How Do Birds Know How to Build Nests?
There are 10,000-plus species of birds in the world, about 1,100 species in the United States, and 350 or so in the greater Bay Area, so there is great variability...
Author Archives: Michael Ellis
Santa Rosa-based naturalist Michael Ellis leads nature trips throughout the world with Footloose Forays (footlooseforays.com).
Why Do Mushrooms Return to the Same Place?
Do mushrooms require a certain kind of substrate?
Where Do Turtles Go in Winter and Summer?
Where do turtles go in the winter and summer? —Alma, Sebastopol I am assuming you are referring to our only native freshwater turtle—the western pond turtle—which you might see basking...
There’s a Mole That Only Lives on Angel Island?
S.I. insularis lives only on an island in the middle of the Bay.
Why Do Earthworms Surface After a Rain?
Worms, always on the hunt for just the right humidity and temperature, are picky creatures.
Do Porcupines Live in the Bay Area?
The porcupine is rare but present in coastal Northern California.
What Do I Do About Poison Hemlock Near My Yard?
A reader has poison hemlock growing near his yard. What should he do?
What’s New With Jupiter’s Great Red Spot?
New research yields new insight into the nature of the planet Jupiter.
Which Bay Area Salamanders Drop Their Tails?
How does a salamander drop its tail, and how many times can it do it?
