I’m trying to spot some orcas this year and wanted to know when and where I should look.
What do you want to know about the natural world? Thanks to donations from readers like you, Bay Nature has teamed up with the naturalists at the California Center for Natural History to answer your questions about the world every other Tuesday. Some questions find their way to naturalist Michael Ellis, whose answers appear in our quarterly print magazine. Email us your questions at atn@baynature.org!
What’s Small, Ladybug-Like, and Golden All Over?
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?
Are Black Squirrels Common in the Bay Area?
Love them or hate them, squirrels are everywhere. But how common are black squirrels?
How Are Wildflowers Coping with the Drought?
It’s tough to be a plant when there’s no water! Rainfall is one of the most critical—and most unpredictable—of all the factors that affect wildflower bloom. So how are they coping?
Sooty Brown Body, Yellow Bill: What Kind of Gull is This?
Lauri Taylor, visiting from Salt Lake City, spotted an interesting gull at Baker’s Beach in San Francisco. She asked Bay Nature to help identify what species it was…
Which Species of Woodpecker Can You Find in Golden Gate Park?
As you walk through Golden Gate park you may here the ‘knock, knock, knock’ of a woodpecker working for its lunch. But as one reader asked, what species can you find in the park?
What Do I Need To Know About Feeding Birds In My Yard?
I’ve started to put out bird seed in my North Oakland backyard and have enjoyed the visitors. What do I need to know about feeding wild birds in my yard?
Where are all the Western Toads?
I used to have a multitude of western toads on my ranch in Nicasio but I no longer see them. I was wondering what happened to all the toads?
What’s up with this Hummingbird?
A Palo Alto based reader sent in a photograph she took of a pretty funky looking hummingbird. “What’s up with this hummingbird’s face?” she asked.
How Can You Tell a True Turkey Tail from an Imposter?
Bracket fungi, named for their shelf-like structure, can often be seen fanned out of decaying wood. How can you identify them?