Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 14, 2022

CNPS Native Plant Sales

Upcoming Chapter Plant Sales

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 14, 2022

Now’s the Time to Make Buildings Safer for Migrating Birds

from Cornell Lab of Ornithology

In September, birds of all shapes and sizes are on the move across the continent. And buildings—especially windows—can cause the deaths of hundreds of millions of them. Two steps people can take right now are treating windows to make them more visible and turning off building lights between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. during peak migration times.

NBC Bay Area report

While what is being called a massive harmful algal bloom stretching across San Francisco Bay appears to now be in decline as of Saturday, state and regional water resource officials say depleted oxygen levels caused by the algae could lead to large-scale aquatic deaths in the days ahead.

Read on www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/san-francisco-bay-algae-bloom-fish/2994207/

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 13, 2022

Encourage Governor Newsom to Protect Pollinators

The Latest on Pollinator Protection

We’re thrilled to report that AB 2146, the pollinator protection bill, has passed the California legislature. Introduced by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, AB 2146 restricts the use of toxic neonicotinoid pesticides in non-agricultural settings, including parks, home gardens, and golf courses. Not only do neonics kill the pollinators that native plants depend upon, they leech into soil and groundwater, affecting fish, wildlife, and humans. The CA Department of Pesticide Regulation detected imidacloprid—the most common neonic in non-agricultural settings—in 93% of water samples taken in Southern California’s urban areas and 67% of Northern California’s urban samples. And studies show widespread neonic exposure in pregnant people. The bill is now with Governor Newsom. This is another great opportunity for Governor Newsom to support California’s biodiversity. Please join us in respectfully asking Governor Newsom to say “yes” to AB 2146.

Take Action
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 13, 2022

Bird Migration Video

from Audubon

Catch a Glimpse of North America’s “Greatest Migration”
Every spring, around one million Sandhill Cranes converge in the Platte River Valley of central Nebraska before continuing north to their breeding grounds. In anticipation of the Bird Migration Explorer next week, watch the sweeping views of flocks of wading birds lifting off during this spectacular migratory event. See it to believe it
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 13, 2022

BirdCast: Tune Into the River of Birds That Flows Overhead

From Bay Nature

New from the web: Up to a half-billion birds migrate across the U.S. each night, cloaked in darkness. BirdCast helps you see what they’re doing.
Read More Here!
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 12, 2022

California Oak Symposium set for Oct. 31–Nov. 3 in San Luis Obispo

The 8th California Oak Symposium will be held Oct. 31–Nov. 3 in San Luis Obispo, and anyone involved in research, education, management or conservation of California’s oak woodlands is invited to participate.

The theme of the symposium is “Sustaining California Oak Woodlands Under Current and Future Conditions.” The four-day event’s 62 concurrent session talks and 30 posters will cover climate change, wildlife ecology, oak restoration, oak pests and diseases, fire ecology, and ranch management and generational transfer. 
— Read on ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 12, 2022

Death Valley Road Update

Roads Update! ⚠️ 9/11/2022 1:30 p.m. PDT
Storms fueled by the remnants of Hurricane Kay caused localized, heavy damage in Death Valley National Park on Saturday afternoon, September 10.
⛔️California highway 190 (CA-190) is closed from CA-136 junction to Stovepipe Wells Village.
⛔️Badwater Road is fully closed. Many other park roads are still closed from floods five weeks ago.
CA-190 has at least once section of missing pavement across both lanes on the west side of Towne Pass. The flooding across Badwater Road was concentrated from Natural Bridge to Badwater Basin, mileposts 10-16.
For the most up to date roads and closure information, visit https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
For more detailed information about the recent flooding, visit https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/news/hurricane-kay.htm
📍 Video 1: Waterfalls on sides of mountains south of Natural Bridge on Badwater Road 2022-09-10 from recent rains.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 12, 2022

Doug Tallamy Virtual Talk 9/15/22

from Sonoma Land Trust

Language of the Land: Bringing Nature Home
9/15/22 
speaker: Doug Tallamy

Have you ever wondered if your home’s landscaping can have a positive effect on the environment? Or which native plants best support local wildlife or how your garden can help local ecosystems?

REGISTER…

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 12, 2022

Tiny new tree frog species found in rewilded Costa Rican nature reserve

Mongabay reports

On a private nature reserve in Costa Rica, Donald Varela-Soto searched for the source of a shrill frog call for six months. What he found turned out to be a new species, a tiny green tree frog that has been named Tlalocohyla celeste.

Read more at Tiny new tree frog species found in rewilded Costa Rican nature reserve

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 11, 2022

UC- Berkeley Bot. Garden Plant Sale 9/14 to 10/2

U. C. Berkeley Botanical Garden California Native Plant Sale

20% off all CA Native Plants!

Opening Day: Wednesday, September 14, 9:00am–4:30pm

Sale continues through Sunday, October 2, regular Garden Shop hours, 10:30am–4:30pm

  • No additional Member discount on sale plants.
  • Bring a box to carry your purchases home.
  • If you plan to only shop without a Garden visit, there is no reservation or admission fee required.
  • Garden is closed on Tuesday, September 20.

Your purchases at this sale provide support for our work at the Garden. Thank you!

Click the “Plant List” button below to see available plants.

Plan to shop early for the best selection!

Plant List

Watch the Zoom recording with our volunteer propagators and learn about some featured plants, associated pollinators, as well as planting and care tips!

Plant presentation video
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 11, 2022

Spotty fall colors likely in New England amid drought

AP reports

This summer’s drought is expected to cause a patchy array of fall color starting earlier in the leaf-peeping haven of New England while the autumn colors are likely to be muted and not last as long in the drought- and heat-stricken areas of the south.

Read more at  Spotty fall colors likely in New England amid drought | AP News

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 10, 2022

Job Opening: Habitat Restoration Nursery Fellow 

Save the Bay has a Job Opening for a Habitat Restoration Nursery Fellow.

Save The Bay’s mission is to protect and restore the Bay for people and wildlife. We are the only regional organization that integrates political advocacy, wetland restoration, and education to shape a healthy and resilient region. We are a team of passionate people, and at the core, we are

Learn more and see how to apply Habitat Restoration Nursery Fellow – CNPS Forums

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 10, 2022

Auburn State Recreation Area Closure

from Auburn State Recreation Area

AUBURN SRA EXPANDS TEMPORARY CLOSURE TO ALL PARK UNITS DUE TO THE MOSQUITO FIRE🚨 ALL Park Units in Auburn SRA will remained closed unit further notice. This closure includes, Lower Lake Clementine, Upper Lake Clementine, Mammoth Bar, Driver’s Flat (Ruck-A-Chucky), Yankee Jims, Ponderosa, Mineral Bar, Cherokee Bar, Quarry, Cool Staging, The Confluence, and China Bar. We are in a Mandatory Evacuation Zone: Foresthill Road will be closed at Lincoln & Foresthill, The Confluence will be closed at Old Foresthill and Hwy 49.  Our hearts go out to our community, together we will get through this. Please remain vigilant, be prepared, and stay safe.

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 10, 2022

Map of Eldorado National Forest Closure

Area inside the purple is closed. This is Forest Service closure not the fire boundary.

Audubon reports

As climate change fuels stronger storms, scientists are using emerging technology and crowdsourcing data to understand their avian toll.

This hurricane season is off to a slow start, but as of early August the U.S. Climate Prediction Center still called for it to be above-normal. Between 6 and 10 hurricanes could barrel across the Atlantic basin by the end of November, the center projected, with 3 to 5 of them rated major.

How the season plays out has high stakes not only for people—hurricanes are historically the deadliest and costliest natural disasters—but also for birds. Tropical cyclones, including hurricanes, have a history of shredding habitat, which is especially dangerous for rare non-migratory species that live only on a single island or archipelago. The Bahama Nuthatch, for instance, had its population whittled down by a series of storms and hasn’t been seen since Hurricane Dorian roared through its final stronghold in 2019.

Read more at How Bird Researchers Are Tracking the Impacts of Intensifying Hurricane Seasons

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 9, 2022

Huge recovery for butterfly once extinct in the UK

BBC reported

An endangered butterfly that was once extinct in the UK has had its best summer in 150 years.

The large blue butterfly is one of Europe’s most endangered insects but thousands have been recorded this summer in south-west England.

It is the result of a long-term conservation project, led by the Royal Entomological Society.

Read more at  Huge recovery for butterfly once extinct in the UK – BBC News

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 8, 2022

California Map of Active fires in Northern California 

See an interactive map of wildfires burning across the Bay Area and California at California Fire Map: Active fires in Northern California, Mosquito Fire in Placer County

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 8, 2022

 Books Are for the Birds (and Bugs) 

from The Revelator 

These Books Are for the Birds (and Bugs)Winged wonders get the spotlight in these new environmental books covering our relationship with nature.

Read about these new environmental books at  These Books Are for the Birds (and Bugs) • The Revelator

from the California Native Plant Society

Reliable CA Native Plants for a Garden with no Irrigation
9/12/22 September 12 @ 7:00 pm
8:00 pm

Speaker: Krzysztof Kozminski Krzysztof is a longtime member of the CNPS Santa Clara Chapter, one of the founders in 2002 and a continuous team member of the Growing Natives Garden Tour, and a California native plant gardener for 24 years in a hot, dry, partially sloping one-acre home garden in South San Jose.

To register go to: https://cnps-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtf-iuqj4oGNK38niHbRwvFhAXQGNMkyKr?fbclid=IwAR3J_D2lRW_PIzq_ge2SjlQ5Sqm7djSoguWrUsTvqdGt_A_VaKGhKyHwqVs

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 8, 2022

Marin County Bans Sale of Tropical Milkweed

The West Marin Environmental Action Committee reports

Now, thanks to the advocacy of the Marin Monarch Working Group, the County of Marin announced a ban of the sale of tropical milkweed at all nurseries effective August 24th! Nurseries in Marin will be required to only sell native milkweed varieties including narrowleaf and showy milkweed.

This is an important step to support the western monarch butterfly in Marin County. Native milkweeds are adapted to the life-cycle and rhythm of the butterflies migration as it becomes dormant in the fall. This is a natural signal for the butterfly to make its winter migration to the coast.

Read article at Marin Bans Sale of Tropical Milkweed! — EAC

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 7, 2022

Job Opening: Biologist

At HDR, we specialize in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. While we are most well-known for adding beauty and structure to communities through high-performance buildings and smart infrastructure, we provide much more than that. We create an unshakable foundation for progress because our multidisciplinary teams also include scientists, economists, builders, analysts and artists. That’s why we believe diversity is our greatest strength. HDR is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer.

HDR is looking to add exceptional entry to mid-level biologists to our inclusive, diverse, and highly collaborative Northern California team. Candidates that strive for excellence in their day-to-day work, scientific practice, and careers; as well as those individuals that are interested in continuing to expand their scientific knowledge through collaboration and continued learning will integrate nicely into our biological resources practice. Our biologists spend time in the field and in the office throughout the year. Our field work includes biological resource surveys, floristic surveys, vegetation mapping, and aquatic resources delineations that are performed to support impact assessments, impact avoidance, longterm biological monitoring, regulatory permitting efforts, and pre- and post-construction compliance. In the office, we analyze the data collected in the field and use those data to prepare biological resource reports and study plans, mitigation and monitoring plans, biological resource sections of environmental documents, regulatory permit applications, and other technical papers as needed.

read more and see how to apply at Biologist   (169254)

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 7, 2022

Favorite El Dorado Foothills Hikes 9/12/22

from Marin CNPS

“Ginna Meyer’s Favorite Hikes”
Guest Speaker: Ginna Meyer, El Dorado Chapter CNPS

September 12, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. – Online Zoom Presentation
preregister HERE

Read more at  CNPS Marin – Chapter Meeting – 12 September 2022

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 7, 2022

As Alaska Warms, Fires Burn Over (and Under) More Wild Land

The New York Times reports

Lightning storms, drought and thawing tundra are making fires more destructive. In the vast wilderness, firefighting is a major challenge.

Read more at As Alaska Warms, Fires Burn Over (and Under) More Wild Land – The New York Times 

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 6, 2022

Poop and pee fueled the huge algae bloom in San Francisco Bay.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports

Poop and pee fueled the huge algae bloom in San Francisco Bay. Fixing the problem could cost $14 billion

After an unprecedented harmful algae bloom first turned San Francisco Bay a murky brown color and then littered its shores with dead fish, many people assumed it was yet another climate disaster to add to the list, along with extreme drought, wildfires and heat waves.

While scientists suspect climate change played a role in triggering the bloom, what fueled it is not a mystery. Algae blooms need food to grow, and this one had plenty: nutrients originating in wastewater that the region’s 37 sewage plants pump into the bay.

Read more  Poop and pee fueled the huge algae bloom in San Francisco Bay. Fixing the problem could cost $14 billion

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 6, 2022

These will be the hottest California counties in 2053, study finds

Newsbreak  reports

California, along with Arizona, Florida and Texas, make up a new list of the top 20 counties projected to see the most days per year with temperatures above 100° F, according to a new study.

Read more: ‘Dangerous days’: These will be the hottest California counties in 2053, study finds

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 5, 2022

Upcoming Events at Theodore Payne Foundation 

See upcoming classes and events at  Theodore Payne Foundation Events | Eventbrite

DP Review reports

Shortlisted entries for the 2022 Astronomy Photographer of the YearThe shortlisted entries have been announced for the 14th annual Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition. Over 3,000 images were submitted by astrophotographers from 67 countries. Images of the Sun, Moon, Aurora Borealis and Milky Way are all in the running for the grand prize.

See the slideshow of the photos and read more at Slideshow: Shortlisted entries for the 2022 Astronomy Photographer of the Year: Digital Photography Review

 

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 5, 2022

Film Viewing Of Saging The World 9/8/22

from the Yerba CNPS  Chapter

Saging The World  September 8th, THURSDAY, 7:30pm

With documentarians: Rose Ramirez and Deborah Small

Zoom Reservation Required: Link HereThis film is the focal point of a campaign to deter the global rush on white sage (Salvia apiana), driven by widespread cultural appropriation of smudging. The documentary runs 20 minutes. Immediately following the screening, advocates from the film will be available to answer questions.

Read More…

The New York Times reports

The already grueling 2,600-mile hike now includes the added challenges of global warming, which can mean a lack of shade and exposure to smoke and fire.

Read more at Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail: How Climate Change Has Transformed the Trek – The New York Times

 

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