Hwy 140 to Yosemite Update
Posted in Drives, Park | Tags: Highway 140 closure, Yosemite National Park
Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association Upcoming Events
Guide to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Borrego Springs, desert hiking in Anza-Borrego, anza-borrego wildflowers, birds of Anza-Borrego, desert plants, borrego springs, 4WD trips,hikes, trails, activities
— Read on www.abdnha.org/
Posted in Astronomy, Desert, Park, Talks, Walks & Hikes, Wildflowers | Tags: Anza Borrego Desert Natural History Association Events
Eating one fish from U.S. lakes or rivers likened to drinking month’s worth of contaminated water
CBS reports
Eating one freshwater fish caught in a river or lake in the United States is the equivalent of drinking a month’s worth of water contaminated with toxic “forever chemicals,” new research said on Tuesday.T
he invisible chemicals, called PFAS, were first developed in the 1940s to resist water and heat and are now used in items such as non-stick pans, textiles, fire suppression foams and food packaging.
Read more at Eating one fish from U.S. lakes or rivers likened to drinking month’s worth of contaminated water – CBS News
Posted in Animals, Environment | Tags: Contaminated Fish, Contaminated Water, PFAS
New Job Listings
The CNPS Botany and Wildlife Job Announcements site has the following for listings. Click on each for information about each position and to find out how to apply.
Seasonal bio techs – crew lead (forest/fuels) – Sequoia NP, CA – GG-6
Seaonal bio science techs (forest/fuels) – Sequoia NP, CA – GG-5
Habitat Restoration Technician II Position Available at Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
Posted in Job Openings | Tags: Job Openings
Birding Las Gallinas
Today I went birding at Las Gallinas in Marin County with several birders from the Master Birding Class I did in 2017. We saw 71 species today including a young Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, American Kestrel, Sora, Cackling Goose and Cinnamon Teal.
See the group eBird list at Las Gallinas 1/21/23
Posted in Birding Reports, Birds | Tags: Birding Las Gallinas, Birds
Huge cane toad found in northern Australia believed to be largest on record
NPR reports
Park rangers in northern Australia found a cane toad so giant that it provoked gasps and disbelief
.The toad, which the rangers nicknamed “Toadzilla,” weighed in at what’s believed to be a record-breaking 5.95 pounds — compared to an average weight of 1 pound.
Read more at Huge cane toad found in northern Australia believed to be largest on record : NPR
Posted in Animals | Tags: Largest Can Toad
Language of the Land: Secrets of the Oak Woodlands -zoom 1/25/23
from Sonoma Land Trust
Language of the Land: Secrets of the Oak Woodlands with Author Kate Marianchild Jan. 25, 2022 at 7-8:30pm,
Sonoma County’s oak woodlands are teeming with life — plants and animals that exist in an astonishing variety of shapes, behaviors, and interrelationships. Many of these life forms depend on oaks, and others rely on plants that live in community with oaks. In a presentation illustrated with videos as well as photographs, author and naturalist Kate Marianchild will take us on a riveting tour of oak woodland trees and shrubs and the animals that can’t live without them.
Don’t miss Kate’s closing story, “A Night in the Life of Lively the Woodrat.”
Spanish interpretation will be provided.
for this zoom presentation |
Pt. Reyes Trail Closures
Posted in Park, Walks & Hikes | Tags: Pt. Reyes Trail Closures
2022 San Francisco Christmas Bird Count
from Golden Gate Audubon
By the time Count Week (CW) was over, the species tally was at 188, exactly the same as last year. For the official Count Day, our species total was 178, three fewer than last year’s 181. Our total count of birds for the Count Day was 58,183 – about 6,000 fewer than last year’s 64,176. However, if you add the 9,221 birds counted on the boat the day after, our numbers are actually up.
There were 29 rare or uncommon birds found on this year’s count, 21 of which were found on Count Day. Twelve of the 18 count areas had a rare species. The best bird on Count Day was a Winter Wren found by Jonah Benningfield in the Presidio. Not only was this a new species for the San Francisco Christmas Bird Count, but it was also the first San Francisco eBird record for Winter Wren.
Read more at 2022 San Francisco Christmas Bird Count
Posted in Birds
Supporting Pollinator Habitats Through Operation Pollinator
Entomology Today reports
Syngenta’s Operation Pollinator program provides farmers, golf course managers, and other land managers with the tools and information needed to successfully establish and manage attractive wildflower resources that are crucial for bumble bees and pollinating insects while enhancing the visual appearance of the utilized land.
Read more at Supporting Pollinator Habitats Through Operation Pollinator
Posted in Environment | Tags: Pollination
Job Opportunity: Science at Cal – Events & Marketing Specialist
Posted in Job Openings | Tags: Job Opening
Job Announcement: Seasonal botany, forest ecology, and fire ecology field crew positions, UC Davis
See at detailed Job description and how to apply at https://ucdavis.app.box.com/s/rpq92hhfxtl9mjl5g181zu7befc8fh9o
Posted in Job Openings | Tags: Job Openings
Job Openings at Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Check out the Current staff openings at eBird and job opportunities at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
The include seeking qualified candidates for multiple positions including IT Project Manager and Senior Director of Marketing and Communications.
Posted in Birds | Tags: Cornell Lab of Ornithology
King Tides
Posted in Birds | Tags: King Tides
The Nearly Unkillable Eucalyptus Meets Its Match
Bay Nature reports
Albany Hill was hit particularly hard in a blight that came for the Bay Area’s eucalyptuses in 2020. That year, eucalyptus trees began to suffer from a dieback—a creeping decline of mysterious origin that left the trees with blotchy, withered leaves. The trees struggled to photosynthesize, and without food, they began to waste away. Arborists hired by the city of Albany, which owns about half of the hill, deemed many of the brittle, drought-parched trees a fire and falling risk for residents and park visitors. Now, the city parks department has cut down fifteen of the most decrepit and hazardous eucalyptus trees and milled them into wood chips and planks for use right on the hill itself. The wood chips are mulch, and the lumber will be installed as railings and retaining walls by Eagle Scout and Urban Tilth trail crews.
Read more at The Nearly Unkillable Eucalyptus Meets Its Match | Bay Nature
Posted in Environment | Tags: Albany Hill, Eucalyptus
Job Announcement: Nursery Technician
Position Title: Nursery TechnicianEmployer: University of California, Davis
Location: USDA Forest Service Placerville Nursery, Camino, CA Dates:Application deadline: February 3, 2023
To learn more about this position and how to apply go to: Job Announcement: Nursery Technician – CNPS Forums
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: Job Opening
Kids’ Climate Concerns
NPR reports
Kids across the world are increasingly facing the impacts of climate change, and climate anxiety is on the rise. As the younger generation processes living with a hotter future, they give us advice on how to cope. 🎧 Listen to what they have to say.
Posted in Environment | Tags: Climate and Kids
Sequoia National Park updates
Posted in Park | Tags: Sequoia National Park
East Bay Regional Parks Update
Many Regional Parks have been open. With recent storms, visit ebparks.org first to check on specific parks and trails before heading out. Your safety is important. Continue to follow any closure signs and stay mindful of conditions. Even if there is no rain, do exercise caution in the days ahead as the ground is saturated and falling tree limbs and mudslides may be potential hazards. Help Park District staff help you recreate safely. Thank you. #ebrpd
Posted in Park | Tags: East Bay Regional Parks
UpcomingClasses & Workshops Theodore Payne Foundation
from Theodore Payne Foundation
Horticulture, design, maintenance, botany, nature walks, ethnobotany, art, poetry, and more! Our extensive Education Program offers a range of classes for both beginners and experts with training by TPF staff and guest instructors. Classes are held at TPF in our La Fetra Nature Education Center, on TPF grounds, at various off-site locations, and on Zoom.
See event calendar at : Classes & Workshops | Theodore Payne Foundation
Posted in Class/Workshop | Tags: Theodore Payne Foundation Events
Anza-Borrego Foundation Upcoming Events
See the Anza-Borrego Foundation calendar of in person and virtual events at Events Archive – The Anza-Borrego Foundation
Posted in Talks, Walks & Hikes | Tags: Anza-Borrego Foundation Events
Xavi Bou’s Mesmerizing Portraits of Birds in Flight
Audubon write about how How Xavi Bou Makes His Mesmerizing Portraits of Birds in Flight. He creates very different and very beautiful abstract images.
In a project called Ornithographies, he creates mesmerizing images by taking many photographs per second and stitching up to 3,500 or more of them together. The results are beautifully abstract, capturing the energy of flight, whether in the chaotic squiggles that result when Alpine Swifts dive and swoop for insects, or the smooth, even undulations of a gull flying over the water. They may not be moving pictures—although Bou uses a cinema camera that takes 60 frames a second—but they have movement.
See some of his images and read article at How Xavi Bou Makes His Mesmerizing Portraits of Birds in Flight | Audubon
Los Padres National Forest Closures
Los Padres National Forest officials issued a 60-day closure order for four ranger districts (Monterey, Santa Lucia, Santa Barbara and Ojai) in response to the extreme winter storm that delivered heavy rain and wind across the Forest this week. This closure order is effective from January 13, 2023, at 12:00 PM through March 14, 2023 at 12:00 PM.
The closure order will be superseded or terminated when conditions and recreational access improves. Forest employees will be assessing the extent of the damage over the coming weeks and months and will scale back the closure based on improving conditions.
Read more at Los Padres National Forest – Home
Posted in Park
Yosemite sees ‘ephemeral’ waterfalls after California storms
It’s estimated that about 10 new drainages or seasonal waterfalls, which are officially called “ephemeral waterfalls,” have appeared in Yosemite Valley since the major rains started, Goehring said. The new waterfalls and drainages seem to come and go as the storms do, he added. While some stay for a few days, others have stuck the landing longer during the length of the current wet streak.
— Read on www.sfgate.com/california-parks/article/california-storms-create-yosemite-waterfalls-17716525.php
Posted in Park, Waterfalls | Tags: yosemite waterfalls
Job Opening: Nursery Plant Assistant
from Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy
Job Description: The Native Plant Nursery Assistant will be responsible for the oversight of native
plant sales and the development and implementation of nursery best management practices. This is a
public-facing position, requiring customer service skills and ability to effectively communicate concepts
about native plants, nursery operations and gardening. This position reports to the Stewardship
Manager.
Read more and learn how to apply at Nursery Plant Assistant
Posted in Job Openings | Tags: Job Opening
Endangered Bird Poised To Get Hundreds Of Thousands Of Protected Acres In Hawaii
Honolulu Civil Beat reports
Conservationists took the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to court last year to spur action that was overdue for the imperiled native honeycreeper.
Federal wildlife officials have proposed that more than 275,000 acres of forest across Hawaii be designated critical habitat for the ‘i‘iwi bird, one of about a dozen native honeycreeper species currently headed toward extinction.
Read more at Endangered Bird Poised To Get Hundreds Of Thousands Of Protected Acres In Hawaii – Honolulu Civil Beat
Posted in Birds | Tags: Hawaiian Honeycreepers
Hwy. 140 To Yosemite Closed
Hwy 140 is currently closed outside of the park due to a rockfall between El Portal and Midpines. For road conditions outside the park, you can call the Caltrans status hotline at 1-800/427-7623. For road conditions inside the park, you can call our hotline at 209/372-0200 (then press 1 and 1). Tire chains will be required inside the park. You can read more about tire chains here: go.nps.gov/chains
Posted in Drives, Park | Tags: Yosemite Closures
More Garden Photos
Photos taken in my garden over the last few days between the rain.
Posted in Garden, Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: Garden Photos
Where Do Birds Go When It Rains?
Bay Nature writes about how birds cope with stormy weather. Read article at Bay Nature: Where Do Birds Go When It Rains?
Posted in Birds | Tags: Where Do Birds Go When It Rains?
Kings Canyon and Sequoia Road Conditions 1/15/23
Posted in Drives, Park | Tags: Kings Canyon and Sequoia Road Conditions