Siskiyou Land Trust currently has a new job opportunity for a full-time
Stewardship Program Director!
For full job descriptions and how to apply, please visit our website at:
www.siskiyoulandtrust.org/job-opportunities
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 7, 2024
Job Opening: Stewardship Program Director
Posted in Job Openings | Tags: Job Opening
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 7, 2024
Tioga Pass Road to Open June 10
From Yosemite National Park
Tioga Road (continuation of Highway 120 through the park) will open to the public on Monday, June 10 by 7 am. We are so excited to welcome visitors and staff back to the high country of Tuolumne Meadows.
Please make sure you are prepared and stocked up before setting off on your way to the high country. There is no food service or fuel available, and campgrounds aren’t open yet.
A reservation is required to drive into Yosemite on weekends and Juneteenth this month, every day from July 1 through August 16, then weekends and holidays through October 27—even if you are only passing through the park.
Posted in Drives, Park | Tags: Tioga Pass Road Opening
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 7, 2024
Regional Park Botanic Garden Photos 6/3/24
Photos taken in the Regional Park Botanic Garden in Tilden Park in Berkeley, CA on 6/3/24.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 7, 2024
Those Yellow Wildflowers You See Everywhere Are Bad For The Environment — But They’re Here To Stay
LAist reports
The so-called “superbloom” of California poppies may not be happening this year, but no doubt you’ve been seeing many majestic hillsides covered in yellow wildflowers all over SoCal.
They’re called black mustard. These spindly plants with small, sparse clumps of flowers can easily shoot up to over 6 feet tall in a single year and spread as wide as the eyes can see. While they are a sight to behold, the plants cause tremendous harm by edging out native plants and are ready fuel for wildfire
Read more at Those Yellow Wildflowers You See Everywhere Are Bad For The Environment — But They’re Here To Stay | LAist
Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Black Mustard
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 6, 2024
Climate Change, Latent Pathogens, and Large-Scale Tree Mortality in California
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Posted in Environment | Tags: Large-Scale Tree Mortality
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 6, 2024
Fungus is turning cicadas into sex-crazed zombies
NPR reports
The fungus takes over cicadas’ lower halves and sex drives, fueling them to keep mating and spreading the disease in the process. That’s why some scientists call them “flying salt shakers of death.”
Read on www.npr.org/2024/06/06/nx-s1-4994999/cicada-fungus-std-zombies
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 6, 2024
Upcoming Marin & Sonoma Bird Walks & Nature Events
from Wild Birds Unlimited
Sat, 6/8: Shollenberger Park, Petaluma Wetlands Alliance
Tues, 6/11: Bear Valley, Point Reyes, Marin Parks
Weds, 6/12: Meet Owls at China Camp, San Rafael, Friends of China Camp
Sat, 6/15: Nature Hike at China Camp, San Rafael, Friends of China Camp
Sat, 6/22: Alcatraz Nesting Colonies (from SF), Golden Gate Bird Alliance
Sat, 6/22: Wetlands Nature Walk, China Camp, Friends of China Camp
Sat, 6/22: Ellis Creek, Petaluma Wetlands Alliance
Tues, 6/25: Family Walk at Blackstone Canyon, San Rafael, Marin Parks
Sat, 6/29: Shorebirds at China Camp, Friends of China Camp
Sun, 6/30: Butterflies at Indian Valley, Novato, Marin Parks
Posted in Birds, Walks & Hikes
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 6, 2024
Using tools helps sea otters survive as the ocean changes and food disappears
NPR reports
In parts of the ocean where sea otters face stark competition for their favorite kinds of food, some otters are getting by with the help of tools — like rocks and even glass bottles — that let them bash open tougher prey that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to eat.
That’s according to a new study of sea otters in Monterey Bay, California, which took a look at the tool use of individual otters to see how it affected their health and nutrition.
Read more or listen to the story at Using tools helps sea otters survive as the ocean changes and food disappears : NPR
Posted in Animals | Tags: Sea Otter Tool Usage
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 5, 2024
More Photos From My Garden
Photos from my garden taken early evening
Posted in Garden, Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: Garden Photos
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 5, 2024
Updates from the CNPS Conservation Program 6/10
from Marin CNPS
“A Trifecta of Updates from the CNPS Conservation Program”
Guest Speaker: Nick Jensen, CNPS Conservation Program Director Monday, June 10 @ 7:30 pm
Nick will provide a trio of updates on big endeavors from the Conservation Program.
Posted in Environment, Talks, Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: CNPS Conservation Program
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 5, 2024
Peru approves the creation of long-awaited marine protected area
Mongabay reports
- Experts have called the creation of the Grau Tropical Sea National Reserve, which took more than 10 years to be approved, a milestone as it is rich in biodiversity.
- Observers expect the reserve to allow for greater control and monitoring of the area to prevent illegal fishing.
- However, some industrial fishing, including trawling, is permitted in the new reserve, a decision criticized by marine conservation experts who say Peru needs “no-fishing areas.”
Read story at Peru approves the creation of long-awaited marine protected area
Posted in Environment | Tags: Grau Tropical Sea National Reserve
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 4, 2024
2,000 Sea Lions Roamed, Just to Make This Dock Their Home
The New York Times reports
The sea lion population at San Francisco’s Pier 39 set a record this week.
The number of visitors to San Francisco has not rebounded to its prepandemic level — not among humans, anyway. Sea lions, on the other hand, are swimming to the city in higher numbers than ever recorded.
This week, sea lion counters — yes, they exist — tallied 2,000 of the whiskered, blubbery creatures in the water alongside Pier 39 on the city’s northern edge. That’s 600 more than the previous record of 1,400 set in the early 1990s, according to Sheila Chandor, who has been the harbor master at Pier 39 since 1985.
Read more at 2,000 Sea Lions Set Record in San Francisco – The New York Times
Posted in Animals
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 4, 2024
Bay Nature Summer Activity Guide
Bay Nature has a Summer Nature Guide for activities in the Bay Area at Summer Activity Guide
Posted in Walks & Hikes
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 4, 2024
Upcoming CNPS Events
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
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 4, 2024
Static electricity attracts ticks to hosts, scientists find
University of Bristol News Release
Ticks can be attracted across air gaps several times larger than themselves by the static electricity that their hosts naturally accumulate, researchers at the University of Bristol have discovered.
This likely greatly increases their efficiency at finding hosts to parasitise because ticks are not capable of jumping, and therefore this is the only mechanism by which they would be able to make contact with hosts that are beyond the reach of their tiny legs.
Posted in Animals | Tags: Static electricity, Ticks
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 3, 2024
Today’s Garden Photos
Photos of some of the flowers in bloom in my garden today.
Posted in Garden, Photos (Sandy's), Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Garden Photos
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 3, 2024
Theodore Payne Foundation Upcoming Classes and Workshops
See upcoming Theodore Payne Foundation Classes and Workshops at Theodore Payne Foundation Events | Eventbrite
Posted in Class/Workshop, Garden, Talks | Tags: Theodore Payne Foundation Events
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 3, 2024
Brush-tailed, burrowing bettong populations increase at Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary
ABC reports
In short: A bettong survey at Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary has shown the species has increased in number.
It’s thought that high rainfall earlier this year has allowed the rare marsupials to breed up.
What’s next? It’s hoped the population will continue to rise.
Read more at Brush-tailed, burrowing bettong populations increase at Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary – ABC News
Posted in Animals | Tags: Brush-tailed burrowing bettong
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 2, 2024
First Bloom This Season of Humboldt’s Lily
The first Humboldt Lily/Lilium humboldtii to bloom in our garden this year appeared today.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 2, 2024
Catalina Island Scraps Plan to Shoot 2,000 Deer From Helicopters
The New York Times reports
Officials of the conservancy that owns most of the island say they will try other ways to remove nonnative deer that are harming the ecosystem.
Read story at Catalina Island Scraps Plan to Shoot 2,000 Deer From Helicopters – The New York Times
Posted in Animals | Tags: Deer Catalina Island
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 2, 2024
Submit Your Bird Photos to Golden Gate Bird Alliance
We would love to spotlight your photos in our future publications!
If you enjoy taking photos of birds and would like these pictures featured in our quartelry magazine, monthly online newsletter, social media or other publications, fill out our online form. Photo Submission Form
Posted in Birds | Tags: Bird Photography
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 2, 2024
Hottest Summer in 2000 Years
The BBC reports
Clues hidden deep in the trunks of ancient trees have revealed that last summer was the northern hemisphere’s hottest in 2,000 years.
Last year had already been confirmed as the world’s warmest on record by a large margin, at least since 1850, due to climate change.
But tree rings, which record temperature information far further back than even Victorian scientific records, now show just how unprecedented last year’s scorching temperatures were.
Read on at Climate change: Last summer hottest in 2,000 years, trees reveal
Posted in Environment | Tags: HottestSummer in 2000 Years
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 1, 2024
New California Wildflower Book
from Marin CNPS
CNPS has just published Wildflowers of California, a comprehensive field guide perfect for anyone eager to learn about the diverse wildflowers in the state.
Organized by flower color and family, illustrated with over two thousand photographs, and including a range map for each described flower, Wildflowers of California is as user-friendly as it is informative. Several years in the making, the guide includes native and non-native annuals, perennials, and shrubs.
On sale through June for $21.00; then full price of $29.99 after that.
Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants | Tags: Wildflowers of California
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 1, 2024
Bird and Butterfly Festival 2024 June 2
Sunday, June 2 (10am-3pm)Coyote Hills Regional Park, 8000 Patterson Ranch Road, Fremont |
Posted in Birds, Butterflies | Tags: Bird and Butterfly Festival 2024
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | June 1, 2024
‘Winners and losers’ as global warming forces plants uphill
ScienceDaily report
Some plant species will ‘win’ and others will ‘lose’ as global warming forces them to move uphill, new research shows.
Read article at ‘Winners and losers’ as global warming forces plants uphill | ScienceDaily
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 31, 2024
Job Announcement: Conservation Entomologist,
The Xerces Society is hiring a Conservation Entomologist NRCS Western Regional Partner Biologist. Read job description and see how to apply at Xerces Society Inc – Conservation Entomologist, NRCS Western Regional Partner Biologist
Posted in Job Openings | Tags: Job Opening
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 31, 2024
Conservation Dogs May Help in Search for Endangered Franklin’s Bumblebee
Interesting story from the past.
The Revelator reported
The quest to save a rare pollinator from extinction has just gained an unlikely ally: a mutt named Filson.
A six-year-old Australian cattle dog mix with black and tan fur and oversized ears, Filson will soon join the mission to find the endangered Franklin’s bumblebee (Bombus franklini). The fuzzy pollinator, which no one has observed in 15 years, became a federally protected species this summer.
Posted in Animals | Tags: Pollinator
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 30, 2024
Golden Gate Recreation Area Upcoming Events
To see the current schedule of upcoming events at Golden Gate Recreation Area go to See all upcoming events
Posted in Talks, Walks & Hikes | Tags: Golden Gate Recreation Area Events
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 30, 2024
Regional Park Botanic Garden Photos 5/28/24
Photos taken in the Regional Park Botanic Garden in Tilden Park in Berkeley, CA on 5/28/24.
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 30, 2024
Naturehood: Online Tools for a Native Plant Garden 6/6/24
Naturehood: Online Tools for a Native Plant Garden Thursday, June 6 at 5:30 pm
Discover how to use online tools to plan, design, and cultivate your own vibrant and sustainable native garden. From plant selection to landscape design, we’ll guide you through the process for a thriving, water-wise landscape that celebrates the beauty of California’s native plants.
Featuring experts from CNPS’ Horticulture Program & Peter Brastow, the senior biodiversity specialist and Yerba Buena Island restoration ecologist for the San Francisco Environment Department.
| Register today |
Posted in Garden | Tags: Native Plant Gardens
Natural History Wanderings 