The Africulturban center in Senegal is giving people the weapons to fight climate change — weapons of the musical and artistic variety. Legendary Senegalese rapper Matador founded the center to help young artists channel their frustrations about the future. 🎧 Listen to what some of them have been creating.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 27, 2023
Fighting Climate Change With Art and Music
Posted in Environment | Tags: Fighting Climate Change With Art and Music
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 26, 2023
Peninsula Open Space Wildflower Guide
Get the Wildflower Walks – POST Hiking Guides at guides.openspacetrust.org/wildflowers/
Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Peninsula Open Space Wildflower Guide
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 26, 2023
Living Alongside Urban Coyotes
Richardson Bay Audubon Center reports
Coyotes play a crucial role in California’s ecosystems, and despite growing tensions with these wild animals, it is in our favor — and theirs — to learn to live with them instead of eliminating them.
Read more at Pursuing Compatibility During Conflict: Living Alongside Urban Coyotes | Richardson Bay Audubon Center
Posted in Animals | Tags: Urban Coyotes
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 25, 2023
Early Estimates for Reopening Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Announced
Leadership from the parks, in partnership with Tulare County and Caltrans, hosted a public meeting last night at which the parks shared their current estimated time frames for reopening various areas to the public. Roads and facilities in the parks have been badly damaged by the recent major winter storms.
Given all the unknown variables, the current projected reopening timeframes are as follows:
Kings Canyon National Park
Grant Grove (Access to giant sequoias, the General Grant Tree, winter snowplay, camping, lodging, trails, and more)
Current Status: Closed
Estimated Reopening: April 14, contingent upon the completion of major road repairs outside the park along Highway 180 west of the park boundary
Read More…
Posted in Park | Tags: Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Park
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 25, 2023
Sea Otters Killed by Unusual Parasite Strain
UU Davis News Release
Four sea otters that stranded in California died from an unusually severe form of toxoplasmosis, according to a study from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the University of California, Davis. The disease is caused by the microscopic parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Scientists warn that this rare strain, never previously reported in aquatic animals, could pose a health threat to other marine wildlife and humans.
— Read more at www.ucdavis.edu/health/news/sea-otters-killed-unusual-parasite-strain
Posted in Animals | Tags: Sea Otters
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 25, 2023
Online Talk: Founder & CEO of Outdoor Afro, Rue Map 3/29/23
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Posted in Talks | Tags: Outdoor Afro, Rue Map
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 25, 2023
The mission to save the biggest frog on earth
BBC reports of the efforts of Cameroonian conservationist Cedrick Fogwan to save this little know species
Growing to the size of a cat, it’s the world’s largest living frog.
The frog is little-known to science and even in Cameroon many local people are unaware of its value to the ecosystem, such as preying on the insects that damage crops.
Read story and see photos at The mission to save the biggest frog on earth – BBC News
Posted in Animals
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 24, 2023
Big Junior, An Alameda Bald Eagle’s Story
The Alameda Post reports
In honor of National Women’s History month, I thought I’d highlight a resilient, determined bird. Though she’s only about 4 years old, she’s made a splash in her short time in Alameda.
Big Junior builds her nest. Photo Rick Lewis.
“Big Junior” is the female in our pair of bald eagles who are nesting for the first time in Alameda at the Corica Park Golf Course on Bay Farm Island. She needs all of her resiliency after the disastrous storm we had yesterday, with 60 mph wind gusts, heavy rain, and many trees down around the Island. Though their nest tree still stands, the nest itself was damaged and the eggs they were incubating, lost. The pair seems to be working this morning to repair the nest and hopefully will be successful in laying a new batch of eggs.
— Read on alamedapost.com/features/alameda-life/big-junior-an-alameda-bald-eagles-story/
Posted in Birds | Tags: Autumn leaf color, Bald Eagle
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 24, 2023
Aurora photos from Thursday’s geomagnetic storm
See Aurora photos from Thursday’s geomagnetic storm at
earthsky.org/earth/aurora-photos-geomagnetic-storm-march-23-24-2023/
Posted in Astronomy | Tags: Aurora, Northern Lights
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 24, 2023
Job Opportunity: Director of Public Programs Thedore Payne
This position leads public engagement efforts, including our Native Plant Garden Tour, outreach, education and volunteer programs. The Director of Public Programs coalesces a vibrant community of stakeholders to change the landscape paradigm of Southern California. If you’re looking for a rewarding way to work towards a more environmentally friendly and interconnected future for our region, this might just be it! Apply now.
Posted in Job Openings | Tags: Job Opening
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 24, 2023
New Eastern Monarch Butterfly Count Indicates Pollinator Still Threatened
Center fo Biological Diversity News Release
New Eastern Monarch Butterfly Count Indicates Pollinator Still Threatened
Long-Term Decline of 90% Going Into Endangered Species Act Decision
The annual count of migratory monarchs that spend the winter in Mexico is once again dismal for the iconic orange-and-black butterflies. This year’s count showed a 22% decline from 2022, leaving the butterfly highly vulnerable to extinction.
The count found only 2.21 hectares of occupied forest. The total number of monarchs is 64% below the minimum threshold scientists say is necessary for the migrating pollinators to not be at risk of extinction in North America. Monarchs east of the Rocky Mountains have declined by around 90% since the mid-1990s.
Posted in Butterflies
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 24, 2023
The Salton Sea, an Accident of History, Faces a New Water Crisis
The New York Times reports
The vast California lake relies on runoff from cropland to avoid disappearing. But as farmers face water cuts due to drought and an ever drier Colorado River, the Salton Sea stands to lose again.
Read more at The Salton Sea, an Accident of History, Faces a New Water Crisis
Posted in Uncategorized
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 23, 2023
Job Opening:Biological Science Technician- Point Reyes
Point Reyes National Seashore (Seashore), a unit of the National Park Service (NPS), is seeking a Vegetation Biological Science Technician (Plants; GS-404-06) to work with vegetation management-related projects with a focus on invasive plant monitoring and removal in the Woodward Fire Burn Area. The position is a Temporary position under the NPS for one year, extendable to 2 years.
To learn more about this position and how to apply go to Biological Science Technician (Plants) – Point Reyes National Seashore – GS-06 – CNPS Forums
Posted in Job Openings | Tags: Job Opening
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 23, 2023
Wildflower Viewing Tips
from Joshua Tree National Park
Need pro tips for wildflower viewing? Enjoy them responsibly to ensure they keep coming back!
Look low: Many wildflowers in the desert are incredibly low-growing. They conserve valuable energy and minimize exposure to strong wind and harsh sun.
Move slow: Watch your step and avoid stepping on vegetation and flowers. If you aren’t careful, you may accidentally crush or trample wildflowers or plant vegetation before they have bloomed.
Stay on the trail, and let the wildflowers prevail: Off-trail travel, whether on foot or in a vehicle, can be damaging. It compresses soils, limiting the availability of air, water, and nutrients to roots, and can lead to the decline and death of vegetation. Staying on trail minimizes your impact on fragile plants making their home in the desert.
Don’t take flowers; take pictures instead: The potential for future flowers decreases for each flower removed. Please take a photo of them instead of picking the flowers, so they can live on to be pollinated and disperse seeds. Picking vegetation in the park is prohibited.Flowers are essential to the success of the whole ecosystem. By helping protect them, you help ensure they’ll be around for years to come.
Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Wildflower Viewing Tips
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 23, 2023
Webinar: The Future of Rain 3/29/23
Posted in Environment | Tags: The Future of Rain
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 23, 2023
New Firefly Atlas
from the Xerces Society
New Firefly Atlas Will Put Beloved Beetles on the Map
The United States and Canada have more species of fireflies than most people realize – 173 at last count. And contrary to popular belief, beetles in the firefly family Lampyridae are found in every state and province except Hawaii and Nunavut.
Yet for more than half these species, we’re missing enough data to even evaluate their population status. With Xerces’ new Firefly Atlas, anyone can join and help collect observations that will allow Xerces and our conservation partners better protect the magic of fireflies, for generations to come. Read More
Posted in Animals | Tags: Firefly Atlas
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 23, 2023
Raptor expert uses art of imping to save birds of prey with broken feathers
from ABC News
Imping helps rehabilitate birds of prey with damaged flight feathers. It involves joining a donor feather to the shaft of a broken feather with wooden dowels and glue
Read story at Raptor expert uses art of imping to save birds of prey with broken feathers – ABC News
Posted in Birds | Tags: Broken Feathers, Imping
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 22, 2023
East Bay Regional Park Closures
There are many trail closures and flooded areas in the East Bay Regional Parks for updates go to Alerts and Closures | East Bay Parks
Posted in Park | Tags: East Bay Regional Park Closures
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 22, 2023
Marin Spring CNPS 2023 Plant Sale
It’s planting time! We are holding an online plant sale in April with order pickup in Greenbrae the following Saturday. Adequate rain means the spring wildflowers are coming along well and we’ll be offering a big selection, as well as a discount for purchasing in quantity.
Opens: Wednesday. April 5 at 6 pm
Closes: Monday. April 10 at 6 pm
Order pickup at Bon Air: Saturday April 15th, 10:30 am to 1:00 pm
Posted in Garden | Tags: Native Plant Sale
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 22, 2023
2023 Great Backyard Bird Count Results
from eBird
Between February 17-20, more than 555,000 people around the world contributed 390,652 eBird checklists and shared 372,905 Merlin bird identifications during the Great Backyard Bird Count, delivering a record-breaking jump in participation over previous years as well as some interesting and unusual species highlights.
Posted in Birding Reports, Birds | Tags: Great Backyard Bird Count Results
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 22, 2023
How beavers are reviving wetlands
The BBC reports
We are losing wetlands three times faster than forests, according to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. When it comes to restoring them to their natural state there is one hero with remarkable powers – the beaver.
Wetlands store water, act as a carbon sink, and are a source of food. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands says they do more for humanity than all other terrestrial ecosystems – and yet they are disappearing at an alarming rate.
The main problems are agricultural and urban expansion, as well as droughts and higher temperatures brought about by climate change.
But if you have a river and a beaver it may be possible to halt this process.
Posted in Animals, Environment | Tags: beavers reviving wetlands
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 21, 2023
Big Sur State Parks Damaged by Torrential Rains and Atmospheric River Storms
KSBW reports on the damage to several parks in Big Sur.
California’s repeated run of atmospheric river storms has left “major” damage behind at two of Big Sur’s most beloved state parks.The damages at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and Andrew Molera State Park came after recent torrential rains caused the Big Sur River to flood at staggering levels.
Read story and see photos at Big Sur State Parks Damaged by Torrential Rains and Atmospheric River Storms
Posted in Park | Tags: Big Sur, Storm Damage
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 21, 2023
Job Opening: Biological Science Technician, Rare Plants (Mojave Desert)
Are you interested in conducting research that will have an impact on the conservation and management of rare and at-risk plant species? We are seeking botany-minded people to join our plant ecology team in the Mojave Desert and conduct research on five rare species that reside in Clark County, Nevada including sticky buckwheat (Eriogonum viscidulum) and Blue Diamond cholla (Cylindropuntia multigeniculata), and three species under consideration for listing under the Endangered Species Act, Las Vegas bearpoppy (Arctomecon californica), three-corner milkvetch (Astragalus geyeri var. triquetrus), and white-margined beardtongue (Penstemon albomarginatus). Combined with the 20-year drought currently gripping the region, ongoing land use threats are causing further population declines and fragmenting remaining habitats of these already rare species.
Learn more and apply go to Biological Science Technician, Rare Plants (Mojave Desert) – CNPS Forums
Posted in Job Openings | Tags: Job Opening
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 21, 2023
Grassroots data is vital for reducing deadly bird-window strikes
Cornell Chronicle
Citizen science has enabled much of the progress in understanding the scope of bird deaths from building and window collisions, according to a new study, but these grassroots efforts need better funding and more buy-in from government and industry.
These conclusions stem from research by authors at 22 universities, non-governmental organizations, government agencies and conservation organizations. Their study, “Citizen Science to Address the Global Issue of Bird-Window Collisions,” published March 7 in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. As examples, the study highlights the Lights Out Texas program in the United States, the China Anti-Bird Window Collision Action Alliance and the Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP) in Canada. FLAP Canada has been at the forefront of this issue for 25 years and is the template for many of the newer collision prevention efforts.
Read more Grassroots data is vital for reducing deadly bird-window strikes | Cornell Chronicle
Posted in Birds, Uncategorized | Tags: Citizen science
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 20, 2023
Witness Spectacular Migration Moments LIVE
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Posted in Birds | Tags: Bird migration
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 20, 2023
California Prioritizes Key Locations To Improve Wildlife Connectivity
California Department of Fish and Wildlife News Release
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has released an updated report identifying the most important areas to advance wildlife connectivity projects. The report, “Restoring California’s Wildlife Connectivity 2022 (PDF)(opens in new tab),” prioritizes which roadways, railways and other human-created infrastructure are the greatest barriers to wildlife movement addressing where habitat connectivity projects are needed most. The report lists 62 obstacles statewide, with 12 of those recognized as top priority barriers to remove. A vast majority of the barriers are part of the state highway system, but rail lines and canals also limit the ability of wildlife to roam freely.
Posted in Animals | Tags: Wildlife Connectivity
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 19, 2023
Online Lecture, March 22: San Bruno Mountain
from East Bay CNPS
San Bruno Mountain, a Bay Area Botanical Treasure March 22, 7:30 pm, via Zoom – Register to attend
San Bruno Mountain, located in the center of the San Francisco Bay Area, is a four-square-mile natural preserve touted by biologist E. O. Wilson as one of the world’s rare biodiversity hot spots. Join David L. Nelson and Doug Allshouse as they take us on a virtual tour of this botanical treasure across the Bay with beautiful photographs and engaging stories of the mountain and their adventures exploring and documenting its diversity.
Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: San Bruno Mountain
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 19, 2023
Anza Borrego Desert Updates
See these updates from the Anza Borrego Dessert Natural History Association for events and wildflower status at myemail.constantcontact.com/Mar-19-ABDNHA-Desert-Update.html
Posted in Desert, Park, Talks, Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Anza Borrego
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 19, 2023
We’re getting better at putting predators back in the wild
Anthropocene reports
New research shows measures such as acclimation pens and using wild-born animals helps reintroductions succeed.
Read story at We’re getting better at putting predators back in the wild
Posted in Animals | Tags: predators back in the wild
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 18, 2023
Audubon faces a backlash over keeping a name that evokes a racist enslaver
NPR reports
Famous naturalist John James Audubon “did despicable things” and supported his work by buying and selling enslaved people — and that’s according to the organization that bears his name. But the National Audubon Society’s board of directors rejected the idea of changing its name this week, setting off resignations amid plans from local groups to rename themselves anyway.
Posted in Birds | Tags: Audubon Racism, National Audubon Society
Natural History Wanderings 