Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 5, 2018

A National Fall Color Map

Vox reports

The website SmokyMountains.com (a site promoting Smoky Mountains tourism) created this interactive map to determine peak fall colors across the United States by county. You can slide the bar at the bottom of the map to see how the peak foliage spreads out across the country over the coming weeks. Use it to figure out the right time to do some leaf peeping in your area or on a weekend trip.

See interactive fall color map and full article at Fall colors 2018 map: when and where autumn foliage will peak – Vox

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 5, 2018

Northern Fur Seals Make Comeback in the Bay Area

Bay Nature reports on a Bay Area conservation success story

The return of northern fur seals to the Farallon Islands has become one of the Bay Area’s
great conservation success stories. But it’s not over yet. Summer is pupping season, and the
islands’ fur seal population continues to grow so rapidly that the animals not only are
snatching prime beachfront territory from larger yet less aggressive California sea lions,
but could someday potentially displace other, more sensitive species, including Cassin’s and
rhinoceros auklets, whose nesting season partially overlaps with the fur seal pupping season.

Read full story at Bay Nature Magazine: Seals Make a Fur-ious Comeback in the Bay
Area Bay Nature

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 4, 2018

UC Berkeley Botanical Garden Photos 9/3/18

Photos of the UC – Berkeley Botanical Garden taken on September 3, 2018

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 4, 2018

Rocky Mountain N.P. Fall Color Is Starting Early

submitted by Patrick Lanz of Afield Trails
I wanted to let you know that the aspen season is starting a bit early this year on Colorado’s front range! I’ve heard from a few different directions this last weekend that things are turning golden.
I’ve done something that I hope will be fun with the RMNP app too — I’ve changed the aspen groves on the map to gold, which should make finding the hike to do and how far to go very easy..
iPhone hasn’t picked up the change, but it’s out for Android in the lastest version.
Links for Rocky Mt. National Park app:

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 4, 2018

Proposal To Evict Elk From Point Reyes

Center for Biological Diversity News Release

California’s Rep. Huffman Joins Anti-Public Lands Zealot to Evict Elk From Point Reyes

Legislation Enshrines Private Cattle Ranching in National Seashore

POINT REYES, Calif.— Reps. Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Rob Bishop (R-Utah) introduced legislation this week to cut the public out of management plans for public lands and wildlife at Point Reyes National Seashore. H.R. 6687 would enshrine private cattle ranching and evict native tule elk from large portions of the park in California’s Marin County.

“It’s disturbing to see Rep. Huffman teaming up with a political extremist who hates public lands to evict native elk from one of America’s most beautiful national parks,”
said Jeff Miller with the Center for Biological Diversity. “Huffman’s alliance with Bishop furthers the right-wing’s attempt to weaken protections for America’s public lands so that corporations can exploit them. It’s deeply disappointing to see him joining this dangerous movement.”

The legislation would require the Interior Department to “maintain working dairies and ranches on agricultural property” in the park and give private commercial interests 20-year leases for cattle grazing. It also orders eviction of tule elk from ranch lease areas.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 3, 2018

2018 Monterey Birding Festival Sept. 28 to 30

 The 2018 Monterey Bay Birding Festival is September 28 to 30

There are field trips, lectures, workshops, and talks. Field Trips include visits to the habitats of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Elkhorn Slough, and Pinnacles National Monument and Pelagic trips. Specially designed field trips will take participants to Big Sur to see California condors.

2018 Keynote Speakers:
Friday, September 28 | John Muir Laws
Saturday, September 29 | Jonathan Franzen

For more information including schedule and registration go to: http://montereybaybirding.org
Register early as trips fill.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 2, 2018

Courts Place Temporary Block On Grizzly Hunting Around Yellowstone

Alt National Park Service reports

A federal judge in Montana issued a court order late Thursday temporarily blocking the first trophy hunt of grizzly bears in and around Yellowstone National Park in more than 40 years. U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen issued a 14-day restraining order, siding with environmentalists and Native American groups who oppose the hunt. The order came two days before Wyoming and Idaho were scheduled to allow licensed grizzly hunts that could lead to as many as 23 bears being killed for sport in the two states.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 1, 2018

Homestead Valley Land Trust Wildflowers 8/31/18

Homestead Valley Land Trust  has a new report for August 31.  See map and photos at Homestead Valley Land Trust

NEW
– Common California aster blooms tall and purple at meadow edges.
– Coyote bush, the male and female bushes are blooming in meadows.
– Pennyroyal, native to Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East is blooming with lavender tufted flowers below Cowboy Rock. Crushed pennyroyal has a strong minty smell and is a traditional folk remedy, emmenagogue, abortifacient, and culinary herb.
– Roughleaf aster is blooming in the forests.
– Yampah with its tall white umbels at the end of a naked stalk is blooming in meadows.

Forests
Fading
– Rosilla is blooming with its backwards facing yellow fringe is blooming along the creek between 11 and 12.

Forest edges
Fading
– Sticky monkeyflower is blooming orange on bushes in meadows. It will bloom throughout the summer heat when its dark leaves will become sticky.

Meadows
Fading
– California everlasting with its white paper-like flowers blooms in meadows.
– California poppy, one of the longest bloomers, is bright orange in meadows up on the ridge.
– Common yarrow with its white cluster is blooming up on the ridge.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 1, 2018

Act To Help Save The Endangered Species Act

from the Xerces Society

The Endangered Species Act needs your help!

We need your voice to help defend one of our most important wildlife protection laws.

Since 1973, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) has been at the forefront of species protection, placing the United States as a world leader in science-based conservation. The ESA is our nation’s most effective law for protecting animals and plants in danger of extinction, and has prevented 99 percent of listed species from going extinct. Despite how effective this law has been at its intended purpose, the current administration has its sights on weakening the ESA to the detriment of the species it was designed to protect. The rusty patched bumble bee teeters on the brink of extinction and in 2017, it became the first bee in the continental U.S. to be listed under the ESA. The proposed changes could affect how the ESA will provide protections to this and other disappearing species.

The ESA was signed by a Republican president, after passing through Congress with nearly universal bipartisan support. Public support for the ESA continues to be high. In fact, according to Ohio State University, three recent studiesshow that, on average, approximately 83 percent of the public—more than 4 out of 5 people—supports the ESA.

CLICK READ MORE TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU CAN DO

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 31, 2018

Major Threat To Democracy, Environment and Public Lands

from www.onenationunited.com

Republicans are quietly orchestrating a rogue constitutional convention

While Trump and his cohorts are dominating the headlines, Republicans are quietly orchestrating what may be the greatest threat our democracy has ever faced.

Backed by the Koch Brothers, ALEC, and many large corporations, the Republicans are pushing to amend the constitution by invoking an Article V convention. This would enable them to amend the Constitution with their conservative agenda. Once a constitutional convention is convened, there is virtually no limit to the harm these extremists could do. The effects would be for-all-purposes, irreversible. During the Obama years, Republicans gained control of the majority of state legislatures. 

Currently, Republicans control 67 of the 99 state legislative chambers in the country and control both chambers in 32 states. 
They control the White House and Congress. Basically, they control everything. They need 34 states to call for a constitutional convention, and they have 28 states onboard already. The next six states should be relatively straightforward for them to enlist in their plan.

The big issue is: the general public has no idea this is happening right under their noses. Corporations are coordinating with right-wing think tanks, and the legislators are executing their agenda. The general public isn’t asking for these policies, and they definitely aren’t asking for them to be etched into the Constitution. ALEC, the right-wing think tank that is coordinating this Article V convention is pro-voterID, against any campaign finance regulation, and have a fundamental doctrine that is anti-democratic.
Typically it takes two-thirds of the House and two-thirds of the Senate to vote for a proposed amendment, and the amendment must be ratified by at least three-quarters of the states. By invoking an Article V convention, they bypass this rigorous process and rewrite the constitution as they please. 
This destructive effort to radically change the Constitution must be countered and stopped.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 31, 2018

September Audubon Field Trips

Below is the September field trip schedule for Bay Area Audubon Chapters.

Golden Gate Audubon Society
For more details on trips go to http://www.goldengateaudubon.org/field-trips/field-trips/

PLEASE NOTE: Pre-registration is required for the Vaux Swift Field Trips on September 10th and 18th!
Spots are limited!
ALSO OF NOTE: World Shorebirds Day is September 6.
The organizers encourage counting shorebirds (and posting to eBird) from 9/5 – 9/11.
We have three “shorebird” trips that fall in these dates: Elsie Roemer – 9/6,  Middle Harbor Shoreline Park – 9/8, Las Gallinas – 9/9
  • Vollmer Peak, Tilden Park, Berkeley Saturday September 1, 7:30 — 10:30 a.m.  
  • UCSF Mt. Sutro Open Space Preserve, San Francisco Saturday September 1, 8:30 — 11 a.m.
  • San Francisco Botanical Garden Sunday, September 2, 8:00 — 10:30 a.m. (First Sunday bird walk)
  • Lafayette Community Park, Lafayette Sunday, September 2, 8:30 — 11:00 a.m. (First Sunday bird walk)
  • Fall Bird Walk Series | Golden Gate Audubon Society & Salesforce Park
    Salesforce Park, San Francisco Tuesday, September 4, 7:30 — 8:30 a.m.
  • Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary, Alameda Thursday, September 6, 12:00 noon – 3:00 p.m. 
  • Tilden Nature Area, Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley Friday, September 7, 8:30 — 11:30 a.m. (First Friday bird walk)
  • Middle Harbor Shoreline Park Alameda County Saturday, September 8, 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
  • Las Gallinas Storage Pond, San Rafael Sunday, September 9, 8:00 — 11:00 a.m.
  • Vaux’s Swifts at McNear Brickyard, San Rafael Monday, September 10, 5:45 — 7:30 p.m.
    This trip repeats on Tuesday, September 18. REGISTER FOR ONLY ONE.
    REGISTRATION REQURED.     Registration will close midnight Wednesday, September 5. Registration: Register on line by HERE.
  • Hilltop Lake Park, Richmond Wednesday, September 12, 9:00 — 10:45 a.m. The Second Friday walk is on vacation
  • Chain of Lakes, Golden Gate Park Saturday, September 15, 8:00 a.m. — Noon
  • Fort Mason Community Garden, San Francisco Sunday, September 16, 8:00 — 10:00 a.m. (Third Sunday bird walk)
  • Vaux’s Swifts at McNear Brickyard, San Rafael Tuesday, September 18, 5:45 — 7:30 p.m. Repeat of Monday, September 10 trip. REGISTER FOR ONLY ONE.
    Registration: Register on line by HERE.
    Registration will close midnight Wednesday, September 12.
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline Wednesday September 19, 8:30 — 10:30 a.m.   (Third Wednesday Bird Walk)
  • Corona Heights, San Francisco Friday, September 21, 8:00 — 10:00 a.m. (Third Friday bird walk)
  • Valle Vista Staging Area, Upper San Leandro Reservoir, Moraga Friday, September 21, 8:30 — 11:30 a.m.
  • Vollmer Peak, Tilden Park Saturday, September 22, 9:00 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.
  • Lake Merritt and Lakeside Park, Oakland Wednesday September 26, 9:30 a.m. to noon (Forth Wednesday bird walk)
  • Lake Merritt and Lakeside Park, Oakland Wednesday, September 26, 9:30 a.m. – noon (Fourth Wednesday bird walk)
  • Albany Mudflats & Albany Bulb, Albany Saturday, September 29, 11:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.

for other bay area Audubon chapters click read more

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 30, 2018

Where Do Crows Go In Winter?

ScienceDaily has an article discussing Crows behavior and how they may migrate or stay put in the winter

‘Partial migration’ — where some individuals within a population migrate and some don’t — is common among birds, but scientists know very little about how it actually works. A new study tracks where American Crows go during the winter and shows that while individuals are consistent in whether they migrate or stay put, partial migration might give them enough flexibility to adapt to changing environmental conditions.

Read article at  Where do crows go in winter? — ScienceDaily

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 29, 2018

2018 Dark Sky Festival September 7 to 9

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 28, 2018

Abandoned Farmlands Enrich Bird Communities

ScienceDaily reports

Abandoned farmlands hold potential for the preservation of wetland and grassland birds as rehabilitation zones.

Read story at Abandoned farmlands enrich bird communities — ScienceDaily

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 27, 2018

Pacific Humpback Whale Habitat Protected

Center for Biological Diversity News Release

Lawsuit Settled to Protect Pacific Humpback Whale Habitat

Trump Administration Agrees to Deadlines for Endangered Whales Threatened by Fishing Gear, Ship Strikes, Oil Spills

SAN FRANCISCO— The Center for Biological Diversity, Turtle Island Restoration Network and Wishtoyo Foundation today reached a settlement with the Trump administration to protect humpback whale habitat in the Pacific Ocean, where the animals face threats from fisheries, ship strikes and oil spills.

Today’s agreement, filed in federal district court in San Francisco, requires the National Marine Fisheries Service to follow the Endangered Species Act’s requirement to designate critical habitat by June 28, 2019, and finalize those boundaries a year later. Two Pacific Ocean humpback populations were listed as endangered, and a third as threatened, in September 2016.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 26, 2018

Impact of Drought On Carrizo Plain Species

University of Washington News Release

California plain shows surprising winners and losers from prolonged drought

The Carrizo Plain National Monument is a little-known ecological hotspot in Southern California. Though small, it explodes in wildflowers each spring and is full of threatened or endangered species.

A long-term study led by the University of Washington and the University of California, Berkeley tracked how hundreds of species in this valley fared during the historic drought that struck California from 2012 to 2015. It shows surprising winners and losers, uncovering patterns that may be relevant for climate change.

The findings are published Aug. 20 in Nature Climate Change.

“The Carrizo Plain is one of the global hotspots of endangered species, with endangered species at every trophic level: plants, rodents, carnivores,” said lead author Laura Prugh, a UW assistant professor of quantitative wildlife sciences, part of the UW School of Environmental and Forest Sciences. “It also is an ideal laboratory to see how an exceptional climate event affects a whole ecosystem.”

Continue reading and see photos at California plain shows surprising winners and losers from prolonged drought | UW News

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 25, 2018

Mt. Rainier Wildflowers 8/22/2018

Mt. Rainier National Park reports

Much of the park is past peak bloom, but there are still many tried-and-true wildflowers still blooming! One ubiquitous flower is pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea). Its white “flowers” are actually modified leaves, called bracts. These papery white bracts are more resilient than most petals, so this flower can appear to bloom “everlasting”. The true flower is the yellow core. These flowers are also popular with many pollinators – from butterflies to beetles.

See new reports for Cayuse Pass, Sunrise, Reflection Lakes, Paradise area, Snow Lake, East Lakes Trail, Tolmie Lookout Trail, and Summerland Trail to Panhandle Gap as well as photos at https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/wildflower-status.htm 

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 25, 2018

California’s Birds Are Testing New Survival Tactics

The NY Times reports on a study comparing bird nesting behaviors  of 202 bird species in the Sierra Nevada mountains today with what they did 100 years ago. They found:

Of 32,000 birds recorded in California mountain ranges in the old and new surveys — from thumb-sized Calliope hummingbirds to the spectacular pileated woodpecker — Dr. Tingley and his colleagues discovered that most species now nest about a week earlier than they did 70 to 100 years ago.

Ecologists generally believe that birds adapt to rising temperatures by moving to higher elevations or heading north. They shift their nesting time for a different reason: to sync with food availability, like an early appearance of plump caterpillars or swarms of insects.

The new study offers a plausible explanation. If the birds lay their eggs earlier, they can stay in their centuries-old range, with no need to migrate to higher altitudes.

Read full article at California’s Birds Are Testing New Survival Tactics on a Vast Scale – The New York Times

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 24, 2018

Modini Mayacamas Wildflowers 8/24/18

Botanical Wandering has a new post with photos for Modini Mayacamas, a Preserve of Audubon Canyon Ranch in the mountains east of Healdsburg and Geyserville.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 24, 2018

California Is Updating Its Camping Reservation System After Tons of Complaints

Travel + Leisure magazine reports

After a major outcry over changes in how California state park campsites are reserved, the California State Parks Department is changing course.

Read about the chances in the California state campsite reservation system at  California Is Updating Its Camping Reservation System After Tons of Complaints | Travel + Leisure

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 23, 2018

September Huntington Library Lecture Series

submitted by Spencer Westbrook

Huntington Library Lecture Series at the Huntington Library, San Marino, Ca

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 23, 2018

Yosemite National Park Highway 140 Road Closure

Yosemite National Park News Release

El Portal Road will be closed 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Friday, August 24 through Sunday, August 26, 2018

Yosemite National Park announces that there will be a temporary closure on the El Portal Road (Highway 140) inside Yosemite National Park from the Parkline in El Portal to the El Portal Road/Big Oak Flat Road Junction (Highway 140/Highway 120 junction). This closure will be in effect between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm Friday, August 24 through Sunday, August 26, 2018. Visitors will have access to drive through the work zone from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 pm each day. The closure may not be in effect on Sunday pending the completion of the work.

These closures are necessary to replace high voltage powerlines that service Yosemite Valley, which were burned and damaged during the Ferguson Fire. The work will involve helicopters and heavy equipment, making it unsafe for vehicles to be on the road. Completion of this project will restore full commercial power to Yosemite Valley.

For updated 24-hour road and weather conditions for Yosemite National Park, please call 209-372-0200, press 1 and press 1 again. Updated information is also available on the park’s website at www.nps.gov/yose and on the Yosemite National Park Facebook page.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 23, 2018

Highway Crossings Helping Migrating Pronghorn

ScienceDaily reports

Study of greater Yellowstone pronghorn finds highway crossing structures a conservation success
Pronghorn responses to wildlife road-crossing structures and fencing can inform similar solutions for other migratory wildlife threatened by vehicle collisions

Read about study Study of greater Yellowstone pronghorn

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 22, 2018

Creating Urban Habitats To Help Monarch Butterflies

NPR has an intervew with Abigail Derby Lewis, a senior conservation ecologist at the Field Museum in Chicago discussing how creating urban habitat to help Monarch Butterflies. Planting milkweed can help Monarchs as milkweed is the only plant that females can lay their eggs on. Read or listen to the interview By Creating Habitats For Monarch Butterflies In Cities, Scientists Hope To Save Them : NPR

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 21, 2018

Regional Parks Botanic Garden Photos 8/21/18

There are still flowers are  in bloom at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden  in Tilden Park in Berkeley, CA. . Here are some photos from today.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 21, 2018

Why Wildfires Are Bigger, Have A Longer Season & Are Difficult Fight

Earthsky write about why wildfires are bigger and more expensive to control

Many factors have come together to create a perfect storm. They include climate change, past forest and fire management practices, housing development, increased focus on community protection and the professionalization of wildfire management.

Read full article atWhy wildfires are bigger and more expensive to control | Earth | EarthSky

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 20, 2018

Wildfires & Wildflowers

Photographer Michael Frye, who lives near Yosemite, has a post on his blog talking wildfires, his personal experiences with them and how they result in a rebirth of the forest. He has a number of excellent photos documenting wildflower blooms after fires at  Rebirth – Michael Frye Photography

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 20, 2018

Climate Change Possible Cause Of Bird Species Decline

The San Francisco Chronicle an article from the Associated Press that reports on study connecting climate change with bird population decline

Climate change could be to blame for the collapse of bird populations in the desert along the Nevada-California border, scientists said.

The number of bird species has fallen by an average of 43 percent over the past century at survey sites across an area larger than New York state, according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley.

Read article at  Study: Climate change possible cause of bird species decline – SFChronicle.com

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 19, 2018

Birding Hayward Regional Shoreline 8/19/18

Today I went birding with several other members from the Audubon Masterbirding Program at the Hayward Regional Shoreline. Most abundant were American Avocet, Marbled Godwits, Willets, Brown Pelicans, and Western Sandpipers. Highlights included the large numbers of the above species, observing White-tailed Kites hovering and hunting, seeing a few Black-bellied Plovers still showing their breeding colors and watching the Pelicans and Hawks in flight. As a group we had 32 species (+4 other taxa).

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Click Read more to see today’s bird list

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 19, 2018

Ferguson Fire Reaches 100 Percent Containment

The Fresno Bee reports that the Ferguson Fire by Yosemite is now fully contained

Wawona Road is expected to reopen on Friday after crews remove trees along the road, especially between Chinquapin and Tunnel View.

Glacier Point Road and Pohono Trail along the south rim of Yosemite Valley at Tunnel View remain closed at this time.

Read full story at Ferguson Fire reaches 100 percent containment | The Fresno Bee

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