The New York Times reports
Among the numerous carnivorous pitcher plant species, scientists say this is the first that lays its traps underground.
Read on www.nytimes.com/2022/07/09/science/pitcher-plants-underground.html
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 9, 2022
It Hides Under the Soil With a Bottomless Appetite for Meat
Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Nepenthes pudica, Pitcher Plants
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 9, 2022
The strange underground economy of tree poaching
Poaching of trees is a real problem. Dealing with it has become part of the mission of park rangers. Read about it at The strange underground economy of tree poaching | Nevada Public Radio
Posted in Park | Tags: Tree Poaching
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 9, 2022
Mindful Bird Sit
from AudubonTake a breather with birds. Enjoy this 30-minute guided mindful bird sit. A bird sit is a mindfulness practice with a focus on birds. It provides relaxation and deepens our awareness of bird ecology.
Posted in Birds | Tags: Mindful Bird Sit
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 8, 2022
Mandatory evacuation order issued for wildfire in Yosemite National Park
From Your Central Valley
YOSEMITE, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A mandatory evacuation order has been issued for residents threatened by the Washburn Fire burning in the area of Yosemite National Park. The order issued Friday afternoon is a mandatory evacuation for the community of Wawona and Wawona Campground. Those who are there are asked to leave the area immediately and […]
Posted in Park | Tags: Wawona Fire, Yosemite Fire
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 8, 2022
The 2022 Audubon Photography Awards: Winners and Honorable Mentions
See the winners and the photos for the 2022 Audubon Photography Awards at
ww.audubon.org/magazine/summer-2022/the-2022-audubon-photography-awards-winners-and
Posted in Birds, Photography | Tags: Audubon Photography Awards
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 8, 2022
To Catch a Snake: Largest Python Found in Everglades Signals a Threat
The New York Times reports
The Burmese python caught by a team of trackers breaks a record and shows the invasive species surviving in Florida’s ecosystem despite efforts to remove those snakes
Read story at To Catch a Snake: Largest Python Found in Everglades Signals a Threat – The New York Times
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Posted in Animals | Tags: Everglades, Giant Python
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 8, 2022
Washburn Fire burns Yosemite National Park, Mariposa Grove-update
The Sacramento Bee reports
First reports said flames had consumed about eight acres, but later grew to 60 to 70 acres Thursday evening. Few other details were immediately available.
— Read full story and see photos at www.sacbee.com/news/california/fires/article263273068.html
Posted in Park | Tags: Mariposa Grove Fire, Yosemite Fire
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 8, 2022
How Active Stewardship Could Protect California’s Forests from Extreme Wildfire
from the Public Policy Institute of California
Increasingly extreme wildfires—driven by a combination of fuel build-up, drought, and climate change—are threatening forests throughout California. Without intervention, some of these landscapes could be forever changed. UC Berkeley professor Scott Stephens lays out urgently needed measures that could save the state’s beloved big trees.
Posted in Environment | Tags: Forest Stewardship, Prevention of Extreme Wildfires
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 7, 2022
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is closed due to a fire
Yosemite National Park reports
The Mariposa Grove and Mariposa Grove Road are closed until further notice. All other areas of Yosemite National Park are open.The Washburn Fire is burning near the lower portion of the Mariposa Grove. The fire is about five to eight acres. Firefighters are suppressing the fire from the ground and air.
Posted in Park | Tags: Yosemite Fire
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 7, 2022
Fin Whales Are Making a Comeback in Antarctic Waters, a Study Finds
The New York Times reports
Once hunted to the brink of extinction, fin whales in the Southern Ocean have rebounded and returned to their historic feeding grounds, according to a new survey.
Read on www.nytimes.com/2022/07/07/climate/fin-whales-antarctica.html
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 7, 2022
Cockroach Sex Has Taken a Strange Turn
The New York Times reports
In response to pesticides, many cockroach females have lost their taste for sweet stuff, which changes how they make the next generation of insects.
Read more at Cockroach Sex Has Taken a Strange Turn – The New York Times
Posted in Animals | Tags: Cockroaches
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 7, 2022
The Mental Health Benefits of Birding
from Audubon
Curious about the connection between nature and mental health? Join Black AF in STEM and BirdNote to learn how to combine mindfulness and birdwatching to improve mental health. Bring Birds Back podcast host Tenijah Hamilton moderates this discussion with Black Birders Week organizers Sheridan Alford, Nicole Jackson, and Deja Perkins.
Posted in Birds | Tags: Mental HealthBenefits of Birding
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 6, 2022
Job Opening: Projects & Grants Coordinator
From The Sierra Nevada Conservancy
The SNC is seeking a highly motivated individual who has strong analytical and project management skills, as well as natural resource experience, to join the Department’s Field Operations Unit as the Projects & Grants Coordinator. More info at: https://www.calcareers.ca.gov/Cal…/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx…
— Read on www.facebook.com/photo
Posted in Job Openings | Tags: Job Opening, Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 6, 2022
New Zealand to embark on world’s largest feral predator eradication
The Guardian reports
New Zealand conservationists are embarking on the largest attempt ever made to eradicate introduced predators from an inhabited island.
Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, a crown research institute, has signed a $2.8m partnership with Rakiura/Stewart Island’s conservation group, Predator Free Rakiura, to eradicate predators including possums, rats, feral cats and hedgehogs over the next four years.
Posted in Animals | Tags: Predator eradication
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 6, 2022
Creating odor confusion could help save endangered species
Anthropocene Magazine reports
Misleading smells could waylay predators and help wildlife managers protect vulnerable prey.
In a world where many predators hunt with their noses, odor trickery can be a key to survival. Puff adders in Africa seem able to avoid detection by sharp-nosed meerkats and dogs. Shorebirds change the composition of their body oils while nesting in ways that make them hard to sniff out. Fish that dine on coral might match the smell of the surrounding reef, camouflaging them fromhungry cod.
Now, ecologists in New Zealand and Australia think wildlife managers should consider a similar tactic to help protect endangered species. And they have evidence suggesting that, at least in one setting, it works.
Read more at Creating odor confusion could help save endangered species
Posted in Animals | Tags: Odor Confusion Can Save Endangered Species
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 6, 2022
The blanket octopus looks like a rainbow ghost alien
Australian Geographic writes about the blanket octopus. Make sure you watch the videos of this amazing animal
Meet the blanket octopus (Tremoctopus violaceus), a bizarre, impressive, gorgeous feat of evolution that might actually be even weirder than it looks.
Read article and see videos at The blanket octopus looks like a rainbow ghost alien
Posted in Animals
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 5, 2022
The Battle Over Hunting and Predators in Greater Yellowstone
The Revelator reports
Can state agencies ensure conservation when hunters pay the bills and ranchers determine wildlife policy?
Read article at The Battle Over Hunting and Predators in Greater Yellowstone • The Revelator
Posted in Animals, Park | Tags: Greater Yellowstone Area Predators
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 5, 2022
How pandas survive solely on bamboo: Evolutionary history
ScienceDaily reports
An ancient fossil reveals the earliest panda to survive solely on bamboo and the evolutionary history of panda’s false thumbs.
Read on www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/06/220630114456.htm
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 5, 2022
What if we tracked a species recovery not just its extinction risk?
Anthropocene reports
A team of 200+ scientists ran a first test to see whether the new IUCN green list, which focuses on recovery, actually helps conservation efforts.
— Read on www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/08/what-if-we-tracked-a-species-recovery-not-just-its-extinction-risk/
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 5, 2022
Simple Solutions to Prevent Bird/Building Collisions
From communication towers and tall buildings to residential windows and glass doors, birds face a multitude of dangers as they navigate our built environment. Research indicates that up to one billion birds may be killed per year in the United States alone as a result of collisions, happening in both commercial and residential settings, at all hours of the day. Surprisingly, the majority of these deadly collisions are occurring in low-rise buildings, rather than skyscrapers. The biggest hazards contributing to these collisions – artificial light at night and glass.
Some simple actions can help make our communities and the skies safer for birds.
Simple Solutions to Prevent Collisions | Audubon
Posted in Birds | Tags: Bird Building Collisions
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 4, 2022
Meet Charles F. Sams III, the New NPS Director
The New York Times has an interview with the New National Parks director
The park service’s first Native American director, Charles F. Sams III, has plans to address overcrowding, improve accessibility and share the country’s untold stories.
Read the interview at Meet the New Man Behind the National Park Service
Posted in Park | Tags: Charles F. Sams III, New NPS Director
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 4, 2022
Why It’s Time to Include Fungi in Global Conservation Goals
The Revelator reports
Without fungi life on Earth would be unrecognizable. Yet these valuable organisms remain overlooked.
It’s no secret that Earth’s biodiversity is at risk. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, 26% of all mammals, 14% of birds and 41% of amphibians are currently threatened worldwide, mainly due to human impacts such as climate change and development.
Other forms of life are also under pressure, but they are harder to count and assess. Some scientists have warned of mass insect die-offs, although others say the case hasn’t been proved. And then there are fungi — microbes that often go unnoticed, with an estimated 2 million to 4 million species. Fewer than 150,000 fungi have received formal scientific descriptions and classifications.
Read more at Why It’s Time to Include Fungi in Global Conservation Goals • The Revelator
Posted in Environment, Mushrooms | Tags: Fungi and Conservation Goals
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 3, 2022
First Ever California State Parks Week
NBC BayArea reports
The first annual California State Parks Week is beginning Tuesday and will bring events to the public across the state for the next week.
The celebration, going until Saturday, aims to bring community events and in-person and virtual programming to some of the 279 state parks in California, which feature 5,200 miles of trails and 15,000 campsites.
— Read on www.nbcbayarea.com/news/california/first-ever-california-state-parks-week-brings-events-to-bay-area-across-state/2919175/
Posted in Park | Tags: California State Parks Week
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 3, 2022
Avian Influenza Is Affecting Wild Mammals
The New York Times reports
As a new version of bird flu spread through North America this spring, scientists began finding the virus in red foxes, bobcats and other mammals.
Read more at Avian Influenza Is Affecting Wild Mammals – The New York Times
Posted in Animals, Birds | Tags: Avian Influenza
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 3, 2022
A Collection Of Very Impressive Backyard Wildlife Photography
Photographer and wildlife biologist Roy Toft captures beautiful photos of mountain lions, bobcats, deer, and more in his backyard with his perfectly placed trail cameras. See his photos at California Man Captures Stunning Wildlife Photos in His Backyard
Posted in Animals, Photography | Tags: Backyard Wildlife Photography
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 2, 2022
Nearly extinct salmon show promising return in Bay Area creek
SF Gate reports
An endangered species of salmon, once considered to be on the brink of extinction in the Bay Area, is showing a promising return.
Researchers at the Marin Municipal Water District said that significant rainfall totals late last year mitigated drought conditions and may have aided in bolstering the coho salmon population at Lagunitas Creek, a 24-mile stream in Marin County where the fish spawn every winter.
Read more at Nearly extinct salmon show promising return in Bay Area creek
Posted in Animals | Tags: Coho Salmon
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 2, 2022
Gardening with Natives for Birds, Butterflies and Pollinators
The San Francisco Yerba Buena CNPS Society Chapter has a series of informative Native Plant brochures
Attracting pollinators with attractive natives:
- An Illustrated list of Local Butterflies and their hosts
- Lepidoptera Larval Uses of Plants, San Francisco
- Local Butterflies and Their Host Plants and Habitats
- Beekeeping for Native Bumble Bees
- Hummingbird Plants for San Francisco
- Native Plants that Bees Rely on Exclusively for Native Pollen Needs
Plants for Birds program
- Gardening for Birds
- 2021 Plantas para Pajaros brochure
- 2021 Plants for Birds program brochure
- 2020 Plantas para Pajaros brochure
- 2020 Plants for Birds program brochure
See more on gardening with natives at Biodiversity Resources
Posted in Birds, Butterflies, Garden | Tags: Butterflies and Pollinators, Native Plant Gardens for Birds
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 1, 2022
Can European Bee-eaters be an Indicator Species of Climate Change
From eBird
To examine the relationship between European Bee-eater populations and climate, the researchers used statistical modeling techniques and data from citizen science databases including eBird, which holds more than 150,000 sightings of European Bee-eater. They found a strong relationship between climate and European Bee-eater populations, with larger populations in areas with more suitable temperature and precipitation conditions based on the models. This suggests that the breeding range of European Bee-eater in Europe is influenced mainly by climate conditions.
— Read Story at ebird.org/news/ebird-impacts-european-bee-eaters-expand-their-range-northwards
Posted in Birds, Environment | Tags: Bee-eaters, Climate change
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 1, 2022
World’s Largest Freshwater Fish Is almost 660 pounds
NPR reports
The world’s largest recorded freshwater fish, a giant stingray, has been caught in the Mekong River in Cambodia, according to scientists from the Southeast Asian nation and the United States.
The stingray, captured on June 13, measured almost 13 feet from snout to tail and weighed slightly under 660 pounds, according to a statement Monday by Wonders of the Mekong, a joint Cambodian-U.S. research project.
Read more World’s largest freshwater fish, almost 660 pounds, is found in Cambodia
Posted in Animals | Tags: World's Largest Freshwater Fish
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 1, 2022
Pipeline Swallowtail Caterpillar Video
See this informative and entertating PBS video about the Pipevine Caterpillar. The Pipevine Caterpillar Thrives in a Toxic Love Triangle | Deep Look – YouTube
Posted in Butterflies | Tags: Pipeline Swallowtail Caterpillar
Natural History Wanderings 