Avian flu is hitting close to home, and it isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. California condors and a beloved San Jose falcon are the newest victims of this epidemic that is sweeping through domestic and wild bird populations worldwide.
Guananí Gómez-Van Cortright
Guananí Gómez-Van Cortright started as Bay Nature’s first editorial fellow in July 2022 and is a recent graduate of the UC Santa Cruz Science Communication master’s program. She loves to cover living fossils (like sturgeon!), people working toward environmental solutions, and the tiny but mighty microbes that control the world. GuananiGomezVanCortright.com
How a ‘Sturgeon Surgeon’ Tracks the Bay’s Giant, Stealthy Living Fossils
March 22, 2023 •
Researchers are investigating the secrets of our two resident sturgeon species, which have razor-sharp armor and shlorp up clams with their vacuum-shaped mouths.
How the South Bay Salt Ponds Got So Rainbowy
March 22, 2023 •
The South Bay Salt Restoration Project is reconnecting salt ponds to SF Bay, converting them into tidal marsh for endangered species.
Local Heroes 2023: Omar Gallardo, Community Hero
March 22, 2023 •
More than a decade ago, Gallardo joined LandPaths, a conservation and environmental education organization based in Santa Rosa. He became manager of a two-acre community garden called Bayer Farm in Santa Rosa’s Roseland. Under Gallardo’s guidance, the garden has flourished as a bridge between worlds.
That Foam on the Beach Is (Probably) Fine
March 8, 2023 •
Storms on the California coast whip up sea foam, especially in winter and spring. Here’s a frothy dollop of the science behind how this stuff forms (it’s kind of a planktonic meringue).
After ‘Heartbreaking’ Vandalism, Sausal Creek Plant Nursery Volunteers Pick Up the Pieces
February 6, 2023 •
Over 4,000 native plant seedlings were knocked over in broad daylight at the Friends of Sausal Creek’s native plant nursery in Joaquin Miller Park, Oakland. At least 600 seedlings were lost, and the creek restoration organization estimates material damages as high as $8,000.
Meet the Protists, Marvelous Misfits in the Tree of Life
February 1, 2023 •
There are “plant-like,” “animal-like,” and “fungus-like” protists. But it’s surprisingly hard to say exactly what a protist is—these organisms are defined more by what they’re not.
King Tides Offer a Glimpse into the Future of Sea Level Rise
January 19, 2023 •
King tides over 7 feet are coming to the Bay Area Jan. 21-22, 2023—and lucky for us, they’re happening at a reasonable time to go out and see them. Here’s a short cosmic backgrounder on why king tides happen.
Avian Flu Isn’t Just For the Birds
January 3, 2023 •
Seals, dolphins and foxes have all gotten sick. How likely is it to spread to people?
The Latest Bird Flu Pandemic Is Terrible—And Strange
January 3, 2023 •
“The landscape is riddled with risk out there right now, but we don’t want to vilify the carriers,” says one expert. “They’re just doing their thing. They’re being ducks.” So, where did this virus come from?