Berkeleyside recently had a short article and series of photographs on the Coyotes of Tilden Park at Coyotes are cavorting in Tilden Regional Park — Berkeleyside
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 14, 2020
Coyotes Of Tilden Regional Park
Posted in Animals, Park | Tags: Coyotes, Tilden Regional Park
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 13, 2020
Field Science Fellowship
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: Field Science Fellowship
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 13, 2020
Job Opening: Samuel P. Taylor State Park Park Aides
NOW HIRING | Come work for California State Parks!
Samuel P. Taylor State Park is looking to hire part-time and full-time Park Aides. This is a seasonal, 9-month position and works under the supervision of the State Park Ranger. As a Park Aide, your role is based in visitor services, so you will often be the first person visitors come into contact with at the State Park. This is an excellent role for someone just starting out their career in the parks system or looking to make a change to employment in the outdoor field. See the attached flyer for full details.
TO APPLY: Email Nicholas.Turner@parks.ca.gov with your resume and a completed version of the STD 678 form located here: https://jobs.ca.gov/pdf/std678.pdf.
Posted in Park | Tags: Jobs, Samuel P. Taylor State Park
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 13, 2020
Tortoise with species-saving sex drive returns to Galápagos
The BBC reports
A giant tortoise whose legendary libido has been credited with saving his species from extinction is to return to the wild on the Galápagos Islands.
Diego was among 14 male tortoises selected to take part in a breeding programme on Santa Cruz Island.
The programme has been a success, producing more than 2,000 giant tortoises since it began in the 1960s.
Diego’s sex drive was said to be one of the main reasons.
Read more at Tortoise with species-saving sex drive returns to Galápagos – BBC News
Posted in Animals | Tags: Diego the Giant Tortoise, Galápagos Islands, Giant Tortoises, Santa Cruz Island
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 12, 2020
District Court Ruling Endangers National Parks
National Parks Conservation Association reports
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a ruling in National Parks Conservation Association’s lawsuit regarding Dominion Energy’s massive, illegally permitted Surry-Skiffes Creek transmission line project in the James River.
The court granted defendants’ (Dominion Energy and the US Army Corps of Engineers) motion for remand without vacatur. Despite disobeying the law by building this project without a legally mandated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as required under the National Environmental Policy Act, Dominion will not lose its permit for the project, pending an ongoing EIS process ordered by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Read more at District Court Ruling Endangers National Parks, Historic Jamestown · National Parks Conservation Association
Posted in Park | Tags: National Parks
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 11, 2020
Birding Heron’s Head 1/11/20
Rock Sandpiper
Today I went birding at Heron’s Head Park in San Francisco with several people from my Masterbirders’ program and friends. The highlight of the day was seeing a Rock Sandpiper, which is a new life bird for me. We identified 55 species. Our goal had been to get more than 53 species as a friend had seen 53 species yesterday.
Click Read more to see today’s bird list.
Posted in Birding Reports, Birds | Tags: Birding Heron's Head Park
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 11, 2020
Stomach illness outbreak hits Yosemite National Park
The San Francisco Chronicle reports
In Yosemite National Park, people are reportedly falling ill left and right with stomach flu-like symptoms. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, at least a dozen people have reported gastrointestinal symptoms, launching an investigation by The National Park Service and the U.S. Public Health Service into the origin of the illness.
Federal health officials are now thoroughly inspecting the park’s food service facilities, including at the famous Ahwahnee Hotel, which was recently downgraded from four to three out of five diamonds in AAA’s rating system.
Read more at Stomach illness outbreak hits Yosemite National Park
Posted in Park | Tags: Yosemite Stomach Illness
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 11, 2020
42 Acres on North Fork American River Permanently Protected
Placer Land Trust reports
Placer Land Trust has permanently protected the 42-acre Loera-Harvey North Fork Preserve on the North Fork American River near Weimar. Located between Yankee Jim’s Bridge and Sore Finger Point, the property is a mixture of conifer and hardwood forests, and includes approximately 1/4 mile of river frontage on both sides of the river. The preserve is permanently protected by a Conservation Easement donated by landowners David Loera and Alison Harvey.
Read more at 42 Acres on North Fork American River Permanently Protected – Placer Land Trust
Posted in Park | Tags: American River, Placer Land Trust
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 10, 2020
Trove of New Bird Species Found on Remote Indonesian Islands
The New York Times reports
Researchers found 10 new species and subspecies of songbirds off the coast of Sulawesi, with distinct songs and genetics from known birds.
Most of the 10 new birds discovered in Wallacea are related to species found elsewhere, but they sing somewhat different songs and have distinct genetics.
The new findings highlight the need to catalog and conserve biological diversity, said Jonathan Kennedy, an ornithologist and evolutionary biologist at the University of Sheffield, who wrote a commentary that ran with the new study.
Read full story at Trove of New Bird Species Found on Remote Indonesian Islands – The New York Times
Posted in Birds | Tags: New Bird Species
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 9, 2020
Help digitize Northern Cardinal nest records on Nest Quest Go!
from Project Feederwatch
Nest Quest Go! is officially launching its Northern Cardinal project on Zooniverse tomorrow. This collection of almost 4,000 Northern Cardinal nest records is the 8th project to be transcribed in an ongoing effort to digitize historical nest records from the Cornell Lab’s Nest Record Card Program which ran from the 1960s to the early 2000s. Join in the fun and see nesting data for these colorful winter wonders, collected by devoted citizen scientists like you. Zooniverse is easy to use and does not require creating a username or password. A couple of transcriptions a day goes a long way in helping us access more data that can be used to help protect birds. Transcribe today!
Posted in Birds | Tags: Northern Cardinal
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 9, 2020
Interior Department Accelerates Public Lands Giveaway
National Parks Conservation Association reports
“National parks could be next on the chopping block. Today’s move by the Interior Department poses a real and immediate threat to national parks in Utah and across the West.”
Read more Interior Department Accelerates Public Lands Giveaway · National Parks Conservation Association
Posted in Park | Tags: Public Lands Giveaway
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 8, 2020
Positions Available: Sierra Corps Forestry Fellowship Program
Interested in a career in forestry? Love the Sierra and want to help conserve and restore Sierra forests? Apply to join the Sierra Corps Forestry Fellowship Program!
Sierra Corps is a Forestry Fellowship program implemented by the Sierra Nevada Alliance that aims to increase workforce capacity for forest health restoration and biomass utilization projects in the Sierra. Fellows will bring their education, skills, and expertise to engage in paid 10 month fellowships that provide assistance in assessment, planning, project permitting, project management, grant writing, technical assessment or monitoring and other essential forest restoration implementation tasks.
Posted in Park | Tags: Positions Available, Sierra Corps Forestry Fellowship Program
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 8, 2020
Conservation group buys Alder Creek giant sequoia grove
The LA Times reported
Save the Redwoods League raised nearly $16 million — more than half of it in four months — to close a deal for 530 acres of the Alder Creek Grove of giant sequoias.
The century-old conservation group took title to the Sierra Nevada property on Dec. 30, realizing a long-held dream of acquiring the world’s largest private holding of the world’s largest trees.
Read more at Conservation group buys Alder Creek giant sequoia grove – Los Angeles Times
Posted in Park | Tags: Alder Creek Grove, Giant Sequois, Save the Redwoods
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 8, 2020
How many animals died in Australia fires? 1 billion, experts estimate
Vox reports
The number of kangaroos, koalas, and others killed keeps skyrocketing.
Here’s where the eye-popping estimate comes from.As fires continue to rip through Australia, some devastating numbers are emerging: At least 24 people killed. More than 15.6 million acres torched. Over 1,400 homes destroyed. And, according to one biodiversity expert’s count, an estimated 1 billion animals killed.
Read more at How many animals died in Australia fires? 1 billion, experts estimate. – Vox
Posted in Animals, Environment | Tags: Animal Death Toll Australian Fires
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 7, 2020
2020 Great Backyard Bird Count Feb. February 14-17
Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count was the first online citizen-science project to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real-time.
Now, more than 160,000 people of all ages and walks of life worldwide join the four-day count each February to create an annual snapshot of the distribution and abundance of birds.
We invite you to participate! For at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count, February 14-17, 2020, simply tally the numbers and kinds of birds you see. You can count from any location, anywhere in the world, for as long as you wish!
If you’re new to the count, or have not participated since before the 2013 merger with eBird, you must create a free online account to enter your checklists. If you already have an account, just use the same login name and password. If you have already participated in another Cornell Lab citizen-science project, you can use your existing login information, too.
Posted in Birds | Tags: Great Backyard Bird Count
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 6, 2020
Henry Coe Wildflower Update 1/5/20
Henry Coe State Park has early January wildflowers in bloom. See what is currently flowering at the Pine Ridge Association website with photos and a list of flowers now in bloom at: Henry W. Coe – Wildflower Guide.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 6, 2020
Top Ten Tips for Watching Meteor Showers
EarthSky posted
1. Be sure you know which days the shower will peak.
2. Find out the time of the shower’s peak in your time zone.
3. Watch on the nights around the peak, too.
4. Understanding the shower’s radiant point can help.
5. Find out the shower’s expected rate, or number of meteors per hour.
6. You must be aware of the phase of the moon.
8. Bring along that thermos of hot coffee or tea.
9. Bring a blanket or lawn chair.
10. Relax and enjoy the night sky.
EarthSky 2020 lunar calendars are available! Nearly sold out. Order now!
Posted in Astronomy | Tags: Tips for Watching Meteor Shower s
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 5, 2020
Santa Monica Mountains Wildflowers 1/5/20
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area has a new report
We’ve had some rain so it won’t be long before things green-up. In many ways, the first small blades of green appearing along the edges of the trails is as exciting to me as a hillside of flowers. It means Spring is coming!
| Corral Canyon | Backbone Trail | 1/1/20 |
| This is an area that burned thoroughly in the Woolsey Fire 14 months ago. It looks to be recovering well with new dense growth of chaparral on the hillsides and recovering oaks and sycamores on the valley floor. Not much was in bloom today, only cliff aster, twiggy wreath plant, wild morning glory and some clumps of slender sunflowers. However I saw plenty of signs of flowers to come. If we continue to get rain, and maybe even if we don’t, this promises to have a spectacular spring bloom. | ||
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 5, 2020
Trump Rule Would Exclude Climate Change in Infrastructure Planning
The NY Times reports
Federal agencies would no longer have to take climate change into account when they assess the environmental impacts of highways, pipelines and other major infrastructure projects, according to a Trump administration plan that would weaken the nation’s benchmark environmental law.
Read more at Trump Rule Would Exclude Climate Change in Infrastructure Planning – The New York Times
Posted in Environment | Tags: Climate change, Trump Administration Disregard Climate Change
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 4, 2020
Science Under Attack: How Trump Is Sidelining Researchers and Their Work
The New York Times reports
In just three years, the Trump administration has diminished the role of science in federal policymaking while halting or disrupting research projects nationwide, marking a transformation of the federal government whose effects, experts say, could reverberate for years.
Read article at Science Under Attack: How Trump Is Sidelining Researchers and Their Work
Posted in Environment | Tags: attacks on science
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 3, 2020
Bushfires In Australia Kill 11 As Flames Sweep Toward Sydney
NPR reports
Record heat has contributed to the ferocity of massive bushfires that have swept through eastern Australia in recent days, forcing mass evacuations and killing at least 11 people since Monday. The flames now threaten the outskirts of the country’s largest city, Sydney.
Authorities are warning of worsening conditions over the weekend. The rural fire service deputy commissioner for New South Wales, Rob Rogers, has warned of the “frighteningly quick” advance of the blazes.
See photos at Bushfires In Australia Kill 11 As Flames Sweep Toward Sydney : NPR
Posted in Environment | Tags: Australian Bushfires
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 3, 2020
EPA Used ‘Emergency’ Loophole to Approve Pesticides Toxic to Bees
Center for Biological Diversity News Release
Trump EPA Used ‘Emergency’ Loophole to Approve Pesticides Toxic to Bees on 16 Million Acres in 2019
WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency reported today that in 2019 it issued so-called “emergency” approvals to spray neonicotinoids — pesticides the agency itself recognizes as “very highly toxic” to bees — onto more than 16 million acres of crops known to attract bees.
The great majority of those approvals were issued for the neonicotinoid called sulfoxaflor, prior to the EPA’s July decision to permanently expand its use. That decision, which obviates the need for further emergency approvals, has prompted multiple lawsuits from beekeepers, food-safety and conservation advocates.
“The EPA is using this backdoor approval process to ramp up otherwise unlawful use of neonicotinoids and other harmful pesticides,” said Nathan Donley, a scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “We’re talking about millions of acres being sprayed with poisons that are known to kill pollinators.”
Posted in Environment | Tags: neonicotinoids, Toxic pesticides
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 3, 2020
Job Openings: Antelope’s Valley Visitor Services Park Aides
Antelope Valley posted
Great Basin District is seeking to hire ten Visitor Services Park Aides for the 2020 spring Antelope Valley poppy season. The reporting location is the Antelope Valley CA Poppy Reserve at 15101 Lancaster Road, Lancaster CA 93536 (16 miles east of Hwy 14). Applications must be received by January 6th, 2020. See below
These positions will work under the direction of the Supervising State Park Ranger. The visitor services park aide duties will include operating the entrance station at the Antelope Valley CA Poppy Reserve, collection of park fees, and completing end-of-day cash register accounting and associated collections paperwork. These positions are a primary point of contact for park visitors and will provide information on the park(s), explain and advise park rules, and give directions to park facilities, surrounding area features, and establishments.
Required skills are reporting of park issues and problems to lead staff, and basic reading, writing and math skills. Reliable transportation is essential due to the remote work location as well as a valid class C driver’s license. This is a uniformed position and the successful candidate will be required to purchase and wear a state parks uniform, and must complete and pass a DOJ live scan.
These positions are seasonal with an approximate start date of February 3rd, 2020. For further information regarding this position, please contact Matthew Williams at (661) 369-1148.
Applications must be received by January 6th, 2020. To apply, complete a California State Application Form (https://jobs.ca.gov/pdf/std678.pdf) and mail or deliver it to:
Great Basin District
Attn: Personnel
15101 Lancaster Road
Lancaster, CA 93536
Posted in Park | Tags: Antelope Valley Visitor Services Park Aides
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 2, 2020
Thousands Flee Fires in Australia as States Warn Crisis Will Worsen
The New York Times reports
“It’s going to be a blast furnace,” one official said, after predictions that next few days would be the worst yet in an already catastrophic fire season.
All along the southeastern coast of Australia, tens of thousands of people abandoned their homes on Thursday after the authorities called for evacuations, warning that the massive fires headed their way this weekend might be the worst yet in an already catastrophic season.
Read full story at Thousands Flee Fires in Australia as States Warn Crisis Will Worsen – The New York Times
Posted in Environment | Tags: Australian Fires, Climate change
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 2, 2020
Satellite constellations: Astronomers warn of threat to view of Universe
The BBC reports
Astronomers are warning that their view of the Universe could be under threat.
From next week, a campaign to launch thousands of new satellites will begin in earnest, offering high-speed internet access from space.
But the first fleets of these spacecraft, which have already been sent into orbit by US company SpaceX, are affecting images of the night sky.
They are appearing as bright white streaks, so dazzling that they are competing with the stars.
Read full article at Satellite constellations: Astronomers warn of threat to view of Universe – BBC News
Posted in Astronomy | Tags: Satellite Constellations, Star Watching
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 1, 2020
2020 Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events
The astronomy calendar of celestial events for 2020 contains dates for notable celestial events including moon phases, meteor showers, eclipses, oppositions, conjunctions, and other interesting events. To see calendar go to Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events 2020 – Sea and Sky
Posted in Astronomy | Tags: 2020 Astronomy Calendar
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 31, 2019
Regional Parks Botanic Garden Photos 12/31/19
Today I was in the Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park in Berkeley. It is a botanic garden of California native plants. Although only a few flowers are in bloom, it is a good place to see nature in winter. There are many other things to see and photograph such as snowberries, lichens, cactus and birds. Below is a slideshow of some of what I photographed today. To see larger higher quality photos you can go to to my Flickr album Regional Parks Botanic Garden 12/31/19. You also see other photos from the garden on the garden’s Flickr group page Regional Parks Botanic Garden.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 31, 2019
January 2020 CNPS Field Trips
California Native Plant Society Chapters:
If you are interested in information on other chapters go to: http://www.cnps.org/cnps/chapters/
If you are interested in more information on any of the programs below go to the chapter website.
Bristlecone (Mono, Inyo and NE Kern counties) http://bristleconecnps.org/index.php
East Bay http://www.ebcnps.org/
January 4, 2:00 pm, field trip to Huddart County Park
El Dorado (Sierra foothills around Placerville) http://www.eldoradocnps.org/chapterPages/home.html
Marin http://www.marin.edu/cnps/
Monterey https://montereybay.cnps.org/events/field-trips
Sunday, January 5, 2019 Fabulous Ferns and Seedlings
Saturday January 11 Buzzaards Roost at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
Monday January 13 Point Lobos Mushroom Walk
Thursday January 23 Mount Madonna Fetid Adder’s Tongue Hike
Sacramento Valley http://www.sacvalleycnps.org/
Santa Clara Valley http://www.cnps-scv.org/
Wed. Jan 1 10am – 1pm Año Nuevo State Preserve New Year Hike (San Mateo County)
Santa Cruz http://www.cruzcnps.org/
January 11 — 9:30 am to noon San Lorenzo River
Friday, January 17 Wilder Ranch State Park
Yerba Buena (San Francisco/Northern San Mateo) http://www.cnps-yerbabuena.org/
January 12 1-3 pm San Bruno Mountain: Ridge Lichens
January 18 Saturday San Bruno Mountain: Saddle and Bog Trails
Posted in Talks, Walks & Hikes | Tags: California Native Plant Society, Mushrooms, talk, Walks
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 30, 2019
January 2020 Birding Field Trips (corrected)
January 2020 Golden Gate Audubon Birding Field Trips
For more information on any of the trips below go to http://goldengateaudubon.org/field-trips/fieldtrips/
- Tilden Nature Area, Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley Friday, January 3, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
- Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, Oakland Saturday, January 4, noon–3 p.m. (due to tides)
- Biking and Birding Marin Saturday, January 4, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- Lafayette Community Park, Lafayette Sunday, January 5, 8:30–11:00 a.m.
- San Francisco Botanical Garden Sunday, January 5, 8:00–11:00 a.m.
- Blake Garden, Kensington Wednesday, January 8, 9:00–11:00 a.m.
- Hilltop Lake Park, Richmond Wednesday, January 8, 9:00–10:45 a.m.
- Hayward Regional Shoreline, San Lorenzo and Hayward
Winton Avenue to Grant Avenue (one-way with car shuttle)
Friday, January 10, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. - Creekside Park on Cerrito Creek, Albany Saturday, January 11, 10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
- UCSF Mt. Sutro Open Space Reserve, San Francisco Saturday, January 11, 8:30–11 a.m.
- Arrowhead Marsh, MLK Jr. Regional Shoreline, Oakland Saturday, January 11, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- Bicycle trip: Arrowhead Marsh, MLK Jr. Regional Shoreline, Oakland Saturday, January 11, 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Meet at EBRPD Tidewater Staging Area 10:00 a.m. Google Maps link: https://goo.gl/maps/XJXZbRh1aQxSBXZJ7 - Salesforce Park, San Francisco Tuesday, January 14, 8:00–8:45 a.m. Repeats on 2/11, 3/10, and 4/14
- Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, Oakland Wednesday January 15, 8:30–10:30 a.m.
- Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary, Crown Beach Thursday, January 16, 8:00–10:00 a.m.
- Valle Vista Staging Area, Upper San Leandro Reservoir, Moraga
Friday, January 17, 8:30–11:30 a.m. - Corona Heights, San Francisco Friday, January 17, 8:00–10:00 a.m.
- Alameda Creek and Coyote Hills Regional Park by bicycle, Union City/Fremont Saturday, January 18, 10 a.m.–about 3 p.m.
- Fort Mason Community Garden, San Francisco Sunday, January 19, 8:00–10:00 a.m.
- Lake Merritt and Lakeside Park, Oakland Wednesday, January 22, 9:30 a.m.–noon
- Staten Island and Cosumnes River Preserve, Central Valley
(Optional overnight stay in Willows for Sacramento and Colusa NWRs) Saturday, January 25, with optional extension to Sunday, January 26 - Albany Shoreline: McLaughlin Shoreline State Park and Albany Mudflats Sunday, January 26, 1:00–3:00 p.m.
Posted in Birds, Walks & Hikes | Tags: Bay Area Audubon Field Trips, Birding, Birding Field Trips
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | December 29, 2019
2019 San Francisco Christmas Bird Count
from Golden Gate Audubon
Rarities and sunshine at 2019 SF CBC
Thanks to all participants in this year’s San Francisco Christmas Bird Count – we had a great turnout and a clear (but chilly) day for counting.
Count Week is still going through Monday 12/27. Hoping we can still pick up a few more species!.
First the high points:
Black was the theme for uncommon warblers: Black-throated Grey, Black and White, and Blackburnian were all seen. Some uncommon species that seem to be becoming annuals were Tropical Kingbird, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Western Tanager and Orchard Oriole.
Among the less-frequently reported species, we had a Redhead and Rhinoceros Auklet (Sloat seawatch), and Northern Fulmar (Funston afternoon seawatch). The continuing Rock Sandpiper at Heron’s Head showed up on count day (a first on SF Count) but the Red-Footed Booby did not. We do have the Booby for Count Week, but if anyone saw it yesterday, please get in touch.
Posted in Birding Reports, Birds | Tags: 2019 San Francisco Christmas Bird Count
Natural History Wanderings 