Photographed in the North Berkeley Flatlands on June 23, 2020.
This is part of my continuing project, the “Stay at Home Photo Project”. It includes many street photos from Berkeley and Albany as well as photos from the UC Berkeley campus, my yard and neighbors’ yards You can see larger higher quality versions of many of the photos at Flickr in my collection Stay at Home Photo Project which includes the following albums
Posted in Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: Berkeley Street Photos, Flowers
SF Gate reported
Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks are deleting the name of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from park signage and literature, according to published reports.
Read more Sequoia, Kings Canyon to erase Robert E. Lee’s name from trees
Posted in Park | Tags: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Tree Names
Audubon reports
the journal Ecological Applications published a final version of a study from National Audubon Society scientists demonstrating that climate change is causing a measurable shift of birds’ ranges during winter and breeding seasons. Years of bird observations gathered by hundreds of volunteer participants in Audubon’s Climate Watch community science program confirm projections made earlier by Audubon that rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns will likely result in the colonization of new territories by North American birds.
“Climate change is disrupting hundreds of bird species, and thanks to community scientists all across the country, we can visualize these disruptions in real time and plan conservation efforts accordingly,”
Read more at Climate Change Is Pushing Bird Boundaries, Community Scientists Confirm | Audubon
Posted in Birds, Environment | Tags: Climate change and bird boundaries
The Associated Press reports
Yosemite National Park is reversing course two weeks after reopening and now says it will hold off on reopening campgrounds through the month of July after a spike in coronavirus cases in the state.
Posted in Park | Tags: Yosemite National Park
Photographed in the north Berkeley Flatlands on June 22, 2020 except the Western Tiger Swallowtail, which was a quick iPhone photo on 6/21/20
This is part of my continuing project, the “Stay at Home Photo Project”. It includes many street photos from Berkeley and Albany as well as photos from the UC Berkeley campus, my yard and neighbors’ yards You can see larger higher quality versions of many of the photos at Flickr in my collection Stay at Home Photo Project which includes the following albums
Posted in Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: Berkeley Street Photos, Flowers
SF Gate reports
Yosemite’s concessionaire boss is out of a job after he was seen in a video driving golf balls at Half Dome.
Read more Yosemite concessions boss out of a job after driving golf balls in Valley meadow
Posted in Park | Tags: Yosemite National Park
EurekaAlert reports
A new study in The Auk: Ornithological Advances, published by Oxford University Press, suggests that wildfires change the types of songs sung by birds living in nearby forests.
Read story at Wildfires cause bird songs to change | EurekAlert! Science News
Posted in Birds | Tags: Wildflowers change bird songs
Homestead Valley has a new wildflower update. See photos and maps at June 21, 2020
NEW
– American speedwell is blooming with blue flowers in a seep below Amaranth.
– American trailplant is blooming with white flowers on a stalk above arrow-shaped leaves.
– California mugwort is blooming with yellow tufts in meadows.
– Spicebush is blooming with red frilly flowers by the creek in Three Groves.
– Toyon is blooming with white flowers in forests.
The Xerces Society announced
It’s pollinator week! We make the commitment to you that we will work every day to protect pollinators and their habitat, but this week is a special time to pause, celebrate pollinators, and focus on what we can all do in our lives to help pollinators thrive in this changing world.
Although pollinator conservation is a big task, it all begins with each of us adopting four simple steps: growing pollinator-friendly flowers, providing nest sites, avoiding pesticides, and spreading the word. With these core values, pollinator conservation can be adapted to any location, whether you tend an urban community garden or a suburban yard, work in a city park or on a farm.
Read more at It is pollinator week 2020
Posted in Animals, Birds, Butterflies, Environment, Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Pollinator Week
Charlie Russell’s Wildflower Hikes has a new report on Clover Springs. HIs posting includes directions, hike description, plant list and photos.
Clover Springs Preserve is a 250 acre property owned by the city of Cloverdale, in Sonoma County. It has an amazing wealth of wildflowers! There are several serpentine outcroppings, so there are a number of wildflowers you might not see in other spots. The Preserve has a nice mix of hillside meadow, chaparral, and oak […]
See posting at Clover Springs Preserve
The Sierra Nevada Field Campus will be hosting a webinar to connect students this summer. We will have presentations from Brian Perry (Fungi), JR Blair (Birds), Tanya Baxter (Flora), Andie Thrams (Watercolor) and Sarah Rabkin (Writing). It will be fun and informative!
When: Sunday, Jun 28, 2020 10:00 AM Pacific Time
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/…/register/WN_H2LLvbXYQxyuSJbg2LEkww
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. You do not need a zoom account to register.
Posted in Class/Workshop, Turkey | Tags: Sierra Nevada Field Campus
Audubon” next installment of I Saw a Bird this Wednesday June 24 at 7 p.m. ET via Zoom and Facebook Live.
This month, learn what to do if you find a baby bird away from its nest with Rita McMahon from Wild Bird Fund, meet some of the organizers behind the first-ever Black Birders Week, and then hear how Audubon celebrates Pride with our inclusive birding events, Let’s Go Birding Together. Plus, a sneak peek of the Summer issue of Audubon magazine.
Click below to RSVP for Wednesday’s show, and if you don’t already follow us on Facebook, click here to like our page. See you on the internet!
| RSVP |
Posted in Birds, Talks | Tags: Audubon, ‘Black Birders Week’, Pride
Yosemite National Park reports
Haven’t got your reservation to visit Yosemite yet? 20% of the 1700 total day-use reservations available for each day will open up 2 days in advanced at 7am PT. 80% of reservations for August will become available on July 1st at 7am PT.
Reminders:
•Day-use reservations are only valid if you arrive on the first day. After that, they are valid for 7 consecutive days from 5am to 11pm.
•Day-use reservations are per vehicle, not per person.
•Passing through the park via Tioga Road still requires a day-use reservation.
•If you have camping or lodging reservations inside the park, or if you have a Half Dome or wilderness permit, you do not need an additional reservation.
For more information regarding changes to visiting Yosemite this summer visit https://go.nps.gov/covid.
Posted in Park | Tags: Yosemite Reservation
the New York Times reported
Pregnant women exposed to high temperatures or air pollution are more likely to have children who are premature, underweight or stillborn, and African-American mothers and babies are harmed at a much higher rate than the population at large, according to sweeping new research examining more than 32 million births in the United States.
Read more at Climate Change Tied to Pregnancy Risks, Affecting Black Mothers Most – The New York Times
Posted in Environment | Tags: Air Pollution
Toronto Bird Celebration presents a talk by David Allen Sibley on What’s It’s Like to Be a Bird. To learn more and register go to David Allen Sibley Talks About: What’s It’s Like to Be a Bird – Toronto Bird Celebration
Posted in Birds, Talks | Tags: David Allen Sibley, What’s It’s Like to Be a Bird
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Posted in Animals | Tags: Pandemics, Wildlife Protection
The BBC reports
One of the longest migrations recorded by any land bird is about to be completed
Using a satellite tag, scientists have monitored a cuckoo that has just flown more than 7,500 miles (12,000km) from southern Africa to its breeding ground in Mongolia.
The bird has survived ocean crossings and high winds after traversing 16 countries.
Read more, see map and photos at Epic 7,500-mile cuckoo migration wows scientists – BBC News
Posted in Birds | Tags: Cuckoo migration
Photographed in the north and south Berkeley Flatlands on June 19, 2020.
This is part of my continuing project, the “Stay at Home Photo Project”. It includes many street photos from Berkeley and Albany as well as photos from the UC Berkeley campus, my yard and neighbors’ yards You can see larger higher quality versions of many of the photos at Flickr in my collection Stay at Home Photo Project which includes the following albums
Posted in Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: Berkeley Street Photos, Flowers
EarthSky reports
On the heels of the June solstice, the new moon will sweep directly in front of the sun on Sunday, June 21, 2020, to stage an annular – ring of fire – solar eclipse for the world’s Eastern Hemisphere.
We in the Americas won’t be able to view this solar eclipse at all. It’ll happen during nighttime hours for us on the night of June 20 (early morning of June 21). By the time the sun rises over the Americas on June 21, the eclipse will be long over. Yet, we in the Americas have a slight chance of catching a very young moon – an exceedingly slim crescent, visible only shortly after sunset – on the evening of June 21.
Read more at Annular solar eclipse on June 21, 2020 | Astronomy Essentials | EarthSky
Posted in Astronomy | Tags: Annular Solar Eclipse
Earthsky reports
Wherever you are in the world, you can celebrate the 2020 June solstice by watching the sun rise at Stonehenge.
Every year, thousands of visitors gather at the neolithic Stonehenge monument in Wiltshire, England, to celebrate the first sunrise of the Northern Hemisphere summer. However, this year’s event has been canceled; Stonehenge is currently closed due to Covid-19. While this news is disappointing, there’s good news: For the first time, English Heritage – which has provided access to the event since 2000 – will instead stream the solstice event online.
The event starts at sunset on Saturday (20:26 UTC on June 20) and goes through sunrise on Sunday (03:53 UTC on June 21). Translate UTC to your time. Here is the official Facebook event page, where you’ll be able to watch the livestream. You can also access the event via Stonehenge on Twitter.
Posted in Astronomy | Tags: solstice sunrise, Stoneheng
Bay Nature reports
As is generally the nature of the commonplace, though, I’ve found there’s more to the cabbage white than meets the eye.
an example is
A citizen science effort called the Pieris Project uses cabbage whites as a stand-in for other creatures to study environmental change. The project’s website teaches backyard ecologists how to make their own butterfly nets, trap and preserve the butterflies, and mail them to researchers who can study their genetics. “They are the perfect ambassador to other species because we can engage a whole lot of people who can actually catch these butterflies, and it wouldn’t be too bad if they caught too many,” Pieris Project founder and director Sean Ryan told me recently.
Read more at Bay Nature Magazine: “Plain” Cabbage White Butterfly is Anything but Ordinary
Posted in Butterflies | Tags: Cabbage Whites
Bay Nature reports
The biologists counted 47 blue whales in an hour, the most they’ve ever seen and a “possible record,” according to a press release from NOAA Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Media and Outreach Specialist Mary Jane Schramm. Johns said there are also humpbacks visiting the islands, and a handful of gray whales.
Read more at A “Possible Record” Number of Blue Whales at the Farallones – Bay Nature
Posted in Animals | Tags: Blue Whales, Farallones
We are planning five virtual Campfire Chats with retired Park Rangers and Superintendents, streamed live from various Park locations. In 30-minute segments, each ranger will share stories, focused on their favorite park topics such as birding, bighorn sheep, land conservation and military history of the Park.
You can also view previously recorded segments on our website or Facebook page.
Former Park Superintendent Dave Van Cleve will lead off the series this Friday on the topic of land conservation from a remote location in the Park, and Bob Theriault, former State Parks ranger, will speak about birding on Saturday. Bob entitled his chat, “How Anza-Borrego pushed me into the deep end of birding.” Don’t miss these programs and learn from our beloved, retired rangers!
Posted in Talks | Tags: Anza-Borrego Virtual Chats
University of British Columbia Press Release
To be considered Earth-like, a planet must be rocky, roughly Earth-sized and orbiting Sun-like (G-type) stars. It also has to orbit in the habitable zones of its star–the range of distances from a star in which a rocky planet could host liquid water, and potentially life, on its surface.
“My calculations place an upper limit of 0.18 Earth-like planets per G-type star,” says UBC researcher Michelle Kunimoto, co-author of the new study in The Astronomical Journal. “Estimating how common different kinds of planets are around different stars can provide important constraints on planet formation and evolution theories, and help optimize future missions dedicated to finding exoplanets.”
According to UBC astronomer Jaymie Matthews: “Our Milky Way has as many as 400 billion stars, with seven per cent of them being G-type. That means less than six billion stars may have Earth-like planets in our Galaxy.”
Posted in Astronomy | Tags: Six Billion Earth-like Planets
We went to the Skyline Serpentine Prairie in Redwood Regional Park to look for Yellow Mariposa Tulips (Calochortus luteus). Although past peak and many plants were in fruit there were still Calochortus in bloom as you walked around the loop. Most abundant plants were California Poppies, mostly smaller yellow coastal variety and Yarrow. The grasses are abundant and tall creating some obstacles for photography. Here are some photos from today’s trip.
The Skyline Serpentine prairie is a restored and protected area. The management of the area includes prescribed burns and the weeding out of invasive species. Serpentine is the official California state rock. Serpentine areas are not supportive of many alien species creating an area that are supportive of native wildflowers and grasses. The prairie is protected by fence but can be easily viewed and photographed from the surrounding paths. Wildflowers can be found outside the fenced area as well.For more information about the Skyline Serpentine Prairie, you can read this article by Stephen W. Edwards, Ph.D. the former director of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden http://www.ebparks.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=28197 There is an excellent illustrated list of wildflowers found here at Redwood Serpentine Prairie Plants To see a list of native plants that I found in bloom today click on Read More
from Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve
The Poppy Reserve is now open again! We appreciate your patience as we make our parks compatible with responsible recreation that protects the health of visitors and the dedicated parks staff. See below for current service adjustments:
· Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
· Trail use permitted with social distancing (no bikes/pets on trails).
· Limited parking available.
· We request that visitors pay by credit/debit card or bring the exact dollar amount ($10 day-use fee).
· Only restrooms in the proximity of the parking lots will be available.
· See the park live on our PoppyCam: https://www.parks.ca.gov/live/poppyreserve
Posted in Park | Tags: Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve
Vox reports
Soot sickens and kills people of color disproportionately. The EPA has decided to not tighten standards that would protect them and others.
Read article at Trump’s EPA balks at a chance to save black lives from pollution – Vox
Posted in Environment | Tags: EPA, Racism
Photographed in the north and south Berkeley Flatlands on June 15, 2020.
This is part of my continuing project, the “Stay at Home Photo Project”. It includes many street photos from Berkeley and Albany as well as photos from the UC Berkeley campus, my yard and neighbors’ yards You can see larger higher quality versions of many of the photos at Flickr in my collection Stay at Home Photo Project which includes the following albums
Posted in Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: Berkeley Street Photos, Flowers
Posted in Talks | Tags: Southern California Seed Banks
The BBC reports
The world needs a single goal for fighting the loss of nature, much like the 1.5C target for climate change, according to conservation experts.
Extinctions of plants and animals should be kept well below 20 per year, they propose.
Last year, a UN report found that around one million species are now threatened with extinction.
Read more at Nature crisis: New global extinction target proposed – BBC News
Posted in Animals, Birds, Environment, Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: global extinction target proposed
Natural History Wanderings 