Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 15, 2025

 Siskiyou Land Trust Upcoming Events

See upcoming events for the Siskiyou Land Trust at  Upcoming  events

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 15, 2025

A crow’s math skills include geometry

NPR reported

Crows are able to look at a handful of four-sided shapes and correctly distinguish those that exhibit geometric regularity from those that don’t, according to a provocative new study.

It’s the first time a species other than humans has been shown to have this kind of geometric intuition, says Andreas Nieder, a cognitive neurobiologist at the University of Tübingen in Germany.

Read more A crow’s math skills include geometry : NPR
https://www.npr.org/2025/04/12/nx-s1-5359438/a-crows-math-skills-include-geometry

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 14, 2025

Grand Canyon National Park Update on Dragon Bravo Fire

News Release

The Dragon Bravo Fire on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park exhibited extreme and volatile fire behavior the evening of July 12, resulting in a 500-acre expansion. Fire managers have confirmed the loss of the Grand Canyon Lodge and numerous historic cabins in the developed area.

On July 12, at approximately 10:30 p.m., fire activity intensified rapidly, fueled by sustained winds of 20 mph and gusts reaching up to 40 mph. Firefighters made significant efforts overnight to slow the fire’s progression under dangerous and fast-changing conditions.

Read More…

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 14, 2025

Cockatoos learn to use drinking fountains in Sydney

New Atlas reported

In an impressive feat of rapid urban adaptation, sulphur-crested cockatoos have worked out how to use their feet and their large bodies to twist the tap handles of drinking fountains in order to access water from the faucet. It’s the first observation of this behavior spread throughout a large population of birds.

Read more and and see video at Cockatoos learn to use drinking fountains in Sydney

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 14, 2025

This Was Odd: Capuchin Monkeys Kidnapped Howler Monkey Babies

 

The New York TImes reported

Male capuchin monkeys on a Panamanian island were documented carrying around infant howler monkeys for no clearly discernible reason.

Read more at This Was Odd: These Monkeys Kidnapped Babies From Another Species.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 13, 2025

Wildfires destroy historic lodge on Grand Canyon’s North Rim

The Guardian  reported

Grand Canyon Lodge consumed by two wildfires that have burned more than 45,000 acres in area

A historic lodge on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim has been destroyed by a fast-moving wildfire, the park said Sunday.

The Grand Canyon Lodge, the only lodging inside the park at the North Rim, was consumed by the flames, park Superintendent Ed Keable told park residents, staff and others in a meeting Sunday morning. He said the visitor center, the gas station, a waste water treatment plant, an administrative building and some employee housing also were lost.

Two wildfires are burning at or near the North Rim, known as the White Sage fire and the Bravo Dragon fire, and have collectively burned more than 45,000 acres. The White Sage fire burned 40,126 acres near the North Rim, while the Dragon Bravo fire, burning to the south within Grand Canyon National Park, reached 5,000 acres according to InciWeb, a federal government wildfire tracker.

Read more at  Wildfires destroy historic lodge on Grand Canyon’s North Rim, park says | US wildfires | The Guardian

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 13, 2025

Scientists’ top 10 bee-magnet blooms—turn any lawn into a pollinator paradise

ScienceDaily reported

  • Danish and Welsh botanists sifted through 400 studies, field-tested seed mixes, and uncovered a lineup of native and exotic blooms that both thrill human eyes and lure bees and hoverflies in droves, offering ready-made recipes for transforming lawns, parks, and patios into vibrant pollinator hotspots.

 Read on www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230323.htm

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 13, 2025

Can Citizen Science be Trusted? New Study of Birds Shows it Can 

UC Davis reported

Platforms such as iNaturalist and eBird encourage people to observe and document nature, but how accurate is the ecological data that they collect?

In a new study published in Citizen Science: Theory and Practice on March 28, UC Davis researchers show that citizen science data from iNaturalist and eBird can reliably capture known seasonal patterns of bird migration in Northern California and Nevada — from year-round residents such as California Scrub-Jays, to transient migrants such as the Western Tanager and Pectoral Sandpiper.

Read more : Can Citizen Science be Trusted? New Study of Birds Shows it Can | College of Biological Sciences

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 12, 2025

Videos reveal wildlife along the US-Mexico border and the impact of the wall

Vox reported

Videos reveal the hidden lives of animals in the borderlands and how the wall affects them.

Read on www.vox.com/down-to-earth/416817/border-wall-ecology-wildlife-camera-footage-research

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 12, 2025

Sea Lion Can Keep a Beat Better Than Some Humans 

ScienceAlert reported

A feel for the groove isn’t restricted to humans, but it does seem pretty limited across the animal kingdom. Chimpanzees can keep a beat, but their ability to do so is low compared to Homo sapiens. One species of lemur is better.

A 16-year-old California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) named Ronan blows them all out of the water – even some humans. A new study shows that her ability to bop along to a rhythm isn’t just a learned response to some tempos: she can synchronize her movements with new rhythms, suggesting that, once she was trained in what to do, she could adapt and keep a beat to multiple tempos.

Read more: This Adorable Sea Lion Can Keep a Beat Better Than Some Humans : ScienceAlert

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 11, 2025

Wildfires force evacuations at two national parks in the US west

The Guardian reported

Fire activity is increasing across the American west, as critically dry landscapes and spiking temperatures fueled blazes in 11 states on Friday.

Evacuations were ordered at two national parks – Colorado’s Black Canyon of the Gunnison and the Grand Canyon in Arizona, as hot weather, low humidity and gusty winds pushed flames closer to recreation areas.

Read on www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/11/wildfires-evacuations-grand-canyon

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 11, 2025

Environmentalists celebrate rare win as Georgia swamp is saved from mining threat

NPR reported

Environmentalists are celebrating a rare win of keeping a mining operation from opening up next to a National Wildlife refuge in South Georgia.

Read on www.npr.org/2025/07/11/nx-s1-5455817/environmentalists-celebrate-rare-win-as-georgia-swamp-is-saved-from-mining-threat

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 11, 2025

Risotto rice under threat from flamingoes in north-eastern Italy

The Guardian reported

Farmers are seeking ways to fend off birds who are stirring up soil in flooded paddy fields in Ferrara province

Read on www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/12/risotto-rice-paddies-flamingoes-ferrara-italy

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 11, 2025

Risotto rice under threat from flamingoes in north-eastern Italy

The Guardian reported

Farmers are seeking ways to fend off birds who are stirring up soil in flooded paddy fields in Ferrara province

Read on www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/12/risotto-rice-paddies-flamingoes-ferrara-italy

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 11, 2025

MIT scientists just supercharged the enzyme that powers all plant life 

ScienceDaily reported

Scientists at MIT have turbocharged one of nature’s most sluggish but essential enzymes—rubisco—by applying a cutting-edge evolution technique in living cells. Normally prone to wasteful reactions with oxygen, this revamped bacterial rubisco evolved to work more efficiently in oxygen-rich environments. This leap in enzyme performance could pave the way for improving photosynthesis in plants and, ultimately, increase crop yields.

read more at  MIT scientists just supercharged the enzyme that powers all plant life | ScienceDaily

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 11, 2025

Fossil Suggests Feathered Archaeopteryx Probably Flew Like a Chicken 

The New York Tims reported

New insights into the flying capabilities of a nonbird dinosaur were drawn from an unusually well-preserved specimen known as the Chicago Archaeopteryx.

Read more at This Dinosaur Had Feathers and Probably Flew Like a Chicken

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 10, 2025

Portugal Announces New 38,000 Sq. Mile Protected Area Around ‘Stunning’ Underwater Mountains

The Good News Network reported

Out of a recent UN conference on the protection of the sea comes the news that Portugal has announced the creation of a new 38,000 square-mile marine protected area.

Established around the Gorringe seamount, technically Portugal’s tallest mountain, the decision will take the nation’s total protected territorial waters to 27%, making the small Iberian country the continent leader in protected ocean waters.

Read more  Portugal Announces New 38,000 Sq. Mile Protected Area Around ‘Stunning’ Underwater Mountains

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 10, 2025

Wild turkeys roam freely, but where exactly are they from? – Monterey Herald

Monterey Herald  reported

Turkeys are not native to California, but they are a common sight in some Bay Area neighborhoods

Read on www.montereyherald.com/2025/07/08/wild-turkeys-where-are-they-from/

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 10, 2025

These Beautiful Birds Form Something Like Lasting Friendships 

The New York Times reported

Superb starlings help care for the offspring of birds they are not related to. “To me, that sounds like friendship,” one scientist said.

Scientists have long known that social animals usually put blood relatives first. But for a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature, researchers crunched two decades of field data to show that unrelated members of a superb starling flock often help each other raise chicks, trading assistance to one another over years in a behavior that was not previously known.

Read more at These Beautiful Birds Form Something Like Lasting Friendships

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 9, 2025

Did humans contribute to evolutionary change in rodents?

NPR reported

Scientists in Chicago are mapping some fascinating evolutionary changes to local rodents — and how humans may have contributed to that change.

Read on www.npr.org/2025/07/05/nx-s1-5454777/did-humans-contribute-to-evolutionary-change-in-rodents

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 9, 2025

125 flamingos spotted in the Everglades — largest in a decade

WLRN reported

One of the largest flocks of American flamingos in a decade was spotted in the Everglades by avian ecologist Mark Cook. The previous largest was a flock of 147 in 2014.

Read on www.wlrn.org/environment/2025-07-07/flamingos-florida-bay-everglades

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 9, 2025

This Tree Wants to Be Struck by Lightning 

The New York Times  reported

Before a discovery in a Panamanian rainforest, “it seemed impossible that lightning could be a good thing for the trees,” a scientist said.

However  This Tree Wants to Be Struck by Lightning

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 9, 2025

Eriogonum Society Meeting in Bishop, California, August 7-10.

It is not too late to sign up for the Eriogonum Society Meeting in Bishop, California, August 7-10.
Learn how to identify buckwheats and their relatives, then meet them in the field. This year, we will return to a buckwheat hotspot in eastern California. With visits to the White Mountains, Sierras, and volcanic lowlands, there will be dozens of buckwheats to see, including endemic species such as E. gracilipes (raspberry buckwheat), E. latens (Inyo buckwheat), and E. ampullaceum (Mono buckwheat). An optional field trip on Monday, Aug 11th, will explore Horseshoe Meadows, a beautiful meadow high in the Sierras, accessed by a winding road with spectacular views.
Don’t have time for a full weekend? Registration is available for just the Friday workshop and field trip.
Register here: https://eriogonum.community/meetings/annual-meeting-2025-bishop-california/
NOTE, the Eriogonum Society has a new website: https://eriogonum.community
Photos taken by Janel Johnson during the 2011 Eriogonum Society Meeting in the Bishop area.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 8, 2025

Close to extinction: the status of Critically Endangered species

BirdLife reported

No fewer than 10,443 species of animal, plant and fungi found on Earth are so close to the brink of extinction that they are classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Of those, 223 are birds. If we are to save them, we must understand where these species live, the threats facing them and what can be done to help them recover.

Read on www.birdlife.org/news/2025/07/04/close-to-extinction-the-status-of-critically-endangered-species/

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Posted in Animals, Birds, Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags:

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 8, 2025

A grizzly bear comeback in California? An old dream gets new legs

The Guardian reported

A feasibility report using historical maps and ecological data is raising excitement: ‘It would be a slow process’

Read story at  A grizzly bear comeback in California? An old dream gets new legs | California | The Guardian

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 7, 2025

Madre Fire closes Carrizo Plain National Monument

from USDA  Forest Service

The Madre Fire was reported shortly after 1 pm on Wednesday, July 2, burning along Highway 166 east of Rockfront Ranch in the Cuyama Valley. The fire quickly spread onto Los Padres’ Santa Lucia Ranger District and burned 30,000 acres within the first 24 hours. Pushed by a strong onshore breeze, the fire then burned east onto the Bureau of Land Management’s Carrizo Plain National Monument and grew to more than 50,000 acres by July 4. The fire is in Unified Command with Los Padres National Forest, the Bureau of Land Management and Cal Fire San Luis Obispo Unit. Incident Management Team 8 (IC  Page) assumed command of the fire July 5.

The fire has currently burned 80,603 acres and is 35 percent contained. During the first three days of the fire, the Santa Maria Air Tanker Base serviced as many as 11 air tankers which delivered more than 500,000 gallons of retardant to help slow the spread of the fire.

The Carrizo Plain National Monument has been closed to public entry for firefighter and public safety. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Source: Los Padres National Forest | Madre Fire | Forest Service

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 7, 2025

The hidden underwater eden of ‘California’s Galapagos’, where seals and grizzly bear-sized bass reign

The Guardian  reported

On the remote Channel Islands, a draw for researchers and divers, preservation has transformed the ecosystem.

Just 14 miles (23km) off the southern California coast lies a vast underwater paradise.

Giant sea bass the size of grizzly bears and schools of sardines glide together through swirling strands of golden kelp, whose long stalks preside over a world exploding with life and color. Playful harbor seals dance into the depths of undulating pink, green and orange plants, alongside spiny crustaceans and vibrant sea stars that embrace the volcanic rock that slopes to the sandy seafloor.

Read more The hidden underwater eden of ‘California’s Galapagos’, where seals and grizzly bear-sized bass reign | California | The Guardian

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 7, 2025

Trump orders higher national park entrance fees, ends Obama initiative

SF Gate reported

Visiting national parks is about to get more expensive for certain visitors, based on an executive order.

Read on www.sfgate.com/national-parks/article/trump-order-national-parks-entrance-fee-20602731.php

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 7, 2025

New dragonfish found in Antarctica was hidden for 780,000 years

Earth.com reported

A new species of dragonfish has surfaced from the chilly waters off the western Antarctic Peninsula, and it has a story that spans nearly a million winters.

Researchers report that Akarotaxis gouldae (nicknamed the banded dragonfish) branched off from its nearest cousin some 780,000 years ago, surviving cycles of advancing and retreating ice in near‑total isolation, according to Andrew Corso of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS).

Read more and see photo at New dragonfish found in Antarctica was hidden for 780,000 years – Earth.com

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 6, 2025

Theodore Payne Foundation  Upcoming Events 

Theodore Payne Foundation inspires and educates Southern Californians about the beauty and ecological benefits of California native plant landscapes.We are located on 22 acres of canyon land in the northeast corner of the San Fernando Valley. Our full-service native plant nursery, seed room, book store, art gallery, demonstration gardens, and hiking trails are open to the public year round. We offer garden tours and classes for adults and families, as well as field trips to TPF and in-classroom programs for children. Friendly on-leash dogs are welcome and there is no admission charge!

See upcoming events at  Theodore Payne Foundation Events – 20 Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite

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