Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 14, 2021

California Beekeepers Triumph Against Deadly Pesticide

Earthjustice reports

A California judge granted a reprieve to bees in California on Dec. 3 by ruling that approval of the pesticide sulfoxaflor violated state environmental law. Earthjustice represented beekeepers in court against the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. The ruling comes just in time to protect bees pollinating California’s almond crop.

The decision is welcome news not just for bees and other pollinators such as monarch butterflies that are harmed by sulfoxaflor, but for agriculture, our food security, and the wider ecosystems upon which we all depend. Earthjustice fights to sustain the biodiversity necessary for our planet to flourish, and this win is a step in the right direction.

Read more at California Beekeepers Triumph Against Deadly Pesticide | Earthjustice

NPR reports

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards have been unearthing hilarious and heartwarming photos of creatures basically being their best selves

Checkout the winning photos at  2021 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards: A shocked monkey, joyful birds and more : The Picture Show : NPR

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 13, 2021

Pygmy Mammoths of Channel Island 12/16/21

Zoom Series: Pygmy Mammoths of CHIS
Time: Dec 16, 2021 12 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Don Morris, a retired NPS archaeologist, will discuss pygmy mammoths of the Channel Islands. He will discuss the history of research into pygmy mammoths, their origin during the Pleistocene, the presumed events that led to their extinction, and recent significant finds including the first complete skeleton.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 13, 2021

The Geminid meteor shower peaks tonight! Here’s how to watch online

Space.com reports

The Geminid meteor shower will reach its peak tonight (Dec. 13), and you can watch the annual starry night display live online, weather permitting.

The Geminid meteor shower is known as the most active meteor shower of the year, boasting 100 to 150 meteors per hour. This year, however, the meteor shower peaks only a few days before the December full moon on Dec. 18, meaning the bright moonlight may interfere with viewing any of the dazzling meteors.

NASA will offer a livestream of the meteor shower’s peak tonight, starting at 9 p.m. EST (Dec. 14 at 0200 GMT), using a meteor camera at the space agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama

Read more at  The Geminid meteor shower peaks tonight! Here’s how to watch online. | Space

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 13, 2021

Great Bee Video

PBS has an outstanding video from its Nature series on bees. It is about how a wildlife cameraman spends his time during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown filming the bees in his urban garden and discovers the many diverse species and personalities that exist in this insect family. It features amazing photos and videos. You can find it at Nature | My Garden of a Thousand Bees | Season 40 | Episode 1 | PBS

See the schedule of upcoming Anza Borrego Desert Natural History Association  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

YubaNet reports

Naomi Fraga Wins Award for Outstanding Science to Save Native Plants

A conservation botanist and director of conservation at the California Botanic Garden, Naomi Fraga, Ph.D., is the 2021 recipient of the Center for Biological Diversity’s annual E.O. Wilson Award for Outstanding Science in Biodiversity Conservation.

Read more at  California Botanist Named 2021 E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Award Recipient – YubaNet

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 12, 2021

Tips for Winter Bird Feeding 

The National Wildlife Federation Blog has tips for winter bird feeding

As temperatures drop across much of the country, it’s time to put more thought into what your backyard birds are eating. Providing high-quality food during winter not only entices more birds to visit your yard, it also may help them survive the season.

Source: Tips for Winter Bird Feeding • The National Wildlife Federation Blog : The National Wildlife Federation Blog

The San Francisco Chronicle reports

In an effort to preserve the flora and restore the redwood forests, a San Francisco environmental group has now signed an agreement to buy five miles of oceanfront land in the largest coastal land preservation deal in Northern California in more than 20 years.

The Save the Redwoods League announced Thursday that it’s agreed to purchase the historic DeVilbiss Ranch timberlands, just north of Rockport, for $37 million if it can raise the money by the end of the year. The group plans to save the stretch from logging and preserve it for public use.

Read full article at  Five miles of Northern California coastline to be bought by San Francisco environmental group for $36.9 million

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 11, 2021

Upcoming Bird Festivals And Events

from  The CornellLab

Upcoming Bird Festivals And Events

A great way to enjoy bird watching is by going to festivals—they’re organized to get you to great birding spots at a great time of year, and they’re a great way to meet people. Experts and locals help you see more birds, and you’ll meet other visitors who share your hobby. While you’re there, keep an eye out for Cornell Lab representatives, as we do attend several festivals each year.

To see the schedule go to  Birding Festivals and Events | All About Birds All About Birds

ScienceDaily reports

As climate conditions change, tree species are shifting their ranges. Wildfire is accelerating this process, likely by reducing competition from established species — a finding that raises questions about how to manage land in an era of shifting ecosystems.

Read more at Trees on the move: Researchers reveal how wildfire accelerates forest changes — ScienceDaily

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 10, 2021

Online Wayne Roderick Lectures

from The Friends of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden

Wayne Roderick Lecture Series

Join us for our popular series of free public lectures on a broad array of topics related to plants and natural history. Named in honor of its founder, the Wayne Roderick Lecture Series takes place on Saturday mornings from December through March at 10:00 AM online through Zoom. These illustrated presentations are enjoyable for beginners and professionals alike. All lectures are free and open to the public.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Registration is limited to 125 guests per lecture; however, only the first 100 will be admitted into the live Zoom lecture and the remaining 25 will be sent the recording of the lecture so it is advisable that you login early to each lecture. All lectures start at 10:00 AM and last as long as the speaker wants to continue (usually about an hour, but if longer, there is a break after the first hour).

Deadline to signup for individual lectures is by Friday at 3 p.m., the day before each lecture.

To see the schedule and sign up go to  Wayne Roderick Lecture Series

 

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 10, 2021

Tioga and Glacier Point Roads closed for the season.

from Yosemite National Park
We received significant snow today and have much more in the forecast! As a result, Tioga and Glacier Point Roads are now closed for the season. Tioga Road usually reopens in late May or June. Glacier Point Road will remain closed through 2022 for rehabilitation.
Tire chains may be required on open roads (https://go.nps.gov/chains). Call 209/372-0200 (then 1, 1) to check current road conditions.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 10, 2021

New San Francisco Plant List

from the San Francisco Chapter of the Native Plant Society

NEW! The 3rd edition of the Annotated Checklist of the Vascular Plants of San Francisco

To download the complete document, click below
Checklist_full document_v2021-06-01.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [4.4 MB]

To download just the Checklist, click below
This file includes just the 95-page checklist of the plants of San Francisco.
Checklist_v2021-06-01.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [1.8 MB]

To download the Introduction, Footnotes, Appendices and explanation of Abbreviation and Acronyms, click below
Introduction_v2021-06-01.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [442.7 KB]

Footnotes_v2021-06-01.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [48.9 KB]
App 1_References_v2021-06-01.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [79.0 KB]
App 2_Place Names_v2021-06-04.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [101.7 KB]
App 3_families_v2021-06-01.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [117.3 KB]
Abbreviations_v2021-06-01.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [43.0 KB]
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 9, 2021

Job Opening: RESTORATION OPERATIONS SPECIALIST

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT: RESTORATION OPERATIONS SPECIALIST

ABOUT NOVATO BAYLANDS STEWARDS
Wetland restoration is a direct and critical response to the current climate crisis. The number and scale of wetland restoration sites in the SF Bay Area are dramatically increasing, in part due to major public investments such as Prop 68 and Measure AA. Now, more than ever, community partners are needed as on-the-ground, consistent stakeholders, providing opportunities for direct public engagement, professional training, and care for these valuable natural resources into the future. For this purpose, the Novato Baylands Stewards (NBS), a fiscally sponsored nonprofit of MarinLink, was created. NBS is a sustainable community partner dedicated to increasing capacity for the restoration, study, and appreciation of baylands along the San Pablo Bay shoreline.
NBS is comprised of the staff and volunteers who have been stewarding the Hamilton/Bel Marin Keys Wetland Restoration Project since 2008. NBS is dedicated to providing meaningful, enriching, and well-compensated employment.

POSITION SUMMARY
The Restoration Operations Specialist (ROS) is a full-time paid position. The ROS will assist with native plant propagation, planting, monitoring, adaptive management, invasive species management, and public outreach at the Hamilton/ Bel Marin Keys Wetlands Restoration Project in Novato, CA. The position provides intermediate-level experience in the wetland restoration field, with a specific focus on restoring seasonal wetlands of the San Francisco Bay Area. To be successful, the ROS will need to have a well-developed work ethic and the ability to achieve goals while managing competing priorities. The ROS will need to enjoy working outdoors within a dynamic team setting.

TO APPLY
Please email your resume, three references with contact information, and a cover letter to nbstewards@gmail.com. Please enter “Restoration Operations Specialist” in the email’s subject field. Please indicate in your email where you learned of this position. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, so please apply as soon as possible. Position open until filled.

More information about the Novato Baylands Stewards can be found at www.novatobaylandsstewards.org/.

Read More…

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 9, 2021

Giant Forest reopening on a limited schedule

The Giant Forest, home of the General Sherman Tree, is reopening on a limited schedule beginning on Saturday, December 11, after almost three months of closure due to the KNP Complex Fire.
This is the latest of many phases of reopening. The Giant Forest will initially be open on select days (see below), 8 a.m. through sunset, with seven-day access in the period between Christmas and the new year, weather and conditions permitting. The parks will assess the need to resume a limited operating schedule after the holidays.
The schedule for access to the Giant Forest is as follows. This schedule may change at any time due to weather or other conditions (we are expecting weather!).
Saturday, December 11 – Sunday, December 12: OPEN (only two days due to forecasted winter weather)
Monday, December 13 – Thursday, December 16: CLOSED
Friday, December 17 – Monday, December 20: OPEN
Tuesday, December 21 – Thursday, December 23: CLOSED
Thursday, December 24 – Monday, January 3: OPEN

Read More…

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 9, 2021

See Comet Leonard this month

EarthSky reports

A much-anticipated comet – C/2021 A1 (Leonard) – is likely to be 2021’s best comet, and its brightest comet by year’s end. The comet is currently heading sunward, toward its perihelion (closest point to the sun) on January 3, 2022. Comets are typically brightest around perihelion. Comet Leonard has been in the morning sky, and it just passed the beautiful globular star cluster M3. See the photos on this page, and view more at EarthSky Community Photos. This month, Comet Leonard will become visible in the evening sky. All in all, it’s time to look for a comet!

Read more at : EarthSky | Comet Leonard, and its glorious sweep past M3

The San Francisco Chronicle  for Bay Area viewers

The best time to see it is around 4 to 5 a.m. on Dec. 12, just a few hours after the moon sets and when it’s closest to the Earth,

Read more at This comet will pass by only once in our lifetime — here’s how to see it in the Bay Area

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 9, 2021

How to tell a Swallow from a Swift?

Audubon has an article about how to identify Swallows and Swifts

Telling the two apart can be tough, but some clues lie in how they fly and where they sleep.

So how does the enterprising birder tell them apart? By paying attention to details and behavior.

Read article at  Is That a Swallow or a Swift? | Audubon

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 8, 2021

Webinar on five-needle pines of western North America 12/9 and 12/16

Our upcoming 2-part webinar will explore the natural history of six closely related five-needle pines of western North America, and dive into the amazing factoids mentioned below in the “quiz.” Here’s what we have in store for you:

  • Part 1 on 12/9: Intro to conifers, intro to pines, sugar pine, and whitebark pine
  • Part 2 on 12/16: Limber pine, bristlecone pine, foxtail pines, and 5-needle pine conservation

to register go to https://backcountrypress.com/product/magnificent-five-needle-pines/

(cost $15)

Anthropeocene Magazine reports
Think SARS-CoV-2 is just hitting humans? Add hundreds of species to high-risk list.
More than 500 mammal species are high-risk candidates for carrying the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID, based on a new study of common traits among species with a protein gateway for the virus.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 8, 2021

6 Tips for How To Care For Your Houseplants

NPR  reports

Eager to bring new plants home, but aren’t sure where to begin? This episode will get you started with the basics of houseplant care — from watering schedule to light conditions. Because anyone can become a green thumb with a little time and attention.

Read or listen to article at  6 Tips for How To Care For Your Houseplants : Life Kit : NPR

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 7, 2021

Yosemite: Glacier Pt. Road Closed

Glacier Point Road will temporarily close on Tuesday, December 7, at 6 pm due to a forecast of snow.

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 7, 2021

What Is a Songbird, Exactly?

Audubon writes about What Is a Songbird, Exactly? Turns out it’s about more than just carrying a tune.

The casual observer may apply the term “songbird” to any bird that sings a cheery melody, but for scientists, “songbird” is about more than just carrying a tune.

So, what gives these sirens their special something? A combination of three important traits: precise control over a highly specialized vocal organ called a syrinx, a unique arrangement of toes that makes perching on branches a breeze, and a natural talent for mimicry.

But like with most taxonomical matters, birds don’t always fit into tidy categories. Read on for more about what it takes for a bird to become a balladeer.

Keep Reading
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 6, 2021

Yard Photos

A few recent photos from my yard.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 6, 2021

Audio Bird Monitoring – Zoom Presentation 2/9/21

from Pepperwood Preserve

Soundscapes to Landscapes – Audio Bird Monitoring – Zoom Presentation 2/9/21

Thursday, December 9  10:00 am – 11:30 am  Cost: Free

The earth’s biodiversity and associated ecosystem services are in a severe state of decline due to human pressure. However, our knowledge of these changes and impacts on human society is often incomplete. Join us to learn how Soundscapes to Landscapes is using a combination of multiple technologies and the power of citizen/community scientists to fill this data gap – starting with a focus on Sonoma County bird diversity. Soundscapes to Landscapes (S2L) is a science-based project that seeks to advance the monitoring of animal biodiversity across large areas using data from new Earth-observing sensors and advanced modeling. In this special presentation, we will hear from a panel of Soundscapes to Landscapes team members about their innovative approach and some of their findings thus far.

Source: Soundscapes to Landscapes – Audio Bird Monitoring –

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 6, 2021

Mushrooms May Help Lower Your Risk of Depression

Health Line reports

Not only are mushrooms a nutritious food to eat, they may also be beneficial to your mental health, according to a group of Penn State College of Medicine researchers.

In a new study, the Penn State team reported that people who consume mushrooms have a lower risk of developing depression.

Read more at Mushrooms May Help Lower Your Risk of Depression

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 5, 2021

900 Bison at Yellowstone Are Targeted for Removal 

The New York Times reports

The bison will be slaughtered, shot by hunters or relocated under a plan to address a booming population in the national park that has led to overgrazing.

Read more at  900 Bison at Yellowstone Are Targeted for Removal – The New York Times

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 5, 2021

Protecting San Francisco Bay from Invasive Spartina 12/9/21

from San Francisco Native Plant Society

Protecting San Francisco Bay from Invasive Spartina

December 9, THURSDAY, 7:30pm 
Speakers: Toby Rohmer and Lindsay Faye Domecus

Zoom Reservation Required

San Francisco Bay is more than a defining geographic feature: it is home to hundreds of types of fish, birds, and other wildlife, and provides food and shelter to abundant resident and visiting wildlife. Many are unaware that the Bay, the largest estuary on the west coast of North America, is in a league with Chesapeake Bay on the east coast and the Mississippi Delta on the gulf coast. While humans appreciate its beauty and presence, millions of birds use the Bay as a critical stopover point on their migration along the Pacific Flyway each year, finding  food and shelter in the saltmarshes and tidal mudflats. But these places are under threat, not just from sea level rise but also from invasive plants. In the 1970s, well-meaning engineers planted Atlantic cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) for erosion control. Unfortunately, it began to spread, displacing the native vegetation, and altering vegetation communities. Since 2005, the Coastal Conservancy’s Invasive Spartina Project has used airboats, genetic testing, sophisticated GIS, and a lot of hard work to push back the invasive cordgrass. Learn about how hometown heroes are doing their part to address the global biodiversity crisis.

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 5, 2021

Glass Octopus Video

from the Ocean Conservancy

The glass octopus (Vitreledonella richardi) is a very rarely seen cephalopod found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. The species gets its name from its nearly-transparent body—you can see straight through to the optic nerve, eyes and digestive tract. These octopuses mostly live in the aphotic zone, meaning deep waters where sunlight doesn’t reach, at around 3,000 feet. They can grow to about 1.5 feet long and are estimated to live about 2-5 years.

The glass octopus lives in deep, hard-to-reach places, so there is much we don’t know about this translucent and luminescent cephalopod. So far, there have only been a few sightings and a few specimens recovered from the gut contents of their predators.

We now have new close-up footage of a glass octopus in the wild, thanks to a recent expedition in the U.S. Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. The Schmidt Ocean Institute led the 34-day trip that brought scientists together from around the world to document sea creatures on deep seamounts. They also used high-resolution mapping tools to map more than 11,500 square miles of sea floor.

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 4, 2021

Nature Journal Webinar 12/7/21

Join us online for an Introduction to Nature Journals with John Muir Laws

– Tuesday evening December 7th, at 7pm.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FREE ON ZOOM

Read more about the seminar at  Another free webinar from  Siskiyou Land Trust

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