Is it OK to catch crawdads?
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....
Wildlife
Islands in a Sea of Grass
The East Bay hills are dotted with hundreds of ponds, many of which offer welcome habitat and shelter to native wildlife, from threatened California red-legged frogs and tiger salamanders to...
Letter from the Publisher
About 15 years ago, I took a solo backpack trip in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness near Ebbets Pass in the Sierra. On the first morning, camped beside a small lake, I...
The Simple Life of a “By the Wind” Sailor
Usually around late April, following spring storms, Northern California beaches are littered with something that looks like gobs of purple-tinted slimy cellophane.
Video: Migrating Birds Provide a Feast for the Senses
Humans aren’t the only creatures that flock to California to take advantage of our state’s mild winter climate. Millions of ducks, geese, and other migrating birds also make the Golden...
Video: The Return of the California Condor
The Big Sur coast has always provided nature lovers with an abundance of breathtaking scenery. But one of the most majestic elements of this coastal landscape, the California condor, nearly...
The West Coast’s Living Sand Dollars
There’s a lot more to the western sand dollar (Dendraster excentricus) than meets the eye. Most people who spend any time at the beach are familiar with the sand dollar’s...
Duck! It’s Time for Winter Waterfowl
San Francisco Bay and its surrounding wetlands become a mallard mecca every winter. Mallards come by the thousands to spend the relatively balmy fall and winter months here while their...
Video: Comeback of the Coho Salmon in Central California
Since their listing as endangered in 1997, wild coho salmon have begun a slow but steady comeback to their native Central California streams.
Bay Area Migrations
Thanks to our mild climate and productive ecosystems, many species of animals (including people) migrate to and through the Bay Area. Winter is a great time to learn about some...
