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
Posted in Environment | Tags: Illegal Climbs of Calif. Redwoods
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
Posted in Environment | Tags: Algae Plaguing the Adriatic
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
Posted in Astronomy | Tags: Meteor Showers
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 psychological processes, including impaired learning and memory. Physical activity, especially aerobic exercise, has been found to reduce depressive symptoms, but until now the processes behind this have been poorly understood.
Read more at New clues point towards how exercise reduces symptoms of depression
Posted in Walks & Hikes | Tags: Execise reduces depression
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
Posted in Environment | Tags: Glacier Melt
See the calendar of upcoming events of the California Native Plants Society at https://www.cnps.org/events
Posted in Talks | Tags: Upcoming CNPS Events
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
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
Posted in Environment | Tags: Health Benefits of Nature
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
Posted in Environment | Tags: Unusual Warm Oceans
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
Posted in Park | Tags: Jasper National Parkwildfire
NPR reports
It’s the 16th Bat-a-thon in Belize. Researchers think the flying mammals can teach us about warding off pathogens and managing diabetes. They trap bats in nets, draw blood … but no bats are harmed.
Read more Bats may hold clues to human diseases. The Bat-a-thon is investigating : Goats and Soda : NPR
When a Texas resident found an abandoned baby owl at a family barbecue, she acted fast to rescue it — using a warm tortilla.
Listen to story at www.npr.org/2024/07/27/nx-s1-5050856/how-an-abandoned-baby-owl-was-rescued-in-a-warm-tortilla
Posted in Birds | Tags: Owl Rescue
from East Bay Regional Parks
Park Closure Notice: Due to a wildfire in Sunol, Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve is closed until further notice. Check for updates on the park’s webpage www.ebparks.org/parks/sunol or the Alerts and Closures webpage www.ebparks.org/alerts-closures.
Posted in Park | Tags: Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve
from Lassen National Park
Posted in Park | Tags: Lassen National Park, Park Fire
Union of Concerned Scientists reports
In an era when massive heat domes blanket large swaths of continents for days, wildfires burn through areas the size of small countries, and hurricanes regularly push the limits of what we once thought possible, sea level rise can seem like extreme weather’s low-key cousin. But with estimates suggesting that sea level rise will affect more than one billion people around the world in the next 25 years, this is one member of the dysfunctional climate change family that shouldn’t be ignored.
Read more at Sea Level Rise is Already Threatening Communities – Union of Concerned Scientists
Posted in Environment | Tags: Sea Level Rise
The Guardian reports
The Park fire, which started on the outskirts of Chico, has burned more than 178,000 acres, including structures.
— Read on www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/26/california-wildfire-evacuation
Posted in Environment | Tags: Park Fire
Desert Institute Fall Field Guide | PDF to Flipbook
— Get the guide at heyzine.com/flip-book/fall-field-guide.html
Posted in Desert | Tags: Joshua Tree Fall Desert Guide
The Sacramento Bee report
Off the coast of India, anglers hauled up their fishing nets and caught a 1-foot-long creature. The deep-sea predator had “large” eyes and rows of teeth.
It turned out to be a new species.
Source: New species of dogfish shark discovered off India: photo | Sacramento Bee
Posted in Animals | Tags: New Species of Dogfish Shark
The Guardian reports on large wildfire in Jasper National Park
Thousands of residents and tourists have already evacuated, and federal support offered to Alberta
Posted in Park | Tags: Jasper National Park Wildfire
from U.S. National Park Service
Biscuit Basin closed for the remainder of summer due to hydrothermal explosionAlert 1, Severity closure, Biscuit Basin closed for the remainder of summer due to hydrothermal explosionThe parking lot and boardwalks at Biscuit Basin, located north of Old Faithful, are closed for the remainder of the summer due to a hydrothermal explosion that occurred July 23. The Grand Loop Road remains open to vehicles.More
Read more at Update on the July 23 Biscuit Basin hydrothermal explosion – Yellowstone National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Posted in Park | Tags: Biscuit Basin hydrothermal explosion, Yellowstone National Park
From Alt National Park Service
The Bolton News reports
The mounds were discovered near the Buffels River in Namaqualand.
Scientists in South Africa have been stunned to discover that termite mounds that are still inhabited in an arid region of the country are more than 30,000 years old, meaning they are the oldest known active termite hills.
Source: Oldest inhabited termite mounds have been active for 34,000 years | The Bolton News
Posted in Animals | Tags: Termite Mounds
Posted in Park | Tags: Eastern Sierra Free Campground Programs
A fox in the sun, fireflies and a brush fire, and trees blanketed with butterflies are among the striking images caught by winners of the California Academy of Sciences’ annual competition. Now in its 11th year, it highlights biodiversity and the many threats our planet faces
See the winning photos at: Winning images of the 2024 BigPicture natural world photography competition | Environment | The Guardian
Posted in Photography, Uncategorized
ABC News reported
A surprise eruption in Yellowstone National Park has shot steam, water and dark-colored rock and dirt an estimated 100 feet into the sky and sent people running for safety
— Read on abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/surprise-blast-rock-water-steam-sends-dozens-running-112211684
Posted in Park | Tags: Yellowstone Explosion
Photos taken in the Regional Park Botanic Garden in Tilden Park in Berkeley, CA on July 21 and 23, 2024.
The Regional Parks Botanic Garden is a botanic garden of California native plants. The Garden is open Monday through Sunday from 8:30AM to 5:30PM. It is located within Tilden Park in the hills above Berkeley, California. It is a 10-acre garden for 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. To learn more about the garden visit the website at www.nativeplants.org .
BirdLife International reports
A new scientific paper co-authored by BirdLife and Partners[1] finds that nearly 200,000 seabirds die annually as bycatch in European waters – including 150,000 in EU waters. Among these, six seabird species threatened by extinction in the region are frequently recorded as bycatch. Whilst shocking, these figures paint only a partial picture. The true scale of this tragic loss could be much higher. In this study, bycatch estimates were nonexistent for more than a third of the coastal states studied, and available estimates rarely included the entirety of a country’s fishing fleet.
Read more Bycatch tragedy: we are losing 200,000 seabirds annually! – BirdLife International
San Francisco Orchid Society’s “2024 Orchids in the Park” summer sale event – Saturday, July 27th from 10 AM – 5 PM and Sunday, July 28th from 10 AM – 4 PM at the SF County Fair Building (1199 9th Avenue near Lincoln Way in Golden Gate Park – 94122).
Discounted Advance Tickets On Sale Now!
Note: Advance tickets are $8.46 AND good for the whole weekend (Saturday and Sunday). Come early for best selection, come later for deals! Door price will be $10 EACH DAY.
Posted in Garden | Tags: Orchids In The Park, San Francisco Orchid Society
Do you love to walk on the beach?! Would you like to learn more about the science and importance of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)? Then join us on the Marin MPA Watch Volunteer Team! The next Marin MPA Watch Volunteer Training will be held at Limantour Beach on Saturday, July 27, 2024.
The Marin MPA Watch trains volunteers to observe and collect unbiased data on coastal and marine resource use at Agate County Beach, Corte Madera Marsh, Drakes Beach, and Limantour Beach. Data is used to inform the management, enforcement, and science of California’s MPAs. Volunteers learn about the coastal environment, become “community scientists” and stewards of the area, and generate quantities of monitoring data that would not otherwise be possible.
For more information visit https://go.nps.gov/pore/mpawatch240727
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: Marine Protected Area Volunteers
Natural History Wanderings 