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 by: Sandy Steinman | August 3, 2026
New species discovered on expedition to Channel Islands National Park
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
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 27, 2026
A little bird told her: scientist wins $100,000 prize for decoding birdsong
The Guardian reported
A scientist who decoded the vocalisations that a bird uses to communicate has won a $100,000 prize for making progress towards a world in which humans can talk to the animals – without being met with a blank response.
Dr Julie Elie at the University of California, Berkeley, was awarded the 2026 Coller-Dolittle prize for two-way interspecies communication after working out the 11 core calls in the27 vocabulary and their meanings.
Read more at A little bird told her: scientist wins $100,000 prize for decoding birdsong
Posted in Birds | Tags: Decoding Bird Song, Zebra Finch
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 26, 2026
Europe’s Air Quality Dramatically Improves in 10 Years, With 39-59% Drop in Industrial and Road Toxins
Good News Network reported
Air quality continues to improve across Europe, with emissions from most of the major pollutants declining by significant amounts.
Posted in Environment | Tags: European Air Quality
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 26, 2026
Seven suspected new bird flu cases are ‘evidence of spread’ into Australian wildlife, experts warn
The Guardian reported
BirdLife Australia says discoveries of sick and dead local seabirds in South Australia show outbreak is ‘taking hold’
Read on www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jul/27/h5-bird-flu-suspected-new-cases-south-australia
Posted in Birds | Tags: Bird Flu in Australia
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 26, 2026
The Changing Chorus: 50 Years of Birds in the Bay Area
See preentation on YuTube of The Changing Chorus: 50 Years of Birds in the Bay Area at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_f71Rr9k8E
Posted in Birds | Tags: State of Bay Area Birds
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 26, 2026
A Beginner’s Guide to Types of Rock: Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorhpic
Earth.com reported
Just as biologists need to distinguish between different kinds of plants and animals, geologists depend on being able to classify different types of rocks. It turns out that the best way to classify rocks is based on the process in which they were formed. There are three main processes that result in the three overarching categories of rocks. These categories, which we will explore in detail, are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
Read more at A Beginner’s Guide to Types of Rock: Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorhpic
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: Geology
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 25, 2026
How the kidnapping of two forest service workers unfolded in California
The Guardian reported
Two biologists were taken hostage for about 15 hours by a man and his son in a remote part of Shasta-Trinity national forest
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Read on www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/25/california-forest-service-kidnapping-shasta
Posted in Park | Tags: Forest Employee Kidnapping
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 25, 2026
10 Unique Birds That Build the Most Incredible Nests
from Animals Around the World
When you think about nature’s architects, birds might not be the first creatures that come to mind. Yet some species create structures so complex, so utterly bizarre, that they seem almost impossible. These aren’t just simple bundles of twigs thrown together in an afternoon. We’re talking about hanging fortresses, stitched leaf pouches, and apartment buildings that can weigh as much as a small car.
Read more and see the nests at 10 Unique Birds That Build the Most Incredible Nests
Posted in Birds | Tags: Bird Nests
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 24, 2026
The long-awaited Highway 1 reopening has spelled disaster in Big Sur
SF Gate reported
For the past three years, the narrative around Big Sur was that it was a world unto itself. With the southern part of the highway completely closed for repair after several major landslides, the crowds ebbed, nature got a break.
Then, in January, the road reopened. Now, a little more than six months after Highway 1 went from “America’s most beautiful cul-de-sac” to a major thoroughfare once more, folks have descended on Big Sur this summer en masse.
Read more at The long-awaited Highway 1 reopening has spelled disaster in Big Sur The long-awaited Highway 1 reopening has spelled disaster in Big Sur
Posted in Drives, Park | Tags: Massive Crowds at Big Sur
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 24, 2026
Job Announcement: Integrated Campaign Specialist
The CNPS Public Affairs team is hiring an Integrated Campaign Specialist to develop and execute digital campaigns that support CNPS’s conservation, public policy, and organizational growth goals. You’ll work across communications channels to engage diverse audiences, drive meaningful action, and continuously improve campaign performance through data and analysis. CNPS’s work is centered on multi-year campaigns designed to achieve measurable, mission-driven outcomes; such as advancing legislation, growing membership and donations, and increasing public engagement. This role plays a central part in translating those priorities into coordinated campaigns that deliver results.
- 📍 Location: Hybrid (Sacramento-based preferred; Bay Area candidates also encouraged to apply, as well as those willing to relocate.)
- 🗓️ Deadline to apply: August 9, 2026
- 🎯 Target start date: Early September 2026
Posted in Job Openings | Tags: Job Announcement
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 24, 2026
This desert oasis is a biological wonderland. Trump’s border wall threatens to destroy it
The Guardian reported
Environmental groups are sounding the alarm over plans that threaten a desert spring that’s home to rare fish and turtles and sacred to the O’odham people
Read on www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/24/arizona-border-wall-endangered-species
Posted in Environment, Park | Tags: Organ Pipe National Monument
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 24, 2026
Marin County Parks Upcoming Events
See the calendar of upcoming free events for Marin County Parks Events Calendar – Marin County Parks
Posted in Park
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 24, 2026
Take the Pulse of Bay Area Birds
Check ou the status/population of bird species populations at Take the Pulse of Bay Area Birds!
Sadly, many species are experiencing significant decline.
Posted in Birds | Tags: Bay Are Bird Population declines
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 23, 2026
Bivalve-loving oystercatchers thriving thanks to conservation efforts
AP reported
A shorebird known for its sharp, orange bill and beady eyes is making a comeback in North America thanks to a yearslong conservation effort.
Posted in Birds | Tags: American Oystercatchers
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 23, 2026
In crowded Yosemite National Park, bears are eating birthday cake and getting hit by cars
SF Gate reported
According to the park, humans are the No. 1 cause of death for black bears in Yosemite, and vehicles have hit nine bears so far this year throughout the park.
Data collected between 1995 and 2010 found that vehicle collisions correlatewith visitation numbers. The frequency of bear-vehicle collisions increases in the summer months, tending to peak during the height of park visitation in August or September.
Read more at In crowded Yosemite National Park, bears are eating birthday cake and getting hit by carsIn crowded Yosemite National Park, bears are eating birthday cake and getting hit by cars
Posted in Animals, Park | Tags: Bears Killed By Cars, Yosemite
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 23, 2026
370,000 Acres of Rainforest and Granite Peaks Now Protected in French Guiana
The Good News Network reported
As part of new wildlands protection law, the French Government has announced the creation of a new nature reserve in French Guiana spanning 370,000 acres.
Called the Rocky Peaks of Armontabo, the reserve includes giant, isolated granite mountains surrounded by intact rainforest of rich biodiverse value.
Read more 370,000 Acres of Rainforest and Granite Peaks Now Protected in French Guiana
Posted in Park | Tags: Rocky Peaks of Armontabo
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 22, 2026
2 massive California wildfires erupt near Highway 395 in the Sierra
SF Gate reported
The Rock Fire and the Biscar Fire are burning in the eastern Sierra Nevada, prompting highway closures and evacuations.
Read on www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/sierra-fires-rock-biscar-22354277.php
Posted in Drives, Environment | Tags: 395, Forest Fires
Natural History Wanderings 