The BBC reports
Scientists have produced new evidence that climate change is driving tropical bird species who live near a mountain top to extinction.
Researchers have long predicted many creatures will seek to escape a warmer world by moving towards higher ground.
However, those living at the highest levels cannot go any higher, and have been forecast to decline.
Read full story at Climate change is ‘escalator to extinction’ for mountain birds – BBC News
Posted in Birds, Environment | Tags: Climate change, Extinction Risk, Mountain Birds
California Fall Color has new posts. Highlights include:
See many photos and full detailed reports at California Fall Color
Posted in Fall Foliage | Tags: Autumn Color, Autumn Foliage, Autumn leaf color, California Fall Color, Fall Color, Fall Foliage
NarCity has published a map and information on fall color hotpots in Ontario, Canada at This Epic Map Will Take You To All The Best Fall Foliage Lookouts In Ontario – Narcity
Polling Place Locator: https://www.vote.org/polling-place-locator/
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: VOTE
Bay Nature has an article that talks about where to see bats in the Bay Area
The most impressive bat viewing within a reasonable drive of the Bay Area is probably at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, where one of the largest seasonal colonies of Mexican free-tailed bats in California roosts under the Yolo Causeway. In the summer, you can see this massive colony streaming out in the evening to hunt for insects. The Yolo Basin Foundation leads public bat walks throughout the summer to watch this colony emerge from their roosting spot. These programs are done for the season, but keep an eye out for events next year.
Read full article and learn more at Where Are there Bats in the Bay Area? –
Posted in Animals, Uncategorized | Tags: Bay Area Bats
The U.S. Forage Export Council explains what the difference is between Hay and Straw
People unfamiliar with our industry are often confused by the words “straw” and “hay” and mistakenly think the terms are interchangeable. They’re not!
Both straw and hay can be called “forage” but there’s an important distinction between the two.
Straw is a by-product of seed (or grain) production. For example, a farmer who grows wheat will harvest the grain; the dry plant that remains after harvest is straw. The same applies to grass seed farmers in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, which is a major source of turf seed used on lawns and sports fields around the world.
Hay is grown specifically, and it’s cut before the plant goes to seed. Because the plant pumps nutrients into the seed or grain, hay will have more nutrients than straw. Although dairy farmers and cattle ranches typically buy on the basis of protein, everyone recognizes the value of fiber, of which hay and straw provide a lot.
Examples of exported straw include fescue and ryegrass, and exported hays include alfalfa and timothy. Some forages, like sudangrass, are available in both hay and straw.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: difference between hay and straw
California Fall Color has new posts. Highlights include:
See many photos and full detailed reports at California Fall Color
Posted in Fall Foliage | Tags: Autumn Color, Autumn Foliage, Autumn leaf color, California Fall Color, Fall Color, Fall Foliage
Yankee Fall foliage’s map now shows fall color is is now fading in most ofNew England. Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont Most of Massachusetts is now at peak and Rhode Island and Connecticut are showing moderate color with patches of peak. Check out the continuing updated map and location reports at New England Fall Foliage.
Posted in Fall Foliage | Tags: Autumn Color, Autumn Foliage, Autumn leaf color, Fall Color, Fall Foliage, New England Fall Color
Even though we had some cooler weather this weekend, creating bon-fire and jacket weather, the trees are still trying to hold on to green. Every now and then you will catch a glimpse of a tree changing to its fall colors.
There has been a large increase in fall colors on the Hoosier National Forest! Though, there is still a lot of greenery, fall colors are noticeable and at about 40%. Forecasts predict cold nights and cool sunny days, which should bring us to peak in the next week or two. It’s getting close to optimal scenic drive weather through the Forest.
Fall is in the air across the Hiawatha National Forest! Visitors will find extraordinary leaf color on both the east and west zones of the Forest, from Lake Superior to Lakes Huron and Lake Michigan.Ottawa National Forest
Dreary days and little sunshine have seemed to put an end to brilliant fall color on the Ottawa. We still have some snow on the ground in areas from a weekend blast with more rain and possible snow in the forecast.
New York Fall Foliage reports Week of October 24-30, 2018
Posted in Fall Foliage | Tags: Autumn Color, Autumn Foliage, Autumn leaf color, Fall Color, Fall Foliage, New York Fall Color
The BBC reports
Killer whales are in deep trouble because of persistent chemical pollution in the environment, researchers say.
A new study suggests the long-term viability of more than half of the different orca groups around the globe is now in question.
Read full story at Pollution threatens the future of killer whales – BBC News
Posted in Animals, Environment | Tags: Killer Whales
Center for Biological Diversity News Release
ANCHORAGE— The Trump administration today approved the first Arctic offshore oil drilling development in federal waters. Hilcorp Alaska received approval to build the controversial Liberty project, an artificial drilling island and underwater pipeline that risks oil spills in the sensitive Beaufort Sea and threatens polar bears and Arctic communities.
The Trump administration is also in the process of drastically expanding offshore oil leasing in the Arctic and other U.S. oceans and relaxing offshore drilling safety regulations adopted in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, including special Arctic drilling rules President Obama adopted for these remote and treacherous waters.
Posted in Environment | Tags: Arctic Drilling, Liberty Project
Fall Colors in Mono County – Mono County Tourism reports below. See photos at: Fall Colors in Mono County – Mono County Tourism and Film Commission
Walker/Coleville/Topaz
Lee Vining
Crowley Lake/McGee Creek/Convict Lake
Rock Creek Canyon
California Fall Color has a large number of new posts. Highlights include:
See many photos and full detailed reports at California Fall Color
Posted in Fall Foliage | Tags: Autumn Color, Autumn Foliage, Autumn leaf color, California Fall Color, Fall Color, Fall Foliage
Berkeleyside reports on Berkeley’s active and growing wild turkeys
Wild turkeys are a staple of the city now, as common as bikers and street vendors. Berkeley residents have spotted flocks trotting down University Avenue and loitering outside Berkeley Espresso.
Berkeley’s wild turkey population took off about nine years ago in the more suburban neighborhoods of the city, said UC Berkeley Professor of Conservation Biology Steven Beissinger. Since then, the birds have become increasingly comfortable making their way into the city’s busier areas.
Read full story at There’s ‘a heck of a lot of turkeys’ in Berkeley — Berkeleyside
Posted in Animals | Tags: Berkeley's Turkeys, Wild Turkeys
California Fall Color has new posts. Highlights include:
See many photos and full detailed reports at California Fall Color
Posted in Fall Foliage | Tags: Autumn Color, Autumn Foliage, Autumn leaf color, California Fall Color, Fall Color, Fall Foliage
Bay Nature has a story answering the question “Why is the Bay Area Cool When It’s Hot Elsewhere?”
Most of the state has set record temperatures this summer, but San Francisco has been cool and almost permanently cloudy because of its marine layer. And while Southern California is setting water temperature records, I heard the sea surface temperature was 49 degrees at Bodega Bay in early August. What’s going on? Why has it managed to be so cool, or at least, normal, in this small stretch of Northern California while it’s so extremely hot everywhere else?
Read full story at Bay Nature Magazine: Why is the Bay Area Cool When It’s Hot Elsewhere?
Posted in Environment | Tags: Bay Area Cool Climate
California Fall Color has new posts. Highlights include:
See many photos and full detailed reports at California Fall Color
Posted in Fall Foliage | Tags: Autumn Color, Autumn Foliage, Autumn leaf color, California Fall Color, Fall Color, Fall Foliage
The Desert Sun reports onthe history of the palm oases in the Coachella Valley and discusses research explaining how palm trees ended up in the desert.
Read the full story at Palm Springs natural desert palm oasis is the largest in the world
Posted in Desert, Uncategorized | Tags: Palm Trees in the Desert
California Fall Color has new posts. Highlights include:
See many photos and full detailed reports at California Fall Color
Posted in Fall Foliage | Tags: Autumn Color, Autumn Foliage, Autumn leaf color, California Fall Color, Fall Color, Fall Foliage
The Bluefield Daily Telegraph has an article with tips for taking fall foliage photos with an iphone. If you are new to iphone photography, looking to improve your phone photography or just looking for a good review check out An “iPhone-ographer’s” guide to photographing fall’s splendor | Lifestyles | bdtonline.com
Posted in Fall Foliage, Photography, Uncategorized | Tags: iPhone Fall Photography
Yankee Fall foliage’s map now shows fall color is changing fast in New England. Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont show many areas past peak but some parts are still at peak color. Most of Massachusetts is now at peak and Rhode Island and Connecticut are showing moderate color. Check out the continuing updated map and location reports at New England Fall Foliage.
Posted in Fall Foliage | Tags: Autumn Color, Autumn Foliage, Autumn leaf color, Fall Color, Fall Foliage, New England Fall Color
Black-crowned Night-heron
Today we went birding at Pt. Isabel Regional Shoreline in Richmond, CA. We walked the Richmond Bay Trail from Rydin Rd. to Meeker Slough. We saw 37 different species. The main trail was best for shorebirds and waders. Meeker slough was best for waterbirds. Best finds were the Black-crowned Night-herons that regularly hang out in the trees at the parking lot and one Black Oyster catcher. There were more Yellow-rumped Warblers today than I have usually seen on this trail. Monarch Butterflies were flying about. California Fuchsia/ Epilobium canum ( formerly Zauschneria californica is in bloom. The amount of native plants continues to increase thanks to the twice monthly California Native Plant Society restoration project.
Mallard
Click read more to see eBird list for today
Posted in Birding Reports, Birds | Tags: Bird report, Birding Pt. Isabel
The San Francisco Chronicle reports
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve has gotten so crowded that state park officials are considering implementing a new, permanent requirement that visitors secure a reservation for peak visiting times before arriving.
Read full story at Headed to Point Lobos? Soon, you might need to make a reservation first – SFGate
Posted in Park | Tags: Point Lobos
California Fall Color has new posts. Highlights include:
See many photos and full detailed reports at California Fall Color
Posted in Fall Foliage | Tags: Autumn Color, Autumn Foliage, Autumn leaf color, California Fall Color, Fall Color, Fall Foliage
The BBC reports
Two snub-nosed monkeys sitting on a stone is the top shot at Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2018.
See the top photos at Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Gazing monkeys image wins – BBC News
Posted in Photography | Tags: Wildlife Photographer of the Year
California Fall Color has has a couple of new posts. Highlights include:
See many photos and full detailed reports at California Fall Color
Posted in Fall Foliage | Tags: Autumn Color, Autumn Foliage, Autumn leaf color, California Fall Color, Fall Color, Fall Foliage
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Many colors can still be seen in the prairie through October – the yellows of goldenrod and sawtooth sunflower and the white and purple asters. The grasses even change color too with the approaching colder weather.
The Shawnee National Forest is still trying to hold on to some of the summer green. But here in beautiful Southern Illinois with the temperatures dropping and with the rain this past weekend we still have not hit our peak of fall color change. We are still mostly green with hints of yellow and orange. We should start to notice more change in color as the temperatures continue to drop. Autumn is a great time of the year to visit the sights in the Shawnee.
Not much change in the colors. Still remaining around 30%.Weather considerably cooler than last week with highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s.These temperatures will remain constant through this week.
Posted in Garden | Tags: Native Plant Sale
California Fall Color has many new posts. Highlights include:
N. Fork Bishop Creek
See many photos and full detailed reports at California Fall Color
Posted in Fall Foliage | Tags: Autumn Color, Autumn Foliage, Autumn leaf color, California Fall Color, Fall Color, Fall Foliage
Natural History Wanderings 