From Joshua Tree National Park
Today firefighters have been able to hold the perimeter of the Elk Fire at around 431 acres, with 107 acres of park land burned. The fire is 75% contained, and firefighters are continuing to work with the goal of full suppression.
The area around the Elk Fire remains closed, but there are no other closures in the park.
Posted in Park | Tags: Elk Fire, Joshua Tree National Park
“a small chance of something extraordinary” – space.com
On the evening of May 30 into the morning of May 31, it’s possible we will see the birth of a brand new meteor shower called the tau Herculids as our planet crosses the orbit of a tiny crumbling comet called 73P/SW3 that’s been falling apart since 1995. It could even erupt into a dramatic outburst or historic meteor storm that skywatchers will talk about for years to come.
If this happens, the peak will occur at 10:04 pm PDT on May 30. The new moon occurs early on May 30, so Anza-Borrego will have a perfect dark sky for viewing, away from the city lights. The radiant will be high in the sky. Look towards the Big Dipper (Ursa Major). The meteors will appear to emanate outwards from a point in the sky just to the left of the dipper’s handle.
Of course, we might see very little action, but wouldn’t it be great to watch if it does turn out to be a spectacular show? Any time spent under the nighttime sky is never time wasted.
Sources: space.com, skyandtelescope.org, nasa.gov, earthsky.org, cnet.com
Posted in Astronomy | Tags: Meteor shower
Politico reports
A Shell consultant resigned Monday with a searing email accusing the oil giant of “failing on a massive planetary scale” to limit climate risks.
Caroline Dennett, who has been a U.K.-based safety consultant for Shell for 11 years, said she could no longer work for the company given its plans to expand fossil fuel extraction.
In an email sent to the executive committee and more than 1,000 employees, she wrote that as “continued oil & gas extraction is causing extreme harm” to the planet, Shell was “failing on a massive planetary scale” to deliver on its pledge to cause “no harm” with its operations.
Read more Shell consultant quits, says company causes ‘extreme harm’ to planet – POLITICO
Posted in Environment | Tags: Shell's Fossil Fuel Extraction
California State Parks is honoring the service of veterans, active and reserve military members, by offering them free admission to participating parks on Memorial Day – Monday, May 30, 2022.A total of 133 park units will be honoring the free admission this year, including state vehicular recreation areas and the California State Railroad Museum.
Posted in Park, Uncategorized | Tags: California State Parks
Posted in Drives | Tags: Lakes Basin ( Mammoth Area)
Reports to: Director of Conservation Science and Stewardship (with support from the Regional Preserve Manager, Central California)
Location: Somewhat flexible, preserves located in vicinity of Bakersfield, CA
Position: Permanent / Full-time (1.0 FTE); Exempt (Salaried) Compensation: DOE; Benefits
Application deadline: Open until filled, but for fullest consideration, please apply no later than June 20, 2022
For full position description click, here.
Posted in Job Openings | Tags: Job Opening
NPR reports on the continuing crisis of insect population decline
Habitat loss, pesticides and climate change are threatening insect populations worldwide. In 2019, Biological Conservation reported that 40% of all insects species are declining globally and that a third of them are endangered.
Read or listen at Oliver Milman says ‘The Insect Crisis’ is bad news for humans, too : Goats and Soda : NPR
Posted in Animals, Environment
Humboldt’s Lily/Lilium humboldtii
Humboldt’s Lily/Lilium humboldtii
Posted in Photos (Sandy's), Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Humboldt's lily, Lilium humboldtii
Posted in Birds, Park | Tags: Point Reyes, Snowy Plovers
Posted in Park | Tags: Tioga Pass Opening, Yosemite National Park
The Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillars in my garden continue to grow larger. The Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly has been continuing to lay eggs.
Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillars
Posted in Butterflies, Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillars
The BBC reports
If you want to catch sight of many of Britain’s butterflies, you’ll need to be quick.
A report by Butterfly Conservation warns that 24 of 58 species may soon disappear from our shores.
Five more species are threatened with dying out than when the charity last compiled a Red List, 11 years ago.
Humans are driving the loss of butterflies by destroying wildlife rich habitats, says Head of Science for Butterfly Conservation Dr Richard Fox.
Read more at The butterflies we may never see again in Britain
Posted in Butterflies | Tags: British Butterfly Loss
Field Botany Technician (3-month, full time, with possibility for extension), working principally on the Angeles National Forest. https://www.calbg.org/employment
Posted in Job Openings | Tags: Job Opening
Inside Climate News reports
The Central Valley Water Board says such “produced water” is safe for irrigating crops in Kern County but never reviewed its long-term impacts on plants, soil, crops and wildlife. “We know enough to know we better be careful,” one scientist said.
Posted in Environment | Tags: Risks of Oil Field Wastewater
The San Francisco Chronicle reports
A 4,853-year-old Great Basin bristlecone pine tree known as Methuselah is growing high at Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains of Inyo County in eastern California. It is also recognized as the non-clonal tree with the greatest confirmed age in the world. But a researcher in Chile thinks he found an even older tree that could challenge Methuselah’s mantle.
Read more at California’s ‘Methuselah’ could lose its title as world’s oldest living tree
Posted in Environment, Park | Tags: World's Oldest Tree
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC or Department) 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 Area Representative in SNC’s South Subregion. The service area covered by this position is Fresno, Kern, Madera, and Tulare counties. The reporting location will be within one of these or a neighboring county, and be determined based upon the candidate hired and their location.
To learn more and to apply go to CalCareers
Posted in Job Openings | Tags: sierra Nevada Conservancy
from Channel Islands National Park
the first ever Condor Country Nature Fest! The event will be at Sheill’s Park in Fillmore on Saturday June 4th from 11am – 3pm.
The intent of the event is to connect with outdoor recreation opportunities around the county. The groups participating are not exclusively education groups, but many can support classroom and field experiences while others can be enjoyed by yourself or students on their own.
I will be providing archery instruction for students and the public while volunteers and other groups will have tables set up to share about their role in outdoor recreation and opportunities to get involved.
Please encourage your family, friends, and students to come out as well! The event is free 🙂”
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: Condor Country Nature Fest
from East Bay Regional Parks
The week-long program series (Sun, May 29 to Sat, June 4) is a collaboration between Park District Naturalist staff and Park District Black Employee Collective members to create safe spaces for guided discussions about Black experiences and the outdoors, while exploring and enjoying the Regional parks. All programs are free. Coffee and snacks, binoculars, and birding books are provided. Everyone is welcome.
Celebrating Black Birders Week 2022 | East Bay Parks
Posted in Birds | Tags: ‘Black Birders Week’
Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Wildflower Show
The New York Times reports
More than 1,200 species of arachnids are part of a largely unregulated global marketplace, according to a new study.
Read more at Scientists Uncover a Shady Web of Online Spider Sales – The New York Times
Posted in Animals
Photos from my garden taken on May 19 and 21, 2022.
Posted in Garden, Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: Garden Photos
KTLA reports
A famed and ancient grove of redwood trees in Northern California that was damaged by an influx of visitors has reopened to the public with a new 1,300-foot-long elevated boardwalk.
When word got out on social media about the once-secret off-trail location of the Grove of Titans in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, visitors flocked to the grove, cutting a complex web of unplanned trails through the area.
The increased foot traffic destroyed plants and damaged the trees’ shallow root systems, according to Save the Redwoods League.
Read more Famed California redwood grove damaged by visitors reopens with new elevated boardwalk | KTLA
Posted in Park | Tags: Grove of Titans, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Popular Science reports
Maine is moose country. Outside of Alaska, it has the country’s largest population of the world’s largest cervid. But the Pine Tree State’s iconic animal is under threat from a far smaller creature. Since winter, in a corner of the state with the highest concentration of moose, encompassing parts of Piscataquis and Somerset counties, 86 percent of calves tracked by scientists have died. The culprit in most cases: winter ticks.
Read more at Why are so many moose dying in Maine? | Popular Science
Posted in Animals | Tags: Ticks killing Moose
Here is your chance to submit your pictures that capture the wonder, beauty and state of our ocean—and this year, we’re expanding our depth of field with more chances to win than ever before. I can’t wait to see all of the incredible images you have in store.
Enter your photo for up to TEN chances to win and help our ocean.
Our 2022 featured category is: Ocean Stories. This category casts a wide net—so you can think creatively about how you capture the stories of the incredible people working in and around our ocean every day making a difference for their local communities.
Don’t delay! Submit your photos before our entry period shutters on June 12.
Photography is one of the most powerful tools we have and we need your photos to help inspire action and create change. That’s why we’re zooming in with more opportunities to win than ever before. Learn more about the Ocean Conservancy Photo Contest and submit your best ocean images today.
Posted in Photography | Tags: Ocean Conservancy Photo Contest
YubaNet reports
A research team led by scientists at Georgetown University has found that humans give viruses back to animals more often than previously thought.
In a study published in Ecology Letters, the authors describe nearly 100 different cases where diseases have undergone “spillback” from humans to wild animals, much like how SARS-CoV-2 has spread in mink farms, lions and tigers in zoos, and wild white-tailed deer.
Read more at Researchers find humans have given wild animals their diseases nearly 100 times – YubaNet
Posted in Animals | Tags: Human to Animal virus transmission
from Center for Biological Diversity
DENVER― A U.S. District Court judge today vacated a federal plan that allowed fracking across 35,000 acres of Colorado’s Western Slope.
The North Fork Mancos Master Development Plan would have allowed 35 new fracking wells in the North Fork Valley and Thompson Divide areas of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison national forests that provide habitat for elk, black bear and the imperiled Canada lynx and drinking water for downstream communities. Judge Marcia K. Krieger’s order prevents new drilling and fracking in the area.
Posted in Environment | Tags: Fracking Bans
YubaNet reports
Several recreation sites on the Plumas National Forest are opening this weekend, with additional sites opening in the coming weeks as the summer recreation season starts.
Read more Numerous Plumas National Forest recreation sites opening – YubaNet
Posted in Park
Posted in Drives, Park | Tags: Lassen Volcanic National Park
The New York Times reports
The fire on the state’s central coast two years ago killed 12 of the endangered birds. It started at an illegal marijuana farm.
Read more at Man Who Started Wildfire That Killed California Condors Gets 24 Years – The New York Times
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Posted in Talks | Tags: Vernal Pools
Natural History Wanderings 