Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 10, 2025

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Docent Program

Last Chance to Join the 2025 Docent Program

January 11, 2025   9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Join SBMM’s Docent Program and explore the rich maritime history of the Santa Barbara Channel. Volunteers of all backgrounds assist with exhibits, lead educational programs, support events, and more—gaining skills, making connections, and becoming part of a vibrant community.

Interested in becoming a docent? Training begins January 11, 2025.

Aspiring docents partake in an 11-week program consisting of one 90-minute session every Saturday morning. An additional 90-minute training session must also be completed during the week. All training takes place at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. Please register in advance.

Additional questions? Contact Guest Relations Manager Jesse Baker-Lorelli by calling (805) 456-8748 or emailing volunteer@sbmm.org!
Register to be a Docent

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 10, 2025

California State Park Closures Updates

See California State Park Closures due to fire at www.parks.ca.gov/

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 10, 2025

Angeles National Forest Closures

The entire Angeles National Forest is temporarily closed for public safety and the protection of natural resources from today, January 8, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. through Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 12:00 midnight. During this time, the following acts are prohibited within the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument:  
— Read on www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/angeles/alerts-notices/

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 10, 2025

10 Fun Facts About the Northern Mockingbird

From Audubon

The Northern Mockingbird is one of North America’s most beloved mimics. The skilled singer has also become inextricable from American popular culture, providing inspiration for the fictional “Mockingjay” of the Hunger Games franchise to being a central theme in the iconic novel To Kill a Mockingbird. 

But there is a lot more to this charming mocker than literary fame. Read on for 10 fun facts about the Northern Mockingbird.Keep Reading

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 9, 2025

When They Hear Plants Cry, Moths Make a Decision

The New York Times reported

A new study suggests that the insects rely on the sounds made by distressed vegetation to guide important reproductive choices.

Read more at When They Hear Plants Crying, Moths Make a Decision

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 9, 2025

Job Opening Sierra Nevada Field Campus (SNFC) Lead

he Sierra Nevada Field Campus (SNFC) Lead is responsible for the creation, promotion, implementation and successful coordination of the summer program of College of Extended Learning classes and University Corporation (UCorp) workshops, along with management of the facility itself.

See full job description and application process at  CSU Careers | CSU

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 9, 2025

No bids for oil and gas development in Artic Refuge

Defenders of Wildlife reported
Good news! The second lease sale in the Arctic Refuge received no bids for oil and gas development. This is a huge win for the refuge, for wildlife, and for the Gwich’in people and other communities that rely on the region.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 9, 2025

California State Park Closures

As a result of the fires, Will Rogers State Historic Park and Topanga State Park are currently closed to the public. Please avoid these areas and respect all closure notices.

For updates and additional information, you can check the California State Parks incident page: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30009

And the Angeles District Page:

https  ://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=681

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 9, 2025

Death Valley Internships

Are you passionate about environmental science and communication? We’re looking for two summer interns to research and develop educational materials that connect visitors to the unique resources of Death Valley National Park.
Spend your summer in one of the most extraordinary places on Earth! Death Valley’s remarkable landscapes and diverse flora and fauna offer a unique backdrop for your work and the summer heat will give you bragging rights for life! You’ll get to work with an enthusiastic team of interns, volunteers and rangers and will engage with visitors from all over the world.
Relevant studies in environmental science, biology, communications, or design.
Scientist in Parks
📅 Application Deadline: 1/19/25
Latino Heritage Internship
📅 Application Deadline: 2/7/25
Help us inspire visitors and make a lasting impact this summer!
📍 Death Valley National Park
Alt Text: Scientist in Parks Interns staff an information table, under a pop-up tent, to engage with visitors about Death Valley National Park.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 8, 2025

S. California Park Closures Due to Fires

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 8, 2025

Fungi Fundamentals Part II: Top 10 Mushrooms of the Bay Area (Online Event) 1/9

Explore the Bay Area’s top 10 mushrooms with expert tips on ID, habitats, and flavors in this live event with POST and Christian Schwarz.

  • January 9, 2025  7:00 P.M. – 8:30 P.M.

To register go to Fungi Fundamentals Part II: Top 10 Mushrooms of the Bay Area (Online Event) – POST

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 8, 2025

Borrego Valley Hawkwatch Training and Start Dates

The official Borrego Valley Hawkwatch begins on Saturday, February 22and runs through early to mid-April.

Hawkwatch Volunteer Training & Orientation  ABDNHA Library

Friday, February 21 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Instructor: Hal Cohen, Hawkwatch Founder & Coordinator

We encourage all new, interested, and returning Hawkwatch volunteers to attend the Hawkwatch training and orientation session before heading out to see the locations of the morning and evening viewing sites.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 8, 2025

Sáttítla Highlands National Monument

U.S. Forest Service News Release

President Biden announced the designation of the Sáttítla Highlands National Monument in northern California. The monument encompasses 224,676 acres of varied habitat on the Modoc, Shasta-Trinity, and Klamath national forests and provides protection to tribal ancestral homelands, historic and scientific treasures, rare flora and fauna, and the headwaters of vital sources of water.

Read more  Sáttítla Highlands National Monument | US Forest Service

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 8, 2025

Researchers Release Hawaiian Crows Back Into the Wild

The New York  Times reported

Researchers are trying a new strategy to reintroduce Hawaiian crows, which have been extinct in the wild for two decades.

When the aviary door swung open, offering the five young birds their first taste of freedom, they took note but stayed put at first, watchful.

The glossy black birds are among only about 110 ʻalalā, or Hawaiian crows, left on the planet. Their species has been extinct in the wild for two decades, and previous efforts to reintroduce them have yielded only lessons. In November, a group of nonprofit, state and federal partners tried again, but with a twist: Instead of returning the crows to their native range, the forests of the Big Island, the team released them on Maui.

Read more at They Were the Last of Their Kind, in Captivity. Can 5 Survive the Wild?

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 7, 2025

Upcoming Marin and Sonoma Bird and Nature Walks

Upcoming Bird Walks and Nature Eventsfrom Wild Birds Unlimited
Thurs, 1/9: Ellis Creek Ponds, Petaluma, Madrone Audubon
Sat, 1/11: Shollenberger Park, Petaluma, Petaluma Wetlands Alliance
Sat, 1/11: China Camp, San Rafael, Friends of China Camp
Sat, 1/18: Ellis Creek Ponds, Petaluma, Madrone Audubon
Sat, 1/25: Ellis Creek Ponds, Petaluma, Petaluma Wetlands Alliance
Sat, 1/25: Jack Gedney Birds in the Oaks talk, Beers Books, Sacramento
Sun, 1/26: Abbotts Lagoon, Point Reyes, Marin Parks
Sat, 2/1: Sausalito and Strawberry Point, Marin Audubon
Weds, 2/5: Las Gallinas Ponds, San Rafael, Marin Parks

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 7, 2025

President Biden establishes Chuckwalla National Monument, expanding the largest protected landscape in the lower 48 states National Parks Conservation Association

National Parks Conservation Association

Today, President Biden established Chuckwalla National Monument, protecting over 600,000 acres of public lands in the California desert. The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) joins the Protect California Deserts coalition and partners in celebrating this historic designation, decades-in-the-making.

Read more at  President Biden establishes Chuckwalla National Monument, expanding the largest protected landscape in the lower 48 states · National Parks Conservation Association

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 7, 2025

National Zoo’s giant pandas make the most of D.C.’s winter storm : NPR

NPR has a story and video on Giant Pandas

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

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

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 6, 2025

Biden bans new drilling in US coastal waters weeks before Trump handover

The Guardian reported

Ban includes entire Atlantic coast, eastern Gulf of Mexico, Pacific coast off California, Oregon and Washington, and part of Bering Sea

Read on www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/06/biden-bans-new-offshore-drilling-us-coastal-waters-weeks-before-trump-handover

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 6, 2025

Technology helps endangered right whale monitoring

NPR reported

Around 370 North Atlantic right whales remain. Conservationists are focused on improving monitoring efforts for this highly endangered species. Whale surveys are essential for identifying and cataloging each right whale calf that is born. One effective tool used in these surveys is passive acoustic detection, which enables researchers to listen to whales underwater. Unfortunately, human activities are the primary threat to right whales. One of the main dangers is collisions with boats.

Conservationists are getting better at monitoring the movement of the highly endangered right whale. They hope it will encourage ships to slow down in an effort to save the species.

Read more  Technology helps endangered right whale monitoring : NPR

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 6, 2025

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge’s boundaries increased by up to 22,000 acres

Alt National Park Service reported

Another big win! Thank you to everyone who commented! The Fish and Wildlife Service announced it will expand the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge’s boundaries by up to 22,000 acres. This decision will protect the land from the proposed titanium mine in the region. After reviewing nearly 30,000 public comments, it’s clear that Okefenokee holds a special place—not just for our local community, but for people across the nation and around the world.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 5, 2025

Giraffes may be facing extinction. IVF could help

NPR reported

NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe speaks with Jason Pootoolal, president of Save the Giraffes, about using in vitro fertilization for wild giraffes to save the species from extinction.

Listen or read at www.npr.org/2025/01/05/nx-s1-5247458/giraffes-may-be-facing-extinction-ivf-could-help

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 5, 2025

Regional Parks Botanic Garden Photos 1/3/25

Photographed in the East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park in Berkeley, CA on January 3, 2025.

The Regional Parks Botanic Garden is a California native plant garden. It is located within Tilden Park in the hills above Berkeley, California, It is a 10-acre garden includes many of the state’s rare and endangered plants and a place for visitors to wander among trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses from plant communities throughout the state. There are free weekend and holiday tours.  Admission and parking are free. For more information about the garden visit the Friends of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 5, 2025

Popular Central California beach may close as seal species plummets

SF Gate reported

The Carpinteria Ad Hoc Harbor Seal Advisory Committee has proposed a three-year closure of a 1,500-foot stretch of Carpinteria State Beach — which serves as the Carpinteria Harbor Seal Rookery — to protect the species year-round. The committee voted 5-2 on Dec. 19 to recommend the measure to the City Council, the Santa Barbara Independent reported.

Read more at  Popular Central California beach may close as seal species plummets

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 4, 2025

UC Botanical Garden Programs & Workshops 

See the schedule of upcoming activites at the the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden at  Seasonal Programs & Workshops – UC Botanical Garden

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 4, 2025

2025 Classes & Workshops at  Sierra Nevada Field Campus

See the 2025 Schedule of Classes & Workshops at  Sierra Nevada Field Campus at 2025 Classes & Workshops | Sierra Nevada Field Campus

Registration will open in February.

Please enjoy this schedule preview! Sierra Nevada Field Campus offers both accredited classes and non-credit workshops.You may sign up for an accredited class even if you do not wish to earn credits. Accredited classes are processed through the College of Professional & Global Education (CPaGE). Non-credit workshops are handled by University Corporation.This schedule is subject to change and we hope to keep all changes to a minimum.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 4, 2025

‘It shouldn’t be that easy’: inside the illegal wildlife trade booming on social media

The Guardian reported

Social media sites have become crucial tools for the sale of endangered species and platforms should do more to combat it, say experts

Source: ‘It shouldn’t be that easy’: inside the illegal wildlife trade booming on social media | Illegal wildlife trade | The Guardian

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 3, 2025

 Marin County Events Calendar 

See the Marin County Parks schedule of upcoming activities at Events Calendar | Marin County

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 3, 2025

DNA reveals secrets of Australia’s elusive marsupial mole

NPR reported

Researchers have probed the genetics of one of Australia’s most elusory animals, the marsupial mole.

The marsupial mole, an elusive creature that swims through the sands of remote Australian deserts, seems to have suffered an abrupt population crash about 70,000 years ago, possibly due to climate change.

Read on www.npr.org/2025/01/01/nx-s1-5243367/dna-reveals-secrets-of-australias-elusive-marsupial-mole

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 3, 2025

Here’s what’s to watch for in space in 2025

NPR reported

After a spectacular 2024, which featured a year of wonder in the skies, including a total solar eclipse and rare sightings of the northern lights, 2025 is set to bring even more astronomical events.

The year is expected to kick off with a meteor shower and forecast for the potential aurora in the Northern Hemisphere.

Here are some notable celestial events in the cosmos and space missions to look forward to in 2025.

Read more at  Look up! Here’s what’s to watch for in space in 2025 : NPR

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 2, 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

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