Phy.Org reported
Temperatures in the Mediterranean are currently rising to record levels. Instead of a refreshing dip, holidaymakers in places like Greece, Italy, and Spain, among other places, are now facing water temperatures up to 28° C or even higher. With an average water temperature of 26.9° C, July 2025 was the warmest since records began for the Mediterranean Sea, according to the Copernicus Earth Observation Service.
Read on phys.org/news/2025-09-climate-mediterranean-sea.html
Posted in Environment | Tags: Climate change, Mediterranean Sea
Tropical bird populations reduced by a third since 1980, compared to a world without climate change
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: Tropical bird population decline
From Looking Glass Photographic Outfitters
Below is a practical, place-specific guide to help you plan photography outings that immerse you in the unique beauty of Northern California. We’ve also included an interactive Google Map at the end to help you find each place. If you’d like good company (and easy planning) for outings like these, consider joining our Photo Friends community.
See Guide at Northern California Fall Photography: Best Places & Timing – Looking Glass Photographic Outfitters
Posted in Fall Foliage, Photography | Tags: Northern California Fall Photography Guide
The Guardian reported
Much of the world favours protecting 30% of the world’s land and water for nature by 2030, according to new research that has found overwhelming public support for the goal across eight countries on five continents.
Posted in Environment | Tags: Protecting 30% Land and Sea
The New York Times reported
Some marine ecosystems could soon be unrecognizable, according to new research. We mapped the possibilities.
Read article and see maps at www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/09/04/climate/ocean-water-temperatures-sea-levels.html
Posted in Environment | Tags: Damage to Oceans
Xerces Society reported
While many fireflies are in serious trouble, the good news is that we are unlikely to be the last ones to see these glowing beetles, and there are many things we can do to help.
One important thing to keep in mind is that there are many different species of fireflies across the world, so each of their situations will be a little different. The US is home to over 175 firefly species, some of which are indeed at risk of extinction — or likely to be very soon — due to a variety of threats including habitat loss, light pollution, pesticide use, and climate change. We know some firefly populations have been wiped out forever, but we also know that some others appear to be more resilient.
Read on xerces.org/blog/are-fireflies-going-extinct-here-are-six-ways-to-make-sure-they-survive
Save the Date: Annual Fall Plant Sale Saturday, October 4Mark your calendar for the Garden’s annual fall plant sale! Public sale hours are 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with exclusive access for Friends members starting at 9:00 a.m. Friends memberships may be purchased at the Garden starting at 8:30 a.m. on the day of the sale, or in advance on the Garden website. |
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The sale will feature a wide array of California native plants propagated and grown from the Regional Parks Botanic Garden collection. An early peek at some of the plants that will be available: |
Posted in Garden | Tags: Native Plant Sale
See upcoming events calendar for the East Bay Regional Parks at https://www.ebparks.org/calendar
Posted in Park, Walks & Hikes | Tags: East Bay Regional Parks
NPR reported
The iceberg, known as A23a, has been on a journey following the current into warmer waters for months. Now, it has begun the predicted and natural process of breaking apart, and eventually melting.
Read on www.npr.org/2025/09/05/nx-s1-5527058/largest-iceberg-a23a-breaking-up
Posted in Environment | Tags: Climate change, Icebergs
See upcoming events from the Friends of Inyo at Friends of Inyo Events
Posted in Uncategorized, Walks & Hikes | Tags: Friends of INyo
SFGATE unearthed a rare series from iconic San Francisco photographer Ansel Adams.
— Read on www.sfgate.com/local/article/lost-ansel-adams-photos-20816147.php
Posted in Photography | Tags: Ansel Adams’ Lost Photos
The BBC reported
A number of rare animals have returned to a nature reserve after a restoration project aimed at improving its biodiversity.
Natural England leased the fields neighbouring Wybunbury Moss, near Crewe, Cheshire, from the Church Commissioners for England in September 2023.
As part of its work to restore them, the organisation stopped the use of fertiliser on the fields, reintroduced grazing by livestock and restored hedgerows.
Since then, 169 species have been recorded at the site, Natural England said, with several locally rare and threatened birds, mammals and insects among them.
These included the red-girdled mining bee, yellowhammer bird, brown hare and soprano pipistrelle bat.
Read more Rare species seen at Cheshire’s Wybunbury Moss nature reserve after restoration project
Posted in Uncategorized
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research reported
Bird populations in the tropics have dropped by roughly a third (25-38 percent) since 1980 due to intensifying heat extremes, compared to a world without climate change, with some species having declined in abundance by over 50 percent, according to new study published today in Nature Ecology and Evolution with contributions from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), the University of Queensland and Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC).
Posted in Birds | Tags: Climate change, Tropical bird population decline
See upcoming events for the Siskiyou Land Trust at Upcoming events
Posted in Walks & Hikes | Tags: Siskiyou Land Trust Upcoming Events
The Guardian reported
More than 40 round-leaf pomaderris discovered by environmental community group inside the area earmarked for fire break in July
Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Round-leaf Pomaderris
SF Gate reported on afire in the China Camp and Red Hills area
A wildfire has damaged multiple structures in Chinese Camp as of Wednesday morning. The town was built in 1849 and is designated a historical landmark.
Read on www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/chinese-camp-wildfire-yosemite-21028678.php
Posted in Environment, Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Chinese Camp, RedHills Botanic Area
CNN Science reported
But Rich Beilfuss, CEO of the ICF, which works to protect the Siberian crane, said there might still be a bird in Iran, but the western population of Siberian cranes is now “functionally extinct,” impacted by hunting and development.
The species is classified as critically endangered and its survival now depends solely on its eastern populations. Fortunately, thanks to conservation efforts, these are thriving. According to the ICF, in 2015, their numbers were estimated at less than 3,500 birds. Now, it believes there are almost 7,000.
Read more at Siberian crane: Back from the brink | CNN
Posted in Birds | Tags: Siberian crane
Check out the latest events and news for Sonoma Land Trust at OUTINGS & EVENTS
Posted in Talks, Walks & Hikes
ScienceDaily reported
In Taiwan’s forests, researchers discovered a clever hunting trick by the sheet web spider Psechrus clavis. Instead of immediately devouring captured fireflies, the spiders allow them to glow in the web, luring other insects, sometimes even more fireflies, into the trap. Experiments with LED lights confirmed this eerie strategy: webs lit with firefly-like signals attracted up to ten times more prey.
Read more Spiders turn fireflies into glowing traps | ScienceDaily
The Guardian reported
Small and deceptively cute, but definitely not harmless” is how scientists have described a new species of ancient whale, from a 25-million-year-old fossil found on Victoria’s surf coast.
This early species, called Janjucetus dullardi, was an extremely unusual animal, said Dr Erich Fitzgerald, senior curator of vertebrate palaeontology at Museums Victoria Research Institute.
Posted in Animals | Tags: Janjucetus dullard, Whales
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Posted in Photos (Sandy's), Talks | Tags: Salt of the Earth Photo Exhibit
Dnyuz reported on impact of deforestation on Amazon.
Read story at dnyuz.com/2025/09/02/scientists-may-have-identified-a-culprit-behind-declining-amazon-rains/
Posted in Environment | Tags: Declining Rains In Amazon, Deforestation
Vox reported
Earth’s biodiversity, including insects, is still largely unexplored. Biologists are searching for new species to expose “dark taxa” and learn how ecosystems work.
Read on www.vox.com/down-to-earth/459398/animals-species-unknown-dark-taxa
Posted in Animals, Birds, Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Biodiversity, unknown species
See the calendar of upcoming events of the California Native Plants Society at https://www.cnps.org/events
Posted in Talks | Tags: Upcoming CNPS Events
ScienceDaily reported
Flowers grow stems, leaves and petals in a perfect pattern again and again. A new study shows that even in this precise, patterned formation in plants, gene activity inside individual cells is far more chaotic than it appears.
Read on www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250526150152.htm
Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: plant consistency
Smithsonia Magazine reported
In July 1970, a fisherman caught an unfamiliar shark in Papua New Guinea’s Astrolabe Bay. The mysterious creature—a pregnant female—had large, wide eyes, a big head and a short mouth. It also had a prominent, elongated fin protruding from its back, similar in appearance to a sail on a sailboat. Researchers later identified the animal as a new genus and species: the sailback houndshark (Gogolia filewoodi).
However, after that initial sighting, scientists never saw another sailback houndshark. That is, until now—more than 50 years later, the elusive creature has turned up again.
Read on Elusive Sailback Houndshark Rediscovered in Papua New Guinea After 50 Years
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: Gogolia filewoodi, Sailback Houndshark
Guided Driving Tour: Coachwhip Canyon and Beyond!
If you’re looking for a fun and interesting drive to some of our desert’s most beautiful spots, then this excursion is for you. We’ll explore the desert by wheel and foot, to show you stunning canyons, geologic wonders, hidden palm oases, winding washes, and a sweeping overlook.
Continue for details and how to register
Posted in Desert | Tags: Anx-Borrego Driving Tour
from East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden
Here’s an easy way to volunteer in the Botanic Garden: become a garden greeter! Unlike the more extensive docent training, the garden greeter position requires minimal training – just four hours total over two Saturday mornings – and then you get to welcome visitors to the Regional Parks Botanic Garden! Shifts are two hours once a month, and you can spend time in a beautiful garden, meet interesting people, and watch the plants change with the seasons. This park, like all of the EBRP, is a treasure, and I love walking through the garden every time I’m there. I highly recommend signing up as a garden greeter 👋🌼🌿🍃🥰
The next garden greeter training starts on Saturday, November 1 and concludes on Saturday, November 8, both from 9:00 – 11:00, and both dates are required.
Register for the training by emailing bgarden@ebparks.org with the subject line: Garden Greeter
Posted in Garden | Tags: Garden Greeter, Regional Parks Botanic Garden
The Sacramento Bee reported
Near the base of a mountain in eastern China, a “fire-bellied” creature swam through a small waterhole. Something about the “slender” animal caught the attention of passing scientists — and for good reason.
It turned out to be a new species.
Read more and see photos at New species of ‘fire-bellied’ salamander discovered in China | Sacramento Bee
Posted in Animals | Tags: Huanggangshan fire-bellied new, Hypselotriton huanggangensis
from the Watershed Nursery in Richmond, CA
We’re currently hiring for two positions: Project Manager and Retail Sales Associate
Posted in Garden | Tags: Job Openings, Watershed Nursery
Natural History Wanderings 