For a lesson in food chain dynamics, go ahead and observe a fruiting toyon bush this winter.
Alan Kaplan
Alan Kaplan retired in 2005 after a 33-year career with the East Bay Regional Park District.
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Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Star
October 21, 2011 •
Winter is a great time to head out and look at the night sky.
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Stinky Stories
April 1, 2011 •
For some flowers, bugs, and (of course) skunks, strong BO is a good MO for survival. Remember that the next time you’re dealing with smelly gym socks!
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Book Review: California Indians and Their Environment: An Introduction
December 11, 2009 •
California Natural History Guide No. 96, by Kent G. Lightfoot and Otis Parrish, University of California Press, Berkeley, 2009. $19.95. Available at ucpress.edu. This book is a synthesis of a huge amount of new information and a re-interpretation of old … Read more
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Top Billing for Shorebirds
October 1, 2009 •
As summer turns to fall, thousands of shorebirds return to the shoreline and mudflats of San Francisco Bay, either for a pit stop on their way south or to stay for the winter. Sometimes many different kinds gather in one place. How can you tell them apart?
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Once Stung, Twice Shy
July 1, 2008 •
Learn about some of our local stinging insects, from the familiar honeybee to the powerful velvet ant (watch out for that one!).
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At Home with the Packrats
October 1, 2007 •
What’s that pile of sticks over there? It could be the home of a dusky-footed woodrat. If you could see inside, you’d find a tidy little home complete with bedrooms, a pantry, and even a few latrines!
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April Fooling!
April 1, 2007 •
Would you believe a twig is watching you? That some leaves can walk? And that if you brush against a piece of bark, it just might fly away? Insects play “April Fools’” tricks on their would-be predators all the time, … Read more