Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 25, 2022

Smoky Bear Flat Flower Photos

Photos taken at Smoky Bear Flat or Highway 395 on July 5, 2022.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 25, 2022

Job Opening: Biological Science Technicians

Eldorado National Forest- Biological Science Technician (Plants)

The Eldorado National Forest is currently seeking candidates for two permanent seasonal GS-404-06/7 Botany Technicians. Duty location will be determined after selections are made and would be at one of the four Districts on the Eldorado NF:

  • Amador Ranger Station in Pioneer, CA
  • Placerville Ranger Station in Camino, CA
  • Georgetown Ranger Station in Georgetown, CA
  • Pacific Ranger Station in Pollock Pines, CA

The purpose of this outreach notice is to inform prospective applicants of this opportunity.

To express interest in this opportunity, please complete the attached Outreach Response Form and return, with a resume, to Matt Brown at matthew.brown1@usda.gov by close of business on July 29, 2022.

To learn more about the position and to obtain the Outreach Response Form to apply go to Permanent Outreach ENF Botany Technicians

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 25, 2022

Meteor Showers to watch over the next month

from Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association

The biggest meteor shower of the year, the Perseids, are currently underway from July 17 to August 24, peaking at 1 a.m. local time on August 13. However, viewing will be less than optimal during the peak due to the full moon on August 11, so we recommend that you start watching for meteors during this next week since we will have a new moon on July 28.
What you may not know is that there are also six minor meteor showers that peak between now and the end of August. These lesser-known showers will likely provide a better show since most of these peaks coincide with the new moon. You should have plenty of opportunities to see shooting stars across the summer night sky!

  • Alpha Capricornids – peaks on July 26
  • Piscis Austrinids – peaks on July 28
  • Delta Aquarids – peaks on July 30
  • Capricornus – peaks on July 30
  • Iota Aquarids – peaks on August 6
  • Kappa Cygnids – peaks on August 17

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 25, 2022

New Research On How Woodpeckers Avoid Brain Injury

NPR reports

A new study refutes the popular idea that a woodpecker’s brain is cushioned from the violent impacts of pecking. It offers a different reason the birds avoid brain damage.

Read article at  A woodpecker’s brain takes a big hit with every peck: study : NPR

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 24, 2022

Oak Fire Update

CalFire reports

The fire is now 4,281 Acres  and 0% contained.

The fire remained active through the night moving toward the communities of Jerseydale, Darrah, and Bootjack. Poor humidity recovery was observed overnight. Today the weather is expected to remain hot with minimum humidity between 5 and 10%, which will hamper firefighting efforts. High tree mortality and dense fuels are throughout the fire area. Fire evacuation and advisories remain in effect. Damage inspection teams are beginning their assessment of the areas affected by the fire.

For road closures and other updates go to  Oak Fire Incident Report

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 24, 2022

U.S. Forest Service taking emergency action to save sequoias from wildfire

NPR reports

The U.S. Forest Service announced Friday it’s taking emergency action to save giant sequoias by speeding up projects that could start within weeks to clear underbrush to protect the world’s largest trees from the increasing threat of wildfires.

The move to bypass some environmental review could cut years off the normal approval process required to cut smaller trees in national forests and use intentionally lit low-intensity fires to reduce dense brush that has helped fuel raging wildfires that have killed up to 20% of all large sequoias over the past two years.

Read more U.S. Forest Service taking emergency action to save sequoias from wildfire : NPR

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 24, 2022

Think All Viruses Get Milder With Time? Not This Rabbit-Killer

The New York Times reports

The myxoma virus, fatal to millions of Australian rabbits, is a textbook example of the unexpected twists in the evolution of viruses and their hosts.

Read more at  Think All Viruses Get Milder With Time? Not This Rabbit-Killer. – The New York Times

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 23, 2022

Thousands ordered to flee California wildfire near Yosemite

AP reports on the Oak Fire

A fast-moving brush fire near Yosemite National Park exploded in size Saturday into one of California’s largest wildfires of the year, prompting evacuation orders for thousands of people and shutting off power to more than 2,000 homes and businesses.

The Oak Fire started Friday afternoon southwest of the park near the town of Midpines in Mariposa County and by Saturday had grown to nearly 15 square miles (38 square kilometers), according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire. It erupted as firefighters made progress against an earlier blaze that burned to the edge of a grove of giant sequoias in the southernmost part of Yosemite park.

Evacuation orders were put in effect Saturday for over 6,000 people living across a several-mile span in the sparsely populated, rural area, said Daniel Patterson, a spokesman for the Sierra National Forest.

Read more at  Thousands ordered to flee California wildfire near Yosemite | AP News

Of note is highway 140 into Yosemite is closed. Also the Washburn Fires is now 79% contained and the Giant Sequoias  currently do not seem under threat. Highway 49 in Yosemite is now open..

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 23, 2022

Bodie Hills Photos

Photographed in the Bodie Hills on July 4, 2022.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 23, 2022

Avian Influenza U[dates

from CornellLab of Ornithology

Avian Influenza Outbreak: Should You Take Down Your Bird Feeders? July 20, 2022

Many people are concerned about the 2022 outbreak of avian influenza, or bird flu, that is affecting domestic poultry, waterfowl, raptors, and some shorebirds in the U.S. and Canada. Because the current strain (H5N1) causes heavy losses to poultry, it is referred to as highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI. Note that transmission of avian influenza from birds to humans is very rare, according to the Centers for Disease Control. As of July 22, one person has tested positive for avian influenza and developed mild symptoms, in Colorado.

There has been confusion about whether people should take down their feeders to stop the spread of this disease among wild birds. We checked with Dr. Julianna Lenoch, who directs the USDA APHIS National Wildlife Disease Program, and we’ve compiled the following summaries of key points regarding HPAI, especially among songbirds and other feeder visitors.

Low Risk of Avian Flu to Songbirds

There is currently very low risk of an outbreak among wild songbirds, and no official recommendation to take down feeders unless you also keep domestic poultry, according to the National Wildlife Disease Program. We do always recommend that you clean bird feeders and birdbaths regularly as a way to keep many kinds of diseases at bay.

Read more Avian Influenza Outbreak: Should You Take Down Your Bird Feeders? 

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 22, 2022

Oak Fire evacuation orders expand in Mariposa County

KCRA reports on the Oak Fire in Mariposa County

One of the main roads to Yosemite, Highway 140, is now closed due to the fire. Drivers trying to get to the national park will have to go through Highway 120 at this time.
The fire is about 30 miles away from Yosemite Valley.

A fire that sparked Friday afternoon in Mariposa County has forced immediate evacuations for nearby residents, officials said. The Oak Fire started sometime after 2:30 p.m. near Highway 140 and Carstens Road by the community of Midpines, east of Modesto. Throughout the day, the fire has been spreading at a threatening pace. A news helicopter spotted at least one structure engulfed in flames later in the evening, and several other structures close to flames.

Read more Oak Fire evacuation orders expand in Mariposa County

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 22, 2022

Mono Basin Photos

A series of photos taken in the Mono Basin along Highway 120 east and Black Point on July 3, 2022.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 22, 2022

Big Basin Redwoods State Park Partially Reopens

Bay Nature reports 

Big Basin State Park is not the lush, shady ancient forest it once was. In August 2020, 97 percent of the old-growth forest nestled in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains burned in the devastating CZU Lightning Complex fire. Eighteen thousand acres burned, and the iconic park visitors center, lodge, staff homes, and other buildings were reduced to ash. An eerie silence hung over the scorched earth and skeletal trees.

Read more at Big Basin Redwoods State Park Partially Reopens – Bay Nature

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 22, 2022

Astronomers poring through images from new space telescope 

NPR reports

In the week since the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope were unveiled, astronomers have been poring through all the observations it’s made so far–and they’re happily overwhelmed.

Read more at  Astronomers poring through images from new space telescope : NPR

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 21, 2022

Monarch Butterflies Are Placed on IUCN Red List 

The New York Times reports

North America’s monarch butterfly, whose showy looks and extraordinary migration have made it one of the continent’s most beloved insects, has been classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the world’s most comprehensive scientific authority on the status of species.

The decision comes after decades of falling populations driven by losses in the plants they need as caterpillars and in the forests where adults spend the winter, combined with climate change, the assessment found. The authors reviewed about 100 studies, interviewed experts and applied criteria from the group’s Red List of Threatened Species to come up with their decision.

Read more at Monarch Butterflies Are Endangered, Leading Wildlife Monitor Says

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 21, 2022

Mono Lake and Lundy Canyon Photos

Photos taken at Lundy Canyon, Mono Lake South Tufa Towers and County Park on July 2, 2022.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 21, 2022

Did Nature Heal During the Pandemic ‘Anthropause’? 

The New York Times  reports

Covid precautions created a global slowdown in human activity — and an opportunity to learn more about the complex ways we affect other species.

Read article at Did Nature Heal During the Pandemic ‘Anthropause’?

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 20, 2022

The British Big Butterfly Count

The BBC reports

People are being encouraged to count the number of butterflies they see over the next three weeks – as part of efforts to protect them from extinction.

Butterfly Conservation says two-fifths of British butterflies are under threat.

The charity encourages spending 15 minutes outside counting the number and type of butterflies and moths spotted.

Data collected will help assess the effect of climate change and pollution.

The annual Big Butterfly Count is backed by naturalist Sir David Attenborough – the charity’s president – as well as actress Joanna Lumley and gardener Alan Titchmarsh.

Read more at Big Butterfly Count: People asked to join in to help address extinction – BBC News

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 20, 2022

CA drought spells devastation for Pacific Flyway waterfowl

The Sacramento Bee reports

Rice fields provide critical food and habitat for millions of geese, mallards, wood ducks and other migratory waterfowl that traverse what is known as the Pacific Flyway. Shorebirds such as Western sandpipers and long-billed curlews also find temporary homes in rice fields.

With California having lost 95% of its historic wetland habitat since the Gold Rush, “rice has become an important surrogate,” said Mike Lynes, public policy director for Audubon California.

This year, though, there will be a lot less rice for the waterfowl. Economists and others believe at least half of the normal rice acreage will go fallow, leaving at least 250,000 acres of Valley land empty.

Read full article at  CA drought spells devastation for Pacific Flyway waterfowl | The Sacramento Bee

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 19, 2022

Photos from the Eastern Sierra

Photos were taken from just inside the East Gate of Yosemite at Tioga Pass, Nanatak Nature Trail and Ellery Lake on July 1, 2022.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 19, 2022

Job Opening: Environmental Scientist

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will be filling a full time, permanent Environmental Scientist position for California Environmental Quality Act project review and California Endangered Species Act permitting in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. This position serves an extremely important role in habitat conservation on the North Coast. The final filing date for applications is 8/1/2022. If you think you might be interested in this position, I suggest you apply.

When searching for state job openings, I typically use Cal Career’s geographic search feature and search by County. Links are below.

https://www.calcareers.ca.gov/CalHRP…JobSearch.aspx

https://www.calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrP…ntrolId=318004

CalCareers

https://www.calcareers.ca.gov

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 19, 2022

Kings Canyon & Sequoia Roadwork Updates

from Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks

No one likes road construction, but we all know that it has got to be done, especially in places that contend with the elements like the Sierra Nevada!
Ongoing roadwork inside the parks may result in 30-minute delays along the Generals Highway during the day and 60-minute delays at night. This work does not take place over the weekends! Outside the parks, Caltrans is working on Highway 180, which may result in 15-minute delays on the way to Big Stump Entrance Station.
Make sure to come to the parks with water, snacks, and a full tank of gas, and leave yourself plenty of time to get where you want to go! If you do have to wait, sit back and relax

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 19, 2022

Theodore Payne Foundation Classes

Theodore Payne Foundation inspires and educates Southern Californians about the beauty and ecological benefits of California native plant landscapes.We are located on 22 acres of canyon land in the northeast corner of the San Fernando Valley. Our full-service native plant nursery, seed room, book store, art gallery, demonstration gardens, and hiking trails are open to the public year round. We offer garden tours and classes for adults and families, as well as field trips to TPF and in-classroom programs for children. Friendly on-leash dogs are welcome and there is no admission charge!

See the schedule of in-person and virtual programs at Theodore Payne Foundation Events | Eventbrite

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 19, 2022

Plans to Fight Global Warming Face an Obstacle in Paris: Trees 

The New York Times reports

Long a favorite spot for picnics and sunbathing, the lawns surrounding the Eiffel Tower have recently become the scene of furious protests. First came a social media campaign. Then a rally by dozens of local residents. Before long, a protester had hunkered down in a nearby plane tree for a hunger strike.

The source of their anger? A plan to cut down more than 20 trees, some over 100 years old, around the tower as part of an effort to build a huge garden and ease tourist congestion.

The controversy is just the latest in a series that has engulfed Paris City Hall as it tries to green the city, a task that appears all the more urgent as scorching temperatures bear down on the French capital, and on the rest of Europe.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 18, 2022

Yosemite High Country Photos

A series of photos taken in the Yosemite High Country from Crane Flat and Tioga Pass Road on June 30, 2022.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 18, 2022

Finding a new formula for sharing salmon between people and bears

Anthropocene Magazine reports

Scientists and the Wuikinuxv Nation in British Columbia form an unusual partnership to study how native fishers and grizzly bears can share scarce salmon runs.

Read article at  Finding a new formula for sharing salmon between people and bears

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 18, 2022

How the Media Stokes Needless Fears About Sharks 

The Revelator reports

Sharks rarely bite people, so why are so many people afraid of them? It has a lot to do with the media, says shark scientist David Shiffman in a new book.

Read more at : How the Media Stokes Needless Fears About Sharks • The Revelator

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 17, 2022

How The Mariposa Grove Was Saved

SF Gate reports

A Yosemite park ecologist explains how the famous Mariposa Grove was saved

The famous giant sequoias of Yosemite National Park’s Mariposa Grove were spared the worst of the Washburn Fire, according to Yosemite forest ecologist and firefighter Garrett Dickman.

Dickman told SFGATE the beloved giants are poised to survive, and credits one particular tool that the park has been using for 50 years: fuel reduction treatments.

The victory offers an important lesson for how we can protect giant sequoias in the face of climate change.

Read more here.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 17, 2022

Yosemite Washburn Fire Update

Size 4,864 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained 51%

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 17, 2022

Top Five Climate Executive Actions Biden Can Take

Center for Biological Diversity News Release

Bold Action Urgently Needed After Manchin Tanks Legislation

WASHINGTON— With climate provisions stripped from Democrats’ economic package by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), President Biden’s executive powers are front and center in protecting U.S. international commitments and preserving a livable planet.

Read More…

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