In spite of the various lockdowns around the world many people found ways to participate in the Global Big Day. Many of us counted bird in our yard and local neighborhoods.There were over 30,000 more checklists than last year. See the this year’s stats at 2020 Global Bird Day.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 26, 2020
2020 Global Big Day Results
Posted in Birds | Tags: 2020 Global Big Day Results
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 26, 2020
These Butterflies Evolved to Eat Poison. How Could That Have Happened?
The New York Times reports on how Monarch Butterflies evolved to make themselves poisonous to predators
Scientists have unraveled the sequence of gene mutations that enabled the monarch butterfly to thrive on toxic milkweed.Insects began dining on plants over 400 million years ago, spurring evolution of many botanical defenses like the poison found in milkweed. In turn, the monarch butterfly developed its own defenses.
The caterpillar of the monarch butterfly eats only milkweed, a poisonous plant that should kill it. The caterpillars thrive on the plant, even storing its toxins in their bodies as a defense against hungry birds.
Read more at These Butterflies Evolved to Eat Poison. How Could That Have Happened? – The New York Times
Posted in Butterflies | Tags: Milkweed, Monarch Butterflies
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 25, 2020
Homestead Valley Land Trust Wildflowers 5/24/2020
Homestead Valley has a new wildflower update. See photos and maps at May 24, 2020
NEW
– California tea a small ground cover with purple tipped pea flowers is blooming in the meadow below 11.
– Celery leaved lovage is blooming with white umbrella flowers between 5a and 6a and on the Red Plum Trail.
– Featherweed blooms with brown tufts at forest edge.
– Hedge parsley* this noxious weed blooms with small white flowers in an umbrella cluster. It will soon go to seed an make burrs that stick to fur and clothing.
– Iris-leaved rush is blooming in the seep on the trail near 12.
– Ocean spray bush is blooming with white frothy flowers in forests.
– Purple clarkia is blooming in the meadow on the Red Plum Trail.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 25, 2020
Berkeley Street and Yard Photos 5/24/20
Photographed in my yard and the north Berkeley Flatlands on May 24, 2020. The highlight of today was the first bloom of the season of Humboldt’s Lily in our backyard. A plant that was started from seed and our showiest flower.
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 by: Sandy Steinman | May 25, 2020
Scientists Have Discovered Huge Sabre-Tooth Anchovies From Prehistoric Times
ScienceAlert reports
Before they were a polarising flavour bomb, though, anchovies used to be a terror of the seas. As fossil records newly reveal, millions of years ago anchovies up to a metre long (3.3 feet) hunted the oceans with gnashing fangs and one single long, curving, sabre-like incisor in their top jaws.
Read more at Scientists Have Discovered Huge Sabre-Tooth Anchovies From Prehistoric Times
Posted in Animals | Tags: Huge Sabre-Tooth Anchovies
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 24, 2020
Berkeley Street and Yard Photos 5/23/20
Photographed in my yard and the north Berkeley Flatlands on May 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
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 24, 2020
How do conifers survive droughts?
ScienceDaily reports
Study points to existing roots, not new growth: Scientists can’t see underground, but computational models are providing a new way to investigate how root systems might be changing
As the world warms, a new study is helping scientists understand how coniferous forests may respond to drought. The research addresses a classic question in the field: When conditions are dry for long periods of time, do trees survive by growing new roots to tap water sources, or by relying on established roots that already go deep?
Posted in Environment | Tags: conifers and drought
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 23, 2020
Berkeley Street Photos 5/22/20
Photographed the north Berkeley Flatlands on May 22, 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 by: Sandy Steinman | May 23, 2020
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks Update
COVID-19 UPDATE 5/22/2020:
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks will remain closed to all visitors until at least Monday, June 1, 2020. The parks have been closed since March 25, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide with federal, state, and local public health authorities, and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis.
In the time leading up to the reopening we are working to secure the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees, on-boarding our seasonal workforce, and implementing multiple safety mitigations to provide a safer parks experience.
Continue to check our website for updates about campground reservations, wilderness permits, and more: https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
Posted in Park | Tags: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 23, 2020
Lassen National Park Updates
Lassen Volcanic National Park will begin increasing access on May 29 with the opening of the 30-mile park highway, Butte Lake road, Warner Valley road, and all hiking trails (except Bumpass Hell). Backcountry camping and stock use will also resume on May 29 and requires a free permit.
Manzanita Lake and Southwest Walk-in Campgrounds will open June 1. All other campgrounds will open on their original scheduled dates, which can be viewed at go.nps.gov/lavo/camp.
In conjunction with the increase in access and services, the park will resume collecting entrance fees on May 29.
Posted in Park | Tags: Lassen National Park
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 23, 2020
Virtual Botanical Programs on YouTube
from the North Coast CNPS chapter
Below are links to the evening programs we have recorded and posted on our YouTube Channel
May 20th, 2020 ZOOM Webinar: Capturing California’s Flowers. Botanists have been collecting plants in California since the late 1700’s. They never suspected that botanists of the future would use those collections to understand the effects of climate change on California’s plants. Today we are doing just that. The California Phenology (CAP) Network is a collaboration of 45 California herbaria that is working to digitize nearly 1 million specimens by 2022. These data are made publicly available on a newly developed data portal, cch2.org. The CAP Network is also recording the phenological status (e.g., flowering, fruiting) of digitized specimens, generating a massive dataset with which we can answer questions such as: 1) which species are in most danger of phenological mismatches, 2) which habitats and vegetation types are most phenologically sensitive to changes in precipitation and temperature, and 3) where might mismatches occur between plants and their pollinators, pathogens, and pests? Jenn and Katie will show you how to look at plants year round in the CCH2 and will lead an interactive workshop where you can help contribute data to California’s historical collections from the comfort of your own home. Read More…
Posted in Talks, Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Virtual Botanical Programs
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 23, 2020
Moths have a secret but vital role as pollinators in the night
ScienceDaily reports
Moths are important pollen transporters in English farmland and might play a role in supporting crop yields, according to a new study.
Read more Moths have a secret but vital role as pollinators in the night — ScienceDaily
Posted in Animals | Tags: Moths, Pollination
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 22, 2020
Virtual RHS Chelsea Flower Show
The RHS Chelsea flower show is happening digitally right now. It is free and can be watched from your home.
The world’s greatest flower show has gone digital and we’re bringing you a new line-up every day, with world-leading designers, plant experts and practical gardening advice
See the many talks at Virtual RHS Chelsea Flower Show / RHS Gardening
Posted in Garden, Talks | Tags: Chelsea Flower Show
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 22, 2020
Berkeley Street Photos 5/21/20
Photographed the north Berkeley Flatlands on May 21, 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 by: Sandy Steinman | May 22, 2020
Today is Biodiversity Day
On the International Day for Biological Diversity, we want to honor the intrinsic value of biodiversity. And in these unprecedented times, we hope it’s becoming clear that having biologically diverse and healthy ecosystems is essential to our existence—tied into everything from our food supply and economy to disease prevention and mental health. As Jamie Rappaport Clark, President and CEO, Defenders of Wildlife is fond of saying, “So goes nature, so goes us.” Read more: https://dfnd.us/2WQZMzQ #BiodiversityDay
Posted in Animals, Environment, Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Biodiversity Day
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 22, 2020
Trump Administration Finalizes Extreme Predator Hunting Rules in Alaska National Preserves
Defenders of Nature News Release
The Trump administration announced that it will finalize new regulations that roll back protections against extreme methods of killing predators and other wildlife in Alaska national preserves. National preserves are managed by the National Park Service (NPS) like national parks, except hunting and fishing are permitted. NPS’s new regulations for sport hunting and trapping in national preserves in Alaska defer to state management of predators, caribou, and other wildlife on national preserves in Alaska regardless of conflicts between state and federal goals or policies.
Read more at Trump Administration Finalizes Extreme Predator Hunting Rules in Alaska National Preserves | Defenders of Wildlife
Posted in Animals, Park, Uncategorized | Tags: Alaska National Preserves, Predator Hunting
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 21, 2020
Phased Reopening Marin County Parks
Marin County Parks Updated Public Health Order
Many Marin County Parks locations began reopening on Monday, May 18, per an updated public health order.
This order loosens restrictions on motorized access to recreational areas, so more people can once again enjoy spending time outdoors. However, it gives land managers the authority to open, limit, or prohibit motorized access as needed to prevent overcrowding, for public health and safety.
Remember to check the status of any location before heading out – especially popular destinations and coastal areas. Some locations continue enforcing parking restrictions. Marin County Parks has created an online location list, which provides the status of county parks and open space preserves.
Posted in Park | Tags: Marin Count Parks Reopening
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 21, 2020
Nordic Islands seen in their ‘surreal light’
See this excellent collection of Nordic Islands seen in their ‘surreal light’ at the BBC website at Nordic Islands seen in their ‘surreal light’ – BBC News
Posted in Photography | Tags: Nordic Islands
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 20, 2020
Berkeley Street Photos 5/19/20
Photographed mostly in the north and south Berkeley Flatlands with a few from my yard on May 18, 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 by: Sandy Steinman | May 20, 2020
National Parks Struggle with Social Distancing
As some national parks begin to open, they too must grapple with social distancing.
Encompassing tens of millions of acres of snow-peaked mountains, jagged coastlines and geological marvels, the National Park System is facing the quandary of how to keep visitors at more than arm’s length from each other as the summer months approach.
Read more Live Coronavirus News Updates – The New York Times
Posted in Park | Tags: National Parks
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 20, 2020
Yosemite park re-opening plan aims for early June, with limits
The Mercury News reports
Draft plan calls for no shuttle buses, reservations for day entry, and some hotels open
Yosemite National Park may finally reopen as early as June, but with major changes: Visitors who want to spend the day at the famed Sierra Nevada destination would need a reservation and crowds would be limited to roughly half of normal.
Read more Yosemite park re-opening plan aims for early June, with limits
Posted in Park | Tags: Yosemite National Park Reopening
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 20, 2020
Why It Is Critical To Use Local Native Plants in Your Garden
Doug Tallamy is an ecologist who is currently the hot speaker in the world of native plants, birding and habitat gardening. He talks about that we don’t have enough natural vegetation in protected areas and the way to compensate is through home/urban garden plantings. He says that using strategic plants that are native to our areas is critical. These are plants, especially trees and shrubs, that are magnets for insects. They will help support insect life, provide needed food for birds, plants and carbon sequestration. For example a native Oak provides habitat for a few hundred insects while an alien ginkgo for maybe one or two.
Even thought we have mainly been using native plants in the garden this has us rethinking our plant choice for future selections.
How (and Why) to Use Native Plants – The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/realestate/how-and-why-to-use-native-plants.html?action=click&module=Top Stories&pgtype=Homepage&contentCollection=AtHome&package_index=1
Author and research scientist Doug Tallamy presents “Restoring Nature’s Relationships” during the Opening Plenary of the 2018 CNPS Conservation Conference. Los Angeles, CA. February 1, 2018.
Posted in Garden | Tags: Native Plant Gardens
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 19, 2020
California Slowly Reopening Parking Lots at State Parks and Beaches
SnowBrains reports
California is slowly beginning to reopen parking lots at a number of state parks. Over the weekend, lots quietly reopened at 27 state parks and beaches in a number of areas across the state.
Lots were partially reopened, offering no more than 50% capacity, at parks and beaches in Santa Cruz, San Benito, Sonoma, Riverside, and Orange counties, as well as in the Lake Tahoe Area, and other rural areas of the state.
As of yesterday, 36 of California’s 280 state parks remained closed. Parking lots had been closed as a way to reduce crowds at the parks and encourage local visitors only. California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered all state parks and beaches closed on May 1st to combat overcrowding and help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Read more and see what parks and beaches are reopening at California Slowly Reopening Parking Lots at State Parks and Beaches – SnowBrains
Posted in Park | Tags: California Park Reopenings
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 19, 2020
Audubon Virtual Events
Audubon has many virtual birding programs that you can watch from home in the next few weeks. Explore what’s happening across the Audubon Network at Discover Audubon Events
Posted in Birds, Talks | Tags: Birding presentations
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 19, 2020
Berkeley Street Photos 5/18/20
Photographed in the north and south Berkeley Flatlands on May 18, 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 by: Sandy Steinman | May 19, 2020
Trump Administration’s Wetland Deception
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) reports
Two federal environmental agencies are taking diametrically opposed positions on the ecological and economic value of wetlands, according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). While the U,S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has unveiled a rule allowing more than half of the wetlands in the country to be dredged and filled, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) is celebrating “American Wetlands Month” with web-events, a podcast, and other activities highlighting the importance of preserving wetlands.
Read more at Trump Administration’s Wetland Deception – PEER.org
Posted in Environment | Tags: Wetland Protection
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 18, 2020
Joshua Tree National Park Partial Reopening
from Joshua Tree National Park
Park Closures
Joshua Tree National Park is modifying operations to support federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). We are working to increase access to the park in a phased approach.
Closed
- Visitor centers
- Group campsites
Cancellations
- All programs
- All permits for special use activities through May 31, 2020
Open
- Park entrances. Entrance stations will be staffed regularly but will not be collecting fees.
- Roads and parking lots
- Trails
- Family campsites, aka individual sites. Campers should pay for their campsite as normal, following instructions at each campground.
- Most bathroom facilities
Posted in Park | Tags: Joshua Tree National Park
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 18, 2020
Berkeley Street Photos 5/17/20
Photographed in my yard and nearby neighborhood yards in the North Berkeley Flatlands on May 17, 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 Garden, Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: Berkeley Street Photos
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 18, 2020
Gardening boosts your mood as much as some types of exercise
The Independent Tribune reports on a study showing that gardening boosts your mood as many types of exercise
The study shows that gardening boosts people’s moods by as much as some common types of exercise, like cycling and walking. That boost is available whether it is done alone or with others, on a city balcony or in a suburban lawn, and it seems to be particularly strong for women and low-income people. And while all types of gardening were shown to be beneficial to mental health, people who grow their own food seem to take particular joy in tending to their plants.
Red full article Gardening boosts your mood as much as some types of exercise, study finds | News | independenttribune.com
Posted in Garden | Tags: Gardening Boosts Your Mood
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 17, 2020
Berkeley Street Photos 5/16/20
These photos taken along the streets in the Berkeley Hills on May 16, 2020. They are part of an continuing project, which I call the “Stay at Home Photo Project” It has included 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 of the Stay at Home Photo project on Flickr at
Posted in Garden, Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: Berkeley Street Photos
Natural History Wanderings 