Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 16, 2024

Job Openings

Watershed Stewards Program (WSP) Team Leaders
WSP is seeking four proactive individuals who are inspired to help the WSP Team manage a statewide program and are eager to gain skills in program management, community outreach, and leadership. Read more at https://forum.cnps.org/forum/cnps-public-forums/botany-and-wildlife-job-announcements/15404-watershed-stewards-program-wsp-team-leaders 

WSP Corpsmember – Fisheries & Restoration Technician
WSP is seeking 40 WSP Corpsmembers to serve with one of our 20+ environmental Placement Site partners. Each day Corpsmembers serve under the guidance of Mentors to assess, monitor, and enhance California watersheds, however, the Watershed Recovery and Protection activities vary greatly based on which Placement Site CMs are assigned. Read more at https://forum.cnps.org/forum/cnps-public-forums/botany-and-wildlife-job-announcements/15403-wsp-corpsmember-%E2%80%93-fisheries-restoration-technician

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 16, 2024

Plant Lovers

from Native Hear Nursery

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 16, 2024

Pandemic Lockdowns Had Varied Effects on Wildlife 

The New York Times reports

A new study of camera-trap images complicates the idea that all wildlife thrived during the Covid lockdowns.

In the early months of the Covid pandemic, when every bit of news seemed bleak, there was one heartwarming narrative that took hold: With humans stuck in their homes, the world was safe again for wild animals, which could now wander freely through cities, parking lots or fields that once might have been crowded with people.

But a new global study, which used wildlife cameras to track human and animal activity during the Covid lockdowns, suggests that the story was not that simple.

Read more at Where the Wild Things Went During the Pandemic

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 15, 2024

Zoom Presentation: Wild Stories from the History of Bird Migration Research 4/18

from Golden Gate Bird Alliance

Thursday, April 18 (7pm) Online via Zoom  (Zoom Link, Password: 939980)

We’ve all heard amazing facts about bird migration—the long distances that birds travel, the ways that they navigate, etc. But did you ever wonder how we figured all of this out? While working for the American Ornithological Society, Rebecca Heisman became fascinated with the varied and creative techniques that scientists have used to study bird migration, and this eventually became the basis for her book Flight Paths: How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration.

Read More…

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 15, 2024

Where to Find Wildflowers in the Bay Area

Where to Find Wildflowers in the Bay Area, a talk by Judy Fenerty on YouTube

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 15, 2024

Regional Parks Botanic Garden Plant Sale Saturday, April 20

LIMITED SPRING SALE OF CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024

PUBLIC SALE: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
FRIENDS MEMBERS-ONLY SALE: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Friends memberships available prior to the sale, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

A detailed list of varieties for sale is available on our website.

Check our website regularly for additional updates and directions to the garden.

 

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 15, 2024

2024 Lyrid Meteor Shower April 16 to 25

From Anza-Borrego Natural History Association

Lyrid Meteor Shower runs from April 16 to April 25, peaking on the nights of April 21-22 and April 22-23. The Lyrids may not be quite as showy as some meteor showers, but these meteors are known for sometimes leaving bright dust trails. Unfortunately, we have a full moon on April 23, but you should still be able to see the brightest meteors. This shower is the result of Earth passing through debris & dust from comet Thatcher.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 14, 2024

Lead Botanist (Seeds of Success) Cedar City, UT 

The Lead Botanist will lead a seed collection crew in the BLM Cedar City Field Office. Crew will work four 10-hour days in remote areas to find and collect native seed, while generally camping out for 3-consecutive nights due to the large area covered and long travel distances.

Read more at  Lead Botanist (Seeds of Success) Cedar City, UT – CNPS Forums

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 14, 2024

Large asteroid to safely pass Earth on Monday

EarthSky reports

Large asteroid will safely pass EarthA large space rock will safely pass our planet on April 15, 2024, and it’s even big enough to see using a small telescope. The asteroid is named 2013 NK4. It has a diameter of 2,000 feet (610 meters). That makes it about twice as large as Apophis, the so-called Doomsday Asteroid that will pass closer than Earth’s artificial satellites in 2029. But 2013 NK4 will pass at a much farther distance, at more than 8 times the distance from Earth to the moon. And here’s something cool: People with telescopes will be able to watch it fly by Earth!

Red more at  Large asteroid to safely pass Earth on Monday

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 14, 2024

Today is National Garden Day

Planting native plants in your garden is a great way to support the native species where you live!
Today for #NationalGardeningDay, let’s look at what a native plant is, why native plants are important and some more benefits of planting native plants. https://dfnd.us/3UeQhrR

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 14, 2024

2024 Waterwise Garden Tour Saturday, April 27

The Ruth Bancroft Garden, Contra Costa Water District and East Bay Municipal Utility District have partnered to offer you the opportunity to take a self-guided tour of 21 home and botanical gardens in Walnut Creek and Concord that showcase the beauty and diversity of waterwise gardens. For more details, go here.

Saturday, April 27th, 2024 from 9am-4pm. Homeowners will take a lunch break from 12-1pm; enjoy your BYOL (bring your own lunch) at one of the participating botanical gardens/arboretum.  Lunch is not provided. Rain or shine.

All three circuits feature the same 21 gardens (just in different order). To ensure you enjoy your tour and to help spread out the visitors, please select a Circuit to start your self-guided tour:

  • Circuit A: Concord, west region of Walnut Creek, east region of Walnut Creek
  • Circuit B: west region of Walnut Creek, east region of Walnut Creek, Concord
  • Circuit C: east region of Walnut Creek, Concord, west region of Walnut Creek

On April 25th, registrants will receive an address list/map and garden info sheets of the featured gardens. (The info sheets will feature plant lists and designer/installer information. It will also include access to a plant database that provides horticultural requirements, bloom time and much more.)  Participants provide their own transportation and explore at their own pace during 9am-4pm.

Free admission to the Ruth Bancroft Garden will be included for 2024 Waterwise Garden Tour registrants. Look out for details in the email that will be sent out on April 25th.

Each ticket is valid for one individual. Ticket sales will close on April 25th, 2023 at 8pm.  Proceeds support the mission of the Ruth Bancroft Garden. Tickets for this event are non-refundable and non-transferable.

To get tickets got to Garden Tour

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 14, 2024

Webinar: Bears in Sonoma County 4/18

Living in Harmony: Bears in Sonoma County

April 18, 7-8:15pm, Zoom (registration required)

Join Meghan Walla-Murphy, a wildlife ecologist, educator, and lead coordinator for the North Bay Bear Collaborative for a talk about bears in our backyard.

Register for this free webinar using the link below.

REGISTER

 

Read More…

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 14, 2024

2024 Marin-Sonoma Eco-Friendly Garden Tour May 18

The Eco-Friendly Garden Tour is a public outreach and education program that promotes sustainable landscaping practices by showcasing inspiring gardens throughout Sonoma and Marin counties. The Tour highlights Russian River-Friendly and Bay-Friendly landscaping best practices, and supports Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper certified professionals by featuring their personal or client’s gardens.

The 2024 Eco-Friendly Garden Tour will take place on Saturday, May 18th from 10am-4pm. The tour is self-guided and free to attend. Registration is required. Subscribe to the e-newsletter below to stay up to date on tour news.

GARDEN TOUR REGISTRATION – CLICK HERE

2024 ECO-FRIENDLY GARDEN TOUR – CLICK HERE

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 14, 2024

Nighttime pollination is plummeting

Anthropocene Magazine reports

Nighttime pollination is plummeting. Some clever sleuthing pinpointed a surprising culprit.
A big part of the problem, it turns out, is that nighttime air pollution (more so than daytime pollution) blinds pollinators to the smell of flowers.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 13, 2024

Pt. Reyes Photos

See photos of wildflowers, birds and Tule Elk from a recent trip to Pt. Reyes and near by between April 7 and 9, 2024. See photos at www.flickr.com/photos/sandysteinman/albums/72177720316158861

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 13, 2024

Why There Won’t Be A Superbloom This Year

ScienceFriday explains why there won’t be a super loom this year

What’s the difference between wildflowers blooming in the desert each spring, and the rare phenomenon of a “superbloom”?

— Read on www.sciencefriday.com/segments/superbloom-2024/

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 13, 2024

House sparrow tops Big Garden Birdwatch charts for 21st year in a row

The Guardian reports

Blue tits, starlings, wood pigeons and blackbirds next most sighted in RSPB survey involving 600,000 participants.

— Read on www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/12/house-sparrow-tops-big-garden-birdwatch-charts-rspb

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 13, 2024

Friend or foe? Ancient partnership between moss and fungi

ScienceDaily reports on a study could have impact on food supply and future space exploration

Researchers have shed new light on the ancient relationship between moss and fungi. They discovered that intricate moss-fungi interactions often depended on a third variable — the presence of endobacteria within the fungi themselves.

Read more  Friend or foe? Ancient partnership between moss and fungi | ScienceDaily

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 12, 2024

New California Channel Islands Center

The new Chrisman California Channel Islands Center is now open in Carpinteria. Hours are Tuesday to Saturday 10 to 4. To learn more go to the website at California Channel Islands Center

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 12, 2024

Blue, mysterious and arriving by the millions: the alien-like creatures blanketing US beaches

The Guardian reports

Masses of ephemeral organisms known as ‘by-the-wind sailors’ wash up in a ‘blue tide’ on the west coast most years but warmer winter seas could be increasingly their number.

From Oregon to California, blankets of alien-like blue creatures are washing up on rocky beaches. They are Velella velella, tiny colonies of organisms with a sombrero-esque fin sticking out the top and tentacles dangling down.

Read more at  Blue, mysterious and arriving by the millions: the alien-like creatures blanketing US beaches | Environment | The Guardian

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 11, 2024

Biden Administration Said to Expand Two California National Monuments 

This is huge news for Northern California as the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument includes Molok Luyuk, which has also been known as Walker Ridge, includes many wildflowers and is above Bear Valley.

The New York Times reports

The San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument are expected to grow by a combined total of about 130,000 acres.

Read more at Biden Administration Said to Expand Two California National Monuments

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 11, 2024

 California Native Plant Society Events

See the upcoming CNPS  events at: Events from April 16 – April 6 – California Native Plant Society

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 11, 2024

CNPS is Hiring

The Conservation Advocacy and Outreach Senior Coordinator is a full-time non-exempt position directly supervised by the Conservation Program Director. This role coordinates and supports grass-roots advocacy, review of environmental impact assessments/reports, and implementation of large-scale conservation campaigns to protect California’s globally significant native plant biodiversity and support the state’s Pathways to 30×30 strategy. Reporting to the Conservation Program Director, the Conservation Advocacy and Outreach Senior Coordinator collaborates closely with CNPS staff, volunteers, and partners to advance CNPS priority conservation campaigns and support CNPS chapters with advice and technical information. 

This is a full-time (40-hour week), non-exempt, hybrid position, based in Sacramento. Remote work from a Bay Area location outside of the Sacramento region may be considered. CNPS is accepting applications until April 24.
Learn more and apply

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 11, 2024

April is Native Plant Month!

from Defenders of Wildlife

April is Native Plant Month!
The plants that feed the bugs that feed the birds that feed the wild, big cats, wolves and bears are the plants that evolved alongside the wildlife. That doesn’t mean just any plant, but native plants!
Let’s look at what a native plant is, why native plants are important and the benefits of planting native plants. https://dfnd.us/3UdpPxV

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 11, 2024

Monitor Pass is Open

Monitor Pass – Hwy 89 is officially OPEN for the season!!

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 11, 2024

Regional Parks Botanic Garden Plant Sale Saturday, April 20

Spring Plant Sale Saturday, April 20! Our weekly & first Saturday Plant Sales are cancelled April 3, 6, 10, 17 – in preparation for April 20.

We’re happy to announce our Limited Spring Plant Sale. We will only be selling Herbaceous and Riparian plants that are ideal to plant during this season.

Remember: Friends Memberships will be sold starting at 8:30 a.m. Members of Friends of the Garden will have access to plants starting at 9:00 a.m. Public access to the Plant Sale will start at 10:00 a.m. See the Garden website, nativeplants.org, for more information as the date approaches.

 

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 11, 2024

New Forest Service report reveals agency wants to max out logging 

from WildEarth Guardians

Agency proposes cutting both public involvement and forests important for combating climate change

The United States Forest Service manages 193 million acres of national forests, most of which are in the western U.S. These forests are the source for half of the West’s water, provide habitat to thousands of wildlife species (including threatened and endangered species), and offer recreational and mental wellness benefits to millions of Americans.

Read more  New Forest Service report reveals agency wants to max out logging – WildEarth Guardians

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 10, 2024

California Wildlife Photo of the Year Contest

The 2024 contest has five submission *Entry Periods, beginning in January, 2024 and ending October 31, 2024. The final judging period, November – December, 2024, is reserved for selecting the Photo of the Year. To learn more and enter go to https://cawatchablewildlife.org/photos2024/

See the winner of the Jan.to Feb. period at  California Wildlife Photo of the Year Contest****

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 10, 2024

History of California Native Plant Society

from the Marin CNPS

The roots of CNPS go back to 1938 when Howard McMinn, professor of botany at Mills College in Oakland, conceived of the need for a native plant botanical garden in northern California and headed up the committee that chose the site in Wildcat Canyon in the north Berkeley hills. He also succeeded in bringing on board James Roof, working at the time at the California Forest and Range Experiment Station in Berkeley.

The Regional Parks Botanic Garden for California native plants was built in 1940-42 by the East Bay Regional Park District with the aid of the Works Progress Administration. Starting in 1940, James Roof began the process of designing and laying out the different sections that would eventually be filled with plants from 10 diverse native plant communities of California. Unfortunately, the garden’s auspicious beginning was largely undone when Roof was drafted and sent overseas for four years during World War II. In his absence, the garden went untended, and on his return in 1946 he found a tangle of poison oak, head-high grasses, and weedy forests of willow and bay trees. Starting over with only a few helpers, he cleared the brush with fire and chain saws and returned to the field over a period of years to collect the majority of the garden’s plants a second time.

Read more at  The Start of Something Great – CNPS Marin

 

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 9, 2024

California Watchable Wildlife Events

See the upcoming events from California Watchable Wildlife at California Watchable Wildlife

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