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Berkeleyans closer to selling backyard produce
Residents want local food sustainability
Photo by Tracey Taylor.
By Tracey Taylor via Berkeleyside — 05/18/12
Berkeley's zoning codes have prohibited the sale of backyard produce. But after an effort mounted by the green thumbs of the city, the planning commission unanimously passed the Edible Garden Initiative. Next step: City Council.
Solar spectacle on horizon
Sunday's partial solar eclipse first in 18 years
Photo by Kevin Baird.
By Alison Hawkes — 05/17/12
A partial solar eclipse will be lighting up Bay Area skies early Sunday evening, and as luck would have it the weather is supposed to cooperate. Between 5:16pm and 7:40 pm, the moon will pass in front of the sun in an alignment not seen in 18 years. During the annular solar eclipse, the moon will form a “black hole” in the center of the sun with sunbeams shooting out from the sides.
Botanical sleuths scour Mount Tamalpais
Photo by Rachel Gulbraa.
By Rachel Gumbraa — 05/16/12
Working off historical records of rare plant locations, plant "hunters" on Mount Tamalpais are scouring the mountain in search of the illusive Mason’s ceanothus shrub and other botanical novelties. The goal: update the location and numbers of California rare plants in the California Natural Diversity Database.
Bat Rays in San Francisco Bay
© 2012 Roger Hall, InkArt.com.
by Joe Eaton — 05/15/12
What’s the cutest fish in the sea? To some biologists, it’s the bat ray, which cruises along the floor of local bays and estuaries, chomping on clams and other creatures. Maybe it’s time to make bottom-feeder a term of endearment! Springtime is breeding time for these friendly fish.
Daily Catch
Bay Area Nature News
- Pacific leatherback turtles nearing extinction
05/18/12 Why are Pacific leatherbacks nearing extinction while their Atlantic cousins seem to be doing alright? It may be because of their foraging patterns. Unreliable food supplies in the Pacific make it harder for them to stop, rest, and procreate. Source: Huffington Post.
- Hendy Woods nearly off closure list
05/17/12 Save the Redwoods League and state officials are close to signing an agreement on funding and staffing the Mendocino state park. The 845-acre redwood-studded park has been helped by $20,000 in donations and 1,000 volunteer hours. Source: Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
- Officials truck salmon smolts to SF Bay
05/17/12 The California Department of Fish & Game hauled 100,000 Chinook salmon smolts from the Sacramento River to the San Francisco Bay in order to try and boost return rates. Source: Central Valley Business Times.
- Lawmakers object to state park fees
05/17/12 California State Parks is obtaining permits to install self-pay parking meters at Mendocino state parks and beaches. But opposition is brewing among lawmakers who believe the $8 fee will deny access to public parks. Source: Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
- Day use fee to visit Sonoma beaches
05/16/12 The California State Parks Department is planning to charge a day-use fee for some Sonoma County beaches as a revenue generating measure. Officials want to charge $8 a day for parking at Goat Rock in Jenner, Bodega Head, Salt Point State Park and at several other beaches where access now is free. Source: Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
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Featured Blog
Point Reyes Walkabout
Celebrating 50 Years, 154 Miles of Trails with Jules Evens
- An Easter morning hike in Point Reyes's Church of Nature
04/17/12 Hiking along Drakes Estero, Jules Evens meditates on eelgrass, sea geese, and the footprint of humanity in a wild place.
- Relishing the Fog at Point Reyes
04/12/12 On an overcast day after spring rains, Jules Evens encounters the expected--a banana slug in a lush Douglas fir forest--and the unexpected--a shrew-mole--on a 4-mile hike along Inverness Ridge as part of his Point Reyes Walkabout.
Featured Video
Off-leash dog harasses coyotes
San Francisco Animal Care and Control
After "not getting the message" about how to behave around coyotes, San Francisco Animal Care and Control released this video of an off-leash rottweiler confronting coyotes in Golden Gate Park. The city has closed off sections of trails this year in an effort to avoid confrontation with coyotes during pup season, when they are protecting their dens.
Events Calendar
Nature events from all over the Bay Area
San Lorenzo, May 19, 8 AM
, May 19, 9 AM
, May 19, 9 AM
Presidio, San Francisco, May 19, 9 AM
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Bay Area Food Landscapes
Did you know that more than 40% of the Bay Area is still covered in farms and ranchlands? Check out our landmark map of food producing areas from Sonoma to Santa Cruz, San Francisco to Solano.