The Guardian reports
Hundreds of snow leopards are being killed every year across the mountains of central Asia, threatening the already endangered big cat, according to a new report.
Figure of 220-450 annual deaths could be even higher, as killings by poachers or farmers often go undetected in the remote mountains of central Asia
Read full story at Hundreds of snow leopards being killed every year, report warns | Environment | The Guardian
Posted in Animals | Tags: Hundreds Of Snow Leopards killed Annually
California Fall Color reports on
Redding 11/1/16
There are Fremont cottonwood, bigleaf maple, Oregon ash and willow among them. The color ranges from bold red-orange to splashes of yellow and gold. The river bank is inhabited mostly by native oak woodland and though we rate Redding as peaking, the color should continue develop for a week or two more.
Redding – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
See photos at Peak of the Week: Redding
California Highway 3 10/31/16
Driving CA-3 north from Weaverville past Trinity Lake and the Trinity Alps at this time of year, you truly are on a highway to heaven.
Bold color fills the forest. In places, it is a virtual corridor of autumn drama.
…dogwood blushing in the woods and bigleaf maple, vine maple, cottonwood, alder, aspen, chokecherry and oaks lighting streams, forests and roads with autumn color.
California State Highway 3 – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
See photos at California Fall Color » Blog Archive » Highway to Heaven
Posted in Fall Foliage | Tags: Autumn Color, Autumn Foliage, Autumn leaf color, California Fall Color, Fall Color, Fall Foliage
Asheville NC Fall Foliage Color 2016 reports on November 3, 2016
Best color for our last week of fall color will be in the lower valleys, especially the Chimney Rock and Lake Lure areas. See more recent photos at our fall photo reports! Note to campers: Due to our drought, building or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire is not allowed in Pisgah and Nantahala National Forest outside of developed campgrounds where a fee is paid. There are many burning bans.
See photo at Fall Foliage Forecast 2016, Asheville & NC Mountains
Theh New York Times reported on how Crows and Ravens, which had disappeared from New York City have made a comback. Read story at Crows and Ravens Make New York Comebacks to Caw (and Cr-r-ruck) About – The New York Times
Posted in Birds | Tags: Crows and Ravens Make New York Comeback
California Fall Color reports on Sierra Madre Fall Color
In Sierra Madre this past week, where boulevard trees were glittering with auburn, crimson, orange, yellow and lime.
Sierra Madre (875′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
See photos at Sierra Madre
New York Fall Foliage reports for Week of Nov. 3-9, 2016
Posted in Fall Foliage | Tags: Autumn Color, Autumn Foliage, Autumn leaf color, Fall Color, Fall Foliage, New York Fall Color
Michael Frye reported on Yosemite Fall Foliage on his blog today. Here is an excerpt
Overall the color in Yosemite Valley looked great. Some big-leaf maples had lost their leaves, but most were vibrant yellow and near their peak. The cottonwoods produce the most variable and inconsistent autumn display of the deciduous trees in the valley, but it seems to be a good year for them, and a majority of them were yellow. The valley dogwoods were at least half green, so they won’t peak for another week or so, but some were quite colorful. The one valley deciduous tree species that seems to be having a poor year is the black oaks. About half of them have turned brown, while the other half have their usual golden-yellow autumn leaves and are near peak. It’s been a good year for the higher-elevation dogwoods, with many of them displaying vivid reds along highways 120 and 41. But they’re starting to lose their leaves, so they won’t last long.
See his full report and photos at A Beautiful Autumn Day in Yosemite – Michael Frye Photography
The New York Times talks about how Climate Change is extending the Fall Color season in parts of the Eastern United States and Canada. Read story at How a Changing Climate Is Shaping a Leaf Peeper’s Paradise – The New York Times
Posted in Fall Foliage | Tags: Autumn Color, Autumn Foliage, Autumn leaf color, Fall Color, Fall Foliage
The BBC reports
Global wildlife populations have fallen by 58% since 1970, a report says.
The Living Planet assessment, by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and WWF, suggests that if the trend continues that decline could reach two-thirds among vertebrates by 2020.
The figures suggest that animals living in lakes, rivers and wetlands are suffering the biggest losses.
Human activity, including habitat loss, wildlife trade, pollution and climate change, is attributed to the declines.
Read full story at World wildlife ‘falls by 58% in 40 years’ – BBC News
Posted in Animals, Environment, Uncategorized | Tags: Global wildlife populations fall 58%
Highway 140 in Yosemite has been closed due to boulders blocking the road since Monday. There are plans to clear the road tonight by 7pm. Tioga Pass Road and Glacier Pt. Road remain closed. For current conditions go to: Current Conditions – Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Posted in Uncategorized
Friends of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden announces this year’s schedule of the Wayne Roderick lectures
They are a popular series of free public lectures on a broad array of topics related to plants and natural history at the East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden. Named in honor of its founder, the Wayne Roderick Lecture Series takes place on Saturday mornings from November through February at 10:30 a.m. at the garden Visitor Center. These illustrated presentations are enjoyable for beginners and professionals alike. All lectures are free and open to the public. Directions to Garden
Seating is limited, so it is advisable to arrive early, save a seat, and enjoy the garden until lecture time. (Don’t forget: Free tours of the Garden begin every Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.)
Nov. 5 – New Analysis of the California Floristic Province – Dylan O. Burge, Ph.D.
Nov. 12 – NO lecture
Nov. 19 – Floral Gems of the Central Sierra Nevada – Ted Kipping
Nov. 26 – Indian Baskets of Northern California and Oregon – Ralph Shanks
Dec. 3 – Best Practices for Creating a Native Plant Garden – Barbara Eisenstein
Dec. 10 – The Flora of the Tehachapi Mountains (including Tejon Ranch) – Nick Jensen
Dec. 17 – Regrowth and Recovery in the North Bay After the 2015 Fires – Dick O’Donnell
The San Francisco Chronicle reported on the the Presidio’s introducing rare forktail damselfly.
Read story at Rare forktail damselflies introduced at Presidio’s Mountain Lake – SFGate
Posted in Animals | Tags: Rare forktail damselflies introduced at Presidio’s Mountain Lake
California Fall Color reports
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park near Kenwood on Saturday and found bigleaf maple, black oak and California toyon peaking.
No doubt this past weekend’s storm knocked some leaves from trees, though our experience is that most leaves – particularly those just beginning to turn – will remain.
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park (600′ – 2,729′), Kenwood – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
See photos at Sugarloaf SP
Audubon has the perfect use for your Halloween Pumpkin. Turn it into a bird feeder. See directions at Pumpkin Bird Feeder Makes a Happy Harvest For Birds | Audubon
Posted in Birds | Tags: How To Make a Pumpkin Bird Feeder
Check out the Plumas County Facebook page for a number of photos at several locations in Plumas County at Awesome Autumn in Plumas County, California
Posted in Fall Foliage | Tags: Autumn Color, Autumn Foliage, Autumn leaf color, Fall Color, Fall Foliage, Plumas County Fall Color
See Audubon Photo Gallery of Owl Photos at Who’s Who | Audubon
Posted in Birds, Photography | Tags: Owl Photos
For more information on any of the trips below go to http://goldengateaudubon.org/field-trips/fieldtrips/
Note: End of Daylight Savings Time. Turn your clocks back one hour!
Birding the Bay Trail by Bicycle Saturday, November 12, 9:30 a.m. – ~ 1 p.m.
Children’s Trip to Las Gallinas Storage Ponds, San Rafael Saturday, November 12, 9 – 11 a.m.
THIS FIELD TRIP IS DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN AGES 8 AND UP – CHILDREN WITH EITHER NO EXPERIENCE BIRDING OR LIMITED EXPERIENCE BIRDING.
Posted in Birds, Walks & Hikes | Tags: Bay Area Audubon Field Trips, Birding, Birding Field Trips
Today we went birding at the Emeryville Shoreline and Elsie Romer Bird Sanctuary mainly to see shorebirds.
Along the Emeryville Shoreline next to the road there were hundreds of Willets and Dunlin along with a large number of Marbled Godwits. There were also some Black Turnstones and Whimbrels mixed in. Only had nine species as just stayed along area by road.
At Elsie Roemer the Willets, Marbled Godwits, and Dowitchers were most abundant. We saw a total of 19 species.
Click read more to see bird lists
Posted in Birding Reports, Birds | Tags: Birding Elsie Roemer, Birding Emeryville Shoreline
The New York times has a story on the problem behavior of the species that creates the most problems in the National Parks – Humans. A National Park’s Plea: Enjoy the Animals; Don’t Act Like One – The New York Times
Posted in Park | Tags: Bad Behavior in the National Parks
October 28, 2016
Incoming Storm Expected to Drop a Significant Amount of Snow in the Park’s Higher Elevations
Current winter storm activity has created hazardous driving conditions along Tioga Road. Yosemite National Park has closed Tioga Road from from Crane Flat to Lee Vining. This closure will be in place until further notice.
Date: October 28, 2016 (earlier today)
Incoming Storm Expected to Drop a Significant Amount of Snow in the Park’s Higher Elevations
With several major storms expected in the Yosemite Area this weekend, Yosemite National Park is closing Tioga Road at 3:00 pm and Glacier Point Road at 5:00 pm, on Saturday October 29, 2016. This closure will be in place until further notice.
Tioga Road typically closes each fall and remains closed throughout the winter months. The road reopens when weather and road conditions permit in the spring. Yosemite National Park is open year-round with snow removal on all other roads within the park.
All roads within the park are subject to chain control or temporary closures due to hazardous driving conditions. All motorists are required to carry tire chains, even if their car is equipped with four-wheel drive, while driving in the park during the winter months.
For updated 24-hour road and weather conditions for Yosemite National Park, please call 209-372-0200
Cedar City • Brian Head Tourism Bureau has a new fall color report for 10/28/16
High Elevation – Alpine
Brian Head, Cedar Breaks and Panguitch Lake
Percent of Change: PAST PEAKMid Elevation – Sub-Alpine
Parowan Canyon and Cedar Canyon Area
Percent of Change: Past PEAKLow Elevation – High Valley, Cedar City and Kolob Canyons Area
Percent of Change: Past Peak
Color Report: The Rangers in Kolob Canyons have reported that the colors in the main canyon are beautiful right now but in areas like Kolob Canyons and Cedar City are already past peak
Posted in Fall Foliage | Tags: Autumn Color, Autumn Foliage, Autumn leaf color, Fall Color, Fall Foliage, Southern Utah Fall Color
WildEarth Guardians News Release
160 Imperiled Species Receive Legal Protections; Challenges Remain
Washington, DC — Today, WildEarth Guardians released a report — Progress for Protection — detailing the results of the organizations’ historic Endangered Species Act (ESA) settlement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), which came to a close last month. The five year agreement, entered into in 2011, required the Service to make final decisions on whether to protect 252 “candidate” species, species that the Agency had already acknowledged likely needed protections under the ESA. Nearly seventy percent of the candidate species in the settlement are now protected.
BBC reported
Delegates from 24 countries and the European Union have agreed that the Ross Sea in Antarctica will become the world’s largest marine protected area (MPA).
Some 1.57 million sq km (600,000 sq miles) of the Southern Ocean will gain protection from fishing for 35 years.
Environmentalists have welcomed the move to protect what’s said to be the Earth’s most pristine marine ecosystem
Read the full story at
World’s largest marine protected area declared in Antarctica – BBC News
California Fall Color has a number of new posts with photos today. Here are some of the highlights
Yosemite
Yosemite’s famous eastern sugar maple has presented its crimson show near the Yosemite Chapel. Pacific dogwood and bigleaf maple have littered Fern Spring at the entrance to Yosemite Valley. Now, as Halloween approaches, the valley’s famous tall black oak are beginning their show.
The color will continue through mid to late November, as the black oak throughout the valley and particularly dense near Yosemite Village turn deep shades of orange.
Black oak, Yosemite Valley – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
See photos at Yosemite’s Black Oak Wear Their Halloween Colors
Shasta Cascade Barns and Fall Color
Bowerman Barn, Covington Mill, Shasta Cascade – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
See photos at Barns and Fall Color
Plumas County
Indian Creek in Plumas County (Northern Sierra) is painted with color with Indian rhubarb at full brilliance, dogwood and bigleaf maple showing pink and yellow and black oak beginning to turn bright orange.
Indian Creek, Plumas County – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
See photos at Indian Creek
Northern 395
The northern end of US 395 in the Eastern Sierra, before it passes through Nevada, is in its glory.
Tall Fremont cottonwood that grow beside the Walker River and in the towns of Walker, Coleville and Topaz are loaded with golden leaves.
Walker Canyon – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! The banks of the West Walker River are lined with gold! Plan your viewing for mid-day as the shadows will be out early in the morning and late afternoon.
Towns of Walker & Coleville – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! Lots of great color in Antelope Valley. The cottonwoods around Topaz Lane and gold and orange. Make sure to head up to the shores of topaz lake for some spectacular views.
See photos at Mono Lake to Topaz is Golden
Posted in Fall Foliage | Tags: Autumn Foliage, Autumn leaf color, California Fall Color, Fall Color, Fall Foliage
YankeeFoliage.com‘s fall color map now shows that most areas are either fading or finished for the season except for a few small areas. View map, reports and photos at New England Foliage Map – Yankee Foliage
Posted in Fall Foliage | Tags: Autumn Color, Autumn Foliage, Autumn leaf color, Fall Color, Fall Foliage, New England Fall Color
Asheville NC Fall Foliage Color 2016 reports
October 27, 2016, Report: Wow! We got a winter preview last Saturday with Mt. Mitchell covered in ice (see photos) and very chilly temperatures throughout the mountains. But weather this weekend will feel more like spring. The colors have changed quickly during the last week. Peak colors are in elevations of 2,000-4,000 feet elevation. Best color for the next week will be in the lower valleys and the Chimney Rock and Lake Lure areas. The highest elevations above 4,500 feet are past peak – but their views into the valley have plenty of color. See more recent photos at our fall photo reports!
News Release U.S. Forest Service
The West Walker River and the towns of Walker, Coleville and Topaz are still glowing with color! (See pictures below) The cottonwood trees along US 395 around Antelope Valley and Topaz Lake are currently displaying brilliant gold and oranges. Recent rain and wind storms have ended a spectacular 2016 season for the majority of the Eastern Sierra. There’s still time to catch the last glimpse of fall in northern Mono County but always make sure to check road conditions before traveling on the Caltrans website here: http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi
Monitor Pass – Past Peak
Lobdell Lake – Past Peak
Walker Canyon – 75-100% GO NOW! The banks of the West Walker River are lined with gold! Plan your viewing for mid day as the shadows will be out early in the morning and late afternoon.
Towns of Walker & Coleville – 75-100% GO NOW! Lots of great color in Antelope Valley. The cottonwoods around Topaz Lane and gold and orange. Make sure to head up to the shores of topaz lake for some spectacular views.
Sonora Pass – Past Peak
Twin Lakes – Past Peak
Virginia Lakes – Past Peak
Conway Summit – Past Peak
Summers Meadow – Past Peak
New York Fall Foliage reports
Posted in Fall Foliage | Tags: Autumn Color, Autumn Foliage, Autumn leaf color, Fall Color, Fall Foliage, New York Fall Color
The Mercury News reported
by the end of this decade, mountain lions, deer and other wildlife that live in the Santa Cruz Mountains will have their own protected passage across notoriously dangerous Highway 17 when Northern California’s first major “wildlife corridors” are constructed to cut down on road kills and enhance driver safety.
Read full story at New tunnels in Santa Cruz Mountains will provide cougars safe passage
Posted in Animals | Tags: Santa Cruz Mountains Wildlife Tunnels
Natural History Wanderings 