Watch out for these unusual creatures next time you’re walking in a wet forest.
World’s Smartest Molds
January 1, 2009 •
Michael Ellis
Send your questions to atn@baynature.org.Santa Rosa-based naturalist Michael Ellis leads nature trips throughout the world with Footloose Forays (footlooseforays.com).
The Paranoid Jay
October 1, 2008 •
Why is this bird attacking my windows?
Photosynthesis in Leaves That Aren’t Green
July 1, 2008 •
Q: How does photosynthesis occur in plants that are not obviously green, such as ornamental plum trees with deep purple-colored leaves? [Paul, Santa Cruz] A: Photosynthesis (which literally means “light put together”) is that very elegant chemical process that jump-started … Read more
Ask the Naturalist: Why Do Dragonflies Swarm?
April 1, 2008 •
What causes dragonflies to take flight in swarms of thousands or millions?
What native land snails live in the Bay Area?
January 1, 2008 •
Q: What native land snails live in the Bay Area? Where do the common garden snails come from, and what’s the status of our native snail populations? [Erica, Mountain View] A: If you are a gardener like me, you eventually … Read more
Are native bees suffering the same colony collapse disorder as honeybees?
October 1, 2007 •
Q: Are native bees suffering the same “colony collapse disorder” as honeybees? [Linda, San Ramon] A: Colony collapse disorder, or CCD, has gotten a lot of media attention, and with good reason. The western honeybee (Apis mellifera) is native to … Read more
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Do local breeding birds mate for life?
July 1, 2007 •
Q: Do any local breeding birds mate for life? Why? [Leo, San Francisco] A: Some local birds do form long-lasting pair bonds of several different kinds. Ravens and scrub jay pairs hang out together all year, not just at breeding … Read more
Is it OK to catch crawdads?
April 1, 2007 •
Q: A group of families goes out every year, catching up to 300 crawdads for a big feast, releasing those with eggs. We often wonder if we’re depleting the supply. How long do they live? Are they native to the … Read more
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What were those fins off Ocean Beach?
January 1, 2007 •
Q: Off San Francisco’s Ocean Beach, I saw dorsal fins beyond the surfers. After 20 minutes, I saw two bearers of fins breaching the water. What were they? [Claire, San Bruno] A: Congratulations on being very observant. The animals you … Read more
Which spot in the Bay Area gets the most rainfall and which the least?
January 1, 2007 •
Q: Which spot in the Bay Area gets the most yearly average rainfall and which spot gets the least? Why? [Diane, Bolinas] A: Nearly all the precipitation we receive comes between November and April in the form of rain from … Read more