Give Me Shelter

October 1, 2008 •  by

Harbor seals, migrating seabirds, and other wildlife find shelter in the productive waters of Drakes Estero at Point Reyes.

Letter from the Publisher

October 1, 2008 •  by

Springtime certainly has its charms–the hills turn green, wildflowers emerge, the days get longer. And summer is the traditional time to get outside. But fall is the season I look forward to most. True, the days are shorter, and the … Read more

Winged Arrival

September 29, 2008 •  by

More than 900,000 shorebirds use San Francisco Bay sometime during the year, and fall is a great time to see them.

Tarantula Trekking

September 12, 2008 •  by

Whether you’re cautiously curious or already avid, autumn is the time to go tarantula-spotting in the Bay Area. It’s mating season for the hairy critters, and, accordingly, the males are venturing forth from the ground in search of potential partners, who coyly await their suitors on their burrows’ “doorsteps,” and try to eat them after the fact.

Argiope aurantia

Fall is the Season When Garden Spiders Live Large

August 29, 2008 •  by

Look in your backyard right now, and there’s a decent chance you’ll see the ornate webs of our local orbweaver spiders. After feeding on insects all spring and summer, banded garden spiders and yellow garden spiders get big and very noticeable in fall, just before they lay their eggs and die.

Termite Emergence

August 22, 2008 •  by

Watch for hungry dragonflies and jays darting about: That can be a sign that the termites are emerging! Termites live mostly underground (or in our walls!) but as winter approaches, they grow wings and take to the air in droves to form new colonies.

The Midshipman’s Song

July 28, 2008 •  by

During summer, this glowing Pacific fish makes nests in the muds of the San Francisco Bay and attracts a mate with humming.

Rebuilding for California Condors

July 23, 2008 •  by

The Ventana Wildlife Society, which leads California condor restoration efforts, is looking for public support after Big Sur’s massive wildfire wiped out its rearing and release facility.