Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 15, 2023

Upcoming Nature Events

Upcoming in person and online events from CNPS calendar

Feb. 16, 12 pm (online) | Drought Tolerant Native Plants for Pollinators – The Environmental Learning Center

Feb. 23, 12 pm (online) | Attracting Birds While Protecting Watershed Health – The Environmental Learning Center

Feb. 25, 8:30 am (Agoura) | LA Works: Tree Planting Event with the National Park Service

Mar. 2, 12:00 pm (online) | Ways that We Impact Watersheds in Our Garden Decisions – The Environmental Learning Center

Mar. 4, 1 pm (Oceanside) | Saging the World Screening – Oceanside Public Library

Mar. 11, 2:00 pm-4:00 pm (Grass Valley) | Invitations to and from the Garden: Cultivating Places & People with Jennifer Jewell- CNPS Redbud Chapter and Master Gardeners of Nevada County

Mar. 13, 7:00 pm (online) | Arranging California Native Plants in Bouqets, Garlands, and Wreaths – North San Joaquin Valley Chapter

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 15, 2023

Snow leopard image wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year people’s choice award

NPR reports

A photo of a snow leopard on the icy cliffs of northern India has won the people’s choice award for the 58th annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award, the Natural History Museum in London announced Thursday.

See image and read story at Snow leopard image wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year people’s choice award : NPR

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 14, 2023

Register for the Botanist Certification Exam

from Marin CNPS

Are you a consulting biologist, botanist, or resource agency staff member with extensive knowledge of California’s native flora? Distinguish yourself as a Certified Field or Consulting Botanist by taking the upcoming California Botanist Certification Exam.

The next test is on Friday, March 10, in Ventura County. Registration closes on Sunday, March 5. Register now to reserve your seat!

Learn more about how to prepare and register by visiting the CNPS Botanist Certification hub.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 14, 2023

4 New Job Listing at CNPS Job Site

Click on Each for detail and how to apply

Seed LA Coordinator – California Botanic Garden

Now hiring: Conservation and Land Management Interns – USFS

Now hiring: SOS crews for California BLM Field Offices – Botanists and Field Techs

 Nursery Technician- Readvertised

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 14, 2023

2023 San Francisco Orchid Exposition Feb. 23 to 25

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 14, 2023

When It’s Okay (or Not) to Feed Birds 

Audubon writes about feeding birds

Whether we identify as birders or photographers or both, we are always looking for ways to get closer to birds, or to bring them closer to us. Offering food—sating the hunger that is such a primal drive for all of us—is an easy way to do that. But knowing what kind of food is okay to supply, and when, and where, can be confusing.

Read more  When It’s Okay (or Not) to Feed Birds | Audubon

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 13, 2023

Job Opportunities: Botany Lead and Crew Members

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with US Forest service is seeking One Botany Lead Team Member and Three Botany Team Members to contribute to various botanical and range projects alongside the Tahoe National Forest Staff on the Yuba and American District. This opportunity is intended for enthusiastic professionals with a deep interest in advancing their career goals in natural resource management and conservation.

Learn more and see how to apply at Botany Lead and Crew Members, Tahoe National Forest, Yuba and American River Districs – CNPS Forums

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 13, 2023

Great Backyard Bird Count Webinar 2/15/23

Grab your smartphone and binoculars and get ready to count some birds in your favorite patch! Whether that’s your backyard or your local birding hotspot, counting birds during the Great Backyard Bird Count helps scientists get a good snapshot of birdlife! Use your Audubon app to identify the birds you see and eBird to log your sightings. The GBBC runs February 17 to 20, 2023.

Want to learn more about Great Backyard Bird Count and how to participate? Check out this webinar on February 15 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT. Sign up here

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 13, 2023

Native seeds, crucial to deal with climate change, are in short supply

NPR reports

In the wake of wildfires, floods and droughts, restoring damaged landscapes and habitats requires native seeds. The U.S. doesn’t have enough, according to a report released Thursday.

Read more at Native seeds, crucial to deal with climate change, are in short supply : NPR

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 13, 2023

Did Mars have 1st life in our solar system?

EarthSky reports

Could Mars have been the first planet in our solar system to support life? New research suggests it’s possible. Recently, EarthSky reported on a study showing that Mars was once likely a water world. It might have had oceans even before Earth did. On November 17, 2022, European researchers announced a study that reaches a similar conclusion. And the new study goes a bit further, suggesting that icy asteroids brought enough water to early Mars for a global ocean at least 980 feet (300 meters) deep (or deeper in some places). If so, those same asteroids might have brought organic molecules needed for life to begin on a young Mars.

Read more at EarthSky | Did Mars have 1st life in our solar system?

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 13, 2023

The Pinyon Jay’s Plight 

The Revelator reports the decline of the Pinyon Jay. Here are a few excerpts

Together, jays and piñon pines help create vital habitat for numerous plants and animals, including threatened bird species like Woodhouse’s scrub jay and the gray vireo. The pines also supply a traditional food source for Indigenous tribes and Hispanic communities in New Mexico.

In the last 50 years, the population of pinyon jays has declined by an estimated 80%.

The two major culprits of the jays’ decline are climate change and a long history of piñon pine removal carried out by federal agencies, including, increasingly, thinning and burning for wildfire prevention. Both have impacted piñon pines and led to declining nut production. … conservation is critical for the jay, but also “for an entire ecosystem, and all the other species” that depend upon it.

Read full story at The Pinyon Jay’s Plight • The Revelator

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 12, 2023

Roadkill rate for California cougars puts population at risk

Reuters  reports

Mountain lions have been dying on California highways at the rate of at least one or two every week in recent years, a roadkill toll that may exceed healthy reproductive levels for the big cats, new wildlife mortality data showed on Thursday.

Read more at Roadkill rate for California cougars puts population at risk | Reuters

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 11, 2023

Position Opening : Seed Conservation Intern

from California Botanic Garden, Claremont, CA

Position Overview:
Assist the Director of Conservation Programs and the Seed Conservation Program Manager in execution of field research and seed collecting activities for California Botanic Garden’s (CalBG) Conservation Program. Project activities will include a diverse program of work that includes assisting with: California Plant Rescue (CaPR) rare plant seed banking, Seed LA restoration seed collections, the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Seeds of Success Program (SOS), rare plant monitoring, botanical surveys, and California Seed Bank curatorial duties. CaPR is a collaborative project to secure the future of California’s native flora by collecting seeds of California native plant species for long term preservation in secure regional seed banks (ex-situ conservation), Seed LA is a regional effort to make locally appropriate regional native plant materials more broadly available in the greater Los Angeles region, and SOS is a program coordinated by the BLM to support seed collections from native plant populations to conserve and develop native plant materials for stabilizing, rehabilitating and restoring lands in the United States. Duties include assisting in the field to scout populations, collect seed, conduct surveys, collect and process plant specimens, plant identification, data collection, preparation of field forms and reports, data entry and labeling of field collections, seed processing, seed testing, and preparation of seeds for storage.

Learn more about the position and how to apply at  Seed Conservation Intern – California Botanic Garden, Claremont, CA

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 11, 2023

Native Plants for Erosion Control

from Marin CNPS

Whether you’re thinking about your own garden or a larger project, California’s native plants can help with bank stabilization and erosion control. We recommend that you check out Calscape’s bank stabilization feature, which you can customize to your address. The CNPS Horticulture Team has put together the following list of native plants for erosion control. (Their suitability will depend on your location.)

Groundcover: 

Small shrubs: 

Large shrubs:

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 10, 2023

Redwood Forest Photos

Photos from today exploring Redwood Forests. Mainly looking for Fetid Adders Tongue or Slinkpod/Scoliopus biglovii

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 10, 2023

Internship Opening: Seed Conservation Intern

Seed Conservation Intern – California Botanic Garden, Claremont, CA see job details and how to apply at

Seed Conservation Intern – California Botanic Garden, Claremont, CA – CNPS Forums

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 10, 2023

Sequoia National Park Update: Giant Forest Area Reopening

Great news for this coming weekend! Public access to the Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park is scheduled to reopen on Saturday, February 11.
The Generals Highway above Hospital Rock has been closed since early January due to severe road damage after a series of winter storms. This reopening will provide access to the Giant Forest Museum, the General Sherman Tree, and Wolverton snowplay area. The portion of the highway between Sequoia and Kings Canyon remains closed for the winter season.

Read More…

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 10, 2023

Updated Wayne Roderick Lecture Series

from The Regional Parks Botanic Gardens.

The Wayne Roderick Lecture Series takes place on Saturday mornings from January through March at 10:30 AM. These illustrated presentations are enjoyable for beginners and professionals alike. All lectures are free and open to the public. They are a combination of either zoom and/or in person.

To see current listings and  registration : Docents, Volunteers, Staff and Public- for Unlimited Enrichments: Wayne Roderick Lecture Series

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 10, 2023

The Anza-Borrego Foundation Events

See the upcoming events of the Anza-Borrego Foundation at  Events Archive – The Anza-Borrego Foundation

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 10, 2023

California bill would protect native western Joshua tree

SF Gate reports

The western Joshua tree won’t be listed as threatened — yet — as California’s Fish and Game Commission again delayed a decision Wednesday after a bill was proposed to provide protections to the native desert plant.

The proposed legislation, the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act, was made public late Tuesday. Backed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration, it would prohibit anyone from importing, exporting or removing the tree without a permit from the state. It would also require the state to work with Native American tribes to draft a conservation plan for the tree by 2024.

Read more at California bill would protect native western Joshua tree

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 10, 2023

2023 Great Backyard Bird Count is Feb. 17 to 20

The annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is Friday, February 17 through Monday, February 20. The GBBC was one of the first online projects to collect information on wild birds and was also instrumental in the creation of eBird back in 2002. Now there are more ways than ever to participate and share your love of birds! Learn more at Great Backyard Bird Count 2023—join the birding fun! – eBird

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 9, 2023

10th Annual Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Conservation Symposium
Event Details: Saturday, February 25 | 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Santa Barbara County Education Office 4400 Cathedral Oaks Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93110
General Admission: $30
Garden Members: $25
Students w/valid ID: $15
Virtual attendance: Free
Event Registration

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 9, 2023

Job Opening: Seasonal Botanist

Ascent is seeking a Seasonal Botanist to assist with field surveys and environmental compliance for vegetation management projects throughout California. Experience with rare plant surveys, floristic inventories, and vegetation classification and mapping are required. Experience with Forest Service Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Plant (TESP) and noxious weed survey protocols, wetland delineations, and/or plant taxa identification in the Sierra Nevada or Great Basin region is a plus. The Seasonal Botanist is classified as a variable, part-time position. Work periods will be as needed but would be up to 40 hours per week in four 10-hour days (typically Monday–Thursday) from approximately April through September. Seasonal positions have the potential to develop into regular, full-time positions.

Learn more about the position and how to apply at : Seasonal Botanist

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 9, 2023

10th Annual Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Conservation Symposium
Event Details: Saturday, February 25 | 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Santa Barbara County Education Office 4400 Cathedral Oaks Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93110
General Admission: $30
Garden Members: $25
Students w/valid ID: $15
Virtual attendance: Free
Event Registration

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 8, 2023

Jepson Herbarium Virtual Mini-Workshops

he Jepson Herbarium is offering seven mini-workshops this year. These half-day virtual events are meant for a broad audience of professional and amateur botanists, and cover everything from fungi to spatial phylogenetics! It is not too late to sign up for any of the upcoming mini-workshops, and there are no waiting lists!

This mini-workshop series has been subsidized with an award from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and we are pleased to offer the workshops to participants for a reduced fee of $25/workshop.

We are so excited to make this content available to botanists near and far!
2023 Mini-workshops:
February 11, 2023 – Biodiversity challenges: Floristics, taxonomy and phylogenetics; Bruce Baldwin
March 11, 2023 – Spatial phylogenetics; Brent Mishler and Israel Borokini
March 25, 2023 – Fungal communities, their dynamics and their interactions with plants; Tom Bruns and Else Vellinga
August 26, 2023 – Deep Time: Paleobotany and plant evolution; Cindy Looy
September 9, 2023 – Life on the edge: Extreme environments, climate change assisted migration and refugia; David Ackerly
September 16, 2023 – Seeing the Forest for the Trees: California ecology and conservation in the 21st century; Gregory Arena
September 30, 2023 – Documenting Botanical Diversity: observations, specimens and field sketching; Susan Fawcett
Enroll now!

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 8, 2023

Mindful Birding

Audubon California and Weaving Earth are offering an experiential dive into the practice of Mindful Birding and Bird Language from March 6 – 30, 2023.

Mindful bird sits are a simple yet potent way to cultivate relaxation, a quiet mind, and a deep love for birds. The practice dovetails perfectly with the awareness and presence needed to learn the language of the birds.

The program includes weekly educational webinars and guided mindful bird sits from March 6- 30, 2023.  All webinars will be recorded so you can enjoy live or on demand. Learn more about the program details and weekly schedule here.
Space is limited to register early.

Register now for the Mindful Birding and Bird Language webinar series.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 8, 2023

Help Save Mono Lake

from Mono Lake Committee

Now is an important time to speak up for Mono Lake!

Despite January’s wet weather, Mono Lake’s surface elevation is so low that an intervention is needed.

The Mono Lake Committee has asked the State Water Board to suspend stream diversions until the lake rises enough to protect wildlife and the ecosystem, and to quickly schedule a hearing to implement long-term stream diversion changes that will ensure Mono Lake can rise to the healthy, sustainable level mandated by the Board decades ago.

We are urging people to write a letter to the State Water Board to ask that stream diversions be suspended and a hearing scheduled. You can personalize and send a letter here.

SEND A LETTER →

Read More…

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 8, 2023

Birds stashed 700 pounds of acorns in a Sonoma County vacation rental

The San Francisco Chronicle reported

A Glen Ellen vacation rental was discovered to be holding 700 pounds of acorns in an unused chimney, apparently put there by woodpeckers.

Read more at  Birds stashed 700 pounds of acorns in a Sonoma County vacation rental

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 8, 2023

Internships: Coastal Advocate Applications Open

from Environmental Action Committee of West Marin

An important part of our advocacy and community engagement work is providing high school, college, and graduate internship opportunities for young people to gain real-world job training in the environmental field. Every year, we welcome legal, policy, and coastal advocates into our internship program to gain experience in environmental policy, law, advocacy, community science, and education.

These mentoring opportunities not only provide a meaningful and applicable experience that can be applied to future education and career goals, but they help to foster the environmental stewards of the future who will help protect the resilience and health of the natural world.

We are now accepting applications for our summer Coastal Advocate program through March 10th. Apply Here

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 8, 2023

Climate change and a population boom could dry up the Great Salt Lake in 5 years 

NPR reports

Scientists point to climate change and rapid population growth — Utah is one of the fastest growing states and also one of the driest — as the culprits. A recent scientific report from Brigham Young University warned that if no action is taken, the Great Salt Lake could go completely dry in five years.

Read article Climate change and a population boom could dry up the Great Salt Lake in 5 years : NPR

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