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?
Ask the Naturalist
Why Do Pacific Salmon Die After Spawning?
The upriver salmon run is one of nature’s great migrations. But why after spawning just once do Pacific salmon die?
What’s That Little White Moth in the Oak Forest, and Why So Many?
I've noticed lots of butterflies (moths?) in the Indian Valley Open Space area of Novato (oak forest). I haven't seen this many in previous years. The butterflies are about the size of a nickel or quarter and are white. What kind of butterfly are they?
Why Does the Pacific Leatherback Turtle Migrate to Californian Waters to Feed?
Ever wondered why the Pacific leatherback turtle migrates from Indonesian waters to the California coast to feed on jellyfish?
Ask the Naturalist: Where Are the Chorus Frog Babies?
Q: I collect rainwater to use on my garden and I’ve found Pacific chorus frogs in the black garbage can that collects the rainwater, but I’ve never seen eggs or tadpoles in there. I wonder why not; would they be too small to see? [Marian, San Jose]
Should I kill invasive trees with herbicides?
An Oakland resident wants to know how to kill off invasive trees from her garden.
How Can You Tell Male vs Female Lizards?
Is there a way to tell the difference between male vs female lizards? How do they attract their mates? –Saundra, Concord One way, Saundra, is to wait until spring and watch them mate: The male is on top. But I … Read more
What’s that western scrub-jay doing, anyway?
A western scrub-jay standing tall caught the eye of photographer Dave Strauss, and his photo gave us an occasion to celebrate the intelligence of jays, crows, and their relatives.
Who builds those stick houses, anyway? Woodrats!
Stewart Gilbert of San Rafael writes to ask: “Who makes these homes built out of sticks? They’re very common at China Camp. From a wood rat of some sort? The sticks can be large, requiring strength to pile up. I’ve … Read more
Surge of pine siskins means dead birds, but also new neighbors
We've been hearing a lot about dead pine siskins all over the country. Turns out it's natural, and it might mean more siskins in more places for a while.
