How to identify individual cetaceans in the San Francisco Bay.
Naturalist’s Notebook: Whale, Dolphin and Porpoise ID Guide
June 23, 2022 •
The Ocean
Bay Nature stories about the Pacific Ocean.
The Second-Largest Fish In the Ocean Seems to be In Decline
April 12, 2022 •
Basking sharks can be over 30 feet long and are characterized by their enormous gill rakers and three-foot tall dorsal fins. But these mysterious, massive, filter-feeding cousins of the great white shark aren’t just a scientific curiosity – they also … Read more
Holding Fast for Abalone, Our Elder Relatives
March 25, 2022 •
Abalone are deeply important in Indigenous tribal cultures in California and all along the Pacific coast.
Annotated Nature: A Tidepool
January 7, 2022 •
Better understand a West Coast tidepool
Buried Treasure
October 11, 2021 •
You’ve seen their bleached skeletons lying on the beach or scattered in gardens. What does a living sand dollar do?
Kelp Forests Surge Back on Parts of the North Coast, with a Lesson About Environmental Stability
September 13, 2021 •
Some scientists thought kelp’s near-disappearance from the waters off California was likely a new normal. Then, at least temporarily, the kelp came back.
The Legacy of Gordon Chan
May 19, 2021 •
A story about the life and legacy of celebrated scientist, conservationist and mentor Gordon Chan.
Four Gray Whales Found Dead in the Bay Area as Mysterious Die-off Continues
April 22, 2021 •
April is the peak month for gray whales passing by the San Francisco Bay Area, drawing spectators to the coast to scan the ocean’s surface for a heart-shaped spout or the flick of a gray-speckled tail. But while the abundance … Read more
Packed at Pillar Point
January 12, 2021 •
Huge crowds are harvesting mussels and other invertebrates. Could this damage the much-beloved reef?
Volunteer Divers Hope to Restore Kelp from the Ground Up
January 7, 2021 •
Can volunteer scuba divers start a turnaround for Northern California kelp forests?