Penn State  reported

Despite their reputation as buzzing nuisances, flies serve a critical role as some of the Earth’s most prolific pollinators — and new research led by Penn State scientists suggests they are increasingly at risk due to rising global temperatures.

In a study recently published in the Journal of Melittology, an international team of researchers looked at the heat tolerance for a variety of species of bees and flies in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. Their findings suggest that rising temperatures pose a greater threat to flies than bees, as bees can tolerate much higher temperatures than flies and have a wider habitat range.

Read more at  Pollinators most vulnerable to rising global temperatures are flies, study shows | Penn State University

SF Gate reported

The couple damaged the habitat of an ultrarare flower while preparing to build a residential development.

Read on www.sfgate.com/centralcoast/article/couple-fined-damaging-pismo-flower-slo-20042720.php

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 18, 2025

National park activity fee could go up threefold

SF Gate reported 

The Grand Canyon fees for popular private boating permits for the Colorado River were last changed in 1998.

Read on www.sfgate.com/california-parks/article/grand-canyon-national-park-activity-fee-increase-20023009.php

MSN reported

Nevada residents outraged as famed Joshua trees are bulldozed to make way for solar farm – ‘There’s 1,000-year-old trees out here,’ a resident complained

Read on www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/nevada-residents-outraged-as-famed-joshua-trees-are-bulldozed-to-make-way-for-solar-farm/ar-AA1xl6UP

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 18, 2025

The Sounds of Joshua Trees

from NPR

Plants are green because they absorb red and blue light and reflect green light back to our eyes. They also reflect other wavelengths, like near-infrared light. Although humans can’t see it, artist Scott Kildall uses an infrared sensor to translate near-infrared light into sound. He uses his device to turn California’s Joshua trees into an instrument.

🎧 Listen to the shimmering, otherworldly music of the Joshua treeand read about how scientists analyze near-infrared light to assess plant health.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 17, 2025

Elusive Calif. mammal has been photographed alive for the first time

SF Gate reported

Until last year, only one California mammal species had never been caught on camera. A group of Bay Area researchers just shared the first photo of it.

Read on www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/elusive-california-mammal-photographed-20040772.php

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 17, 2025

Volunteer at Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve

New 2025 Volunteer training! Do you like wildflowers? Talking to people? Enjoying the beauty of the Antelope Valley? Do you want to visit the Poppy Reserve multiple times? If you answered yes to any of these questions consider becoming a Poppy docent. Read More…

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 17, 2025

Pacific Orchid Expo 2025 Begins Feb. 27th

Buy your advance discounted tickets now as some tiers will sell out!

Now every membership comes with POE perks!

  • 3 days of early access to the POE online presale, prior to the sale being accessible to all ticket holders
  • 1 hour early access on Saturday of POE weekend. Doors at 9am instead of the general public at 10am

Simply buy any membership tier to take advantage of these POE perks!
NOTE: Supporting Membership Tier and Higher get FREE weekend passes and the Benefactor tier and higher ALSO get tickets to the POE Gala. 

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 17, 2025

Wrong trees in the wrong place can make cities hotter at night

ScienceDaily  reports

While trees can cool some cities significantly during the day, new research shows that tree canopies can also trap heat and raise temperatures at night. The study aims to help urban planners choose the best combinations of trees and planting locations to combat urban heat stress.

Read more at  Wrong trees in the wrong place can make cities hotter at night, study reveals | ScienceDaily

Southern California’s wildfires are tearing through diverse landscapes, transforming the habitats within many state parks. Learn how these critical ecosystems are facing immense challenges in the wake of the flames.
🌵 Chaparral
Chaparral dominates parks such as Topanga State Park and Will Rogers State Historic Park, providing shelter for coyotes, bobcats, quails, and more. While chaparral is fire-adapted, frequent, intense fires can prevent full recovery, leading to erosion and habitat loss for these species.
🌿 Coastal Sage Scrub
Coastal sage scrub, found in parks like Topanga State Park, is one of the rarest and most endangered habitats in California. Fires can devastate this ecosystem, destroying native plants like California sagebrush and buckwheat, which take years to regenerate. Without these plants, the habitat loses its ability to support specialized species.

Read More…

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 16, 2025

Xerces Society Events

The list of events will be updated regularly. To view past webinars, please visit our YouTube channel. We also announce events on social media and via our e-newsletter. If you have questions, please email outreach@xerces.org.
To see current list of events go to  Events | Xerces Society

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 16, 2025

Should I Remember to Bring My Camera?

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 15, 2025

East Bay Regional Parks Activities and Events

See the January editioin of the East Bay Regional Parks monthly news letter at  Park Explorer – News, Features, & Events

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 15, 2025

Sonoma Land Trust Events

Check out the latest events and news for Sonoma Land Trust at OUTINGS & EVENTS

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 15, 2025

Theodore Payne Open and Winter Plant Sale Feb. 11 to 15

Theodore Payne Foundation is now open and all onsite classes will proceed as scheduled

Announcing the Annual Winter Plant Sale

We are pleased to announce our annual Winter Plant Sale, February 11th–15th—a time to gather, reconnect, and celebrate our shared love of native plants and the message they bring of renewal and resilience. While our hearts and minds are heavy with individual and collective grief, replanting our cultivated spaces with native plants can be a meaningful way to create positive change in our communities. Read More…
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 15, 2025

Anza-Borrego Foundation Events 

Anza-Borrego Foundation hosts a variety of events and educational programs, including hikes, botany walks, photography workshops, and more. See the schedule at  Events | Anza-Borrego Foundation

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 15, 2025

Join the Duxbury Docents!

from Environmental Action Committee of West Marin

Are you passionate about nature, conservation, and education? Here’s your chance to make a difference! We are seeking enthusiastic and responsible individuals to join our team of Duxbury Docents.

Docents help to protect the Duxbury Reef’s sensitive intertidal habitat and marine life by educating visitors about the wonders they discover on the reef, protective tidepooling practices, and California’s marine protected areas or MPAs.

Why Become a Docent?

  • Share your love for the environment with others.
  • Gain hands-on experience in educating the public about the wonders of Duxbury Reef and West Marin’s unique ecosystem.
  • Join a community of like-minded people dedicated to preserving our planet.

Ready to Dive In?
Learn more and register today!

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 15, 2025

Job Opening with Xerces Society

Endangered Species Conservation Biologist Apply by January 19, 2025

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 15, 2025

Science prevails: Grizzlies to keep endangered species protections 

Science prevails: Grizzlies to keep endangered species protections  – Western Environmental Law Center
— Read on westernlaw.org/science-prevails-grizzlies-to-keep-endangered-species-protections/

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 15, 2025

Outdoor giant ends travel program, lays off 428 employees

SF Gate  reported

Outdoor recreation retail giant REI has ended its 40-year-old Experiences program, known for holding outdoors classes and wilderness trips, the company announced Wednesday. The move also means the elimination of 428 jobs associated with the program.

Read more at  Outdoor giant ends travel program, lays off 428 employees

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 15, 2025

Shrubs can help or hinder a forest’s recovery after wildfire

ScienceDaily reported

When and where to plant tree seedlings to restore forests after wildfires has a lot to do with shrubs, finds a new study.

Read article at  Shrubs can help or hinder a forest’s recovery after wildfire | ScienceDaily

SF Gate  reported

Officials are on the lookout for someone who damaged endangered plant life by illegally driving over the famed Eureka Dunes in Death Valley, the National Park Service announced Monday.

The incident occurred in late December at Eureka Dunes, the tallest sand dunes in California, the park service announced in a news release. The vehicle or vehicles “caused significant damage to rare plants that are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act” by driving over the dunes, the park service wrote.

Read more  Search is on for person who illegally drove on Death Valley sand dunes

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 14, 2025

Theodore Payne Foundation Will Reopen Tomorrow, Wednesday January 15

Theodore Payne Foundation will reopen to the public on Wednesday, January 15. We will resume regular hours, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. We thank you for your patience as we clean up and restock the sales yard. In the meantime, you can always shop online.
If you placed an online pick-up order during the closure, please wait to come in until you receive an email confirming that your order is ready for pickup. If an item you’re looking for is sold out, check back in a couple of days for the latest availability.
We are touched by the support and spirit the community has shown throughout this catastrophic event. Our thoughts are with all those affected by the fires. Thank you for helping us sow the seeds of resilience with California native plants.
-Theodore Payne Foundation
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 14, 2025

Apparently Coyotes Can Climb Trees

Bay Nature reported

Coyotes are an evolutionary masterpiece, with agility, brains and body size to help them adapt to their environment. Now, they are climbing trees.

Read more at Coyotes in Trees

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 13, 2025

Defund the Sierra Club????

From Alt National Park

Elon Musk wrote, ‘Defund Sierra Club,’ on his social media platform, X. However, he might not realize that the Sierra Club is not government funded. #FactsMatter

 

NPR reported

In a mass extinction event some 40,000 years ago, Australia lost 90% of its large species, including nearly two dozen kinds of kangaroos. Two theories suggest why.

Read on www.npr.org/2025/01/12/nx-s1-5254719/kangaroo-species-went-extinct-in-the-pleistocene-research-hops-in-with-a-possible-explanation

Curated California reported

The Giant Sea Bass, also known as Stereolepis gigas, has long been a majestic part of California’s coastal ecosystems. This behemoth of a fish can grow up to nearly 7 and a half feet long, weighing a whopping 560 pounds, and can live to the age of 75. These gigantic, slow-moving sea creatures were once a common sight in the coastal waters of Southern California, particularly around Catalina Island. However, overfishing in the 20th century dramatically reduced their populations to critically low levels. Now, thanks to conservation efforts, these gentle giants are making a triumphant, albeit precarious, return. This is their story of recovery and resilience.

Read story and see photos at The Remarkable Revival of the Giant Sea Bass in California: Catalina Island’s Growing Giants – California Curated

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 12, 2025

A River in Washington State Now Has Enforceable Legal Rights

Inside Climate News reported

Voters in the city of Everett chose to grant the Snohomish River watershed rights to exist, regenerate and flourish as part of a November ballot initiative.

Read more at  A River in Washington State Now Has Enforceable Legal Rights – Inside Climate News

 Atlas Obscura reports on an artist’s use of mushrooms to create dyes

Julie Beeler’s work presents a sustainable alternative to synthetic fabric dyes.

Beeler has spent the last decade developing foraged mushrooms into dyes and pigments

Read story at : The ‘Mushroom Color Atlas’ Captures the Palette and Potential of Fungi – Atlas Obscura

NPR reported

The two giant pandas were seen on camera playing around in the snowfall that blanketed much of the Midwest and mid-Atlantic on Monday.

View and read on www.npr.org/2025/01/06/nx-s1-5250273/national-zoo-giant-pandas-dc-snow

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