Wearable brainwave recorders confirm that birds do indeed sleep while flying, but only for brief periods and usually with one half of their brain.
Read story at First proof birds snooze in flight without dropping out of sky | New Scientist
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 7, 2019
First Proof Birds Snooze While Flying
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 6, 2019
Eastern Sierra Wildflowers 7/5/19
California Wildflower Report has several recent wildflower photo posts for McGee Creek, Rock Creek, and Lake George near Mammoth lakes in the Eastern Sierra at (1) California Wildflower Report – Home
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 6, 2019
Marin County Wildflowers: Lucas Valley 7/4/19
Marin CNPS has wildflower photos for plants, including some more Clarkia, seen recently along Lucas Valley Rd., in Marin County at (2) Marin Native Plants
Posted in Uncategorized
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 6, 2019
Oregon Wildflowers 7/5/19
New report from Oregon Wildflowers:
Grasshopper Meadow 7/5/19 Lots of Lupine carpeting large areas of the hillside. Very, very pretty. Now seems the perfect time to go.
Iron Mountain 7/3/19 A variety of flowers blooming including lupine, Indian paintbrush, wild rose, columbine, many more. First visit.
Posted in Wildflower Bloom Reports, Wildflowers | Tags: Oregon Wildflowers, Wildflower Bloom Reports
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 6, 2019
Mt. Rainier Wildflowers 7/5/19
Mt. Rainier National Park reports
Currently Blooming
Much of the snow has melted from the meadows and early-season wildflowers are beginning to bloom. A favorite is Salal (Gaultheria shallon) is a common shrub in the park. It can cover the ground in low mats less than a foot tall or grow into dense thickets up to 15 feet high. Salal flowers form a string of delicate, upside-down pink urns at the end of each branch. In fall, the flowers become edible dark purple berries.
Please Note: As snow melts away, it may be tempting to skirt remaining patches of snow that are covering trails. However, by going off trail you are walking on and damaging the wildflowers that you may be coming to see! It is better to stay on trail even if that means crossing snow, particularly in the high-visitation meadows around Paradise and Sunrise.
Wildflower Reports
- Paradise (6/27) – NOTE: Wildflowers are starting to bloom along roads and trails but still too early for most wildflowers. Early season: glacier lily, avalanche lily, Sitka mountain ash, rosy spirea, Jeffrey’s shooting star, phlox, lupine, Sitka valerian
- Sunrise Road to Sunrise (6/24)- wild strawberry, vanilla leaf, three-leaved anemone, paintbrush, penstemon, phlox, mountain dandelion, marsh marigold, cinquefoil, pink mountain heather, pasqueflower, magenta paintbrush, glacier lily
- White River Road (6/25) – vanilla leaf, coral root, trillium (old), pink mountain heather (early), Queen’s cup, bunchberry, rattlesnake plantain, lupine, paintbrush
- SR123/410 (6/24) – penstemon, columbine, Sitka mountain ash, goat’s beard, paintbrush, bear grass (particularly at Cayuse Pass)
- Longmire-Paradise Road (6/27) – cow parsnip, vanilla leaf, yarrow, Sitka valerian, Sitka mountain ash (early), goat’s beard (early), paintbrush, columbine, creeping blackberry, bear grass!, rock penstemon, glacier lily, avalanche lily, slender bog orchid, tall bluebell, Jeffrey’s shooting star, lupine
- Nisqually Entrance to Longmire (6/26) – cow parsnip, vanilla leaf, columbine, three-leaved anemone, bunchberry, tiger lily, lupine
- Stevens Canyon Road, east to west (6/14) – wild strawberry, paintbrush, vanilla leaf, columbine, three-leaved anemone, lupine, goat’s beard, bear grass, Oregon sunshine, thimbleberry, penstemon, yarrow, subalpine daisy, avalanche lily, sitka valerian, sitka mountain ash, tall bluebells, phlox, Jeffrey’s shooting stars
- Trail of the Shadows, Longmire (6/16) – wild strawberries, lupine, star flower, foam flower, spring beauty, vanilla leaf, oregongrape, devil’s club, cow parsnip, big-leaved avens, pippsissewa
- White River Road (6/14) – wild strawberry, vanilla leaf
Wildflower Photos
The photos featured here are usually taken by park staff and volunteers from all over the park. Share your own wildflower photos in the Mount Rainier Flickr group! Higher resolution versions of wildflower photos are available on Mount Rainier’s Flickr page.
Plan Your Visit
Paradise and Sunrise are two of the main visitor center areas at Mount Rainier National Park. Both areas are well known for their impressive wildflower meadows. The park also maintains dozens of trails perfect for wildflower viewing.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 6, 2019
Surf Scoter Decline Seemingly Reverses Dramatically in 2018
Bay Nature reports
The popular ducks showed up in the Bay in astonishing numbers in winter 2019, pausing a three-decade decline and puzzling scientists
Read story at Surf Scoter Decline Seemingly Reverses Dramatically in 2018 – Bay Nature
Posted in Birds | Tags: Surf Scoter Population
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 6, 2019
Are Flamingos Native To Florida?
WBUR reports
Flamingos have been considered a non-native, invasive species in Florida for much of the last century. Now there is an effort to declare them — once and for all — native to Florida. Flamingos were wiped out by hunting in the late 1800s, and most of those found in Florida today are captive.
Declaring them native to the state would allow for efforts to restore their population to South Florida.
Read full story at Are Flamingos Native To Florida? | Here & Now
Posted in Birds | Tags: Florida Flamingos
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 5, 2019
Remarkable Bald Eagle Breeding Season at the Channel Islands
Channel Island National Park New Release
Ventura, CA — 24 bald eagle chicks have fledged from nests on the Channel Islands, making for the most successful breeding season since recovery effort began over 35 years ago.
This year there were 19 breeding bald eagle pairs on the Channel Islands producing 24 chicks, including 10 on Santa Cruz Island, 9 on Santa Catalina Island, two each on Anacapa and San Clemente Islands, and one on Santa Rosa Island.
“Since 2006, when the first bald eagle to hatch naturally on the Channel Islands in over 50 years, we have seen a steady rise in the population of these majestic birds,” said Channel Islands National Park Superintendent Ethan McKinley. “Today, not only do we celebrate the birth of our great nation, but also the recovery of a species that symbolizes our freedom.”
Recovery efforts this year were made possible from a generous grant from the Annenberg Foundation and the diligent survey and monitoring work conducted by biologists with the Institute for Wildlife Studies.
Posted in Birds | Tags: Bald Eagles, Channel Islands
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 5, 2019
How Mosquitoes Use Human Sweat To Find And Bite Us
NPR reports
Mosquitoes searching for a meal of blood use a variety of clues to track down humans, including our body heat and the carbon dioxide in our breath. Now, research shows that a certain olfactory receptor in their antennae also serves as a detector of humans, responding to smelly chemicals in our sweat.
Read full article at How Mosquitoes Use Human Sweat To Find And Bite Us : Shots – Health News : NPR
Posted in Animals | Tags: Mosquitoes
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 4, 2019
An Arctic Fox’s Epic Journey: Norway to Canada in 76 Days
The New York Times reports on an arctic fox traveling from Norway to Canada in 76 days.
The journey of a young arctic fox, which trekked more than 2,175 miles from Norway to Canada in just 76 days, has stunned researchers and shed new light on the movement of the species over vast distances of sea ice.
Read full story at An Arctic Fox’s Epic Journey: Norway to Canada in 76 Days – The New York Times
Posted in Animals | Tags: Arctic Fox
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 4, 2019
Great Hummingbird Documentary
Male Black-chinned Hummingbird Image via Wikipedia
PBS did a documentary about hummingbirds in 2010 called Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air
It was well photographed, including slower action, so you are better able to watch the hummingbirds, and tiny cameras placed inside of flowers that gave a great point of view of the birds’ approach. Segments included hummingbird behavior, dominance “dogfights”, hummingbird research, and why the Black-chinned Hummingbird prefers to nest near Coopers HawksThe video was very informational. Some interesting facts about Hummingbirds:
- 800o Flowers are pollinated by Hummingbirds
- The Swordbill Hummingbird has a 4 inch beak
- Hummingbirds are evolutionary related to swifts and excellent at catching insects
- Hummingbirds heartbeats are 600 to 1200 beats per minute
- Hummingbird Color i not due to pigments but cells breaking down
- Hummingbirds go into a torpor at night to conserve energy reducing their heart rate to 30 beats per minute
To see the video on line go to: Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air
Related articles
- New Research On How Hummingbirds Drink (naturalhistorywanderings.com)
- How-To: Attract Hummingbirds to Your Garden (casasugar.com)
Posted in Birds | Tags: Backyard Birding, Biology, Bird, Hummingbird
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 4, 2019
When Did The Kangaroo Learn To Hop?
The BBC reports
Scientists have discovered when the kangaroo learned to hop – and it’s a lot earlier than previously thought.
Read story at When did the kangaroo hop? Scientists have the answer – BBC News
Posted in Animals | Tags: When did the kangaroo hop?
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 3, 2019
Carson Pass Wildflowers 7/2/19
Carson Pass Information Station reports
there’s still snow headed towards Frog Lake! But down in Charity Valley, well that’s a different story!
Blue Lakes today. All the gates are open to the boat launch ramp at Lower Blue Lakes. No campgrounds are open yet, but the road was easily passable. The flowers are out! I walked out to Charity Valley all the way to where it starts to drop into the valley towards Grover Hot Springs
See photos at (10) Carson Pass Information Station – Home
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 3, 2019
Coyote Killing Contests Don’t Belong in National Parks
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) News Release
Washington, DC — A major national park should do a better job of protecting its wildlife from excessive and inhumane hunting practices, according to a rulemaking petition filed today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). The focus is Cape Cod National Seashore, a national park unit that has a legal mandate to maintain a natural balance in wildlife populations but has failed to exercise its legal obligation to do so.
Posted in Animals, Park | Tags: Coyote Killing
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 3, 2019
Carson Pass Nature Hikes
Carson Pass Information Station announces the following nature hikes
- 6 Dates · Jul 4 – Sep 11 Geology of Carson Pass Walk
- July 14 Wildflowers of Carson Pass
- 3 Dates · Jul 18 – Aug 23 Walk With a Ranger
- 2 Dates · Jul 29 – Aug 6 Hike with a Naturalist
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3 Dates · Jul 30 – Sep 10 Meet the Trees of Carson Pass
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2 Dates · Sep 3 – Sep 4 Children’s Nature Walk
Posted in Walks & Hikes | Tags: Carson Pass Nature Hikes
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 3, 2019
Wildflowers Around California 7/3/19
Botanical Wanderings – California has recent wildflower photos from
- Clover Springs Preserve in Cloverdale in N. Sonoma County
California Wildflower Tipline has new wildflower photos from
- McGee Creek Road Overlooking Crowley Lake, California, 6-30-19
- SeaCliff State Beach (south of Santa Cruz) July 2, 2019
Posted in Wildflower Bloom Reports, Wildflowers | Tags: California Wildflowers, Wildflower Bloom Reports
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 3, 2019
What’s Killing Gray Whales?
The Sierra Club has an article on efforts to answer What’s Killing the Whales?
Gray whales are washing up on West Coast beaches. Most of them starved to death.
Read story at What’s Killing the Whales? | Sierra Club
Posted in Animals | Tags: What's Killing Gray Whales?
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 3, 2019
Non-native Iguanas spread in Florida as climate warms
The Washington Post reported on the problems spread by the exploding population of non-native Iguanas that is likely due to climate change
the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has declared open season on the exotic reptile.
“The FWC encourages homeowners to kill green iguanas on their own property whenever possible,” the commission recently wrote on its website. “Iguanas can also be killed year-round and without a permit on 22 public lands in south Florida.”
Agency biologists say they don’t know how many iguanas are in Florida, but they know the kinds of problems they’re causing. These include “erosion, degradation of infrastructure such as water control structures, canal banks, sea walls and building foundations,” state biologist Dan Quinn said in an email.
Along with doing damage by digging, iguanas destroy landscaping and ornamental plants, including some that are endangered. They can also carry salmonella
Read full article at Iguanas spread in Florida as climate warms: ‘They’re a menace’ – The Washington Post
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 2, 2019
Tomales Wildflowers 7/1/19
The Marin CNPS has wildflower for photos for Tomales area of Marin at (9) Marin Native Plants
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 2, 2019
Yosemite High Country Conditions 7/1/19
The Tioga Road fully opened without restrictions today! While this is great news for those wanting to explore and hike in the high country, conditions are still not what you may expect for July. In order to protect yourself and the fragile ecosystem of the high elevation meadows and riparian areas, it’s important to make smart choices. Expect trails to be flooded or muddy, especially in the meadow areas. Despite that, it’s extremely important to stay on the trails to avoid damaging sensitive plants. There is still quite a bit of snow in many areas above 9,000 feet and water is running cold and fast in the many streams making crossings difficult or unsafe. Make good decisions while exploring areas along the Tioga Road as you enjoy this special part of Yosemite! Check trail conditions: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildcond.htm
Photo of the high country from 2013 shows how a trail can become braided when people choose to hike off trail in muddy and snow areas.
Posted in Park, Walks & Hikes | Tags: Yosemite National Park
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 2, 2019
Carson Pass Trail Update 7/1/19
Carson Pass Information Station has the following trail update as of July 1
*Salt Springs trail – clear to 5.5 miles
*Tanglefoot and Shriner Lake trail – clear to 3.7 miles, windfall and brush after, 35% snow covered above 8,000′
*Devils Lake trail – windfall and brush trail head to lake, no snow
*Shealor Lake trail – clear and dry tread to lake
*Allen Camp trail and *Hidden Lake trail – 50% snow coverage, windfall across trails
*Munson Meadow, *Mosquito Lake, and *Beebe Lake trails – 70% snow coverage, windfall across trails
*Minkalo trail – clear and dry to 0.7 miles past Granite lake, 35% snow coverage and windfall to Hidden Lake, dry and windfall to Plasses Resort
*Horse Canyon trail – windfall across trail, 70% snow coverage above 8,000′
*Castle Point trail – windfall across trail, dry tread
*Thunder Mountain trail – windfall across trail, 70% snow coverage above 8,000′
*Margaret Lake trail – windfall across trail, 20% snow coverage, long sections of trail submerged under water
*Emigrant Lake, *Lost Cabin Mine, *Winnemucca Lake trails – 60% to 70% snow coverage, windfall across trail
*Carson Pass, PCT north – 20% snow coverage to Meiss saddle, 75% snow coverage after
*Carson Pass, PCT south – 50% snow coverage to Frog Lake, 70% snow coverage to Winnemucca Lake
*Thornburg Canyon trail – 50% snow coverage above 8,000′, windfall across trail
No road access past Lower Blue Lakes to Grouse Lake and Evergreen trails for summer of 2019
FINALLY MORMON EMIGRANT TRAIL (MET) IS NOW OPEN – Mormon Emigrant Trail, the road between Hwy 88 and Sly Park Road, is now fully open. Rocks are still being cleared, but it is passable. Silver Fork Road and North South Road are also open. Thanks Eldorado Forest for the update.
Posted in Walks & Hikes | Tags: Carson Pass Trail Conditions
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 2, 2019
Wildflowers Around California 7/2/19
Botanical Wanderings – California has recent wildflower photos from
- Wildflowers of South Fork Trail to Dry Lake of San Gorgonio Wilderness
- Pine Mountain and out past Reyes Peak. Los Padres NF north of Ojai.
Marin Native Plants has photos for the Temelpa trail to Sitting Bull rock and Fern Creek trail to the old water tank, plus East Peak on Mt. Tamalpais
Posted in Wildflower Bloom Reports, Wildflowers | Tags: California Wildflowers, Wildflower Bloom Reports
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 2, 2019
How to Attract Butterflies
The New York Times Magazine reports on how to attract butterflies to your garden. It is much similar than you might think. It will help struggling butterflies species as well as be rewarding to watch the butterflies come through your yard. Read article at How to Attract Butterflies – The New York Times
Posted in Butterflies | Tags: How to Attract Butterflies
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 1, 2019
Job Opening: Native Plant Nursery Manager
Catalina Island Conservancy is looking for a Native Plant Nursery Manager. See job description at Native Plant Nursery Manager
Posted in Garden | Tags: Catalina Island Conservancy, Native Plant Nursery Manager
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 1, 2019
Breckenridge Wildflowers 6/29/19
Post and photos by Spencer Westbrook, author of A Guide to Wildflower Locations Central and Southern California
Breckenridge is a great place to explore and way off the beaten path. you may see one or two cars all day and plenty of flowers and photos right along the road so yes please feel free to post. Breckenridge is east of Bakersfield, a paved road, actually in very good condition. There is a remote campground near the summit, very basic, no water but at about 6700 feet (was 39 deg on Saturday, 6 AM)
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 1, 2019
Pt. Reyes Wildflowers 6/30/19
Marin CNPS Facebook has photos from Kehoe Beach and other areas at Pt. Reyes at : (6) Marin Native Plants
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 1, 2019
Hope Valley Wildflowers 6/29/19
Charlie Russell has photos of a few of the 50 different species of wildflowers that we found at the Hope Valley Wildlife Area in Alpine County a few days ago. There are multiple trails (and you can just head across the meadow). On this visit we walked north from the parking lot mostly along an old abandoned road, with some trips off to the side. No snow, almost no mosquitoes, wonderful wildflowers
See photos at (6) California Wildflower Hikes – Home
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 1, 2019
Best Sierra Nevada Wildflower Hotspots
California Wildflower Hotspots For This Summer
A compilation of my past experiences from summer wildflower hunting in the Sierra Nevada. I have included past wildflower bloom reports, wildflower books, past articles on Natural History Wanderings, and links to wildflower resources including a link to an extensive list I have put together of wildflower hikes throughout the Sierra (at the end of this posting). Suggestions, additions and corrections welcome. Submit you findings to Natural History Wanderings at Submitting Your Wanderings and I will post them to share with others
Plumas County
The top wildflower area in Plumas County is the Lakes Basin. Normally the end of June is a good time to go. With the deep snows now is probably a better bet. The best book for wildflowers is Wildflower Walking in the Lakes Basin of the Northern Sierra by Toni Fauver.
A good local source of what is in bloom is the Bloom Blog at: http://www.plumascounty.org/Things%20to%20See%20and%20Do/wildflower%20viewing.htm
Also check the Black Oak Naturalist Blog at: http://www.blackoaknaturalist.blogspot.com/
and my posting from last year on the Lakes Basin: Plumas County: Lakes Basin Wildflower and Fall Foliage Hotspots
Eastern Sierra and White Mountain
The eastern side of the Sierra Nevada and White Mt. are actually quite different but both can be reached from a base along highway 395. Bishop can make a good base and there are many camping possibilities as well. Both the Whites and Eastern Sierra provide easy access to high elevations as you easily drive to 8000 to 11000 feet. There are many flowers along the roads and many great hiking trails. Here is a posting I wrote on visiting the Eastern Sierra and Whites: Best of Two Worlds Eastern Sierra Nevada & White Mountain: hikes, drives & wildflowers
My favorite areas in the White Mountains are Patriarch Grove and Schulman Grove where you can see the ancient Bristlecone Pines as well as many interesting flowers including many tiny belly plants. See my two reports from last year:
Three of my favorite drives and hikes are the roads to and hikes out from McGee Creek, Rock Creek and Bishop Creek/ South Lake. Here are my write-ups from last year:
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More Eastern Sierra Wildflower Reports (includes McGee Creek)
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Rock Creek Road/ Eastern Sierra Wildflowers
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Bishop Creek/South Lake-Eastern Sierra Nevada Wildflowers
Yosemite National Park Wildflower Links and Reports from Past Years
- For current bloom information: http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/common-wildflowers.htm
- For detailed lists of vegetative species:http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/vegspecies.htm
- Description of plant communities:http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/plants.htm
- To see a video on the wildflowers of Yosemite: http://www.nps.gov/yose/photosmultimedia/ynn1-wildflowers.htm
Yosemite High Country Wildflower Report
Another Yosemite Wildflower Report from the High Country
- Also check out Michael Frye’s Posting on Yosemite High Country Wildflower Locations
Carson Pass
Carson Pass is possibly by favorite wildflower spot in the Sierra Nevada. It has never failed. There are always good displays and many species. Here is a posting I wrote about it and my report from last year
Best Sierra Nevada Wildflower Hikes
(list I have compiled of wildflower hikes in the Sierra Nevada)
Sierra Nevada and White Mountain Slideshow
A slideshow of wildflowers, landscapes, and butterflies of the Sierra Nevada and White Mountains during July 2017. Areas included are Yosemite National Park, Oil Plant Road, Horse Meadow Road, Nanavut Trail, Lundy Canyon, Rock Creek, Smokey the Bear Flat, White Mountain, Bishop Creek, McGee Creek, Highway 120 east of Mono Lake, and Sonora Pass. The images are organized by location, with the first image in each group naming the area.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 30, 2019
Wildflowers Around California 6/30/19
Check out California Wildflower Tipline for recent wildflower photos from:
- Half Moon Bay
- Convict Lake
- Rubicon Trail Lake Tahoe
- Mariposa Grove and Yosemite Valley
Botanical Wanderings – California has recent wildflower photos from
- Clover Springs Preserve in Sonoma County
- Lakes Basin, Tahoe National Forest
Posted in Wildflower Bloom Reports, Wildflowers | Tags: California Wildflowers, Wildflower Bloom Reports
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 30, 2019
CNPS Field Trips July 2019
July Field Trips:
(for more information on trips go to chapter websites; also check out late trip postings at chapter websites)
Bristlecone (Mono, Inyo and NE Kern counties) http://bristleconecnps.org/index.php
East Bay CNPS http://www.ebcnps.org/
Marin CNPS http://www.marin.edu/cnps/
- Bull Point Sat. July 13 10 am to 2 pm
- Gold Lakes Basin Weekend Sat. to Sun. July 20-21
Milo Baker (Sonoma county) http://milobaker.cnps.org/index.php/events/field-trips
- July 13, Kenwood Marsh, checkerbloom siteJuly 15-18, Stillwater Cove camping trip REGISTRATION DUE BY JULY 4TH
Napa Valley http://www.napavalleycnps.org/
North Coast http://northcoastcnps.org
- Jul 12-14, Fri-Sun. Trinity Alps and Scott Mountain Field Trip
Santa Clara Valley http://www.cnps-scv.org/
- Jul 4 – 7, Wed – Sun Ebbetts Pass, Alpine Lake and Calaveras Big Trees State Park (Arnold)
Santa Cruz http://www.cruzcnps.org/field_trips.php
Yerba Buena (San Francisco/Northern San Mateo) http://www.cnps-yerbabuena.org/
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July 14, SUNDAY 8am- 10am Field Trip: Late Bloomers and Birds of Devil’s Slide (RSVP required)
If you are interested in information on other chapters go to: http://www.cnps.org/cnps/chapters/
Posted in Walks & Hikes, Wildflowers | Tags: CNPS, Wildflower Walks, Wildflowers
