Can bees see more colors than we can?
Can bees see colors that people can't? What about birds? How do scientists figure out what can be seen by other animals, especially small animals like insects?
Author Archives: Michael Ellis
Santa Rosa-based naturalist Michael Ellis leads nature trips throughout the world with Footloose Forays (footlooseforays.com).
Top Shark: This One Goes to Seven!
The biggest shark in the Bay is the seven-gill--with two more gill slits than the average shark. Why the extras? Well, turns out they’re probably an evolutionary accident, but these are still fascinating animals--up to 10 feet long, and swimming right out there in the Bay!
Why are barn owls dying on the road?
Bay Nature reader Rich saw a number of dead barn owls along I-5. What's going on? Turns out barn owls may be the most widespread birds in the world -- and they may be the original ghosts!
Where are the Ringtails?
Michael Ellis declares that ringtails register a 9.9 on the cuteness scale, and they were reputed to shack up with miners during the Gold Rush. Yet longtime field biologist Wendy has yet to see one of these small mammals. They are elusive, but not as uncommon as you might think.
What are glowworms?
We don’t have fireflies in the Bay Area, but we do have glowworms. What are they and why the heck do they light up?
Was there ever a waterfall at the Golden Gate?
Q: Rumor has it there might have been a waterfall at the Golden Gate during the last ice age, when sea level was at its lowest. Is there any evidence for this? [Cisco, Oakland] A: Well, there is no incontrovertible … Read more
Why Do Birds Flock?
Q: I recently saw a video of a cloud of birds moving in wild patterns. Then I saw shorebirds doing the same thing. Why do birds do this–other than because they can? [Michael, El Cerrito] A: There are several kinds … Read more
What’s the deal with pelicans’ weird bills?
Can a pelican really hold a week’s worth of food in its bill?
What is quicksand?
The quicksand won't get you, but the quakes might.
The Longest Haul of Them All
Which bird that migrates to or through the Bay Area travels the farthest to get here from its breeding grounds?
