Six sihek (Guam kingfisher) have been released into the tropical forests of Palmyra Atoll/
A bird species that was previously extinct in the wild has been released back into its natural habitat for the first time since the 1980s.
According to a press release from the Zoological Society of London, six sihek (Guam kingfisher) are living in the Palmyra Atoll tropical forests, which is thanks to the work done by the Sihek Recovery Program, which looks to restore the species.
Crows and ravens, which belong to the corvid family, are known for their high intelligence, playful natures, and strong personalities. They hold grudges against each other, do basic statistics, perform acrobatics, and even host funerals for deceased family members. But we keep learning new things about the savvy of these birds, and how widespread that savvy is among the corvid family.
Whether it’s the day’s final bit of light illuminating the highest peaks of the Sierra Nevada, or long shadows cast across the valley by towering granite walls, sunsets at Yosemite are often can’t-miss events. It’s little wonder the Sierra is often called the “Range of Light.”
So, where’s the best place at Yosemite to see a sunset?
SB Museum features exhibit halls focusing on regional natural history (birds, insects, mammals, marine life, paleontology), Native Americans, and antique natural history art. In addition there is a life-size Blue Whale skeleton #naturallydifferent.
The Planetary Boundaries Science (PBScience), a new initiative led by PIK director Johan Rockström and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), supported by the Planetary Guardians and other partners, has launched the Planetary Health Check (PHC), a first-of-its-kind scientific report and tool for the health of the Earth’s vital organs that serve as humanity’s life support system. The PHC combines pioneering Earth science, Earth observation data and multi-disciplinary thinking to quantify the planet’s health and inform solutions to reverse the impact of human activity on the planet.
Scientists using ice-breaking ships and underwater robots have found the Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica is melting at an accelerating rate and could be on an irreversible path to collapse, spelling catastrophe for global sea level rise.
New research shows that rainwater could have helped create a meshy wall around protocells 3.8 billion years ago, a critical step in the transition from tiny beads of RNA to every bacterium, plant, animal, and human that ever lived.
An 11,000-acre acquisition will conserve lush forest in the headwaters of the Central Valley Project and some of the most biodiverse land on the planet.
Death Valley is prepping for a busy camping season ahead and is looking to hire one additional volunteer to join our incoming crew of hosts to staff the Furnace Creek Campground from mid to late October through January 15, 2025.
Start date can be negotiated depending on candidates needs and availability, however the end date is fixed. Volunteers work 32 hours a week (can be shared if you are volunteering as a couple). Potential candidates must have an RV or trailer that is fully contained.
Benefits include: free full hookup site (water, electricity, and sewer) in Death Valley National Park, propane reimbursement, access to free laundry facilities, employee gym, and becoming a part of a wonderful park community! Volunteers who work 250 hours or more can qualify for a free Interagency America the Beautiful Annual Pass.
On August 25, 2024, big tree hunters Michael Taylor, Carl Casey and Martin Crawford measured a massive sugar pine that they knew about in Yosemite National Park. The team calculated that it was not only the largest known sugar pine, but the largest pine tree on Earth.
The New York Times has an outstanding video byKarsten Wall about the Canada Goose with outstanding photography.
The idea for the short film above came about as a way to rethink the standard nature documentary format. As an editor who often works in this genre, I’ve always had the desire to create a more contemplative and authentic film about a wild animal’s struggle for survival. Here, I tried my best to remove my human perspective from the story and see the world through the eyes of an urban Canada goose.
The Fall plant sale is on October 5, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with exclusive access for Friends members starting at 9:00 a.m. You can purchase Friends memberships at the Garden starting at 8:30 a.m. on the day of the sale, or in advance on the Garden website. The plant sale list will be posted on the Garden website during the week before the sale.
To receive email notices of plant sales and other garden events, join our email list.
You can purchase seeds at the Visitor Center. Click for directions and a map.
Juniper says the UK needs a ‘mosaic’ of different protected habitats rather than more national parks.
In a Guardian interview, Tony Juniper says housebuilding plans could be an opportunity to create ‘wild belts’ around cities to help habitat and species recovery
The collapse in British butterfly populations is a “warning from nature” about the resilience of the UK’s ecosystems, says England’s nature chief, raising concerns about threats to national food security as the planet continues to heat.
Tony Juniper, the chair of Natural England, says new data showing a sharp fall in butterfly populations this summer was probably the consequence of habitat loss and the use of pesticides, making the insects less resilient to extreme weather fluctuations: the scorching heat and wetter weather driven by global heating.
…housebuilding plans could be an opportunity to create ‘wild belts’ around cities to help habitat and species recovery
Eastern Sierra Land Trust is seeking an Executive Director to lead the organization into the coming, critically important years of land conservation. Send a cover letter and resume as one document (pdf) to info@eslt.org with “Executive Director Search” in the subject line. No phone calls, please. Position will be open until filled. All applicants will be informed when the position has been filled. View job description.
Click here to see the full job description and how to apply.
National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is Saturday, September 28th this year. To celebrate, LPFA is holding not one, not two, but SIX PROJECTS across the Forest to support our Public Lands here in the Los Padres. Check out these awesome volunteer opportunities and sign up for any and all that peak your interest. If you can’t make one, chances are you can make another one. Hope to see you out there over these coming weeks!
The tearing down of the levee is among the final steps in a public-private project to restore tidal land — which was turned over to farmers and duck hunters — to its natural state. The plot of land, located in Solano County and just upriver from Rio Vista, is being called Lookout Slough, and it will provide new habitat for fish and wildlife and increase flood protection for the greater Sacramento area by boosting water storage capacity in the Yolo Bypass, Charlotte Biggs, an assistant division manager with the Ca
Lookout Slough marks “the largest tidal restoration project in California history,” Wade Crowfoot, California’s natural resources secretary, said in a video posted on social media.
The Revelator reports on how animal names impact public reactions and behavior. An example they focus on is the Tasmanian Devil whose existence is threatened and how this species is misunderstood.
Names matter. When we fear something, it becomes psychologically easier to withhold empathy for it or, worse, kill it. Nobody feels sorry for the devil.
The California attorney general announced a lawsuit against ExxonMobil on Monday, alleging it engaged in a decadeslong deception about whether the plastics it manufactured can be recycled.
“Plastics are everywhere, from the deepest parts of our oceans, the highest peaks on earth, and even in our bodies, causing irreversible damage — in ways known and unknown — to our environment and potentially our health,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Monday in a news release. “For decades, ExxonMobil has been deceiving the public to convince us that plastic recycling could solve the plastic waste and pollution crisis when they clearly knew this wasn’t possible. ExxonMobil lied to further its recording-breaking profits at the expense of our planet and possibly jeopardizing our health.”
By outfitting blackbirds with heart-rate monitors, scientists debunked a long-held assumption about the benefits of spending the winter in warm climates.
Up From Dust, from KCUR: Explore the price of trying to shape the world around our needs, as seen from America’s breadbasket: Kansas.
Listen at 🎧 What if planting trees is doing more harm than good? A vast ocean of grass and wildflowers once covered one-third of North America. Now, our obsession with trees is helping to destroy that diverse prairie biome.
Long restricted to Florida, the large wading birds have begun popping up across much of the United States and as far north as Canada in a rapid range expansion that has shocked experts.
Using California poppies as a model organism, a new research project across the UC Natural Reserve System will highlight how genetic diversity, and rates of gene flow, affect plant success. The results will help predict how plant species will fare as they experience climate change.
The incandescent orange flowers of the California poppy light up meadows across the Golden State. The fact that this one species is found from hot, dry San Diego all the way to the cool, rainy Klamath Mountains points to a special power: the capacity to adapt to a phenomenally broad range of conditions.
Sequoia National Park to Reopen Roads, Trails, and Campground on Sept. 21 Following Coffee Pot Fire Containment
On Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at 10 a.m., all road closures in Sequoia National Park due to the Coffee Pot Fire will be lifted, allowing public access. Mineral King Road and its recreation areas, as well as the section of South Fork Road within Sequoia National Park, will reopen. Most trails accessed from these roads will also be available, except for the Lady Bug Trail, which will remain closed due to burned areas that remain hazardous and susceptible to invasive plant activity. Atwell Mill Campground will also reopen.
Natural History Wanderings 