KCBS reports
A massive 6,300-acre property in San Mateo County will soon become a park accessible to the public.
The new project is part of a conservation effort that was years in the making. Cloverdale Ranch is one of the largest private coastal properties in California, but soon enough it will be turned into a public attraction.
Read more Sprawling San Mateo County coastal property to become public park
Posted in Park | Tags: Cloverdale Ranch, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Posted in Drives, Park | Tags: Yosemite Road Closure
The Geminids meteor shower, one of the best and most reliable of the year, will peak on Tuesday night.
— Read on www.npr.org/2022/12/13/1142445386/geminids-meteor-shower
Posted in Astronomy | Tags: Meteor shower
See the schedule of ABDNHA Anza Borrego nature programs and activities – calendar for hikes, walks, desert flowers, tours, lectures, in Anza-Borrego and Borrego Springs at Borrego Springs Anza Borrego Desert Activities, Hikes, tours, classes, lectures
Posted in Uncategorized
Defender or Wildlife has an article on the five primary drivers of wildlife extinctions:
Read article at The Five Drivers of Extinction: Invasive Species | Defenders of Wildlife
Posted in Animals, Environment, Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: The Five Drivers of Extinction
The New Times reports
Scientists at a federal nuclear weapons facility have made a potentially significant advance in fusion research that could lead to a source of bountiful energy in the future, according to a government official.
Read more at www.nytimes.com/2022/12/12/science/nuclear-fusion-energy-breakthrough.html
Posted in Environment | Tags: Fusion, Green Energy
AP New reports
A mountain lion tracked by biologists in mountains near Los Angeles gave birth over the summer to four healthy kittens, officials said this week. The National Park Service said Tuesday that the cougar dubbed P-99 delivered the litter last July in the western Santa Monica Mountains.
Read more at Mountain lion delivers 4 female kittens in mountains near LA | AP News
Posted in Animals
from UC Merced
Mechanical thinning of overstocked forests, prescribed burning and managed wildfire now being carried out to enhance fire protection of California’s forests provide many benefits, or ecosystem services, that people depend on.
In a paper published in Restoration Ecology, researchers at UC Merced, UC ANR and UC Irvine reported that stakeholders perceived fire protection as central to forest restoration, with multiple other ecosystem services also depending on wildfire severity. Researcher Max Eriksson, lead author on the paper, noted that “forest restoration involves multiple fuels-reduction actions that were perceived as benefiting fire protection, with some also offering strong benefits to other ecosystem services such as air quality, wildlife habitat, soil retention and water supply.”
Read more at Study Shows How Restoring California’s Overstocked Forests Yields Multiple and Diverse Benefits | Graduate Division
Posted in Environment | Tags: Forest Management
Due to the ongoing winter storm, the Generals Highway is currently CLOSED above the Foothills Visitor Center. It is not possible to see sequoias via the Sequoia National Park entrance. We strongly discourage attempting to drive in the parks during an active snowstorm! Tire chains are required in all open areas. Conditions and closures may change throughout the day. For the most up-to-date park roads information, call 559-565-3341, dial 1, and then dial 1 again.
NPR reports
Our destruction of animal habitats is coming back to haunt us.Researchers say zoonotic viruses — ones that spread between humans and animals like COVID or monkeypox — will become more common as humans expand into previously uninhabited areas.
Read article at Zoonotic diseases like COVID-19 and monkeypox will become more common, experts sayZoonotic diseases like COVID-19 and monkeypox will become more common, experts say
Posted in Animals | Tags: Zoonotic Diseases
ScieceDaily reports
Geologists find parallels between ancient, global-scale extinction events and modern threats to Earth’s oceans
Read more at Evolution of tree roots may have driven mass extinctions
Posted in Environment | Tags: Mass Extinctions, trees
Biological Science Technician, Rare Plants; US Geological Survey
Core duties:
Learn more and to apply go to Biological Science Technician, Rare Plants; US Geological Survey – CNPS Forums
Posted in Job Openings
from Yosemite National Park
Posted in Park | Tags: Yosemite Reservations
NPR had an interview about “A new scientific survey takes a close look at the ability of parrots to mimic human words and phrases.”
Listen to the interview at A scientific survey takes a look at ‘vocal mimicry’ in parrots : NPR
Posted in Birds | Tags: Parrot Mimicry
The New York Times reports
Springtails are about the size of a pinhead, but they can control their jumps like seasoned acrobats.
Read more at One of Nature’s Most Impressive Jumpers: The Springtail
Posted in Animals | Tags: Springtails
Posted in Garden, Job Openings | Tags: CALIFORNIA BOTANIC GARDEN
Mt. Tam visitors, reminder Steep Ravine Trail is CLOSED
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE due to bridge repairs and
maintenance, per @CAStateParks.
Posted in Walks & Hikes | Tags: Mt. Tamalpais, Steep Ravine
Posted in Park | Tags: Organ Pipe Cactus National Park
from NPR
He’s lived through two world wars, eight British monarchs and 40 U.S. presidents. Jonathan, the world’s oldest tortoise, recently celebrated his 190th birthday.
Posted in Animals | Tags: World's Oldest Tortoise
The Guardian reports
Angry birds: traffic noise makes robins more aggressive, study finds
Previous studies had found that robins living in cities were more physically aggressive than their rural cousins. The latest research suggests that noise pollution could play a part.
Read story Angry birds: traffic noise makes robins more aggressive, study finds | Birds | The Guardian
Posted in Uncategorized
ABC News reports
The supervolcano at Yellowstone National Park has substantially more magma reservoir under the caldera than scientists previously thought, according to new research.
In addition, the newly found lava is flowing at shallow depths that fueled prior eruptions, according to a paper published Thursday in Science.
Read more at Yellowstone supervolcano has a lot more magma than previously thought: Scientists – ABC News
Posted in Park | Tags: Yellowstone Supervolcano
The San Luis Obispo Tribune reports
Western monarch butterflies have begun their annual winter migration into San Luis Obispo County and the rest of coastal California — and the numbers are off to a promising start.
More than 24,000 were counted at the Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove along Highway 1 on Tuesday, according to California State Parks. That’s almost 2,000 more than were counted around this time last year, according to the state agency.
Read more at Monarch butterfly counts are up at Pismo Beach grove | San Luis Obispo Tribune
Posted in Butterflies | Tags: Monarch Butterflies
Biological Science Technicians, USGS Sequoia Field StationToday, 09:28 AMSummer Employment OpportunityCome work among the Giant Sequoias! Sequoia-Kings Canyon Field Station (USGS) is currently recruiting for summer 2023 Biological Science Technician positions in Forest Ecology and Fire and Fuels research.
To learn about the position and how to apply go to Biological Science Technicians, USGS Sequoia Field Station – CNPS Forums
Posted in Job Openings | Tags: Job Opening
WildEarth Guardians report
A Montana state court has just denied our request to limit wolf trophy hunting and trapping in the state until the merits of our still pending lawsuit can be heard. While we are extremely disappointed by this immediate outcome, we have a long battle ahead in our ongoing lawsuit.
Read more at Judge allows wolf trapping and hunting in Montana to resume – WildEarth Guardians
Posted in Animals | Tags: Montana, Wolf Hunting, Wolf Trapping
3 new job posting on the CNPS job site. Click on each for more information and to find out how to apply
Biological Science Technician (General) – Presidio Trust
Posted in Job Openings | Tags: Job Openings
Vox reports
At COP15 in Montreal, officials will try to hash out a deal to protect animals and ecosystems. It won’t be easy.
One of the most important events for life on Earth, ever, is about to begin. This week and next, delegates from more than 190 countries will come together in Montreal, Canada, for a conference known as COP15, or the UN Biodiversity Conference, to hash out a plan to halt the decline of ecosystems, wildlife, and the life-supporting services they provide.
Read more at The COP15 UN conference in Montreal will be a massive moment for nature – Vox
Posted in Environment | Tags: COP15, UN Biodiversity Conference
CalMatters reports
Moderate weather and well-timed rainstorms in much of California combined to curb the acreage and structures burned.
As California emerges from its “peak” wildfire season, the state has managed to avoid its recent plague of catastrophic wildfires. So far in 2022, the fewest acres have burned since 2019.
State Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci said California had “a bit of luck” with weather this summer. Although enduring yet another drought year, much of the state was spared the worst of the heat and dryness that can spark fires. And in some instances, well-timed rain came to the rescue.
Read more at By the numbers: California’s mild 2022 wildfire season – CalMatters
Posted in Environment | Tags: California Wildfires
Photos from a visit to the UC-Berkeley Botanical Garden on December 2, 2022.
The garden is currently open daily to the public from ten to five by reservation . Garden members can enter at nine. There is an entrance fee (free for garden members) and paid parking. Reservations are required except for garden members. For more information and to make reservations go to UC-Botanical Garden.
Posted in Garden, Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: UC-Berkeley Botanical Garden
NPR reports
About 1,700 seals have been found dead on the Caspian Sea coast in southern Russia, officials said Sunday.
The authorities in the Russian province of Dagestan said that it’s still unclear what caused the animals’ deaths, but they likely died of natural reasons.
Read more at Nearly 2,000 dead seals found on Russian coast : NPR
Posted in Animals | Tags: Seal Deaths
The New York Times reports
Thanks to Mexican conservation efforts, the jaguar is making a comeback in the Yucatán Peninsula. A traveler ventures into its habitat in the tropical jungles surrounding an ancient Maya city.
Read more at The Return of the Jaguar
Posted in Animals | Tags: Jaguar, The Return of the Jaguar in the Yucatán Peninsula
Natural History Wanderings 