Author Archives: John Muir Laws
Naturalist and illustrator John Muir Laws is the author of the Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada and Sierra Birds: A Hiker's Guide. Learn more and find class schedules at johnmuirlaws.com.
Naturalist’s Notebook: Fire Pines
A visual explanation of how fire helps release the seeds of knobcone, bishop, and Monterey pine trees, plus a fun experiment to try at home!
Urban Rat Watcher’s Guide
Rats don't have the best reputation, but you've gotta respect these adaptable survivors! Here's how to identify your city's rats.
A Seasonal Whale Finder for California
When to find and how to identify the three whales that regularly visit the California coast.
Naturalist’s Notebook: Listen to Forest Owls
If you go into the woods and listen, you may hear great horned owl duets, the trill of western screech owls, toots of northern saw-whet owls, or the daytime call of the northern pygmy owl.
Naturalist’s Notebook: Irises Through Time
Try tracking a single iris over time.
Naturalist’s Notebook: Chestnut-Backed Chickadees
Three subspecies of chestnut-backed chickadee inhabit the Bay Area. But the populations are merging.
Naturalist’s Notebook: Gravitational Wasting
See evidence of "gravitational wasting" erosion on Bay Area hillsides.
