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Book Review: Caught in Fading Light

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by Gary Thorp Walker & Co., 2002 174 pages, $19 (800) 218-9367 They say that seekers are not finders. Marin author and Zen Buddhist Gary Thorp dedicates himself fully to the process of seeking a mountain lion in the wilds … Read more

Book Review: Inland Fishes of California

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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 available on California’s inland fishes and created a masterful snapshot … Read more

A Bird’s Eye View of San Francisco Bay

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What makes the Bay such a magnet for shorebirds and waterfowl, hosting more of them than any other Pacific coastal wetland in the U.S.? Looking at some of the Bay’s habitats through the eyes of four different species gives us a unique perspective on this avian haven.

The Call of the Rails

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The Bay Trail through the Palo Alto Baylands is among the best places to see the endangered California clapper rail and multitudes of other shorebirds.

Starry, Starry Night

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We humans have evolved to be outside in the daylight. But there are delights awaiting those who venture forth at night. Revel in the cosmic mysteries of the star-filled sky, and open your senses to the shadowy world of nature’s night shift.

The Raven Returns

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Considered one of the smartest and most adaptable birds in the sky, ravens are as comfortable dining on garbage as on endangered snowy plovers. After dwindling for decades, raven populations have rebounded throughout the Bay Area, bringing with them a touch of wildness to our urban lives.

Banana slugs finding love.

Why are Banana Slugs so Slimy?

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Back when I used to teach children about nature, I often relied on a “hook” to keep them focused. Slapping myself with stinging nettle was a great attention grabber, but banana slugs worked just as well and didn’t hurt as … Read more

Learning More About Ravens

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To learn more about ravens, you might first dive into a field guide—Audubon, Golden, Peterson, Sibley, among others. In addition to a clear, concise description of your bird in question, most field guides will point to distinguishing features (in the … Read more