesticides found in 70% of European soils, harming beneficial life

Monga Bay reported

For farmers, sometimes the easiest way to save a crop or prevent catastrophic insect damage is to spray a pesticide. But this common practice is wreaking havoc on the soil, according to new research published recently in the journal Nature. The study examined soil from 26 European countries, finding that pesticide contamination is widespread beyond … Continue reading

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 27, 2026

JOIN CIR ON CATALINA ISLAND FOR A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP RESTORE TOYON BAY

Catalina Island Trip Details -Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Duration: A full day on Catalina Island – The boat departs from Long Beach Harbor for Avalon at 9:50 am, and we’re on the 7:55 pm return. Please meet in Long Beach at 8:30 am for check-in.

Group Size: Limited to 15 volunteers. Difficulty: Easy to moderate walking on well-maintained trails.

What is included:

  • Transportation to and from Catalina Island aboard the Catalina Island Express
  • Lunch is included – CIMI has a full kitchen and will serve us a delicious lunch.
  • A visit to Avalon in the evening.

What is not included:

  • You provide your own transportation to Long Beach (carpooling is highly encouraged).
  • You’re on your own for dinner in Avalon.
  • You have to pay your own parking fees at Long Beach.

 REGISTER HERE

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 27, 2026

Everyone’s a queen: The ant species with no males or workers

New Scientist reported

Temnothorax kinomurai, a parasitic ant species found in Japan, reproduces asexually and all of its young develop into queens that try to take over other ants’ colonies

Read more Everyone’s a queen: The ant species with no males or workers

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 27, 2026

This unexpected plant discovery could change how drugs are made

ScienceDaily reported

Plants make chemical weapons to protect themselves, and many of these compounds have become vital to human medicine. Researchers found that one powerful plant chemical is produced using a gene that looks surprisingly bacterial. This suggests plants reuse microbial tools to invent new chemistry. The insight could help scientists discover new drugs and produce them more sustainably.

Read on www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260203030546.htm

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 26, 2026

Fears grow as invasive species spreads through California waterways

SF Gate reported

Golden mussels, an invasive species of mollusk known to wreak havoc on water infrastructure and aquatic habitats, are spreading rapidly through California.

Read on www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/california-golden-mussels-21941209.php

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 26, 2026

Audubon Releases “Nature Works!” Showcasing Nature-Based Solutions

Audubon reported on December 16, 2025

A new collection of case studies highlights how nature can provide resilient, cost-effective answers to today’s infrastructure challenges.

The challenges facing communities and the environment are daunting: severe weather, flooding, and the impacts of climate change have all taken center stage. Today Audubon released a new report highlighting approaches to these issues that are rooted in nature-based solutions: methods of harnessing the power of nature to provide benefits for our communities and the environment. Nature-based solutions utilize ecosystems to protect people, their homes and communities, and promote biodiversity.

Read more at Audubon Releases “Nature Works!” Showcasing Nature-Based Solutions

 

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 26, 2026

2026 Golden Gate Birdathon

Our biggest fundraiser of the year is back, with a 2026 goal of raising $180,000 to protect Bay Area birds. Your participation supports our youth education program, habitat restoration, and conservation advocacy. Over thirty tours will be available. Registration opens at 1 pm on Feb. 28

 

Learn more at 2026 Golden Gate Birdathon

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 25, 2026

 Friends of California Condors Wild and Free Upcoming Events 

Friends of California Condors Wild and Free Upcoming Events at  Events | Friends of California Condors Wild and Free

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 25, 2026

Regional Parks Botanic Garden Photos 2/23/26

Photographed in the East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park in Berkeley, CA on February 23, 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: , ,

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 25, 2026

Colorado Begins Planning Return of Wolverine Across its Parks, Absent for More Than 100 Years

Colorado wildlife authorities have introduced a plan to reintroduce the wolverine, one of the largest members of the weasel family, back into the state where it’s been absent for a century.
— Read on www.goodnewsnetwork.org/colorado-begins-planning-return-of-wolverine-across-its-parks-absent-for-more-than-100-years/

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 24, 2026

Purchase of contentious 153-acre property permanently expands Big Basin Redwoods State Park

SF Gate reported

Big Basin Redwoods State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the oldest state park in California, is now 153 acres larger, thanks to the $2.415 million purchase of a storied nearby property.

NoraBella, or “the Gateway to Big Basin,” was purchased by California State Parks from the conservation nonprofit Sempervirens Fund and permanently added to Big Basin’s now 18,376 acres, California State Parks announced on Thursday. The property borders Saddle Mountain at the park’s eastern entrance, and features creeks, waterfalls, canyons and a diverse forest habitat home to gray foxes and mountain lions.

Read more Purchase of contentious 153-acre property permanently expands Big Basin Redwoods State Park

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 24, 2026

Numbers of Rare Butterfly Eggs are Best on Record After Hedges are Allowed to Grow Wild

Numbers of rare butterfly eggs have skyrocketed in Wales after landowners let their hedgerows grow wild to help the Brown Hairstreak survive.
— Read on www.goodnewsnetwork.org/numbers-of-rare-butterfly-eggs-are-best-on-record-after-hedges-allowed-to-grow-wild/

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Posted in Butterflies, Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: ,

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 23, 2026

Newly discovered dinosaur species was a fish-eater with a huge horn

NPR reported

A newly discovered species of large dinosaur lived in marshy areas, hunted for fish and had an impressive horn protruding from its skull. It is the first time in over 100 years that scientists have discovered a new species of Spinosaurus dinosaurs, which are large fish-eating predators that first emerged during the Jurassic period more than 140 million years ago.

Read more at New Spinosaurus species had a massive head crest

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 23, 2026

Restoration efforts spark remarkable comeback for coho salmon on Mendocino Coast

The Mendocino Voice reported

After decades of decline, endangered coho salmon have returned to the coast in numbers that more than double the targets set by habitat restoration projects. In 2008, just 5,000 coho were estimated across the entire state, one percent of their historic numbers; over the winter of 2024-25, more than 30,000 were counted in Mendocino County alone, showing that recovery is possible. Conservationists say that while it’s still too early to tell what this season’s numbers might be, it’s looking promising for another good year.

Read more Restoration efforts spark remarkable comeback for coho salmon on Mendocino CoastRestoration efforts spark remarkable comeback for coho salmon on Mendocino Coast

 

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 22, 2026

Regional Parks Botanic Garden Photos 2/22/26

Photographed in the East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park in Berkeley, CA on February 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 in Garden, Photos (Sandy's), Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: , ,

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 22, 2026

Upcoming UC Berkeley Botanical Garden Events

See the events calendar for the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden at Garden Events

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 22, 2026

Sea lions make a home in Sacramento instead of near ocean, here’s why – YouTube

Officials discuss why Sea lions are making a home in Sacramento instead of by the ocean.
Watch on www.youtube.com/watch

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 21, 2026

Unknown Species Discovered In Great Salt Lake

Earth.com reported

A tiny roundworm living in Utah’s Great Salt Lake has now been confirmed as a species never before described by science.

Researchers say its ability to survive in the lake’s extreme salt levels not only expands what scientists know can live there, but also raises new questions about how it arrived and what role it plays in a fragile, bird-supporting ecosystem.

Read more Unknown Species Discovered In Great Salt Lake

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 21, 2026

Pesticides may drastically shorten fish lifespans, study finds

The Guardian reported

The lifespan of fish appears to be drastically reduced by pesticides, a study has found.

Even low levels of common agricultural pesticides can stunt the long-term lifespan of fish, according to research led by Jason Rohr, a biologist at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.

Read more at Pesticides may drastically shorten fish lifespans, study finds

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Posted in Animals, Environment | Tags:

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 20, 2026

Superintendent closes Yosemite National Park for safety reasons

SF Gate reported

Yosemite National Park has closed to visitors due to the impacts of a powerful winter storm, which has dumped copious amounts of snow over the park and caused trees to topple around Yosemite Valley and over park roads.

Superintendent Raymond McPadden officially closed the park Thursday afternoon, citing “high snow loading, multiple road closures into and within the park due to heavy snowfall, on-going tree and limb failures, and potential avalanche conditions” in a safety closure notice reviewed by SFGATE. “The closed area includes the entire park,” the notice reads.

Read more Superintendent closes Yosemite National Park for safety reasons

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 20, 2026

Tejon Conservancy Events

See the calendar of events for theTejon Conservancy at www.tejonconservancy.org/calendar

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 20, 2026

San Francisco coyote swims to Alcatraz for first time ever

SF Gate reported

It was a late Sunday afternoon like any other on San Francisco’s Alcatraz Island. The day was winding down, and Aidan Moore, a guest relations employee for Alcatraz City Cruises, was at the dock of the tourist attraction helping visitors disembark. Suddenly, one of the tourists approached him, wide-eyed: They had just seen a coyote swimming to shore, something that has never been recorded before.

Read more at San Francisco coyote swims to Alcatraz for first time ever

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