Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 26, 2020

Petrified Forest is temporarily closed as of 3/24/2020

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 26, 2020

Homestead Valley Land Trust Wildflowers 3/25/2020

Homestead Valley has a new wildflower update. See photos and maps at March 25, 2020

NEW
– Fringe cups is blooming beside the creek by 435 Laverne.
– Pacific bleeding heart is blooming with heart-shaped pink flowers below the redwood tree visible from Laverne to the left of the creek at 435.
– Wild rose is blooming pink in the forest of the Ridgewood Rock.

Read More…

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 26, 2020

San Francisco Bay Osprey Camera

Golden Gate Audubon’s webcam for the Osprey nest in Richmond is up and running at sfbayospreys.org | San Francisco Bay Osprey Camera / Brought to you by Golden Gate Audubon Society

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 25, 2020

Marin Parks Clarify Park Closure Policy

Marin County clarifies parks closure: Outdoor recreation areas including parks, open spaces and campgrounds in Marin County are closed to motorized access, but people can still access those areas by foot, bicycle or other non-motorized vehicle, county health officials clarified Tuesday. People with physical limitations or who live up steep hills can still access park facilities by motorized means “to the minimum extent necessary to engage in essential activities.” All visitors are told to follow social distancing requirements.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 25, 2020

More Berkeley Neighborhood Photos

Photos taken yesterday while doing a neighborhood walk as part of “Sheltering in Place”

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 25, 2020

East Bay Regional Parks Closures

  • The East Bay Regional Park District has announced park area closures to limit overcrowding and public safety. This past weekend, the Park District saw more people in parks than on a busy holiday.
    Ways the public can help keep parks open include:
    • Maintain a 6-foot distance from other people
    • No picnicking, groups, gatherings, or meetups (only immediate households should be together)
    • Pack-in, pack-out trash, including dog poop bags (there is no trash collection during COVID-19)
    The list below of parks, developed park areas, parking lots, and entrance points will be closed beginning Friday, March 27, 2020, through Thursday, April 30, 2020. For up-to-date closure info visit www.ebparks.org/coronavirus.
    All picnic areas, restrooms, water fountains, swim facilities/areas, playgrounds, campgrounds, group campsites, backcountry campsites, sports fields, kiosks, and reservable facilities are closed through Thursday, April 30, 2020.
    NEW CLOSURES BEGINNING FRIDAY, MARCH 27:
    • Black Diamond Mines – Upper Parking Lot Closed (Parking available at Sidney Flat)
    • Castle Rock Recreation Area Closed
    • Contra Loma Closed (Trails Open from Frederickson Lane)
    • Crown Beach – Otis Parking Lot Closed (Walk-In Access Only)
    • Del Valle Closed (Trail Access from Arroyo Staging Area Only)
    • Diablo Foothills Closed (Limited Parking for Trail Access)
    • Garin/Dry Creek – Meyer’s Garden Closed
    • Point Isabel – Main Parking Area Closed (Walk-In Access Only)
    • Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park – Redwood Road Gate Closed
    • Piedmont Stables (Boarders Allowed to Care for Horses)
    • Roberts Regional Recreation Main Park Area Closed (Walk-In Access Only)
    • Shadow Cliffs Closed (Walk-In Access Only)
    • Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve – Tunnel Road Entrance Closed (All Other Access Points Open)
    • Sunol Regional Wilderness Closed
    • Tilden Botanic Garden – Garden Closed

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 25, 2020

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are closed

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks announced today

Effective immediately, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are closed to all park visitors until further notice. California Highway 180 will remain open for pass-through traffic to access Giant Sequoia National Monument and private property. All other roads and parking facilities are temporarily closed.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners is our number one priority. The National Park Service is working servicewide with federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic.

We will notify the public when we resume full operations and provide updates on our website www.nps.gov/seki and social media channels @SequoiaKingsNPS.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 25, 2020

Shelter-in-Place Birding 

Golden Gate Audubon a recent blog post by David Rice, author of Why We Bird,  Shelter-in-Place Birding – Golden Gate Audubon Society

Also check out the post May Your Shelter In Place Lift Up Your Birding Spirits – Golden Gate Audubon Society

I encourage you to feed your backyard birds. Birding your yard and neighborhood are vastly underrated and can be very rewarding. It is a chance to learn more about the behavior of your local birds. Here is an old article from Natural History Wandering from December 13, 2014 about Backyard Birding. Backyard Birding, Feeding & Safety

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 25, 2020

How To Be Safe Outdoors During A Pandemic

Sierra Magazine  writes the Natural Stress Relief.of being outdoors safely during the pandemic

Spring is here—flowers are blooming, birds are singing. Yet the pandemic has forced millions of us to shelter indoors for the greater good. If done responsibly, getting outside can help us relieve the stress of social distancing and even stay healthy.

Read article at Sierra magazine’s Jason Mark on a way to “stay safely apart yet still be together.”

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 24, 2020

Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Great Smoky Mountains Close Over Coronavirus Fears

NPR reports

Those eager to retreat into the wilderness amid the coronavirus pandemic were delivered disappointing news on Tuesday: three major national parks are now closed to visitors.

Yellowstone, Grand Teton and the Great Smoky Mountains have shut their gates to the public.

Park officials said a crush of visitors moving through the trails was beginning to run afoul of social distancing.

Read more at  Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Great Smoky Mountains Close Over Coronavirus Fears : Coronavirus Live Updates : NPR

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 24, 2020

Electra Road Jackson CA and the New Melones Lake Area Wildflowers 3/24/20

Wildflowers report from Daniel in Sacramento

Electra Road Jackson CA and the New Melones Lake Area Wildflowers

Daniel reports: I started the day by first going to Electra Road in Jackson CA and was surprised to see a decent amount of poppies but mostly up on the hillside. The flowers were mostly closed due to the overcast weather but there appears to be a good amount of small poppies in the process of growing out. The view should be better in 1 or 2 weeks. There was a decent amount of patches for the first 2 miles up until the first bathroom. After that there are a few more spots with the last potential good area forming just past the dam. During the super bloom years the grass just took over most of this area. This year’s bloom has the potential to be better than the decent bloom I saw for this spot in 2018. There are also a couple of pullouts on Highway 49 just north of Electra Road where you could stop briefly to see the poppies in the distance up on the hillsides. A reminder that Electra is a narrow paved road that has a lot of small pot holes traveling parallel to the Mokelumne River.

Normally I would combine this trip to Electra Road with a visit to Daffodil Hill, or to the nearby wineries, or the seafood lobster buffet at Jackson Rancheria Casino which are all currently closed. So I decided to try a new wildflowers hiking location further south.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 24, 2020

Doing Photography In The Neighborhood

If you are frustrated about the limits of where you can go since “shelter in place” began and trips have been cancelled and all your spring photography plans have dissolved you might want to check out this post by Michael Frye. He has simple tips for keeping your photography eye sharp while you’re stuck in your house and limited to nearby walks or hikes  at How to Keep Your Photography Eye Sharp While Stuck at Home : Michael Frye Photography

His post motivated me to walk around my neighborhood with a camera and see what caught my eye. Here is some of what I found.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 24, 2020

Major Victory for Alaska’s Majestic Trees and for the Climate

EarthJustice reports

Protecting trees, particularly old-growth trees in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, is a win for local communities and for the climate.

On March 11, a federal judge ruled in our favor, finding that the U.S. Forest Service had violated NEPA, and other environmental laws, when it approved the enormous Prince of Wales timber sale. It’s not yet clear whether the Forest Service will have to abandon the project entirely, because the judge has not decided on a legal remedy.

Read more at Major Victory for Alaska’s Majestic Trees and for the Climate | Earthjustice

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 23, 2020

Marin County Parks Updates 

All Marin County Parks locations are under restrictions, to comply with the Marin County public health order released on March 22, 2020. The order was issued when popular beaches and trailheads in Marin became dangerously overcrowded.

Marin County’s public health officer is asking people not to drive to beaches, open space, or parks outside their neighborhoods. Avoid places where groups are gathering. Community members may walk or bike to nearby preserves, parks, and pathways that are open. View the updated location list.

The purpose of the public health order is to help keep the most vulnerable members of the Marin community safe from the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). To do this we all need to:

  • Remain home as much as possible.
  • Stay local for outdoor exercise.
  • Don’t drive, except for essential travel. Walk or bike.
  • Maintain 6 feet of distance from anyone outside your household.
  • Practice personal hygiene.
Marin County Parks remains committed to preserving and protecting the natural resources of Marin. Even under these unprecedented circumstances, we encourage you to take time to enjoy the nearby nature that surrounds you. Thank you for your patience and community collaboration as we support efforts to slow the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). Visit marincountyparks.org for updates.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 23, 2020

2020 Audubon Photography Contest

If you are at home going through your bird photos you might want to enter them in  Audubon’s 2020 Photography Awards Contest

Entry Period: began on Monday, January 13, 2020 at 12 p.m. (noon) Eastern Standard Time (EST), and ends on Monday, April 06, 2020 at 12 p.m. (noon) Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (the “Contest Entry Period”).

Read more  about rules and how to submit photos at 2020 Audubon Photography Awards 

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 23, 2020

No Permit Needed for EBMUD Trails

Recreation Area Restrictions

EBMUD has nearly 90 miles of watershed trails that traverse the region that remain open to the public. To enable our community to enjoy the outdoors safely during this difficult time, we encourage the use of our watershed trails.

From March 19 through April 30, 2020, EBMUD is temporarily suspending the requirement that trail users obtain a permit for the following watershed trails. The public may use these trails without a permit, as long as the rules and regulations are followed. EBMUD requests that trail users practice social distancing.

North Watershed trails (Orinda/El Sobrante)
• Pinole Valley Multi-use (bikes OK)
• Pinole Ridge
• Old San Pablo
• Eagle’s Nest (bikes OK)
• Inspiration
• Orinda Connector
• Hampton (leashed dogs OK)
• Oursan (leashed dogs OK)
• Bear Creek
• De La Veaga
• Skyline

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 23, 2020

Get outside (but keep your distance!) at L.A.’s hidden marsh

Madrona Marsh Preserve is an outdoor option in the LA area while sheltering in place: Get outside (but keep your distance!) at L.A.’s hidden marsh

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 23, 2020

Loving the Parks — from a Distance

National Parks Conservation Association has a website that shows 8 ways to enjoy the places you care about from the safety of your home.

As millions of Americans grapple with the developing COVID-19 pandemic, housebound park lovers are missing the world outside their living rooms and longing to explore.

NPCA encourages potential visitors to heed the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and to take precautions during the public health crisis to stem the spread of the virus, including avoiding parks when conditions could be unsafe.

Read more to see information about 8 ways to enjoy the outdoors virtually at  Loving the Parks — from a Distance · National Parks Conservation Association

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 22, 2020

Marin County closes all of its parks in response to massive crowds despite pandemic

The San Francisco Chronicle reports

One day after scolding the public for packing its beaches and parks despite a statewide shelter-in-place order due to the coronavirus pandemic, Marin County on Sunday announced it was closing all of its parks.

The immediate closure affects over 18,000 acres in federal, state and local parks. They include Point Reyes National Seashore, Mount Tamalpais State Park, Muir Woods National Monument, Stinson Beach and Point Bonita Lighthouse.

Read more at  Marin County closes all of its parks in response to massive crowds despite pandemic – SFGate

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 22, 2020

Eastern Sierra Nevada Photos 7/11/2019

Photos taken from a number of sites in the Eastern Sierra Nevada on July 11,2019 including , Hot Creek Geological Site, Nunatek Nature Trail and along Highways Nature 395, 120 and backroads.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 22, 2020

East Bay parks may be next to close as huge crowds create health, safety issues

The San Francisco Chronicle reports

A deluge of visitors this weekend, many not practicing recommended coronavirus “social distancing” practices and parking illegally after finding full lots, is forcing Bay Area officials to close popular areas and consider shutdowns.

Read more at East Bay parks may be next to close as huge crowds create health, safety issues – SFChronicle.com

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 22, 2020

Today is World Water Day

World Water Day reports

“The cost of our success is the exhaustion of natural resources, leading to energy crises, climate change, pollution, and the destruction of our habitat. If you exhaust natural resources, there will be nothing left for your children. If we continue in the same direction, humankind is headed for some frightful ordeals, if not extinction.”

Read more at: 2020 Home – World Water Day

Audubon is celebrating World Water Day with the following post

7 Baby Waterbirds to Make You Squeal
It’s World Water Day, when we celebrate this essential resource. It’s also a moment to celebrate the birds it sustains. That’s a pleasure—especially when they’re so ridiculously cute.

Check out this collection by photographer William Burt, whose images speak of the love he has for wetland birds and their young. We share that love, so we’re happy to share his extraordinary work. We hope you enjoy it and share it, too, to mark World Water Day.
View the Photos

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 22, 2020

Partial Closures at Pt. Reyes

Pt. Reyes National Seashore Press Release

Point Reyes National Seashore Is Modifying Operations To Implement Local Health Guidance 

Point Reyes Station, CA – Point Reyes National Seashore, in response to the March 19, 2020 California State Shelter in Place order issued by the Governor of the State of California, as well as the March 16, 2020 County of Marin Order to Shelter in Place, is announcing additional modifications to operations to support federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). 

As of March 22, 2020, at Point Reyes National Seashore is closing until further notice: the Limantour access road, Drakes Beach, Drakes Estero, and Mt. Vision Road gates, in addition to the park Visitor Centers. Limited access will be allowed to Palomarin Trailhead area beyond Commonweal entrance, Pierce Point Road, Lighthouse and Chimney Rock parking lots. The park is operating under an Incident Command System, in response to the Governor’s Shelter in Place order, and therefore have reduced staff presence in the park at this time. Consistent with local guidance, the park asks residents to please consider staying local when enjoying the outdoors. Services within the park and local communities are limited at this time. 

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 22, 2020

European Tree of the Year 

The Guardian reports

A lonely pine tree believed by superstitious locals to act as sentinel over a flooded Czech village has been chosen as Europe’s tree of the year, beating stiff competition from a Croatian gingko tree, a Portuguese chestnut and an English oak.

Read story and see photos at  Pine tree near flooded Czech village voted European tree of the year | Environment | The Guardian

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 21, 2020

7 Live Wildlife Camera Feeds

Here is more wildlife watching you can do while “Sheltering in Place at 7 Live Wildlife Camera Feeds You Can Watch Now

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 20, 2020

Yosemite National Park Closed As Of Today – Updated

Starting Friday, March 20, 2020 at 3 pm, Yosemite National Park is closed to the public. Read more at Closures – Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Learn more in the Mercury New article Coronavirus: Why Yosemite National Park closed

Yosemite National Park is announcing modifications to operations at the request of the local health department,” park officials said in a statement. “As of 3:00 pm today, Friday, March 20, 2020, Yosemite National Park is closed to all park visitors until further notice. This closure will be enforced 24-hours a day/7-days a week and there will be no access permitted to Yosemite National Park.”

Read more at  Coronavirus: Yosemite National Park closes

 

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 20, 2020

Sierra Nevada Wildflower Photos: Bishop Creek

Photos taken along  Bishop Creek Road in the Eastern Sierra on July 10, 2019

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 20, 2020

Virtual Wildlife Watching

The Colossal has a  video where you can watch wildlife while “Sheltering in Place

A log in Pennsylvania has gotten a lot of foot—and talon and paw—traffic during the last year. In trail camera footage captured by photographer Robert Bush Sr., local wildlife is shown crossing the downed tree throughout 2018 and 2019. A black bear frequents the location, in addition to grouse, bobcats, deer, squirrels, and beavers, which all are caught scurrying over the log or wading through the water. Despite their regular visits, though, none of the species seem to run into each other.

See video at  An Almost Comically Diverse Parade of Wildlife Crosses a Log Bridge in Pennsylvania | Colossal

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 19, 2020

California State Park Campgrounds Closed

California State Parks Temporarily Closes All Campgrounds in the State Park System

California State Parks announced today the temporary closure of all campgrounds in the state park system to support state and local efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus).

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | March 19, 2020

Peregrine falcon watching in Berkeley — the perfect shelter-in-place activity? 

The Berkeleyside reports

Wild animals are blissfully unaware of the public health crisis engulfing the globe. Which is one reason watching birds of prey go about their ordinary lives via webcam can be both therapeutic and mesmerizing. The peregrine falcons that have made their nest atop UC Berkeley’s Campanile for the past three years are back.

Read more and see webcam Peregrine falcon watching in Berkeley — the perfect shelter-in-place activity? — Berkeleyside

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