Fascinating creatures, miniature works of art, critical links in the web of life — bugs are so much more than pests.
How to See Insects
May 1, 2019 •
Rachel Diaz-Bastin
Rachel Diaz-Bastin is a scientific illustrator and curatorial assistant at the California Academy of Sciences and former Bay Nature editorial intern.
A Landscape Shaped by Art in the Santa Cruz Mountains
January 2, 2018 •
At an artists’ retreat in the Santa Cruz Mountains, a chance to see art and nature mix.
Find a Lot of Bugs When You Clean Your Backyard Swimming Pool? Scientists Want to See Them
August 25, 2017 •
A new citizen science project looks closely at the insect gold mine that is backyard pools — and already it’s found potentially new species.
New Vision Launched for Candlestick Point
October 14, 2014 •
Just two years ago, the state wanted to abandon Candlestick Point. Now it’s investing money in the park’s renewal.
Tracking the Ghost Cat: Mountain Lions Remain Elusive in the East Bay
July 25, 2014 •
The Bay Area Puma Project team has been collaring mountain lions and monitoring remote motion-sensor cameras throughout the East Bay. It’s not easy tracking the elusive cats, but it’s vital to understanding how to protect them.
Hidden Cameras Capture Stunning Photos of Wildlife in the Santa Cruz Mountains
May 27, 2014 •
What do mountain lions and other wildlife do when we’re not looking? Georgia Stigall’s hidden cameras show their remarkable world.
New Genetics Research May Shed Light on the Secretive Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse
May 6, 2014 •
Although many people are studying salt marsh harvest mice, or “salties,” as they are affectionately known, San Francisco State graduate student Anastasia Ennis is one of a few people studying harvest mouse population genetics.
What’s Small, Ladybug-Like, and Golden All Over?
February 27, 2014 •
A few years ago a Bay Nature reader spotted something golden and shiny on her carpet. Suspecting it was a piece of jewelry she picked it up, only to find it was alive! What kind of beetle is golden, metallic and looks like a ladybug?
Preparing a Mountaintop to Welcome Back Birds — and People
February 12, 2014 •
After years of demolition and cleanup, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District installed nesting boxes for rare purple martins at the top of Mount Umunhum. Preparing the summit for the martins marks a special moment in the restoration process — of the completion of the demolition phase and a celebration of the summit’s rebirth as a habitat and natural wonder.
Richardson Bay Sets Winter Bird Count Record
February 6, 2014 •
At 23,000 birds, the tally in Richardson Bay this December was higher than any year since the surveys began in fall 2006 — much higher. The previous high was 13,000 birds.