Hidden Treasures of the Harbor
Below the opaque surface of the calm waters of Richmond and Sausalito Harbors lies an unexpected world of curious forms, brilliant colors, and furious competition for a place to hold...
Wildlife
Do Any Bay Area Animals Hibernate in Winter?
Our temperate climate here in the Bay Area means that most inhabitants don’t have to hibernate. Hibernation is a form of adaptive hypothermia, a continuum of responses to climatic variations...
California Condor Update
The fate of the California condor appears somewhat brighter today thanks to successful restoration, rehabilitation, and reintroduction efforts undertaken over the past 15 years. Although habitat loss contributed to the...
Fluke or Fixture
An increasing number of gray whales have been spotted in San Francisco Bay in recent years. Why are these aquatic giants venturing here now in greater numbers? Are they temporary...
What’s the Buzz? Native Bees!
They don't live in colonies, they rarely sting, and—if you plant natives—you might find some in your own backyard.
Sonar Testing and Gray Whales
In mid-November, a federal judge gave the U.S. Navy permission to test its Low-Frequency Array (LFA) sonar in the western Pacific Ocean. The system transmits sounds up to 215 decibels,...
Book Review: Birding at the Bottom of the Bay
by the members of the Santa Clara Audubon Society Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, 2002 152 pages, $14.50 This little book, which describes 54 promising spots for bird-watching in Santa...
Book Review: Inland Fishes of California
by Peter Moyle University of California Press, 2002 502 pages, $70 In this revision of his 1976 classic, biologist Peter Moyle has once again collected in one place the information...
Christmas Bird Count
The holidays will soon be upon us, which means it’s time to gather with friends and family to celebrate the season. Perhaps you’d like to add another get-together to the...
Red-Legged Frog Protected Near Morgan Territory
The federally listed California red-legged frog received some good news recently: A portion of its riparian habitat—shaded by many old sycamore, oak, and bay trees—won’t be developed, thanks to Save...
