Winter 2026 Almanac: Sea Stars and Scoters
Life during winter can have ups and downs over the years.
Roaming in Nature
It’s not just that the ding of the text message is reaching me farther into the wilderness, it’s the way my whole view of nature feels like it’s now shaped by the digital age.
The Winter 2026 Issue
A Particular Here, Now
It is a human impulse to wonder at the limits of what we know through experience alone.
California’s Blackbird
The tricolored blackbird traverses the Golden State with cat calls and friends.
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LATEST STORIES
She’s 19, and She’s Already Sued the Federal Government Twice
“It’s a lot of pressure to put on young people to have to sue their government for the right to a livable planet,” says Maya Williams.
Celebrate 25 Years of Bay Nature
📅 Sunday April 12, 2026 from 2pm to 6pm
📍 The Golden Gate Club, The Presidio
IN SEASON IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
When the Air Is an Orchestra: Visually Impaired Birders On Paying Attention
“I think people think that because blind people can’t see, we don’t know birds. But they’re the nearest part of nature,” says poet Susan Glass.
Brightly Colored Parrot Mushrooms Love the Damp Dark Days of Winter
Parrot mushrooms love the dark days of winter.
EPA Rescinds 2009 Endangerment Finding
The move clears the way for Trump to shred more US climate rules—but serious court challenges await.
Staff picks
Climbing the Waves at Castle Rock State Park
The high ridges and sandstone outcrops at Castle Rock have fascinated adventurers from explorer George Vancouver to the pioneers of modern rock climbing. Prolific wildflowers, great views, and an 80-foot waterfall add to the allure.
Tracking an Extreme Mammal: Elephant Seals
They can plunge to depths of more than a mile and stay submerged for 90 minutes without coming up for air. They can swim up to 14,000 miles a year. The males can weigh over two and a half tons. You could say elephant seals are “Extreme Mammals,” record-holders in several categories, including deepest divers.…
Naturalist’s Notebook: How Pelicans and Humpbacks Stretch For Their Food
Pelicans don’t, as you may have heard, stick their spines out of their mouths. They do, however, do some pretty crazy yawn-stretching. From John Muir Laws.
A Natural History of That Little Yellow Flower That’s Everywhere Right Now
Oxalis provides a delightful burst of yellow color in the spring. Also, it’s eating the entire Bay Area alive.
