Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 5, 2024

Galapagos Islands and many unique creatures threatened by warming ocean waters | PBS News

PBS News reports on Galapagos Islands and many unique creatures threatened by warming ocean waters. Below are a few excerpts. Read full article at  Galapagos Islands and many unique creatures threatened by warming ocean waters | PBS News

Warming oceans affect the food sources of many of the seagoing animals in the Galapagos. Marine iguanas — one of many species that are endemic, or unique, to the Galapagos — have a harder time finding the red and green algae they prefer. Sea turtles struggle to nest in warmer temperatures. Raising young gets harder as water warms and fewer nutrients are available.

While temperatures vary depending on the season and other naturally-occurring climate events, ocean temperatures have been rising because of human-caused climate change as oceans absorb the vast majority of excess heat in the atmosphere. The ocean experienced its warmest decade since at least the 1800s in the last 10 years, and 2023 was the ocean’s warmest year on record.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 4, 2024

E-Sales of a Wild Bat Sold as Décor Threaten Species

From UC Davis

From wall art to necklaces, a vulnerable Asian bat species is being sold for decor on Etsy, eBay and Amazon sites in the U.S. and globally. It could threaten the species’ survival, warns a UC Davis and CUNY study.

— Read on www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/e-sales-wild-bat-sold-decor-threaten-species

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 4, 2024

Today Is Owl Awareness Day

Owl Awareness Day is a special occasion celebrated on August 4th each year to raise awareness about these magnificent nocturnal birds of prey. This day serves as a reminder of the importance of conserving owl populations and their natural habitats around the world.
— Read on savetheeaglesinternational.org/what-is-owl-awareness-day/

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 4, 2024

Upcoming UC Berkeley Botanical Garden Events

See the events calendar for the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden at Garden Events

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 4, 2024

Sick sea lions stranded on California coast as experts fear algae poisoning

The Guardian reports

At least 23 sea lions with suspected domoic acid poisoning rescued from Santa Barbara and Ventura beaches

Sea lions are stranding themselves on a long stretch of the California coast in what experts say could be a sign of widespread poisoning by a harmful algae bloom this summer.

The Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute (Cimwi) said that since 26 July, it had been inundated by daily reports of sick sea lions along the shoreline in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

The marine mammals are suffering from domoic acid, a neurotoxin that affects the brain and heart, the institute said in a statement. The poisoning event is largely affecting adult female California sea lions, it said.

Read more at Sick sea lions stranded on California coast as experts fear algae poisoning | California | The Guardian

 

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 4, 2024

‘Extinct’ trees found in Tanzania spark hope for ecosystem recovery

MongaBay  reports

  • Conservationists in eastern Tanzania have found two specimens of a rare tree feared to be extinct.
  • Millettia sacleuxii was only known from six specimens in forest reserves that have almost disappeared.
  • Thousands of seeds have been collected and seedlings raised, and these are due to be planted out as part of a reforestation project in the Nguru Mountains.The two surviving Millettia “mother trees” were found near an area that conservationists hope to soon turn into a wildlife corridor.

Read more at : ‘Extinct’ trees found in Tanzania spark hope for ecosystem recovery

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 3, 2024

East Bay Regional Park Happenings for August

Safety Tips During Hot August Days, Public Safety’s Second Annual National Night Out, Crab Cove’s Fish Festival, and much more!
— Read on www.ebparks.org/about-us/whats-new/news/park-happenings-august-0

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 3, 2024

Theodore Payne Foundation Upcoming Events

See upcoming Theodore Payne Foundation Classes and Workshops at Theodore Payne Foundation Events | Eventbrite

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 3, 2024

Naturalist Series at Sonoma State University’s Osborn Preserve

Learn how to share nature’s secrets with others while exploring the stunning ecosystems of Sonoma Mountain with university faculty and other experts. This outdoor Naturalist Educator Series will give you new insights into environmental education concepts and the skills to share your knowledge with elementary school children. Topics include plants, animals, human history and more! Join an “Environmentally Ready” community working to eradicate Nature Deficit Disorder in the North Bay!

Become an Osborn Naturalist or attend one or more events on a space available basis.
8/17 1:30 – 4:30 pm Reptiles of Sonoma Mountain
8/17 5:30 – 8:30 pm Owls of Sonoma Mountain
8/18 11 am – 4 pm Trail Activities & Planning Visits
8/24 10 am – 1 pm Fish of Osborn Preserve
8/25 10 am – 1 pm Plants on Sonoma Mountain in August
8/25 2 pm – 4 pm Human Relations with the Osborn Preserve

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 3, 2024

Maine’s coastal marshes are at risk as sea levels rise

The Maine Monitor reports

Between 28 and 57 percent of the state’s coastal marshes could disappear by the end of the century, victims of a rising sea, coastal development and polluted runoff.

Read more  Maine’s coastal marshes are at risk as sea levels rise

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 2, 2024

Butterfly Tours 8/18 at Regional Parks Botanic Garden

Join Sarab Seth, the butterfly guy, for guided walks around the Botanic Garden in search of butterflies. The next walks are August 18, 1-2 pm and 2:15-3:15 pm. Space is limited to 10 participants for each walk. To sign up, go to Butterfly Tour Signup.

Our checklist of butterflies recorded in the Botanic Garden currently stands at 40 species.  What butterflies we see on our walks will change over the season.  It’s normal to see 8 or 10 species during a one-hour walk at this time of year.  Groups with especially good karma could see up to 15 species, if there’s good butterfly weather (sunny, warm, and not too windy).  It is sometimes hard to get a good look with the naked eye.  Please bring binoculars if you have them (close-focus binoculars work best).

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 2, 2024

Upcoming Marin County Bird Walks & Nature Events

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 2, 2024

Thousands of birds and fish threatened by mining for clean energy transition

University of Cambridge reports

New research has found that 4,642 species of vertebrate are threatened by mineral extraction around the world through mining and quarrying, and drilling for

— Read on www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/thousands-of-birds-and-fish-threatened-by-mining-for-clean-energy-transition

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 2, 2024

Friends of Inyo Upcoming Events

See upcoming events from the Friends of Inyo at Friends of Inyo Events

 

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 2, 2024

CNPS announces the release of Calscape 2.0

Calscape.org is a unique online tool that lets you discover which plants grow native to your specific location. Use it to plan your garden, build plant lists for your garden, see growing instructions, and find native plant nurseries and landscape professionals near you. Try out the new virtual garden planner.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 2, 2024

Harnessing ‘invisible forests in plain view’ to reforest the world

MongaBay reports

Tony Rinaudo had been attempting to reforest degraded land in Niger in the 1980s at a rate of 6,000 trees a year, but most of them died. While driving to a village hosting one such project, he caught sight of what he initially thought was a bush. Upon closer inspection, though, it turned out to be the inspiration he was looking for.“

In that instant, everything changed because I realized it’s not a bush, it’s not even a weed. That’s a tree,” he says, growing out of an old stump. The degraded land he was attempting to reforest in fact contained “millions and millions” of them, which, if protected from browsing animals and encouraged to grow, would sprout trees to rebuild the region’s depleted soil and water tables, and provide nutrients and partial shade that farmers’ crops could grow better in, via a system called agroforestry.

Read more at  Harnessing ‘invisible forests in plain view’ to reforest the world – Conservation news

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 1, 2024

Job Opportunities at Birds Canada | Oiseaux Canada

See BIrds Canada job announcements at  Job Opportunities – Birds Canada | Oiseaux Canada

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | August 1, 2024

Perseids Meteor Shower Early to mid-august

Earthsky reports

Early to mid-August meteors … the Perseids
Predicted peak: The peak is predicted** for August 12, 2024, at 14:00 UTC.
So the mornings of August 11, 12 and 13 are probably your best bet.
When to watch: The moon will be a 1st quarter and 50% illuminated during 2024’s peak of the Perseid meteor shower. So the best time to watch for Perseids will be starting around midnight until dawn. This shower rises to a peak gradually, then falls off rapidly. And Perseid meteors tend to strengthen in number as late night deepens into the wee hours before dawn. The shower is often best just before dawn.

Readmore at Perseid meteor shower 2024: All you need to know

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 31, 2024

Underwater robot finds new circulation pattern in Antarctic ice shelf

Phy.org reports

More than merely cracks in the ice, crevasses play an important role in circulating seawater beneath Antarctic ice shelves, potentially influencing their stability, finds Cornell University-led research based on a first-of-its-kind exploration by an underwater robot.

The remotely operated Icefin robot’s climb up and down a crevasse in the base of the Ross Ice Shelf produced the first 3D measurements of ocean conditions near where it meets the coastline, a critical juncture known as the grounding zone.

See video and read more at Underwater robot finds new circulation pattern in Antarctic ice shelf

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 31, 2024

People are flying across the world to illegally climb Calif. redwoods

SF Gate reports

Redwood National and State Parks is cracking down on ‘ninja climbs’

California park officials want people to stop illegally climbing redwoods.

Read this well done article at  People are flying across the world to illegally climb Calif. redwoods

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 31, 2024

More algae on surface Adriatic Sea as result of rising temperatures

EuroNews reports

Algae has plagued the Adriatic Sea for weeks in Ancona. The natural phenomenon occurs as sea temperatures rise, a pattern seen across European seas.

The algae has plagued the Adriatic Sea for weeks in Ancona in Italy. The slimy substance disappeared for a few days but has unfortunately returned, as it is believed to thrive in hot temperatures.

Read more More algae on surface Adriatic Sea as result of rising temperatures | Euronews

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 30, 2024

Two Meteor Showers Peak This Week. Here’s How and When to Watch

The New York Times

The Southern Delta Aquarids and the Alpha Capricornids are reaching their peak this week. The Perseids, one of the best shows of the year, are also ramping up.

— Read on www.nytimes.com/2024/07/29/science/meteor-shower-aquarids-capricornids-perseids.html

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 30, 2024

New clues point towards how exercise reduces symptoms of depression

Med Xpress reports on why it is so important to be active and get outdoors

The processes in the brain and body through which physical exercise reduces depressive symptoms have been explored by UCL researchers.

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide and is associated with disruptions to several brain and , including impaired learning and memory. Physical activity, especially aerobic exercise, has been found to reduce , but until now the processes behind this have been poorly understood.

Read more at New clues point towards how exercise reduces symptoms of depression

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 30, 2024

In the Andes, glaciers are shrinking fast, endangering millions 

Al Jazeera reports

Rising global temperatures due to climate change have led glaciers to retreat and the permafrost to melt in the Andes.

On a clear day, Chile’s towering 5,400-metre (17,700-foot) El Plomo mountain can be seen from the capital, Santiago. The glacier-capped Andean peak has been climbed and revered for centuries, with the Incas carrying out human sacrifices at the summit.

The route to the top is still the same path paved by the Incas, with archaeological remnants scattered along the way. An Incan mummy was found near the summit in 1954, perfectly preserved due to the mountain’s dry and cold conditions.

Now the mountain is crumbling. Rising global temperatures due to climate change have led the glacier to retreat and the permafrost to melt. New lagoons have formed and ruptured, landslides have injured climbers and massive sinkholes have opened up, breaking up the ancient path to the summit.

Read more at  In the Andes, glaciers are shrinking fast, endangering millions | Climate Crisis | Al Jazeera

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 29, 2024

Upcoming CNPS Events

See the calendar of upcoming events of the California Native Plants Society at https://www.cnps.org/events

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 29, 2024

How a Crisis for Vultures Led to a Human Disaster: Half a Million Deaths

The New York Times reports

The birds were accidentally poisoned in India. New research on what happened next shows how wildlife collapse can be deadly for people.

— Read on www.nytimes.com/2024/07/29/climate/vultures-india-poisoning.html

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 29, 2024

As Great Salt Lake dries up, it emits millions of tons of CO2

NPR reports

A new study found that the drying Great Salt Lake in Utah is now a major source of the gas emissions that are causing the climate to warm.

— Read on www.npr.org/2024/07/27/nx-s1-5054329/utah-great-salt-lake-carbon-emissions

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 29, 2024

Write Your Own Nature Prescription

Park Rx America is a non-profit organization whose mission is to decrease the burden of chronic disease, increase health and happiness, and foster environmental stewardship, by virtue of prescribing Nature during the routine delivery of healthcare.

Source: Write Your Own Nature Prescription | PRA – Nature Prescribed

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 28, 2024

The seas are not alright: “Unusual warmth” hits nearly all of world’s oceans

Axios reports

Nearly all of the world’s oceans are in the midst of “unusual warmth,” warns a leading NOAA scientist who notes this has contributed to the extreme heat baking much of the Northern Hemisphere this summer.

Read more World’s ocean’s hit by “unusual warmth” tied to heat waves on land

 

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | July 28, 2024

Thousands escape Jasper National Park wildfire as officials worry situation could worsen

The Edmonton Journal reports

“We’re preparing for challenging conditions today as a cold front moves in from B.C. and the winds are going to shift. This will change the intensity of several of the wildfires in Alberta as well as the direction that they may be moving”

Thousands of people continue to flee wildfires and escape Jasper National Park via neighbouring B.C. amid concerns changing weather could lead to the situation worsening in the days to come.

Read more  Thousands escape Jasper via B.C. as wildfires threaten national park | Edmonton Journal

 

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