The BBC reports that astronomers discover the most distant “supermassive” black hole known to science.
The matter-munching sinkhole is a whopping 13 billion light-years away, so far that we see it as it was a mere 690 million years after the Big Bang.
But at about 800 million times the mass of our Sun, it managed to grow to a surprisingly large size in just a short time after the origin of the Universe.
Read full story at: Farthest monster black hole found
Posted in Astronomy | Tags: Farthest monster black hole found
ScienceDaily reports
Many birds are adjusting their life styles to breed 5-12 days earlier to avoid warming that has occurred since the early 1900s, an ongoing survey of California birds and comparison with century-old data shows. This strategy, combined with the trend of other birds to move northward in range or upward in elevation, allows adaptation to climate change, though eventually the cool window for breeding may become too short for some species.
Posted in Birds | Tags: Earlier Bird Nesting Periods
The NY Times reported on the decision of the Bureau of Land Management to allow drilling on federal lands near Chaco Canyon
the B.L.M. district manager says the bureau plans to lease 26 parcels of land in the area next March; while none lie within the 10-mile radius of the park, one of them is just barely outside it and others are close by.
Read full story at The Treasures of Chaco Canyon Are Threatened by Drilling – The New York Times
Posted in Environment, Park | Tags: Chaco Canyon Threatened By Drilling
The New York Times reports
Patagonia, REI and other outdoor clothing and equipment retailers are speaking out against President Trump’s plan to slash the size of two national monuments in Utah by some two million acres.
Mr. Trump on Monday announced that his administration would shrink Bears Ears National Monument, a region of red rock canyons, by 85 percent, and cut another monument, Grand Staircase-Escalante, to about half its current size.
“The president stole your land,” Patagonia said in a pop-up message on its website. “In an illegal move, the president just reduced the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. This is the largest elimination of protected land in American history.”
Read story at Patagonia, REI and Other Outdoor Retailers Protest Trump’s Decision to Shrink Utah Monuments – The New York Times
A very California Fall Color photo. An iPhone photo ofSouth Berkeley fall color street trees and palm trees!
Berkeley Fall Color
Posted in Fall Foliage, Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: Fall Color
The last two weeks we have had a rather rare visitor to our backyard in the North Berkeley Flatlands. A White-throated Sparrow.
White-throated Sparrow
Posted in Birds, Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: White-throated Sparrow
Center for Biological Diversity News Release
WASHINGTON —Hours after President Donald Trump issued a proclamation taking an axe to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah, conservation organizations today filed a lawsuit attacking the order as an abuse of the president’s power. Earthjustice is representing eight organizations in a suit charging that the president violated the 1906 Antiquities Act by stripping monument protections from this national treasure: The Wilderness Society, the Grand Canyon Trust, the Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Center for Biological Diversity, WildEarth Guardians and Western Watersheds Project. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and Natural Resources Defense Council are co-plaintiffs in the lawsuit and represented by in-house counsel.
“President Trump has perpetrated a terrible violation of America’s public lands and heritage by going after this dinosaur treasure trove,” said Heidi McIntosh, managing attorney in Earthjustice’s Rocky Mountains office. “While past presidents have used the Antiquities Act to protect unique lands and cultural sites in America, Trump is instead mangling the law, opening this national monument to coal mining instead of protecting its scientific, historic, and wild heritage. We will not let this stand. We will use the power of the law to stop Trump’s illegal actions.”
Posted in Park | Tags: Grand Staircase-Escalante
See the winter schedule of Marin County nature walks at https://www.marincountyparks.org/depts/pk/calendar?trumbaEmbed=calendar%3Dmarin-parks-open-space%26mixin%3D556647#/?i=3 d Walks on the calendar include birding, mushrooms and early season wildflowers.
Posted in Birds, Mushrooms, Park, Walks & Hikes, Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Marin County Nature Walks
Drones and Birds often don’t mix. Flying drones by rooting birds harasses them and is harmful to their health. It kind disturb nesting behaviors, resting periods as well as chase them away from desired and sensitive habitat.
Audubon has an article on birds and drones at How Will Drones Affect Birds? | Audubon
Below is a list some recommendations made by Cindy Margulis, Executive Director of Golden
Gate Audubon about the prohibition of drones in many parklands and what to do if you see someone flying a drone in a prohibited area.
Multiple steps are possible. Drone flying within East Bay Regional
Parklands is not allowed. It’s also not allowed in National Parks.
Other local parks might similarly have explicit regulations in place.
1) Alert the relevant land management agency for that area. IF it is
occurring on EBRPD, call EBRPD POLICE line and report it. They may not
have an officer who can respond as promptly as you like, but report it
anyway, please. IF it’s on City of Emeryville premises, also report
it. Since Emeryville Crescent is quite close to the Bay Bridge, I don’t
think Homeland Security will be too amused by drones overflying that
area, either….
2) KNOW THIS: Flying drones into roosting wildlife is harassment and
thus it’s a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBYA). If the
law enforcement doesn’t recognize this, you can cite it to them. You
can and should report such a violation also via the anonymous CalTIP
hotline. However, IF you wish to be able to talk to a responding
warden, be sure and leave your name and phone(s)/contact info so they
can call you if the investigator has any follow-up questions for your
witness account. They keep your information confidential but if you
don’t leave your contact details, they can’t reach you if they want more
info or to tell you status of their response. CalTip is conscientious
about following up on these repiorts, but they have very few wardens for
vast area of our region, so it may take some time (hours or even several
days) to get a call back. Do not be discouraged!
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/enforcement/caltip
Posted in Birds | Tags: Drones and Birds
Center for Biological Diversity New Release
Trump’s Order Would Rob Americans of Public Lands, National Monuments
WASHINGTON— President Donald Trump today ordered Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante national monuments in Utah to be dramatically reduced in size. The order would slash protections for an untold number of irreplaceable natural, scientific and historic treasures, and is part of a push by the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress to dismantle public lands. It will be challenged in court.
“Trump’s unprecedented, illegal action is a brutal blow to our public lands, an affront to Native Americans and a disgrace to the presidency,” said Randi Spivak, public lands program director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “He wants to hand over these lands to private industry to mine, frack, bulldoze and clear-cut until there’s nothing left for our children and grandchildren.”
Posted in Park | Tags: Trump Reduces National Monuments
Photos from a trip around Pt. Reyes. Some different subjects for me: fences, old farm equipment and a ruined boat. And some usual ones: Turkey Vultures, lichens and plants.
You can also see a high quality version of this slideshow with larger pictures and files on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandysteinman/sets/72157690539567105/show
Posted in Park, Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: Lichens, Point Reyes
The San Francisco Chronicle reported on the sighting of a European Shelduck at Clear Lake in Northern California. What isn’t know is was this a bird that was 5000 off course as the bird is usually found in the Wadden Sea on the coast of Germany and Ireland or is an escaped pet. Read story at Clear Lake duck may have been 5,500 miles off course – SFGate
Posted in Birds | Tags: European Shelduck at Clear Lake
NPR reports on new research that may answer why Passenger Pigeons went extinct
Billions of these birds once flew over North America, but the last known passenger pigeon died in 1914. To try to figure out what happened, scientists analyzed DNA from the toes of birds in museums.
Scientists believe they may have new insights into why passenger pigeons went extinct, after analyzing DNA from the toes of birds that have been carefully preserved in museums for over a century.
Read or listen to the story at Why Did The Passenger Pigeon Go Extinct? The Answer Might Lie In Their Toes
Posted in Birds | Tags: How Passenger Pigeons Went Extinct
Today we went birding at Pt. Isabel Regional Shoreline in Richmond, CA. It was a 7 foot king tide. We hoped the high tide would some of the Ridgway’s Rails out of hiding. We did hear a number of rails but none were visible.
The highlight of the day was seeing Wilson’s Snipe. We counted 13 but there may have been more. They were on the north side of the Island that is near where the trail splits off towards Meeker Slough. We also saw one on the east side of the trail on the way out. Also of note is there were four Black-crowned Night-Herons in the trees around the parking lot. There were many water birds far out and shorebirds on distant rocks in poor light that were difficult to identify. We saw or heard about 40 species. Click Read More to see the list.
Posted in Birding Reports, Birds | Tags: Birding Point Isabel
Friends of Edgewood Park have updated its website to show what plants are typically blooming in December. There are photos of plants you might see. Explore plant locations, plant species, which plant blooms when, and answers to a host of other questions at What’s Blooming This Month
Henry Coe State Park has a new wildflower bloom report for December 1, 2017 at the Pine Ridge Association website with photos and a list of flowers now in bloom at: Henry W. Coe – Wildflower Guide.
Classes and docent training for the East Bay Regional Park Botanic Garden this coming Winter and Spring
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Deepen your botanical knowledge and play an important role at the RPBG! The next five-month Docent Training Class begins January 9 and runs through June 12, 2018. Classes are held Tuesday mornings, 9:00 am – 12:30 pm, at the Visitor Center. Classes will be taught by Dr. Glenn Keator.
Click here for more information and details on how to register.
Posted in Birds | Tags: Birding Apps
California Fall Color reports
West of Sebastopol along CA-116, liquidambar are set ablaze by an autumn sunrise. While, midday in the Alexander Valley, north of Healdsburg, northern Sonoma County’s hillsides are scored with peaking vines.
Sonoma County – Peak to Past Peak – You Almost Missed It.
See photos at SONOMA HANGIN’ IN THERE
BirdLife International reports
New study pinpoints birds of prey as hardest hit by wind farms
A new study has revealed which bird and bat species are most at risk of collision with wind turbines, with birds of prey and migratory birds coming top of the list. This research is the first to take a global view of the problem, and pinpoints some possible solutions to allow birds, bats and wind turbines to share the skies with less conflict.
Read full story at New study pinpoints birds of prey as hardest hit by wind farms | BirdLife
Posted in Birds | Tags: Birds Of Prey Hardest Hit By Wind Farms
Read about Supermoons and other special moons in the New York Times at 2017’s Supermoon and Other Moons That Are Super in Their Own Ways.
Supermoons mean very high tides, which create good bird viewing opportunities in marshy areas. The high tide often pushes birds such as rails and sofas out of their hiding places.
Sponsored by the Bay Area Mycological Society and Point Reyes National Seashore
Join us for the 13th annual Point Reyes National Seashore Fungus Fair! Learn about the fungi of the Point Reyes National Seashore. See remarkable colors and shapes of wild mushrooms that were collected right in the park. Attend lectures, and learn about edible and poisonous mushrooms in the Bear Valley Visitor Center Auditorium.
Schedule of Speakers11:00 am Chemical Ecology of the Death Cap Mushroom, by Cat Adams
12:30 pm Introduction to Wild and Edible Mushrooms, by David Rust
2:00 pm Zen and the Art of Mushroom Hunting, by Debbie Viess
Debbie Viess presents an introduction to the joys of fungi. David Rust will list some of the “do’s” and many of the “don’ts” of edible mushrooms. We have a new speaker this year: Cat Adams presents a look at Death Cap mushrooms!
Download the 13th Annual Fungus Fair Flyer (PDF)
Amateur mycologists will be on hand to talk about mushrooms, and their role in the environment. See our beautiful Death Cap sculpture. Learn more about the Bay Area Mycological Society activities, scientific and educational mission.
Collect fungi for the fair on Saturday, December 9. Meet at the Bear Valley Visitor Center at 10:00 am. We’ll meet in front of the Bear Valley Visitor Center to organize. Be sure to bring a basket or bag, water, compass, knife, pencil/pen, and a lunch. Bring collections to the Red Barn starting at 1:00 pm for identification. No registration necessary; just show up before 10:00 am. Contact David Rust 510.468.5014 for more details. Park visitors and local residents are welcome to participate!
Posted in Mushrooms | Tags: Point Reyes Fungus Fair
California Fall Color reports on LA Arboretum
Over recent years, California Fall Color has consistently received reports and photographs of autumn foliage from this arboretum between mid November and mid December, but it is early December when fall color there is most beautiful.
That is largely consistent among coastal arboretums and botanic gardens, including the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley, Descanso Gardens, Huntington Botanical Gardens, San Francisco Botanical Garden, Balboa Park Botanical Garden and Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden. Though, not all feature as broad a range of varieties with fall color.
At the LA County Arboretum, Frank McDonough, its Botanical Information Specialist and one of our perennial color spotters, will be leading a Fall Foliage Walking Tour of the LA County Arboretum on Saturday, Dec. 2. He worries, however, that this year’s fall color is “way late.” Warm temperatures and dry skies have kept the color from developing, as seen in his photos of cotoneaster and crepe myrtle.
Frank, who has recorded the beauty of autumn there for years, will be speaking about what triggers the change among the broad mix of foliage to be enjoyed at the LA County Arboretum, including: gingko biloba, fishtail gingko, Eastern white oak, horse chestnut, Japanese maple, Japanese lacquer trees, Daimyo oak, crepe myrtle, sweet gum (liquidambar), sour gum, red maple, Eastern redbud, American elm, Chinese tallow, Chinese parasol trees, Chinese pistache, birch, pomegranate, cotoneaster, California fan palm, tulip trees, sticks on fire, pin oak, Chinaberry, Jerusalem thorn, blaze maple, horned maple, California wild grape, flame leaf sumac and California fan palms.
So, as December arrives, peak color does as well, though this autumn it is late in appearing at the LA County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens in Arcadia.
LA County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, Arcadia – Patchy
See photos at LA COUNTY OWNS DECEMBER
For information on above trips go to Golden Gate Audubon Field Trips
For more Bay Area birding field trips through out the Bay Area click on the Mt. Diablo Audubon Society Calendar
Posted in Birds, Walks & Hikes | Tags: Bay Area Audubon Field Trips, Bay Area Birding Field Trips
NPR reports on the efforts of Stanley to become a Dark Sky Reserve.
Read story Idaho Dims The Lights For One Of The Best Night Skies Anywhere : NPR
Posted in Astronomy | Tags: Dark Sky Sites, Stanley Idaho
Point Reyes National Seashore reports
The northern elephant seal breeding season is upon us. Two bull elephant seals arrived at Drakes Beach this week – the first bulls of the season! You can see them from the Elephant Seal Overlook. More adult elephant seals will be arriving in the coming weeks. The picture below shows one of the bulls on Drakes Beach (NPS Photo/Kristen Richardson). NMFS Permit No. 17152.
Learn more about elephant seals and where to view them in Point Reyes: http://go.nps.gov/pore/eseals.
Posted in Animals, Park | Tags: Elephant Seals Breeding, Pt. Reyes
The Bay Area Mycological Society announces
All California Club Foray 2018
January 19-21, 2018 | Albion, CA
Mushroomers from all over the West will be gathering for the eighth biannual All California Club Foray January 19-21, 2018 at the Albion Field Station in Mendocino County. Dr. Michael Beug, lead author of Ascomycete Fungi of North America, will be our mycologist. This event is geared to those with an interest in mushroom taxonomy, but is open to all serious self-motivated mushroomers from California mushroom clubs and all NAMA members. Registration is now open!
Posted in Mushrooms | Tags: California Mushroom Foray
Audubon reports
Will this winter bring an irruption of the Arctic raptors to the continental U.S.? A few clues from up north have Project SNOWstorm predicting yes.
Read story at Hold Onto Your Bins: Another Blizzard of Snowy Owls Could Be Coming
Posted in Birds | Tags: Snowy Owls Irruption
National Parks Conservation Association News Release
Administration extends public comment period by one month
WASHINGTON November 21, 2017 – The Trump Administration is extending its 30-day public comment period on its proposal to double or triple the entrance fees during peak visiting seasons at 17 national parks for another month. The fee proposal would increase fees as high as $70 at some of our most visited national parks like Yellowstone, Yosemite, Arches and Acadia.
The comment period, originally set to end on November 23rd, will now end on to December 22nd, according to the Park Service’s official comment page. The administration says the revenue generated from the increase will help pay for the Park Service’s $11.3 billion in needed park repairs, estimating the raised fees will generate $70 million per year. But that amount would address less than one percent of the backlog needs, and comes on the heels of the administration proposing the largest budget cut to the National Park Service since World War II.
Of additional concern, the administration’s rapid original 30-day comment period included no public hearings, leaving out the surrounding park communities that could see their economies suffer under higher entrance fees.
Posted in Park | Tags: Proposed National Park Fee Hike
The New York Times reports
The Trump administration is considering rolling back federal protections for 10 national monuments, including two in the central Pacific. The Pacific Remote Islands National Marine Monument and the Rose Atoll National Marine Monument protect the waters around a handful of islands, most uninhabited, to the south of the Hawaiian Islands.
The shore reefs of the islands have long been protected from commercial fishing; the monument designations extended that protection to 50 miles from shore in some cases and 200 miles in others.
Read full story at Loss of Federal Protections May Imperil Pacific Reefs, Scientists Warn
Posted in Environment | Tags: Loss Protection To Pacific Reefs
Natural History Wanderings 