California Wildflower Report posted
I hiked the Gabrielino Trail to get to Sturtevant Falls in Altadena, CA in the Angeles National Forest on June 10, 2019, for my photo hike. I thought the wildflowers superbloom was all over and finished here in Southern California, but I was surprised and delighted to find and photograph some of these wildflower beauties on my way to Sturtevant Falls waterfall!
See photos at (3) California Wildflower Report – Home
The New York Times reports
On their migrations north, famished birds stop to feast on eggs laid by horseshoe crabs. But the crabs were overfished, and conservationists say that some bird species may not recover.
Read story at The Shorebirds of Delaware Bay Are Going Hungry – The New York Times
Posted in Birds | Tags: Delaware Bay Shorebirds
Botanical Wanderings – California reports
plenty still blooming in Tehachapi. Yesterday a hike I always do was nearly impassable with growth, which was a first. See photos at (3) Botanical Wanderings – California
Carson Pass Information Station has a new update
What a beautiful day it was up at Carson Pass today! Silver Lake is officially snow and ice free, well the lake is, the campsites are another story! Caples is melting, but there is still quite a bit more ice than what my dam photos are depicting… However you can see that there’s quite a bit of pollen dancing around!
Our friends at Caltrans, District 10 came and visited and repainted a bit!
Trail Report: South Bound towards Winnemucca there is still approximately 4 feet of snow on the ground in some areas. A skier said they skinned-up at our station and never had to take off their skis the entire way up (and down). It’s not clean snow, and it can be crusty in areas as well. North Bound towards Meiss looks like it’s melting quickly, but I didn’t receive any first hand accounts for that side today!
Posted in Walks & Hikes | Tags: Carson Pass Conditions
Henry Coe State Park has updated its wildflower bloom report at the Pine Ridge Association website with photos and a list of flowers now in bloom at: Henry W. Coe – Wildflower Guide.
New Website Link: Henry Coe has updated its website and changed the wildflower link. The new link is https://coepark.net/blooming
The New York Times reported
The White House tried to stop a State Department senior intelligence analyst from discussing climate science in congressional testimony this week, internal emails and documents show.
The State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research declined to make changes to the proposed testimony and the analyst, Rod Schoonover, an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, was ultimately allowed to speak before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on Wednesday.
Read full story at White House Tried to Stop Climate Science Testimony, Documents Show – The New York Times
Posted in Environment, Uncategorized | Tags: Trump Blocking Climate Science
Read about what to expect on the high country trails in the Sierra Nevada this season at What to expect from Sierra trails after an epic winter – SFChronicle.com
Posted in Walks & Hikes | Tags: High Sierra Hiking
eBird reports on Global Big Day results.
On 4 May, 34,000 people ventured outside in 173 countries, finding 6,816 species: 2/3rds of the world’s bird species in a single day. This is a new world record for the number of people birding on a single day. Incredibly, 684 of the total species reported were observed by only one eBirder of the day, showing the difference that a single person can make.
Read more at : Global Big Day 2019: the biggest day in birding – eBird
eBird also reported
This past month (May 2019), your contributions lifted eBird to unprecedented heights: more than 20 million bird observations in a single month. This is an average of 7.5 observations every second, 24 hrs a day, for the entire month.
Posted in Birding Reports, Birds | Tags: Global Big Day Results
California Wildflower Tipline has two new posts with photos
Sly Park, Pollack Pines 6-9-19, Lots of variety spread around the trail that circumnavigates Jenkinson Lake.
Placerita Canyon Nature Center, Newhall, CA, 6-7-19. Still a great variety of flowers to see on the trails. And although a few of the trails are still closed from the damage done by the 2016 Sand Fires and 2017 flooding, the other 5 trails are in great shape and offer beautiful scenery! Beauty is everywhere, go take a hike!
The New York Times reports
A New York Times analysis, based on research from Harvard Law School, Columbia Law School and other sources, counts more than 80 environmental rules and regulations on the way out under Mr. Trump.
Read full story at 83 Environmental Rules Being Rolled Back Under Trump – The New York Times
Posted in Environment, Uncategorized | Tags: Environmental Rule Rollbacks
California Wildflower Tipline has new photos for
Homestead Valley has a new wildflower update. See photos Homestead Valley June 9
NEW
– California coffeberry shrub is blooming in forests with clusters of white flowers.
– California honeysuckle is blooming with pink flowers on vines climbing bushes and trees.
– Hedge parsley*, native to Europe, is a listed invasive here. With pretty, carroty foliage, its small white flower clusters make vicious, prickly burrs when they go to seed. These burrs attach to socks or fur and are transported deep into our wildlands. Please weed now before the burrs are formed.
– Hellebore*, an orchid, is native to Eurasia and is blooming now in forests with stalks of greenish purple flowers.
– Lance leaf selfheal is blooming in bright sun with rich velvety purple whirled clusters.
EarthSky reports
Did you know that there are forests in the Arctic?
Lush underwater forests of large brown seaweeds (kelps) are particularly striking in the Arctic, especially in contrast to the land where ice scour (scraping of sea ice against the sea floor) and harsh climates leave the ground barren with little vegetation.
Kelp forests have been observed throughout the Arctic by Inuit, researchers and polar explorers. The Canadian Arctic alone represents 10 percent of the world’s coastlines, but we know little of the hidden kelp forests there.
Posted in Environment | Tags: Arctic's Underwater Forests, Kelp
See photos for Mount Diablo State Park flowers in bloom at (3) California Wildflower Tipline
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: California Wildflowers, Mt. Diablo Wildflowers, Wildflower Bloom Reports
The Marin CNPS Facebook page has wildflower photos fromRodeo Beach, in the Marin Headlands and Elephant Rocks, Dillon Beach at (6) Marin Native Plants
ScienceDaily reports
Larch trees in the permafrost forests of northeastern China — the northernmost tree species on Earth — are growing faster as a result of climate change. A new study of growth rings from Dahurian larch in China’s northern forests finds the hardy trees grew more from 2005 to 2014 than in the preceding 40 years.
Read story at Climate change is giving old trees a growth spurt — ScienceDaily
Posted in Environment | Tags: Climate change, Global warming
See wildflower photos for Clover Springs Preserve in Cloverdale in northern Sonoma County at (6) Botanical Wanderings – California
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area has one new report
This has been a year when almost any hike you take in a wild place is going to give you a gratifying display of wildflowers. The popular media has frequently provided us all with dramatic flower reports and suggestions of where to see the more spectacular displays. Added to that is the drama and beauty of the recovering burned landscapes here in the Santa Monica Mountains. All in all this is a flower season not to be missed.
| Malibu Creek State Park | Backbone Trail | 6/6 |
| There are still a lot of wildflowers blooming on the Backbone Trail where it crosses Piuma Road. I saw Golden Yarrow, Fern Leaf Phacelia, Indian Pinks, Wooley Blue Curl, Elegant Clarkia, Fleabane Aster,California Buckwheat, California Fuchsia, Orange Monkey Flower, Black Sage, Purple Sage, Bush Mallow, and Canyon Sunflower. To access the Trailhead, drive up Piuma Road about 2 miles from Las Virgenes Road to the first big hair pin turn. This is where the Backbone Trail crosses Piuma. There is only parking for one car at the trailhead, so drive till you find a turnout to park in, and walk back down. Take the trail on the east side of the street. |
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Fueled by warmer temps and spring rain, forest wildflowers are emerging and beginning to bloom. However, many of these early flowers take a little more effort to spot, like the big-leaved sandwort (Moehringia macrophylla). The whole plant is just a couple inches tall, with tiny white flowers.
Please Note: As snow melts away, it may be tempting to skirt remaining patches of snow that are covering trails. However, by going off trail you are walking on and damaging the wildflowers that you may be coming to see! It is better to stay on trail even if that means crossing snow, particularly in the high-visitation meadows around Paradise and Sunrise.
Wildflower Reports
Wildflower Photos
The photos featured here are usually taken by park staff and volunteers from all over the park. Share your own wildflower photos in the Mount Rainier Flickr group! Higher resolution versions of wildflower photos are available on Mount Rainier’s Flickr page.
Plan Your Visit
Paradise and Sunrise are two of the main visitor center areas at Mount Rainier National Park. Both areas are well known for their impressive wildflower meadows. The park also maintains dozens of trails perfect for wildflower viewing.
Yosemite does not have an opening date for Tioga Road at this time. All other roads are now open. Current road status is posted at https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
Here is a current report on plans for repairs and expected delays this summer.
Current ProjectsBig Oak Flat and Tioga Road Delays (through summer 2019)Beginning Monday, June 10, 2019 (conditions permitting), crews will begin pavement preservation work on the Big Oak Flat Road and adjoining secondary roads, such as the Hodgdon Meadow Road and Crane Flat Campground. The work consists of patching potholes, placing a seal coat, and then replacing the centerline rumble strips and re-striping the road. The Big Oak Flat Road work will begin at the northern park boundary and end at the Crane Flat intersection. Once Tioga Road is open to traffic, the pavement preservation work will continue onto Tioga Road, with similar delays and traffic control. The pavement preservation work will continue through summer 2019. Summer 2019Monday – Friday: 7 am – 7 pm; Expect delays up to 15 minutes No weekend, federal holiday, or night work is scheduled. Power Line Repairs for Big Oak Flat Tunnel Lighting (June 2019)Work will continue through the end of June with intermittent 15-minute delays as crews enter and exit the roadway with materials and supplies. To find out more information about the current status of all park roads, call the park information line at 209/372-0200 (then 1, 1). |
Posted in Drives, Park | Tags: No Tioga Road Opening Date, Yosemite Road Conditions
The New York Times reports
An all-white, albino panda has appeared in a natural reserve in China, the first of its kind to be documented, an expert said this week.
Read story and see photo at White Panda Is Spotted in China for the First Time – The New York Times
Posted in Animals | Tags: White Panda
EarthSky reports
How to celebrate World Oceans Day
World Oceans Day is June 8, 2019. It’s a time to celebrate the oceans and take steps to protect ocean health. The World Oceans Day 2019 website recommends three ways to participate in the day.
Browse event ideas and/or download resources. More promotional materials here (posters available in 17+ languages!). Find resources specific to plastic pollution here.
Register your event and activities at the World Oceans Day website.
Show your support on social media. Download social media assets including cover photos, social media tiles and more. Check out World Oceans Day gifs and stickers through Giphy. Follow @WorldOceansDay on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and make sure to tag #WorldOceansDay!
Also, many zoos and aquariums are hosting special events for World Oceans Day. Check out a global map of World Oceans Day events for 2019 here.
Why celebrate Earth’s oceans at all? Whether you live near a coast, or not, we are all intimately connected with the oceans. Here are some of the connections:
Oceans cover 71% of Earth’s surface, and they hold 97% of our planet’s water.
The oceans help feed us and provide most of the oxygen that we breathe.
Oceans also play a key role in regulating the weather and climate. Water evaporating from the oceans falls inland as rain, which we then use to drink and grow crops.
A variety of life-saving medicinal compounds including anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer drugs have been discovered in the oceans.
The oceans provide us with abundant opportunities for recreation and inspiration.
Read more at WoWor How to celebrate World Oceans Day | Earth | EarthSky
Posted in Environment | Tags: World Oceans Day
Henry Coe State Park has updated its wildflower bloom report at the Pine Ridge Association website with photos and a list of flowers now in bloom at: Henry W. Coe – Wildflower Guide.
New Website Link: Henry Coe has updated its website and changed the wildflower link. The new link is https://coepark.net/blooming
EarthSky reports
Scientists have discovered remnants of ancient ice sheets buried in sand a mile (1.6 km) beneath Mars’ north pole, they report in a new study.
The team found layers of sand and ice that were as much as 90 percent water in some places. If it melted, the newly-discovered ice would be equivalent to a global layer of water around Mars at least 5 feet (1.5 meters) deep, which could be one of the largest water reservoirs on the planet, according to the researchers.
Read full story at Ancient ice sheets found under Mars’ north pole | Space | EarthSky
Posted in Environment | Tags: Mars Ice Sheets
Center for Biological Diversity News Release
Agriculture Department’s ‘Wildlife Services’ Killed Nearly 1.5 Million Native Animals in 2018
WASHINGTON— The arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture known as Wildlife Services killed nearly 1.5 million native animals during 2018, according to new data released by the agency this week.
The multimillion-dollar federal wildlife-killing program targets wolves, coyotes, cougars, birds and other wild animals for destruction — primarily to benefit the agriculture industry. Of the 2.6 million animals killed last year, nearly 1.5 million were native wildlife species.
“I’m outraged that the Department of Agriculture continues to needlessly slaughter our important native wildlife,” said Collette Adkins, carnivore conservation director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “There’s simply no scientific basis for continuing to shoot, poison and strangle more than a million animals every year. Even pets and endangered species are being killed, and it has to stop.”
According to the latest report, the federal program last year intentionally killed 357 gray wolves; 68,186 adult coyotes, plus an unknown number of coyote pups in 361 destroyed dens; 515,915 red-winged blackbirds; 338 black bears; 375 mountain lions; 1,002 bobcats; 173 river otters plus 537 killed “unintentionally”; 3,349 foxes, plus an unknown number of fox pups in 133 dens; and 22,521 beavers.
The program also killed 17,739 prairie dogs outright, as well as an unknown number killed in more than 47,547 burrows that were destroyed or fumigated. These figures almost certainly underestimate the actual number of animals killed, as program insiders have revealed that Wildlife Services kills many more animals than it reports.
According to the new data, the wildlife-killing program unintentionally killed more than 2,700 animals last year, including bears, bobcats, foxes, muskrats, otters, porcupines, raccoons and turtles. Its killing of non-target birds included chickadees, cardinals, ducks, eagles, hawks, herons, owls and turkeys.
Dozens of domestic animals, including pets and livestock, were also killed or caught. Such data reveals the indiscriminate nature of painful leg-hold traps, strangulation snares, poisons and other methods used by federal agents.
“The barbaric, outdated tactics Wildlife Services uses to destroy America’s animals are appalling and need to end,” Adkins said. “Wolves, bears and other carnivores help balance the web of life where they live. They should be protected, not persecuted.”
The wildlife-killing program contributed to the decline of gray wolves, Mexican wolves, black-footed ferrets, black-tailed prairie dogs and other imperiled species during the first half of the 1900s and continues to impede their recovery today.
Posted in Animals | Tags: Animals Killed by Wildlife Services
The San Francisco Chronicle reports
Forecasters working the Tuesday evening shift at the National Weather Service’s San Diego office were confused.
A large echo indicating rainfall showed up on weather radar over the San Gabriel Mountains near the town of Wrightwood, Calif. but there were no clouds in the sky.
It turns out a massive cloud of ladybugs, called a bloom, measuring 10 miles wide and 15 miles long was flying around above 5,000 feet elevation.
Read story and see images at 15-mile-long cloud of ladybugs over California appears on weather radar – SFGate
Posted in Animals | Tags: Ladybug Cloud on Weather Radar
NPR reports
It’s Always Wildfire Season Now, Says Forest Service Chief :
The chief of the U.S. Forest Service is warning that a billion acres of land across America are at risk of catastrophic wildfires like last fall’s deadly Camp Fire that destroyed most of Paradise, Calif.
Read story at It’s Always Wildfire Season Now, Says Forest Service Chief : NPR
Posted in Environment, Park | Tags: Forest Fires
NPR reports
As of the end of May, four dead whales had been found thus far in Alaska. But those come after at least 60 other whale deaths along the West Coast this year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That is the highest number in two decades.
Read story at Why Are Gray Whales Dying? Researchers Cut Through The Blubber For Answers : NPR
Posted in Animals | Tags: Gray Whale Deaths
Henry Coe State Park has updated its wildflower bloom report at the Pine Ridge Association website with photos and a list of flowers now in bloom at: Henry W. Coe – Wildflower Guide.
New Website Link: Henry Coe has updated its website and changed the wildflower link. The new link is https://coepark.net/blooming
See photos taken off Highway 168 and White Mountain Road, east of Big Pine on May 31-June 2. Great floral diversity right now between 6-8,000’ elevation, some charismatic megaflora but also many “belly plants” at California Wildflower Tipline
Natural History Wanderings 