The Guardian reported
A long-running experiment in Colorado provides an ‘alarming’ view of how rapidly unchecked global heating could transform fragile ecosystems.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 25, 2026
It’s like flowers on steroids’: what happened when scientists heated a Rocky Mountain wildlife meadow by 2C?
Posted in Environment, Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Global Warming Impact on Plants
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 25, 2026
Siskiyou Land Trust Upcoming Events
See upcoming events for the Siskiyou Land Trust at Upcoming events
Posted in Walks & Hikes | Tags: Siskiyou Land Trust Upcoming Events
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 25, 2026
The ‘magical’ blue flower changing farmers’ fortunes in India- MSN
Indian farmers are turning to butterly pea flower which is in demand for its bright blue colour.
— Read on www.msn.com/en-us/money/personalfinance/the-magical-blue-flower-changing-farmers-fortunes-in-india/ar-AA1TDu2n
Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: aparajita, Butterfly Pea
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 24, 2026
Los Padres ForestWatch Upcoming Events
See Upcoming Los Padres ForestWatch Upcoming Events at Home | Los Padres ForestWatch
Posted in Birds, Talks | Tags: Los Padres ForestWatch Upcoming Events
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 24, 2026
Oakland’s last old-growth redwood is a gnarled, twisted icon
SF Gate reported
If you didn’t know any better, you might look out over the forested valley at the edge of the Oakland hills and fail to notice Old Survivor among its fellow redwoods. It’s a bit taller than the others, though, and certainly scragglier. The branches at its crown are cartoonishly crooked; up close, its trunk is covered in burls. This is partially what saved its life.
Read more and see photo at Oakland’s last old-growth redwood is a gnarled, twisted icon
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 23, 2026
Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association Upcoming Events
See upcoming events calendar of hikes and programs at https://www.abdnha.org/calendar1.htm.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 23, 2026
Thriving oyster colonies on living shorelines boost protection
Coastal Review reported
Nature-based coastal shoreline erosion control structures that successfully attract and grow oysters can better defend shores from waves, according to a study led by East Carolina University researchers. The study, published late last year in the journal Scientific Reports, found that the more oyster-dense a breakwater designed to recruit and grow those shellfish is, the better that structure is at dissipating waves.
Read more at Coastal Review, coastalreview.org.
Posted in Animals, Environment | Tags: Oysters
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 22, 2026
Upcoming Bay Nature Events
See the schedule of upcoming Bay Nature Events mailchi.mp/baynature/march-11
Posted in Talks, Walks & Hikes | Tags: Bay Nature Events
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 22, 2026
California Adding Three New State Parks
The Sacramento Bee reported
The California State Parks system is adding three parks in the Central Valley in what Gov. Gavin Newsom touted as the biggest expansion of the system in decades.
San Joaquin River Parkway in Madera County, the Dust Bowl Camp outside of Bakersfield, and a park along Feather River in Yuba County are the newest additions to the California State Parks system.
Posted in Park | Tags: New California State Parks
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 22, 2026
8 birds of prey saved after being released in bizarre NorCal crime
SF Gate reported
Volunteers and staff from a falconry center in Yuba County are searching for the remaining animals that were released during a break-in.
Read on www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/birds-crime-norcal-22218758.php
Posted in Birds | Tags: Bird of Prey Theft
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 22, 2026
Rising underwater noise is impacting Arctic wildlife
Earth.com reported
The Arctic used to muffle much of human noise. Thick sea ice blocked waves, limited ship travel, and kept many industrial projects far away. That old quiet is fading fast.
As ice melts, more people move in – more boats, more planes, more snowmobiles. All that motion adds something most of us never think about: underwater noise that spreads through the sea and lingers long after an engine passes.
Read more https://www.earth.com/news/how-rising-underwater-noise-is-impacting-arctic-wildlife/Rising underwater noise is impacting Arctic wildlife
Posted in Animals | Tags: Underwater Noise Impact On wildlife
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 21, 2026
Wood burning pollution leads to 8,600 premature US deaths a year
The Guardian reported
Air pollution from home wood burning is estimated to lead to 8,600 premature deaths in the US each year, according to research.
Just 2% of US homes use wood for primary heating. Another 8% burn wood for pleasure, aesthetics or supplementary heating, but combined they produce 21% of the country’s wintertime particle pollution.
Read more Wood burning pollution leads to 8,600 premature US deaths a year, study finds
Posted in Environment | Tags: Wood Burning and Pollution
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 21, 2026
Four Simple Steps to Protect Pollinators
from the Xerces Society
Grow Pollinator-Friendly Flowers
Flowers provide the nectar and pollen resources that pollinators feed on. Growing the right flowers, shrubs, and trees with overlapping bloom times will support pollinators from spring through fall. Learn More
Provide Nest Sites
It is important to support all pollinator life stages, including eggs and larvae! For bees, leave patches of bare ground and brush piles, have plants and shrubs with hollow or pithy stems, or install nesting blocks. For butterflies and moths, plant their caterpillar host plants.Learn More
Avoid Pesticides
Pesticides, especially insecticides, are harmful to pollinators. Herbicides reduce food sources by removing flowers from the landscape. Fungicides can also have negative effects on bees. There are safer ways to manage issues! Learn More
Spread the Word
Make your commitment both official and visible by signing the Pollinator Protection Pledge! You can also share information about pollinators on social media, talk with your neighbors, or spread the word with a pollinator habitat sign or pesticide-free sign. Learn More
Posted in Butterflies, Environment, Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Support for Pollinators
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 21, 2026
Cuttlefish Literally Twist Light to Attract a Mate, Study Finds
ScienceAlert reported
Every critter on this planet that relies on a sexual means of reproduction has its own way of luring in a mate – but cuttlefish can do something really special. Male Andrea cuttlefish (Doratosepion andreanum) – quite drab to human eyes – use their birefringent arms to literally twist light, creating a highly conspicuous signal precisely tuned to cuttlefish vision.
Read more Cuttlefish Literally Twist Light to Attract a Mate, Study Finds : ScienceAlert
Posted in Animals | Tags: Cuttlefish
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 20, 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
Posted in Uncategorized
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 20, 2026
Acupuncture for Rescued Elephants Provides Relief from Chronic Pain and Nerve Damage
The Good News Network reported
The largest wildlife rescue organization in India has started using acupuncture to help elephants recover from chronic pain, nerve damage, and mobility issues after their years of captivity or hard labor.
Their veterinary team sought training in alternative medicine so the techniques could be used alongside conventional veterinary medicine and found they boosted recovery rates when the usual treatments proved inadequate.
Read more Acupuncture for Rescued Elephants Provides Relief from Chronic Pain and Nerve Damage in India Care Center
Posted in Animals | Tags: Acupuncture for Elephants
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 19, 2026
Abandoned tuna-fishing devices pollute the Galápagos Marine Reserve
Monga Bay reported
- The tuna industry commonly uses fish aggregating devices (FADs) to efficiently collect large volumes of fish; when these devices are lost or abandoned, they can harm marine wildlife and habitats.
- In Ecuador, lost FADs can drift into the Galápagos Marine Reserve, a protected area with hundreds of endemic and threatened species, where they pollute the environment with plastic, harm reefs and entangle wildlife.
- Local agencies and organizations are developing ways to prevent FADs from entering the marine reserve in the first place and trying to clean up the mess they make when they do get in.
Read more at Abandoned tuna-fishing devices pollute the Galápagos Marine Reserve
Posted in Environment | Tags: Pollution at Galapagos Marine Reserve
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 19, 2026
The Tiger Population Doubled in India in Just Ten Years
Good News Network reported
Conservation in India successfully doubled the native population of tigers in the decade before the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study reveals.
Read more at The Tiger Population Doubled in India in Just Ten Years
Posted in Animals | Tags: Tiger Population
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 18, 2026
Wigeons
The Alameda Post
While we can see ducks throughout the year in Alameda, some species leave in thespring to raise their young in other places and return in the fall to winter in our waters. Wigeons are one of the partial-year species. Most of them leave in April to breed in western Canada and then return in September or October, although a few do stay here each summer. While here in winter, they often feed at night. During the day they hang out in fresh water or at sheltered spots at the edge of the Bay, so look for them in ponds, including the lagoon near the beach at Crab Cove and the edge of the water at Elsie Roemer as well as multiple ponds and marshy areas throughout the East Bay.
Read more Wigeons Winter in Alameda
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 18, 2026
Forests are changing fast and scientists are deeply concerned
- ScienceDaily reported
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Forests may be growing faster—but they’re also becoming weaker, simpler, and far more vulnerable.
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Forests around the world are quietly transforming, and not for the better. A massive global analysis of more than 31,000 tree species reveals that forests are becoming more uniform, increasingly dominated by fast-growing “sprinter” trees, while slow-growing, long-lived species are disappearing. These slower species act as the backbone of forest ecosystems, storing carbon, stabilizing environments, and supporting rich webs of life—especially in tropical regions where biodiversity is highest.
Read more at Forests are changing fast and scientists are deeply concerned
Posted in Environment | Tags: Forest Growth
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 17, 2026
Important Steps To Take If A Bird Flies Into Your Window Read More: https://www.housedigest.com/2102567/steps-to-take-if-bird-flies-into-window/
House Digest reported
If you love birds and biodiversity in your garden, then you probably know all about how to attract a variety of birds to your yard so you can enjoy seeing the wildlife. However, inviting a bunch of birds to your yard can have some unintended consequences, especially if your house has windows that are remarkably transparent or reflective. Birds can unfortunately mistake the glass for clear flying space, leading them to collide with your house’s windows. This collision is very dangerous to birds, often leading to injury or even death. If you want to help the bird, you will need to work quickly and know exactly what to do in order to handle the bird safely. This includes keeping yourself and the bird safe while assessing injuries, knowing who to call for help, and understanding how to confirm and dispose of a dead bird.
Read More: Important Steps To Take If A Bird Flies Into Your Window
Posted in Birds | Tags: Bird Window Collisions
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 17, 2026
Apes Show Ability to Imagine in ‘Tea Party’ Experiments
The Good News Network reported
Apes share the human ability to imagine and pretend, suggests new research that included a series of tea party experiments.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 16, 2026
Cities May Be ‘Evolutionary Training Grounds’ for Spotted Lanternflies
The New York Times reported
Living in urban China may have given the insects the traits they needed to thrive in the United States, a new study suggests.
Read more at Cities May Be ‘Evolutionary Training Grounds’ for Spotted Lanternflies
Posted in Animals | Tags: Lanterflies
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 16, 2026
Rocket Frog, Damselfish, and Bandicoots: The Species Declared Extinct in 2025 • The Revelator
This year’s list includes a notable extinction caused by climate change — and several caused by introduced predators.
— Read on therevelator.org/extinct-2025/
Posted in Animals | Tags: Species now extinct
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 15, 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 | April 15, 2026
How the white-tailed eagle returned to the Isle of Wight
Hampsuire Life reported
Back in 2019 something remarkable happened just off the coast of Hampshire. A magnificent bird, extinct in the UK since the early twentieth century, was reintroduced to the Isle of Wight, where it hadn’t bred since 1780. It was a pivotal moment.
Read more How the white-tailed eagle returned to the Isle of Wight
Posted in Birds | Tags: White-tailed Eagles
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 14, 2026
Can the East Bay Parks help save the California least tern?
Oaklandside reporte
The shorebirds that look like ‘little angels hovering above the waves’ have been on the endangered species list since 1970. A wildlife biologist with the park system and 8,000 volunteers have created nesting habitats in Oakland and Hayward.
Posted in Birds | Tags: Least Tern
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 14, 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 | April 14, 2026
The Remarkable Role of Filoplumes: Nature’s Hidden Feathers
NewsClip reported
Feathers enable birds to perform complex aerial maneuvers, and filoplumes assist significantly in this regard. These tiny structures monitor airflow, vibrations, and even touch, translating these cues into critical adjustments. They play a crucial role in maintaining flight stability, crucial for long-distance travelers like the albatross, which can soar for hours on end.
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Pressure Detection: Filoplumes alert birds to feather misalignments.
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Temperature Regulation: They inform birds when to fluff up for warmth or release heat.
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Pest Detection: Their sensitivity allows birds to react to parasites more swiftly.
Read more at The Remarkable Role of Filoplumes: Nature’s Hidden Feathers
Posted in Birds | Tags: Filoplumes:
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 13, 2026
Tejon Conservancy Events
See the calendar of events for theTejon Conservancy at www.tejonconservancy.org/calendar
Posted in Walks & Hikes | Tags: Tejon Ranch Event
Natural History Wanderings 