Monterey Birding Festival
Summer in the Bay Area can last well into late September, but by then many birds that overwinter here have already arrived after migrating from the north. While walking through...
Science and Nature
Ocean Noise Pollution
We hadn’t yet reached the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, but we were far enough outside the Golden Gate that Angel Island looked like an extension of the...
Warm Springs Unit Expansion
With no April showers, the largest vernal pool in the Warm Springs Unit of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Fremont was nothing more than a...
Marine Protected Areas Update
Find out the latest on California's effort to establish some of the strongest marine protected areas in the world.
Flocking to the Island of Angels
Cut off from land for thousands of years, the Bay’s largest island is a natural and cultural gem just a ferry ride or paddle away from city life.
Summer Fog
After a few sweltering days, the fog is back in San Francisco. Find out why.
Letter from the Publisher
No one can accuse me of being an early adopter—the kind of person who rushes to embrace new technologies. I didn’t get my first computer until 1991, I don’t have...
Naturalist’s Notebook: Summer Brings Terns and Skimmers
Summer brings a diversity of terns and skimmers to San Francisco Bay.
Once Stung, Twice Shy
Learn about some of our local stinging insects, from the familiar honeybee to the powerful velvet ant (watch out for that one!).
Photosynthesis in Leaves That Aren’t Green
Q: How does photosynthesis occur in plants that are not obviously green, such as ornamental plum trees with deep purple-colored leaves? [Paul, Santa Cruz] A: Photosynthesis (which literally means “light...
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