Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 21, 2025

A Sustainable Development Goal for space? 

University of Plymouth reported

Scientists have called for the designation of a new United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) with the aim to conserve and sustainably use Earth’s orbit, and prevent the accumulation of space junk.There are currently 17 SDGs, adopted by UN members in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet for future generations, and ensure all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

Read more A Sustainable Development Goal for space? – University of Plymouth

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 20, 2025

Bigfoot may soon be one of California’s official state symbols

KRON4 reported

California has some well-known state symbols, such as the poppy flower and the California quail as the official bird. In recent times, it has added an official bat and even an official dinosaur.

Now it could soon have an official cryptid. Not sure what that is? It’s a creature that has been claimed to exist but has never been proven to exist.

Read on www.kron4.com/news/bigfoot-could-soon-be-an-official-california-symbol/

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 20, 2025

East Bay Regional Park Job Fair

Spend summer in the great outdoors! East Bay Regional Parks is hiring for summer and seasonal jobs! Opportunities available for youth, young adults, and students.
-Applications are being accepted.
-Virtual Job Fair Saturday, Mar. 1, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 20, 2025

Study shows how plant roots access deeper soils in search of water

ScienceDaily reported

Scientists have discovered how plants adapt their root systems in drought conditions to grow steeper into the soil to access deeper water reserves.

Read moe at  Study shows how plant roots access deeper soils in search of water | ScienceDaily

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 20, 2025

500-pound bear becomes unwanted tenant at Pasadena home

KTLA reported

A Pasadena man is pleading with wildlife officials for help after a massive black bear took up residence in the crawl space beneath his home after it fled the Eaton Fire last month. Nicknamed “Yogi” by homeowner Sean Lorenzini, the bear has remained under the house, venturing out only at night in search of food. […]

Read on ktla.com/news/california/500-pound-bear-becomes-unwanted-tenant-at-pasadena-home/

SF Gate reported

In the wake of what has been described as “catastrophic” staffing challenges caused by President Donald Trump’s sudden National Park Service hiring freeze, Yosemite National Park has announced that it is delaying the sale of summertime reservations for campsites at some of its most popular campgrounds.

Read more  Yosemite delays summer reservations amid ‘catastrophic’ staffing fears

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 19, 2025

The Golden State Naturalist Podcast 

What did California look like before colonization? How do beavers stop wildfires? What’s growing in the highest branches of redwood trees? What’s the difference between a keystone species and a cultural keystone species? Join Michelle Fullner, English teacher turned California Naturalist, as she ventures into the field with expert guests to find the answers to these questions and many more. You can listen to Golden State Naturalist for free wherever podcasts are found. Learn More

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 19, 2025

Four seals die on Norfolk coast after contracting bird flu The Guardian

The Guardian  reported

Experts raise fears for England’s largest colony at Blakeney Point as they conduct tests to identify source of infection

Read more  Four seals die on Norfolk coast after contracting bird flu | Bird flu | The Guardian

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 19, 2025

Photos from around the neighborhood

Photos taken while walking around my neighborhood.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 19, 2025

Help California’s Native Wildlife & Plant Species at Tax Time

from Bay Nature

Help protect at-risk species in California by donating through the Voluntary Tax Contributions section on your California State Income Tax Form 540. Your donation to the Rare and Endangered Species Preservation Voluntary Tax Contribution Program, (line 403 on California Income Tax Form 540), the California Sea Otter Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund (line 410) or the Native California Wildlife Rehabilitation Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund (line 439) will support the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) efforts to identify and mitigate the conditions and activities that threaten native species populations throughout the state and help rehabilitate injured and orphaned wildlife by supporting permitted wildlife rehabilitation facilities.

By donating whatever you can afford — even if only a few dollars — you will help CDFW and our partners conduct further research and ensure that critical habitats for threatened and endangered species are conserved and enhanced, and life-saving rehabilitation is performed for wildlife in need.

Learn More About Donating

The Guardian reports

Fears grow for endangered species as the US president sets about dismantling basic laws to protect them to make way for oil and gas drilling

Read more A ‘recipe for extinction’: can the US’s envied nature protections survive Trump and his ‘God squad’? | Environment | The Guardian

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 19, 2025

 Los Padres ForestWatch Upcoming Events

See Upcoming Los Padres ForestWatch Upcoming Events at Home | Los Padres ForestWatch

from Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy

The elusive North American river otter is an adorable and fierce native otter species that resides in the coastal wetlands of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Here’s where you can find elusive river otters in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and why they have a troubled history in the parks. Thanks to wetlands restoration through the work of the Parks Conservancy and our partners, you might spot them today »

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 19, 2025

More than 150 killer whales stranded on remote Australian beach

NPR reported

More than 150 false killer whales are stranded on a remote beach on Australia’s island state of Tasmania, officials said on Wednesday.

Marine experts including veterinarians were at the scene near Arthur River on Tasmania’s northwest coast, a Department of Natural Resources and Environment statement said.

Of the 157 beached whales, only 90 appeared to still be alive, department liaison officer Brendon Clark said. A few hours earlier, the department had said 136 had survived.

Read on www.npr.org/2025/02/19/g-s1-49629/killer-whales-stranded-australia-tasmania

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 18, 2025

Dire situation in Joshua Tree and Yosemite leads to weekend protests

SF Gate reported

Mass layoffs in California national parks, including Joshua Tree and Yosemite, sparked protests over Presidents Day weekend.

Read on http://www.sfgate.com/california-parks/article/joshua-tree-yosemite-locals-protest-mass-layoffs-20174425.php

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 18, 2025

Upcoming Events at the  Regional Parks Botanic Garden

Source: Events — Friends of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 18, 2025

New strain of sudden oak death found in Berkeley Hills – YouTube

A video report on the new strain of Sudden Oak Death that has been found in the East Bay in recent months.

 

New strain of sudden oak death found in Berkeley Hills

The Revelator  reported

Scientists also declared several other extinctions, including the first documented plant extinction in New Hampshire.

Read article at  The Curlew, the Cactus, and the Obliterated Whitefish: The Species We Lost in 2024 • The Revelator

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 18, 2025

Botanic Gardens must team up to save wild plants from extinction

SciencDaily reported

The world’s botanic gardens must pull together to protect global plant biodiversity in the face of the extinction crisis, amid restrictions on wild-collecting, say researchers.

Read more: Botanic Gardens must team up to save wild plants from extinction | ScienceDaily

from Looking Glass Photo

Looking Glass suffered a devastating break-in. A car was used to ram through our front doors and windows multiple times, destroying the entire front of our boutique. In addition to the tens of thousands of dollars in damage to the store itself, a significant amount of merchandise was stolen. While insurance may cover some of the losses, it does not cover the cost of rebuilding the storefront—an unexpected burden that puts our future in jeopardy. For over 50 years, Looking Glass has been more than just a camera store. It has been a gathering place for photographers, artists, and the community—a space where creativity and connection thrive. We’ve always focused on providing the best experience possible, ensuring that a dedicated, local camera store remains in the Bay Area. Thanks to your support, we’ve made it through challenges before, and we are determined to make it through this one as well.For now, the entire front of our store is boarded up, but we are still here. While we won’t be able to serve customers as we usually would, we do have a side entrance open, and we’d love to continue assisting you with our expertise and the products that remain. Your continued support during this time means everything, and we are working diligently to get our storefront back to normal as quickly as possible.We’ve never been ones to ask for help, but today, we’re reaching out to our community in a different way. If Looking Glass has been a meaningful part of your creative journey, we invite you to stand with us as we work to rebuild. We’ve set up a GoFundMe where you can contribute to our recovery efforts. Any support—whether it’s a donation, spreading the word, or simply continuing to shop with us—means the world.More than anything, we want to express our deepest gratitude. Looking Glass exists because of you—because of the people who believe in the value of a local camera store, who show up, who share their passion for photography. With your help, we will get through this and reopen our doors, stronger than ever.Thank you for being a part of our journey.

With appreciation,
Jen and the Looking Glass Photo team
Copyright (C) 2025 Looking Glass Photo. All rights reserved.

Source: A Difficult Moment for Looking Glass—And How You Can Help

The Guardian reported

Discovery of pest in UK raises fears for Sitka spruce, which accounts for half of country’s commercial plantations

Read on www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/17/tree-killing-beetle-found-to-be-attracted-to-britain-most-common-spruce

The Guardian reported

Populations have been falling for decades, even in tracts of forest undamaged by humans. Experts have spent two decades trying to understand what is going on.

The most likely answer, they concluded, was the climate crisis. “There’s very little else – at least that I know of – that has such large scale worldwide impacts,”

Read article at: In the most untouched, pristine parts of the Amazon, birds are dying. Scientists may finally know why | Birds | The Guardian

A new study demonstrates that weeds are far more valuable in supporting biodiversity than we give them credit for.
— Read on phys.org/news/2022-03-injurious-weeds-pollinators-biodiversity.html

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 15, 2025

When Times Are Turbulent, Find Your People

from Bay Nature
“As the year kicks off and the chaos feels never-ending, we recommend finding a group to connect with around a shared identity or interest. Finding your community can help ground you and keep you feeling sane when times are tough.” Sejal Sejal Choksi-Chugh, Olivia White Lopez, and Ariana Rickard have made doing so that much easier, by assembling a list of local environment-related affinity groups (both professional networking and recreation) across race, ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexuality, and beyond. Read More »
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 14, 2025

Monte Rio Redwoods Expansion

Save The Redwoods reported

Long-awaited opportunity to link redwood forest, habitat, and parks between Monte Rio and the coast

Read on www.savetheredwoods.org/project/monte-rio-redwoods/

– The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and park advocates across the country are demanding the Trump administration put an end to devastating staffing cuts that will wreak havoc on the National Park System. The Department of the Interior will exempt 5,000 seasonal positions under the current hiring freeze, while simultaneously terminating 1,000 National Park Service employees, just as visitors are planning their spring break and summer vacations to national parks.
— Read on www.npca.org/articles/6812-relief-of-national-park-seasonal-hiring-overshadowed-by-reckless-staff-cuts

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 14, 2025

At 74, Wisdom the albatross welcomes new motherhood once again : NPR

NPR reported

The Laysan Albatross was first banded (or marked) in Hawaii in 1956. Meaning, she could be even older than the current estimate of 74.

Read on www.npr.org/2025/02/14/nx-s1-5297871/wisdom-albatross-mother-midway

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 14, 2025

Webninar: The Secret Lives of Snakes

From Los Padres Forest Watch

Emily Taylor is a professor of biological sciences at California Poly San Luis Obispo, where she conducts research on the physiology, ecology, and conservation biology of lizards and snakes. A staunch advocate for improving the public image of snakes, Taylor is founder of the community science initiative Project RattleCam. Join us to learn about snakes’ secret lives.

Feb 20, 2025 12:00pm – Feb 20, 2025 01:00pm Free

Virtual location   You will receive a confirmation email with a URL.

Register

California Curated reports

While diving along the California coastline, spotting a California two-spot octopus is a rare and memorable experience. Nestled in rocky crevices or hidden among kelp, these octopuses are easily identified by their distinctive blue “eye-spots,” which are not actual eyes but mimicry patterns used to confuse predators. Such encounters provide a fascinating glimpse into the behavior of this remarkable marine species.

The California two-spot octopus (Octopus bimaculoides), found from Central California to Baja, is a master of adaptation. Its chromatophores—specialized skin cells—allow it to change color and pattern with precision, enabling camouflage, communication, and courtship displays. This ability, paired with its intelligence and problem-solving skills, highlights the octopus’s unique place in the marine ecosystem and makes it a subject of keen scientific interest.

Read on California’s Two-Spot Octopus Combines Extraordinary Intelligence with Masterful Camouflage – California Curated

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | February 13, 2025

Upcoming Bay Nature Events

oin us on Wednesday, February 19 from 12-1pm, when Point Blue’s Pete Warzybok will speak about the seabirds of the Farallon islands. Learn about the 500,000 seabirds who call this island home and the threats they face living in an ever-changing environment where they grapple with warming temperatures, avian flu, and more. Register here »
Read More…

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