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
Some blue sky today while we try to dig out before the next storm. US 395 remains closed at Mono Lake due to avalanches over the road. Update-to-date road conditions at roads.dot.ca.gov
Posted in Drives
Photos from the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden on Tuesday March 14. 2023.
Posted in Garden, Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: Garden Photos, UC Berkeley Botantical Garden
Some blue sky today while we try to dig out before the next storm. US 395 remains closed at Mono Lake due to avalanches over the road. Update-to-date road conditions at roads.dot.ca.gov
Berkeley News reports
Climate change isn’t the only threat facing California’s birds. Over the course of the 20th century, urban sprawl and agricultural development have dramatically changed the landscape of the state, forcing many native species to adapt to new and unfamiliar habitats.
In a new study, biologists at the University of California, Berkeley, use current and historical bird surveys to reveal how land use change has amplified — and in some cases mitigated — the impacts of climate change on bird populations in Los Angeles and the Central Valley.
Read more Climate change, urbanization drive major declines in L.A.’s birds | Berkeley News
Posted in Park | Tags: King Canyon and Sequoia National Parks
CNET reports
Fairy lanterns laugh in the face of common knowledge about plants. They lack green leaves and don’t use photosynthesis. About 90 species of fairy lanterns are known of. One in particular, Thismia kobensis, was thought to be extinct but this “ethereal” plant has been rediscovered after three decades.
Read more at ‘Ethereal’ Fairy Lantern Plant Thought to Be Extinct Rediscovered in Japan – CNET
Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Fairy Lantern Plant, Thismia kobensis
from CornellLab of Ornithology
Birds of the World invites you to check out their free Discovery Webinar series. Their next webinar, to be held on March 23, will explore the complex phenomenon of hybridization in birds. Cornell Lab of Ornithology evolutionary biologists will give a short presentation addressing the relevance of hybridization to biology, taxonomy, conservation, and evolution followed by an open discussion and Q&A.
Posted in Birds, Talks | Tags: Hybridization in Birds
This year’s event will feature two new activities – a concert in the park and a community “paint a whale” mural project. In addition, there will be family-friendly activities, chalk art, shopping, a children’s fun zone, and more.
HuffPost reports
President Joe Biden will use his executive powers to establish a sweeping national monument at Spirit Mountain, a landscape that is sacred to a dozen Native American tribes, a senior administration official confirmed to HuffPost.
Read more Biden To Create New National Monument At Nevada’s Spirit Mountain | HuffPost Latest News
Posted in Park | Tags: Spirit Mountain
from Mono Lake Committee
There’s still time to make your voice heard for Mono Lake! Submit your comment letter by Friday, March 24 at 4:00pm PDT to urge the State Water Board to suspend water diversions by the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power until the lake level rises enough to avert the current ecological crises and to schedule a hearing quickly to implement long-term stream diversion changes that will ensure Mono Lake rises to the healthy, sustainable level mandated by the State Water Board decades ago.
Despite this year’s wet winter, Mono Lake is still critically low—just 25% of the way to the level mandated by the State Water Board. The Board must act to preserve the lake level gains of this and any future year, suspending stream diversions until the lake reaches a healthy level.
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Thank you to the 1,100 Mono Lake Committee members and supporters who have already submitted comment letters to the State Water Board. Your words are making an impact. We will keep you informed on the Board’s next steps, including what management actions the Board takes following the workshop and comment period.
Thank you for being vigilant with us and ready to speak up for Mono Lake at a moment’s notice.
Posted in Environment | Tags: Mono Lake
The New York Times reports
The Biden administration said Tuesday that it was withdrawing a land swap deal that would have helped to clear the way for construction of a road through a wildlife refuge in Alaska. The move is a reversal of the government’s position and one that could put an end to a project that would cut through the vast wild area, originally protected under President Jimmy Carter.
Read more at Biden Voids Trump-Era Deal to Allow a Road Through Izembek National Wildlife Refuge – The New York Times
Posted in Environment, Park | Tags: Izembek National Wildlife Refuge
Science reports
Along its 18,000 kilometers of coastline, China has been taken over by a green invader. Smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) grows tall and thick across tidal mudflats, depriving endangered migratory birds of habitat, clogging shipping channels, and ruining clam farms. Now, China aims to beat back 90% of the weed by 2025. “This is a mammoth undertaking,” says Steven Pennings, a coastal ecologist at the University of Houston. “It’s audacious.”
The nationwide effort, launched last month, “is by far the largest action plan for wetland invasive species control in China and even in the world,” says Bo Li, an invasion ecologist at Fudan and Yunnan universities who was not involved in creating the plan. It won’t be simple or cheap, costing hundreds of millions of dollars, Li estimates. And schemes to dig up, drown, or poison the weed all have side effects. “It’s going to be really difficult,” says Sam Reynolds, a biologist at the University of Cambridge.
Read more at China battles alien marsh grass at unprecedented scale | Science | AAAS
Posted in Environment | Tags: China battles alien marsh grass
The New York Times reports
The National Audubon Society announced on Wednesday that its board of directors had voted to retain the organization’s name despite pressure to end its association with John James Audubon, the 19th-century naturalist and illustrator who enslaved people, drawing backlash from fellow bird groups that have already changed their names.
The National Audubon Society’s decision faced sharp criticism on Wednesday from other birding groups across the country, including its own staff in the Bird Union.
Read article at National Audubon Society Will Keep Its Name Despite Ties to Slavery
4 new Job Postings from the CNPS Job Announcement site. Click on each for more information and application process
Ecological Restoration Summer Internship – River Partners
Conservation Lands Manager – River Partners
Posted in Job Openings | Tags: Job Openings
from CornellLab of Ornithology
Level Up Your Birding This Spring
As spring creeps into the Northern Hemisphere, anticipation ratchets up: each day brings the chance for first-of-the-year birds and sweet songs not heard in many months. The Cornell Lab has free resources to help birders of all levels maximize their enjoyment and connection with the natural world. Here are just a few ways we can help you connect with birds this spring:
Birding Basics: Get familiar with the basic skills experienced birders use, and check out our field guide recommendations.
Merlin Bird ID: The world’s premier free app for identifying birds by sight, sound, or photo.
BirdCast: When and where is bird migration ramping up in your area? BirdCast has answers.
NestWatch: Learn how to attract, find, and monitor birds that nest near you this spring.
Posted in Birds, Class/Workshop | Tags: Birding Resources
Travel and Leisure writes about appropriate wildflower viewing behavior
Some parks are shutting down access to wildflowers because of visitors’ bad behavior. Here’s how we can all do better.
Read article at An Ethical Guide to Seeing Wildflowers
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Posted in Birds, Photography | Tags: Audubon Photography Award
The Shasta Snow-Wreath is at great risk. If the plan to raise the height of Shasta Dam were to proceed, all of the known habitat for this plant would be under water. the state has taken a step towards protecting this rare plant.
A notice of findings for the petition to list Shasta snow-wreath (Neviusia cliftonii) as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act has been posted to the commission’s website and is available at https://fgc.ca.gov/CESA#ssw.
Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Shasta Snow-Wreath
The New York Times reports
Scientists have previously seen that some killer whale mothers share food with their grown sons. In a study published Wednesday in Current Biology, researchers found that this prolonged feeding carries a huge reproductive cost for mothers.
Read story at Orca Moms Pay a High Price to Feed Large Adult Sons
Photos taken in my garden on March 13 between the frequent rain storms we are experiencing in California.
Posted in Garden, Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: Garden Photos
Language of the Land: Risks and Solutions to Climate Change
March. 16, 2023 at 6-7:30pm, Zoom (registration required)
Join Sonoma Land Trust and guest speaker Kathleen Biggins of C-Change Conversations to learn the latest info about climate change, its impacts, and what can be done about it. The C-Change Primer, a non-partisan, science-based, 360-degree view, provides a deep dive into the risks and potential solutions of this complex issue. Well received throughout the country by a wide range of audiences, this presentation helps people understand how climate change impacts them personally and why they should care.
We will also look at how climate change is affecting our area and how Sonoma Land Trust is responding in its work.
Spanish interpretation will be provided.
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Posted in Environment, Talks | Tags: Climate change
See the winning photos of the International Garden Photographer contest at International Garden Photographer the Year.
Posted in Photography | Tags: International Garden Photographer of the Year Winners
FromYubaNet
A NASA Earth-observing satellite has helped researchers track carbon dioxide emissions for more than 100 countries around the world. The pilot project offers a powerful new look at the carbon dioxide being emitted in these countries and how much of it is removed from the atmosphere by forests and other carbon-absorbing “sinks” within their borders. The findings demonstrate how space-based tools can support insights on Earth as nations work to achieve climate goals
— Read on yubanet.com/scitech/nasa-space-mission-takes-stock-of-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-countries/
Posted in Environment | Tags: Carbon Emissions
from Bay Nature
Gosh—is it raining again? When you’d rather stay inside reading about rain than go out and get wet, here’s a pile of stories from
Read stories at Rainy Day Roundup: All About Atmospheric Rivers –
Posted in Environment
Reuters reports
Bird flu has killed tens of thousands of birds, mostly pelicans, and at least 716 sea lions in protected areas across Peru, the authorities said, as the H5N1 strain spreads throughout the region.
Read more at Bird flu kills sea lions and thousands of pelicans in Peru’s protected areas | Reuters
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: Bird Flue, Pelicans, Sea Lions
See the events calendar for the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden at Garden Events
Posted in Class/Workshop, Garden | Tags: UC Berkeley Botanical Garden Events
Bay Nature writes about the rather unique Calypso Orchid
This fancy flower is secretive yet brash, and it’s an expert in the art of deceiving bumblebees.
In the springtime, look for this master deceiver in the shadow of conifers. But don’t bother trying to get any nectar out of it. Alison S. Pollack writes about what it’s up to, and where you might catch a glimpse this spring.
Read article at Meet the Calypso Orchid, Trickster of the Shady Understory – Bay Nature
Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Calypso Orchids
Photos taken in my garden between and during rain showers
Posted in Garden, Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: Garden Photos
Natural History Wanderings 