NOAA Fisheries reports
On April 11, 2024, NOAA Fisheries scientists observed two endangered Rice’s whales in the western Gulf of Mexico. There are likely fewer than 100 Rice’s whales in the Gulf of Mexico, the only area where the species is known to occur.
Read more at Rice’s Whales Spotted in the Western Gulf of Mexico | NOAA Fisheries
Posted in Animals | Tags: Rice's Whales
SF Gate reports
An intoxicated visitor at Yellowstone National Park allegedly kicked a bison, resulting in the visitor being injured and later arrested, the National Park Service announced.
Read more Drunken tourist kicked bison in Yellowstone, officials say
Posted in Animals, Park | Tags: Bad Tourist Behavior, Bison, Yellowstone National Park
Patabook News reports
Scores of emaciated brown pelicans, too weak to fly, have been found on Southern California beaches in the last month and taken to an Orange County rescue center, according to its director.
“We’re getting dozens of calls,” Debbie McGuire, executive director of the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach, said on Saturday. “People are finding them in parking lots and their backyards.”
Read on patabook.com/news/2024/05/05/scores-of-starving-brown-pelicans-found-on-southern-california-beaches/
Posted in Birds | Tags: Starving Brown Pelicans
EarthSky reports
When to watch: New moon will fall a few days after the peak of the 2024 Eta Aquariid shower. So, mornings around the peak will be dark and moonless. The best mornings to watch are May 5 and 6, 2024, in the hours before dawn.
Read more at Eta Aquariid meteor shower this weekend! Q&A here
Posted in Astronomy | Tags: Eta Aquariids
Plant Conservation Intern – California Botanic Garden, Claremont CA
Yesterday, 07:10 AM
California Botanic Garden
1500 North College Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711-3157 Phone 909-625-8767 calbg.orgTITLE: Plant Conservation Intern
DEPARTMENT: Biodiversity Research and Conservation
STATUS: Full-Time (10 weeks), starting mid-June
REPORTS TO: Director of Conservation Programs
APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 20th 2024— Read on for information and how to apply forum.cnps.org/
Posted in Job Openings | Tags: CALIFORNIA BOTANIC GARDEN, Plant Conservation Intern
See the events calendar for the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden at Garden Events
Posted in Class/Workshop, Garden | Tags: UC Berkeley Botanical Garden Events
SF Gate reports
The recent purchase of two properties in the Santa Cruz mountains, combined with other land, is expected to add nearly 200 acres of land to Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
Read more A popular Northern California state park is getting even bigger
Posted in Park | Tags: Big Basin Redwoods State Park
from Golden Gate Bird Alliance
Native plant gardens are a fantastic way to attract birds and pollinators to your yard — but they’re quite different from other forms of gardening you may have done in the past. Here are six common mistakes that I’ve seen beginner native gardeners make. With a little forethought and planning, you can avoid these pitfalls and create a healthy, vibrant backyard for both you and wildlife.
Read more Six Common Mistakes in Native Gardening – Golden Gate Bird Alliance
Posted in Garden | Tags: Native Plant Garden Tips
Sf Gate reports
Although not as well known as Yosemite Falls or Bridalveil Fall, Ribbon Fall is the tallest single-drop waterfall in the contiguous United States.
Read on www.sfgate.com/california-parks/article/yosemite-waterfalls-raging-19431483.php
Posted in Park, Waterfalls | Tags: Ribbon Falls, Yosemite
Miami Herald reported
In the mountains of central China, a “large” pregnant creature perched at the edge of a forest. Down the scaly predator’s back ran a line of “heart-shaped” spots.
Visiting scientists spotted the colorful animal — and discovered a new species
— Read on news.yahoo.com/large-pregnant-creature-heart-shaped-193250342.html
Posted in Animals | Tags: New Species
Kick off the growing season with us at GardenFest! Join us for an exciting celebration of springtime in ESLT’s backyard at 250 N. Fowler Street, Bishop, CA
The birds are singing, flowers are blooming, and the days are getting longer and warmer. Help us celebrate spring at ESLT’s GardenFest Celebration on May 4th from 11 am- 2 pm. This family-friendly community event will feature a plant sale, seed library, Master Gardeners, Eastern Sierra Audubon Society, art for sale, activities for kids – all in our backyard and demonstration Pollinator Garden. Stroll through the garden, learn about native plants, and celebrate spring with the Eastside community. We hope to see you there!
We hope you join us for a fantastic Saturday in our backyard in Bishop. Don’t miss out on this fun and free family-friendly community event and get your garden growing.
Learn more at GardenFest 2024 – Eastern Sierra Land Trust
Posted in Garden
from Bird
Global Big Day is an annual celebration of the birds around you. No matter where you are, join us virtually on 11 May, help celebrate World Migratory Bird Day, and share the birds you find with eBird.
Participating is easy—you can even be part of Global Big Day from home. If you can spare 5 or 10 minutes, report your bird observations to eBird online or with our free eBird Mobile app. If you have more time, submit several checklists of birds throughout the day. You never know what you might spot. Your observations help us better understand global bird populations through products like these animated abundance maps brought to you by eBird Science.
Read more at Global Big Day—11 May 2024 – eBird
Posted in Birds | Tags: Global Big Day
See all Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy Upcoming Events at see all upcoming events
Posted in Park | Tags: Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy Events
LIVE NOW: Peregrine Falcon nest cam on Alcatraz IslandFor the first time, you can see the fledgling family of Peregrine Falcons growing up on Alcatraz! Check out our livestream to see “Lawrencium” tending to her young. Find out why these magnificent birds, the fastest animal on earth, are such a rare thing to see on the island » Live falcon cam |
Posted in Birds | Tags: Alcatraz Island, Peregrine Falcon nest cam
The Revelator reports
Conservationists in Namibia have found the fate of people and cheetahs are closely intertwined — and so are solutions to help both.
Read story at Saving Africa’s Most Endangered Big Cat • The Revelator
Posted in Uncategorized
from Tuleyome
Today, at 11:00 am, President Biden used the The Antiquities Act of 1906 to proclaim Molok Luyuk a new National Monument!!!
By designating this area as a National Monument, we ensure its protection for years to come, allowing all to experience its beauty and learn from its lessons. This monument is a tangible embodiment of our commitment to conservation, education, and honoring the diverse tapestry of our nation’s past, present, and future.
Posted in Park | Tags: Molok Luyuk National Monument!
The New York Times reports
Former President Donald J. Trump has vowed to “cancel” President Biden’s policies for cutting pollution from fossil-fuel-burning power plants, “terminate” efforts to encourage electric vehicles, and “develop the liquid gold that is right under our feet” by promoting oil and gas.
Those changes and others that Mr. Trump has promised, if he were to win the presidency again, represent a 180-degree shift from Mr. Biden’s climate agenda.
When he was president, Mr. Trump reversed more than 100 environmental protections put in place by the Obama administration. Mr. Biden has in turn reversed much of Mr. Trump’s agenda.
Read more at Five Major Climate Policies Trump Would Probably Reverse if Elected
Posted in Environment | Tags: Trump's Environmental Policies
From California State Parks Foundation
Spring is in the air, and wildflowers are in full bloom in California’s state parks! Test your knowledge of California wildflowers to see if you are an expert on the state’s many vibrant flowering species.
Posted in Wildflowers and Other Plants
from East Bay REgional Parks
“ParkFest: Celebrate 90 Years of Your East Bay Regional Parks” on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Lake Chabot Regional Park. This community birthday festival will have music, performances, a kids’ zone, hands-on fun, nature exhibits and displays, food trucks, eco-friendly activities, and more. Free parking and admission. Bring your family and friends! More info to follow. www.ebparks.org/ParkFest #EBRPD #LoveEBRPD #ebparks90
Posted in Park | Tags: Lake Chabot Regional Park, Park Fest
SF Gate reports
An unusually huge herd of sea lions hauled out of San Francisco Bay onto the K Dock at Fisherman’s Wharf this week. Over 1,000 individuals were counted there Monday — the highest recorded number in 15 years.
Read more at ‘We’re seeing a feast’: Over 1,000 sea lions descend on San Francisco
To join the contest, upload plant photos here during the month of May. Publish and then “like” your photo to add it to the contest. We made this video tutorial for you.
You may also add photos via Calflora’s phone app Observer Pro for Apple or Android.
Posted in Photography | Tags: Calflora’s Annual May Photo Contest!
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
Australian Broadcasting Company reports
As concern over chemical use in food production grows and insect species become more resistant to poisons, farmers are turning to nature for solutions to pests that can cripple crop production.Billions of tiny, blind, predatory mites are being bred, harvested, packed on ice, and posted to strawberry farms in the battle against destructive
.
Posted in Animals, Environment | Tags: predatory mites, sap-sucking insects
The Guardian reports
Michael Sanchez took photos of a bird at Hug Point that may be first official images in North America of the rare blue rock-thrush
— Read on www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/29/amateur-birder-oregon-photographs-rare-bird
Posted in Birds | Tags: Blue Rock Thrush
Los Padres ForestWatch reports
Two federal agencies have confirmed the cancellation of applications for permits to drill and frack eight new wells on federal public land in Los Padres National Forest. The announcement, made April 3, comes just weeks after California officials proposed a statewide ban on this extremely dangerous fossil fuel extraction technique.
Read more at Agencies Cancel Plans to Frack Wells, Build Pipelines in Los Padres National Forest
Posted in Environment, Park | Tags: Fracking, Los Padres National Forest, PIpelines
Kron4 reports
The Marine Mammal Center, the world’s largest marine mammal hospital in Sausalito, reports that tourists and locals alike have been getting a little too friendl
The MMC said “disturbance interactions,” which involve crowding around an animal and not giving it appropriate space, can lead to increased stress levels, separate moms from their pups, and disrupt rescue operations.
According to the MMC, wildlife disturbance by people and dogs contributed to over 200 marine mammal rescue cases in 2023, a nearly 30% increase from last year.
Read more at SF sea lions experience increase in ‘disturbance interactions’: report | KRON4
The Guardian reports
A new approach aims to restore fish levels in the Yukon River but some feel it unfairly targets traditional practices while failing to tackle huge losses to industrial fishing in the ocean
— Read on www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/28/alaska-salmon-conservation-native-indigenous
NBC News reports
Grizzly bears will be reintroduced to Washington state’s North Cascade mountain range, federal agencies say — a decision that followed years of bitter debate.
Read on www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/grizzly-bears-reintroduced-washington-state-rcna149558
Posted in Animals | Tags: Washington State Grizzly Bears Reintroduction
See upcoming events calendar of hikes and programs at https://www.abdnha.org/calendar1.htm.
Natural History Wanderings 