Monterey Bay Whale Watch spotted a pod of Cuvier’s beaked whales on a whale- watching trip.
— Read on www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/monterey-whale-sighting-18189804.php
from the Revelator
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 7, 2023
‘Incredibly rare’ whales spotted off the coast of Monterey Bay
Posted in Animals | Tags: Cuvier’s beaked whales
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 7, 2023
UC – Bot. Garden Carnivorous Plant Pop Up Sale 7/14 to 7/23
Choose from a wide selection of carnivorous plants including over 500 Sarracenia hybrids bursting with an array of color!
Plants will be restocked daily.
Limited quantities of Darlingtonia, Nepenthes, Pinguicula, Drosera, Dionaea, and Cephalotus will be available on a first-come basis.
HOURS Opening Day, Friday, July 14:
Members only from 9:00 am–10:00 am
General Public: 10:00 am–4:30 pm
Saturday, July 15–Sunday, July 23:
10:30 am–4:30 pm daily
Posted in Garden | Tags: Carnivorous Plant Sale
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 7, 2023
Amazon deforestation down by a third in 2023, says Brazilian government
The BBC reports
Government data shows the decrease in Lula’s first six months, reversing a years-long trend.
Posted in Environment | Tags: Amazon Deforestation
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 7, 2023
The iconic Devils Hole pupfish somehow keeps hanging in there
NPR reports
The Devils Hole pupfish’s natural habitat is a single water-filled hole in a cave in the Nevada desert. Its numbers at one point dwindled to just 35 animals. How does it manage to survive?
Read on www.npr.org/2023/07/06/1186297051/the-iconic-devils-hole-pupfish-somehow-keeps-hanging-in-there
Posted in Animals | Tags: Devils Hole pupfish
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 7, 2023
Why Do Bears Rub Against Trees? Scientists Offer New Explanation.
The New York Times reports
There are many reasons bears shimmy and scratch against trees. Sometimes they communicate by scent-marking trees, other times they’re removing hair and scratching that hard-to-reach itch. A new study posits an additional perk: slathering on nature-made tick repellent.
Read more at Why Do Bears Rub Against Trees? Scientists Offer New Explanation. – The New York Times
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 6, 2023
The Future of Forests-Zoom Webinar 7/12 @ noon
| How can we help our forests recover and adapt in a California where megafires are a constant threat? Join California Climate Program Lead Laura Crane on July 12th at noon for a conversation about what lasting forest resilience looks like. |
| Register Today! |
Posted in Environment, Talks | Tags: Future of Forests
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 6, 2023
The legislation passed to help Joshua Trees
The iconic spindly plants are under threat from a variety of factors, including climate change and development, and the California legislature is stepping in to help.
— Read on www.npr.org/2023/07/05/1186110349/joshua-trees-are-dying-this-new-legislation-hopes-to-tackle-that
Posted in Desert, Environment, Park | Tags: Joshua Tree National Park, Joshua Trees
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 6, 2023
Do Species Awareness Days Work?
The Revelator writes about Species Awareness Days
There are dozens of “species awareness days” each year. They cover everything from birds to marine mammals and from big cats to tiny fungi. But do they actually help conservation efforts?
New research into events like World Pangolin Day and International Tiger Day reveals how to make these celebrations more effective.
Read more at Do Species Awareness Days Work? • The Revelator
Posted in Animals | Tags: Species Awareness Days
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 5, 2023
Cutting plastic use: lessons from California
With its history of counterculture and expanse of protected wilderness, California has long been the most environmentally progressive state in the US. But after years of political gridlock, even it has struggled to slow the flow of plastics into the ocean. Last year, however, a landmark bill was passed to cut plastic packaging in the state by quarter within a decade.
— Read on backtoblueinitiative.com/cutting-plastic-use-lessons-from-california/
Posted in Environment | Tags: plastic in ocean, The Nature Conservancy
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 5, 2023
What to do when you see a bear
The BBC writes about how to deal with Bear encounters. Her are a few key excerpts:
They found that the attacks tended to be defensive: the bear was startled in a surprise encounter, and then attacked. A wider 2023 analysis of attacks by all large carnivores showed a similar pattern of largely defensive attacks by bear species (including American black bears, Asiatic black bears, brown bears, sloth bears and polar bears). Such insights into bear behaviour can be crucial when it comes to preventing conflicts, she and other experts say.
A main recommendations is to make sure the bear can hear you approaching. “If you telegraph your presence, and thereby avoid surprising them, they usually obligingly get out of the way, from this incoming potential interaction,” he says. “Making our presence known is the single most important thing we can do.”
Read full story at
Posted in Animals | Tags: Bear Attacks, What to do when see a bear
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 5, 2023
How Climate Change Killed Thousands of Migratory Birds
When dead birds fall from the sky, you know something is wrong. But finding out exactly what killed them isn’t as easy.
Scientists had plenty of theories when migratory sparrows, flycatchers, blackbirds, swallows, warblers and other birds in the southwestern United States turned up dead or dying in August and September of 2020. Some suggested it could have been smoke from wildfires. Others said it could have been a cold snap. Some experts thought it was lack of food, as evidenced by the birds’ emaciated, dehydrated bodies.
Posted in Birds | Tags: Climate Change Killed Thousands Migratory Birds
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 4, 2023
Cockatoos Know How to Pick the Right Tools for the Job
The New York Times
In a study published Friday in Current Biology, Dr. Osuna-Mascaró, Dr. Auersperg and their colleagues showed that the cockatoos are only the third animal, besides humans and chimpanzees, known to select varying tools based on the tasks they expect to face.
Read article at Cockatoos Know How to Pick the Right Tools for the Job – The New York Times
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 4, 2023
Wildlife Winners and Losers From the West’s Snowy Winter
The Revelator reports
A swing from drought to heavy snow and rain has been a mixed blessing for the West’s plants and animals.
The impacts to wildlife — both positive and negative — vary widely, says Caitlin Roddy, environmental program manager for the North Central region of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Read article at Wildlife Winners and Losers From the West’s Snowy Winter • The Revelator
Posted in Animals, Environment, Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Impact of Heavy Winter Snow
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 3, 2023
LOWER ROCK CREEK TRAIL REPAIRED
From U.S. Forest Service
Damage from storm runoff had occurred at the start of this trail where a 3-foot deep ravine had made the trail impassable for approximately 200 feet.
Inyo National Forest White Mountain Ranger District staff enlisted the help of Town of Mammoth Lakes trail crew, Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps, Mono County, Friends of the Inyo to complete the work over four days.
Great job everyone! We hope you enjoy the trail
Posted in Walks & Hikes | Tags: Rock Creek Trail
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 3, 2023
Generals Highway Open In Sequoia National Park
The Generals Highway is OPEN all the way from the Highway 198 entrance in Sequoia National Park to the Highway 180 entrance in Kings Canyon National Park!
Posted in Drives, Park | Tags: General’s Highway, Sequoia National Park
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 3, 2023
10th California Islands Symposium – November 6 to 10
The 10th California Islands Symposium will present recent work in all disciplines of natural, environmental, and cultural science on the California Islands, which include all of the islets, rocks, and islands off the Pacific coast of California and Baja California, Mexico.
for more information and to buy tickets go to 10th CALIFORNIA ISLANDS SYMPOSIUM Tickets, Ventura | Eventbrite
Posted in Talks | Tags: California Islands Symposium
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 3, 2023
Lassen National Park Highway Opens to Vehicles
From Yuba Net
The 30-mile highway through Lassen Volcanic National Park opened for the season on July 1, 2023.
— Read on yubanet.com/california/lassen-national-park-highway-opens-to-vehicles/
Posted in Drives, Park | Tags: Lassen National Park
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 3, 2023
10 Fun Facts About the Northern Mockingbird
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Posted in Birds | Tags: Mockingbird
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 2, 2023
Upcoming Marin County Bird & Nature Walks
From Wild Birds Unlimited of Novato
Sat, 7/15: Natural History Hike at China Camp, San Rafael, Friends of China Camp
Sun, 7/16: Family Walk at Indian Tree, Novato, Marin Parks
Sat, 7/22: Birds at China Camp, San Rafael, Friends of China Camp
Weds, 7/26: Birds at Helen Putnam, Petaluma, Sonoma Parks
August: Register early to save your spot at Marin County Parks’ August events
Posted in Birds, Walks & Hikes | Tags: Bird Walks
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 2, 2023
Newly Discovered Tallest Tree in Asia
Smithsonian Magazine reports
A newly discovered cypress growing in Tibet is now the tallest known tree in Asia, towering 335 feet above the forest floor in the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon Nature Reserve.
Scientists stumbled upon the gigantic specimen—a Himalayan cypress (Cupressus torulosa)—in May, according to a statement from Peking University. For comparison, the cypress is taller than the Statue of Liberty, which is 305 feet tall, as Lydia Smith notes for Live Science.
Posted in Environment | Tags: Tallest Tree in Asia
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 2, 2023
Botanical Presentations on YouTube
Check out the Yerba Buena CNPS YouTube channel for past botanical talks including
- The Wonders of Plant Galls
- A Natural History of San Bruno Mountain
- Restoration Outcomes in Coastal Grasslands
- Native Plants in the Built Environment
- Shade Gardening with CA Native Plants
Posted in Talks, Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Yerba Buena CNPS YouTube channel
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 2, 2023
Window Stickers to Prevent Bird Strikes Only Work One Way
The New York Times reports
Every year, hundreds of millions of birds die in the United States from flying into glass. Combined with other pressures such as habitat lost to development, climate change and hunting by cats, birds have suffered staggering losses in net population. Since 1970, nearly three billion birds have disappeared from the United States and Canada, scientists have found.
Treating windows to make them more visible to birds is one way to help. Researchers and manufacturers have long assumed that these products were more effective on the outside. But placing them there often requires ladders or even scaffolding, so sometimes people just put them on the inside and hope for the best.
Read full article at Window Stickers to Prevent Bird Strikes Only Work One Way – The New York Times
Posted in Birds | Tags: Bird Window Collisions
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 1, 2023
Job Opening: Antelope Valley Interpreter
Join our team! We’re currently hiring a full-time State Parks Interpreter II. This is an exciting opportunity for those who are interested in pursuing a career with California State Parks. Red Rock Canyon State Park is surrounded by amazing recreational opportunities and affordable housing. The deadline to apply is July 26, 2023.
To apply:
1. Take the State Parks Interpreter II exam and get on the eligibility list.
2. Complete a state job application form available at www.jobs.ca.gov/pdf/std678.pdf.
3. Create a Cal Careers account and submit your application online.
For more information, please click the links below.
Posted in Job Openings | Tags: Job Opening
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 1, 2023
Yosemite is very very crowded
Maybe this is not the summer to visit Yosemite
Here is the Park Updates for today
Yosemite National Park is very busy today. We’ll update this post throughout the day as conditions change. You can also text YNPTraffic to 333111 for updates.
Yosemite National Park is very busy today. We’ll update this post throughout the day as conditions change. You can also text YNPTraffic to 333111 for updates.
UPDATES:
8:13 am: Curry Village parking is full. Parking may be available at Yosemite Village or Yosemite Falls parking areas.
8:15 am: Long lines reported at park entrances. Hwy 140 – Arch Rock Entrance line extends to Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal, CA
8:59 am: All parking in Yosemite Valley is full. Avoid entering Yosemite Valley.
9:09 am: Hwy 41 – South Entrance line extends approx. 2.5 miles to Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp, CA. Estimated wait time of approx. 1 hour.
9:34 am: East Yosemite Valley is closed. Vehicles are being turned around near El Capitan.
9:59 am: Big Oak Flat Entrance (via Hwy 120 from west) backup is currently 45 minutes.
10:29 am: All parking at Glacier Point is full.
11:26 am: Arch Rock Entrance (via Hwy 140) backup is currently 1.5 hours.
11:48 am: South Entrance (via Hwy 41) backup is currently 2 hours.
Visit go.nps.gov/ynptraffic for more information.
also Tioga Pass Road is closed with no anticipated opening date
Posted in Uncategorized
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 1, 2023
Pt. Molate Park photography exhibit
When: THIS WEEKEND and every Saturday and Sunday, 1-5 pm, though August 6th.
Where: Point Richmond Gallery 145 W Richmond Avenue Point Richmond, CA 94801, https://www.margisullivanart.com
Posted in Photography | Tags: Pt. Molate Photo Exhibit
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 1, 2023
California toxic algea bloom kills or sickens hundreds of dolphins and sea lions
CNN reports
The scene is unsettling: hundreds of sea lions and dolphins are sprawled across the beaches in Southern California, either dead or sick and exhibiting abnormal behavior.
Officials have received more than 1,000 calls in recent weeks from beachgoers, tourists and residents reporting sick, dying and dead sea mammals washed ashore from Santa Barbara to San Diego County, amid a growing toxic algal bloom in the waters off the coast.
Read more California toxic algea bloom kills or sickens hundreds of dolphins and sea lions | CNN
Posted in Animals | Tags: dolphins, Seal Lions
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 1, 2023
Monarch butterflies’ white spots may help them fly farther, scientists say
NPR reports
Researchers find that the white spots on the wings of monarch butterflies may help them fly farther.
Listen to story at Monarch butterflies’ white spots may help them fly farther, scientists say : NPR
Posted in Butterflies | Tags: Monarch Butterflies
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 30, 2023
Birding the Botanic Garden/Pajareando el Jardin: Sunday July 2, 2023
Birding the Botanic Garden/Pajareando el Jardin: Sunday July 2, 2023
9-10 a.m. Bilingual program: Español/English
Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park s located at the intersection of Wildcat Canyon Road and South Park Drive Thanks to the diversity of plants and habitats represented in the Regional Parks Botanic Garden, there’s always a good variety of bird species to observe.
Join Naturalist Paula Urtecho for this special event. There will be a few pairs of binoculars to loan. Meet in front of the Botanic Garden Visitor Center.
No registration required, drop-in program only. For information, call 510-544-2233.
See the Botanic Garden website, nativeplants.org, for more Garden information.
Posted in Birds, Garden | Tags: Bird Walk, Regional Parks Botanic Garden
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 30, 2023
Birding the Botanic Garden/Pajareando el Jardin: Sunday July 2, 2023
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Posted in Birds, Garden, Park, Walks & Hikes | Tags: Birding
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 30, 2023
Short-term bang of fireworks has long-term impact on wildlife
Curtin University in Perty Australis has a study on the negative impact of fireworks on animals.
Popular fireworks should be replaced with cleaner drone and laser light shows to avoid the “highly damaging” impact on wildlife, domestic pets and the broader environment, new Curtin-led research has found.The new research, published in Pacific Conservation Biology, examined the environmental toll of firework displays by reviewing the ecological effects of Diwali festivities in India, Fourth of July celebrations across the United States of America, and other events in New Zealand and parts of Europe.
Posted in Animals | Tags: Impact of Fireworks on Animals
Natural History Wanderings 