
To learn more about ravens, you might first dive into a field guideāAudubon, 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 raven’s case, its large size, Roman-nosed beak, diamond-shaped tail, and gliding in flight, etc); range…

Want to know more about frogs and how to keep them among us? Do you miss being awakened by frog songs in the night? There are fewer frogs in fewer places than there used to be here in the Bay Area, but there is something you can do about that. In fact, quite a few…

When Christmas Bird Counts revealed that the quail population in San Francisco was plummeting, the Golden Gate Audubon Society (GGAS) launched its Save the Quail campaign. Together with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the Presidio Trust, GGAS has developed a quail recovery plan with an initial focus on the Presidio, home to the…

Books and Other References This small selection of wildflower guides lists those that are most useful for wildflower watchers in the Bay Area. Some of these books have been in continuous publication for decades, a good measure of their usefulness and popularity. Unless otherwise noted, they are available through local bookstores that feature books on…

In his article on “The Changing Nature of Joaquin Miller Park” author Rex Burress wrote that the fiddle-heads of young bracken ferns are edible “either cooked or raw.” However, before you head out to pick ferns for your soup pot, you might want to heed the information brought to our attention by one very informed…

Anadromous Fish Symposium The Center for Ecosystem Mangement and Restoration (CEMAR) and the Oakland Museum are sponsoring a symposium on November 14-15 on “Salmon and Steelhead in Your Creek: Restoration and Management of Anadromous Fish in Bay Area Watersheds.” This event, which will include groups from around the Bay Area, will be held in the…