Bay Area Naturalist Events Calendar
Your one-stop guide to bird walks, fungus forays, work parties, wildflower hikes, beach cleanups, exhibit openings, garden tours, wildlife festivals, star parties, ecology classes, science symposia, employment opportunities, and natural history lectures. Compiled by Patrick Schlemmer. If you have an event to list on the calendar, please submit it to jkodiak@earthlink.net. This calendar is updated every day, so check back often!
weather tide earthquake surf report
Wed., Feb. 1 Wild & Weird: Horsefly Named After Beyoncé's Buttocks. In an unusually bold step for invertebrate taxonomy, an Australian insect with a golden tuchus has just been officially named after pop singer Beyoncé Knowles, also widely recognized as possessing first-rate glutei maximi. The fly, of which the first specimen was apparently captured the same year Beyoncé was born (1981), was dubbed Scaptia (Plinthina) beyonceae by a 24-year-old male researcher from the land Down Under. Read more and see photos of the bootylicious fly in The Washington Post.
Fri., Feb. 3 From Weekend Sherpa: The Bay Area is full of surprises, and getting off the beaten path is one of the best ways to discover them. For example, zipping through the currently naked vineyards of Napa along Highway 121, there's an unassuming, wide-open wetland that's home to over 100,000 migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. The Napa-Sonoma Marshes are a vast network of wetland, comprising more than 14,000 acres where Napa River meets San Pablo Bay. Explore this low-lying open space by taking a stroll starting from Huichica Creek Unit. From this staging area, a wide, gravel trail heads south along the border of a pond. Clear and wide views of distant mountains, including ethereal mainstays Mount Tam and Mount Diablo, frame the sublime scenery. Fair warning: while you're likely to experience mostly tranquility out here, duck hunting is allowed through January 31, meaning occasional gunshots can be heard (though thankfully, no desperate quacks). Our recommendation is to go an hour or two before sunset when the birds get busy. As you walk, scan the later afternoon sky, water, and grass for great egrets, American goldfinches, grebes, and even golden eagles. About 130 species of birds can be observed from this section of the marsh. Keep walking south to the row of eucalyptus trees and further on if you like (there aren't official trails, so be sure to remember where you came from). Winter sunsets here can be magnificent: periwinkle permeates the mountainous background as the marsh waters gather more glow, shimmering in silence before settling into the dark. In Napa on Hwy. 12/121: turn south on Duhig Road and proceed approximately 2 miles then turn left on Las Amigas Rd. Follow Las Amigas Rd. east until it connects with Buchli Station Rd. then turn right (south) on Buchli Station Rd. and follow the road through the vineyard areas and cross the rail road tracks The CDFG parking lot will be on the left. The marshes are dog-friendly from July 1 to February 28.
Sat., Feb. 4 Celebrate the official opening of Windswept, the Randall Museum's new permanent art installation by Charles Sowers. As an artist and exhibit developer at the Exploratorium, Sowers has created thought-provoking, beautiful experiences for museum visitors for 15 years. For the Randall Museum, Sowers designed a wind-driven kinetic façade consisting of over 500 freely-rotating directional arrows. Windswept transforms a blank wall into a large-scale observational instrument that reveals the complex interactions between the wind and the environment. The celebration includes a brief dedication ceremony, a slide presentation and discussion with artist Charles Sowers, and a wind-inspired craft activity for kids. Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, San Francisco, 10 am. For more information, go to www.randallmuseum.org. Free.
Sat., Feb. 4 Thinkwalks Water Walking Tour. For more information, go to http://thinkwalks.org/tours.
Sun., Feb. 5 From Weekend Sherpa: Discover what all the flap's about at Palo Alto's Baylands Nature Preserve. The 2,000-acre industrial marshland—the largest tract of undisturbed marshes in the Bay Area—features over 150 species of birds. With nearly 15-miles of flat, multi-use trails unwinding directly beneath the Pacific flyway, this preserve offers excellent chances at spotting rare birds, including the star attraction, the endangered Clapper Rail—identified by its cinnamon-coloring, white flanks, and pale curved beak. Embark from Byxbee parking lot for a leisurely 4.9-mile (round-trip) walk along the wide dirt trail of the Adobe Creek Loop to Charleston Slough. Stroll the first half-mile to the marsh's edge and gander the American avocets, black-necked stilts, pelicans, and ducks paddling up a winter pool party in the high tides of the brackish marshes. Before turning back, pause at the rails on the southernmost end of Charleston Slough to gaze at the grass reeds bordering Adobe Creek, and soak up views stretching from Loma Prieta to Mount Hamilton. Nearing the trailhead on the return journey, take an easy, quarter-mile detour up through the park's pole field, a quirky art instillation of telephone poles in varying heights. Make a beeline for Baylands! From San Francisco, take Highway 101 South, exiting at Embarcadero Rd. in Palo Alto. Follow signs for Embarcadero Rd. and continue on Embarcadero about a mile and a half until it dead ends at a stop sign. A right will lead you to the free Byxbee parking lot. Dog friendly!
Sun., Feb. 5 Conservation Photography Workshop with Gary Sharlow, Education Manager, Photographer. 1-4 pm. Whether it's through a collaborative effort that involves photographers, scientists and non-profit organizations or individual exploration of the natural world with just you and your camera, there are many opportunities to get involved with conservation efforts for your favorite habitats, wild sanctuaries or most beloved wild animals. Join photographer Gary Sharlow as he presents a variety of tools, websites, organizations and ideas for turning your lens towards conservation. Details & Tickets...
Mon., Feb. 6 "Butterflies 101" for the San Francisco Bay Area. San Francisco butterfly biologist Liam O'Brien speaks and shows slides on the fascinating variety of Bay Area butterflies, as well as his project to save the rare Green Hairstreak butterfly. Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Avenue, Albany, CA 94706. 7-9 pm. Free.
Mon., Feb. 6 From American Cetacean Society: After many months of planning, it gives me great pleasure to unveil our newly-redesigned website! Knowing that you depend on ACS for critical information that advances the protection of whales, dolphins, and porpoises worldwide, we've rebuilt our site to make it much easier to find and share resources. Check it out at: www.acsonline.org. In addition to smart navigation and a clean, contemporary look, we've added stunning images contributed by some of the world's most renowned marine photographers, made it easier to join, donate, and purchase merchandise, included a gallery of beautiful images contributed by our members and supporters, and shared strategic organizational and governance documents that will guide us toward a bright, highly-effective vision for the future.
Mon., Feb. 6 SOFIA: Astronomy from the Stratosphere. As SOFIA Science Mission Operations Director, Dr. Erick Young directs, supervises, and provides technical and management guidance for the combined Universities Space Research Association (USRA) and Deutsches SOFIA Institute (DSI) staff. He also manages the airborne observatory's equipment, instruments, support facilities, and infrastructure. SOFIA is a highly modified Boeing 747SP airplane that carries a 2.5-meter telescope. Details & tickets...
Tues., Feb. 7 From Weekend Sherpa: 80 to 90 percent of the Bay Area's wetlands have been destroyed over the past few centuries as a result of development. Good thing there are places like the East Bay's Hayward Regional Shoreline. It's the site of pioneering and ongoing efforts to restore local wetlands. Get up close to their efforts on a 3-mile (round-trip) hike starting from the West Winton Avenue Park entrance. Venture south into the expansive saltwater tidal wetlands. Skirting the perimeter of the Cogswell Marsh—restored in 1980—the raised gravel paths and wooden bridges are ideal vantages for surveying this marshy labyrinth. Time your visit several hours prior to peak low tide, and you're in for a shorebird hoedown: During high tide, water fills the channels, but as the tide rolls out, it's game on! Hordes of shorebirds like sandpipers, willets, and godwits crowd the mud flats, pecking at tasty crustaceans and worms burrowed in the sandy Bay bottom. Remember, stay on the sidelines during this feeding frenzy, or you'll definitely ruffle some feathers. To reach the West Winton Avenue Park entrance, take the I-880 to the Winton Ave. exit (exit 28). Head west on W. Winton Ave. until it dead ends at the trailhead parking lot. From the traihead, turn left, skirting behind the area marked "landfill" on the trail map. With the marsh in view, the trail veers right, crossing a bridge and then forking at the start of the marsh loop. Follow the loop clockwise (you'll walk north along the shoreline) and retrace your steps back to the parking lot. To extend the hike, complete the first half of the loop and then follow the trail that continues south along the shoreline. This trail section extends 1.15 miles to the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center passing two other marsh areas (Hayward Marsh and H.A.R.D. Marsh). No dogs allowed in this section of the park.
Wed., Feb. 8 Marin Science Seminar . Restoring Ecosystems: Applications in Engineering and Earth Sciences. Come hear Marin hydrologist Rachel Z. Kamman talk about her work on ecological habitat restoration. Her San Rafael based consulting practice focuses on projects that revolve around sensitive wetland, fishery, and/or riparian habitat issues and problems. For more information, go to www.marinscienceseminar.com/speakers/rkamman.html. Terra Linda HS, 320 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael - Room 207, 7:30-8:30 pm.
Wed., Feb. 8 San Francisco Beekeeper's Association Meeting. Our guest speaker will be Oliver Frank, a beekeeper for over 40 years in San Mateo County, who produces about 2.5 tons of honey annually from Burlingame north to Los Gatos south will talk about winter transition to spring and swarm control. Randall Museum, 7:30 pm. Free.
Thurs., Feb. 9 Scott and Jenny Fleming's house and historic native plant garden on Shasta Rd. in Berkeley is now up for sale. We're sending out this message in the hope that the Fleming garden will come into the care of a native plant lover. The Flemings were among the founding members of the Friends of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden and the California Native Plant Society. The garden is one of the oldest private native plant gardens in the state and was documented in 2010 as part of the Historic American Landscape Survey, which is stored at the Library of Congress: www.halsca.org/ala_fleming.htm. For specific details about the house and sale contact the realtor Susie Schevill. Her website and the listing for the house are www.susieschevill.com/susielistings.html.
Thurs., Feb. 9 A Visual Tour of San Francisco's Native Wildflowers. Margo Bors has been doing habitat restoration and documenting San Francisco's native plants and habitats for more than 15 years. She is an artist who has had numerous solo exhibitions in both art and photography, including several at the Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture in Golden Gate Park. Margo has maintained a studio on Potrero Hill for many years. Her early art experience was as a muralist and founding member of Precita Eyes Muralists. She is probably best known as a printmaker, particularly for her linocuts. She has always done photography and her interest in the field has expanded with the advent of the digital age.
Margo's interests have consistently centered on the natural world. She is active in the California Native Plant Society (CNPS), and as photo documentation chair of the Yerba Buena Chapter, she has had an opportunity to photograph a wide range of San Francisco's native wildflowers. She has over 300 images in the UC Digital Library and both her artwork and photographs have appeared extensively in publications of conservation groups from the Audubon Society to Bay Nature magazine. A sample of her art and photography can be seen at www.margobors.com.
San Francisco has been extensively developed, but a surprising number of wildflowers, from mass blooms of goldfields (Lasthenia californica) to delicate rein orchids (Piperia elegans), have managed to survive. Margo has been working with the City's Natural Areas Program to preserve these flowers for future generations. She will take us on a visual tour of some of her favorites.
Randall Museum Theater, 199 Museum Way, San Francisco CA 94114. 7:30-9 pm. For more information, contact Patrick Schlemmer at JKodiak@earthlink.net or (415) 225-3830. Free and open to everyone.
Fri., Feb. 10 The University of California Botanical Garden is hosting a symposium on science and humanities perspectives on nature. For more information, go to http://naturaldiscourse.org/events.html.
Feb. 10-12 Healdsburg Wild Steelhead Festival. The 5th annual Healdsburg Wild Steelhead Festival, hosted by Trout Unlimited, celebrates efforts to protect and restore the historic wild Steelhead fishery in the Russian River watershed. It kicks off Friday night with a wild salmon dinner featuring PBS Nature filmmaker Jim Norton. On Saturday, there will be activities and booths for both kids and adults in central Healdsburg: a trout pond, fly tying and casting, and wine tasting. And Sunday is Family Day at Lake Sonoma!
Feb. 10-12 San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival . The 16th Annual SF Bay Flyway Festival, produced by Mare Island Heritage Trust, celebrates the return each year of 1 million shorebirds and hundreds of thousands of waterfowl to Bay wetlands. Featuring over 60 guided hikes, tours, and workshops, a wildlife and birding expo, and the chance to explore some of the Bay's best wildlife viewing areas, including some that are off-limits the rest of the year. Visit the Flyway Festival's website to learn more!
Sat., Feb. 11 Tafoni Trek. Take a break from seasonal activities and get outside with docents Sarah Schoen, Paul Billig, and Toni Gooch to explore this wooded Preserve along the Tafoni, El Corte de Madera Creek, and Fir Trails. You'll enjoy learning about tafoni sandstone formations and a variety of other natural wonders on this moderately-paced, five-mile hike. 9:30 am-1:15 pm, El Corte de Madera Open Space Preserve. Find more events on the full BayNature.org Events Calendar.
Sat., Feb. 11 Winter Birding at Heron's Head Park. San Francisco Nature Education (SFNE) sponsors these annual birding tours at Heron's Head Park, led by High School interns. Equipped with powerful spotting scopes, the interns will lead tours beginning at 10am, 10:30, 11:00am and 11:30. Tours last about one hour. We are seeing incredible waterfowl including Eurasian Wigeon, Clapper Rail and Harlequin Duck. Come out and see for yourself and learn the natural history of this beautifully restored wetlands. Jennings Street and Cargo Way. Free parking at the park, or plan your trip via MUNI's website: www.sfmta.com/cms/mroutes/tripplan.htm. For more information, contact SFNE at info.@sfnature or (415) 387-9160. Free.
Sat., Feb. 11 Mori Point, with Christina Crooker and Susie Bennett. 10 am-noon. The GGNRA, with the help of volunteers, has been restoring native plant communities at Mori Point since 2007. Beneficiaries of this effort include California red-legged frogs and San Francisco garter snakes, both listed under the federal Endangered Species Act. Join GGNRA natural resource specialists Christina Crooker and Susie Bennett for dramatic views and likely encounters with several frogs. The trail is easy to moderate and will take us through wetlands and coastal scrub. Sturdy shoes and layered clothing are recommended, as are binoculars for viewing frog egg masses. Meet across from the Moose Lodge on Bradford Way in Pacifica. Heavy rain will postpone the trip to February 18. For more information, contact Susie Bennett at susie_bennett@nps.gov. Free.
Sat., Feb. 11 Improve your bird-drawing skills through a master class on Saturday Feb. 11 taught by celebrated naturalist John ("Jack") Muir Laws. Most of the suggested donation of $250 is tax-deductible, and all of it supports Golden Gate Audubon's advocacy, educational and restoration work on behalf of birds. Class is from 5 to 7 pm in San Francisco. For more information or to RSVP, call (510) 843-7295 or email lowensvi@goldengateaudubon.org.
Sat., Feb. 11 Peripatetic botany from Modoc to San Benito, with Dick O'Donnell. Wayne Roderick Lecture Series. Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park, 10:30 am. For more information, go to www.ebparks.org/parks/vc/botanic_garden or call (510) 544-3169. Free.
Sat., Feb. 11 As part of our That's the Tuolumne in my Tap environmental education program, we have partnered with Sunset Elementary School in San Francisco to help install and maintain their low-water gardens. Join us to help make a difference in our school and community! Sunset Elementary School, 1920 41st Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122, 10 am-3 pm. We have a wide variety of garden tasks to accomplish at Sunset Elementary, all focused on water conservation. Volunteer activities will include maintaining the school's new dry creekbed, removing sections of lawn and replacing them with more water-friendly landscaping, and providing general garden maintenance such as weeding, mulching and planting. Please feel free to come by for just part of the day (or the whole thing!) To RSVP or for more information, please emauil karen@tuolumne.org.
Thurs., Feb. 16 The Sturgeon in San Francisco Bay. Join fisheries oceanographer and aquatic ecologist Michael McGowan for a presentation on The Sturgeon in San Francisco Bay. How critical can a 10,000-year-old bay be for a 100-million-year-old fish? McGowan will discuss research on how the ecology of the green and white sturgeon differ in their life history and in how they use the Bay. Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, SF, 7:30 pm. For more information, call (415) 554-9600 or visit www.randallmuseum.org. Free.
Thurs., Feb. 16 GGAS Speaker Series: Human Population Impacts on Wildlife. John Seager, president and CEO of Population Connection , will share his insights on the causes of rapid population growth, its impacts on wildlife, and our options to deal with this challenge. Mr. Seager served in the EPA in the Clinton administration and was chief of staff for former U.S. Rep. Peter H. Kostmayer. GGAS office, 2530 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley, 7:30 pm. Free for GGAS members, $5 for non-members.
Fri., Feb. 17 Sierra Star Searcher. If the stars shine brighter in the mountains, then Tony Berendsen is the maestro of the Milky Way. For 10 years, Tony has been leading Star Tours out of Northstar-at-Tahoe. Part star watching, part poetry reading, and totally far out, the monthly Star Tour is one of the best celestial outings in the Sierra. Join a group of fellow galaxy geeks for a hike (or snowshoe, when there's snow!) as Tony points out the constellations, shares stories on the wonders of the sky, and peppers in some trivia. Finish off the evening sipping wine or hot cider around a fire pit, and peering through Celestron telescopes at the planets and stars. Good night light! Stargazing Snowshoe Tours are snow or shine (meaning if there's no snow, you'll hike). The next tours are February 17 and March 16. Winter tours begin at 5 pm and depart from the Cross Country Ski, Telemark & Snowshoe Center at Northstar. Cost is $50 for adults; $25 for children ages 10 to 12. Dog-friendly!
Feb. 17-20 The annual Great Backyard Bird Count takes place from Friday Feb. 17 through Monday Feb 20. Join national Audubon, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and birders throughout North America in creating a real-time snapshot of bird numbers and locations. For details, see the GBBC web site.
Sat., Feb. 18 Island of Fogs: Exploring Cedros Island in Baja California with Mike Uhler. Wayne Roderick Lecture Series. Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park, 10:30 am. For more information, go to www.ebparks.org/parks/vc/botanic_garden or call (510) 544-3169. Free.
Wed., Feb. 22 Citizen Forester is a six-week long series of classes, with each week covering a different topic in urban forestry. Lectures are held at the FUF offices on Wednesday nights, and each lecture is followed by a Saturday field day at locations around San Francisco. Topics covered include Urban Forestry in SF, Basic and Advanced Pruning, Tree ID, Planting, and Pests and Diseases, and are taught by FUF staff and experts in the field. The cost of the entire series is $200, or $35 for an individual 1-week session. FUF will entirely sponsor anyone in exchange for a 50-hour volunteer commitment over the following year. Click here for more information, or email heather@fuf.net to sign up.
Wed., Feb. 22 On weekend walks through the natural landscapes of the Bay Area, our landscape team at the California Academy of Sciences finds inspiration from the efficient design of the botanical world that surrounds us. This inspiration leads to a dynamic, native living exhibit on the roof and grounds surrounding the now Double Platinum LEED Certified Academy. Join us for a presentation about California Native Plants and the best operating practices for a managed landscape, which you may even be able to use to help sprout the gardens around your own homes and businesses. SF Library Main, Koret Auditorium, 6 pm. Visit the Lectures Page for all of the details.
Thurs., Feb. 23 Jeepney Projects Worldwide. The Bone Room Present's current featured artist, David Tomb, will speak about his artwork and its connection with the Philippine Eagle Foundation and conservation group Jeepney Projects Worldwide. The installation shines a light on the rare and beautiful birds of the Philippines, featuring works on paper of the iconic and critically endangered Great Philippine Eagle and other beautiful birds of the Philippines, including the Rufous Hornbill. There will be living plants and an audio installation that will highlight sounds of the Mindanao jungle. In addition, the project focuses on the challenges and tension these creatures face in order to survive and share a sustainable future with an ever growing Filipino population. The Bone Room, 1569 Solano Ave., Berkeley, CA 94707, 7 pm. For more information, go to www.boneroompresents.com.
Fri., Feb. 24 The Diversity and Evolution of Hummingbirds with Joe Morlan, Ornithology Instructor, CCSF. This entertaining and informative lecture will focus on the smallest and most acrobatic birds in the world. Mr. Morlan will share his adventures studying and original photographs of these fascinating birds from California, Arizona, Belize, Costa Rica, Trinidad, and Ecuador. Mr. Morlan has co-authored two books on the Birds of Northern California and was the 2010 recipient of the prestigious American Birding Association Ludlow Griscom Award for outstanding contributions in regional ornithology. City College of San Francisco Biology Seminar Series. Seminars are held at the Ocean campus and are co-sponsored by the City College Concert and Lecture Series. The lectures are free and open to the public. Seating is limited. Late arrivals may be turned away out of courtesy to speakers. Science Building room 300, noon-1 pm. Information about the seminars is available at www.ccsf.edu/Departments/Biology.
Sat., Feb. 25 San Pedro Valley County Park, Hazelnut Trail Hike with Jake Sigg. 1-4 pm. With its great abundance and variety of native plants, the Hazelnut Trail is sure to please. Thanks to mild coastal winters, in this area just out of view of the ocean it is eternal spring. Montara Mountain's shrub community will present us with coffeeberry, huckleberry, snowberry, manzanitas, ceanothus, pink currant (in bloom), oso berry, ocean spray, poison oak with new red and pink leaves, and a dazzling diversity of lichens. Not to mention hazelnut! Plus massive coast live oak trees, madrones, golden chinquapin (Chrysolepis chrysophylla) and burning bush (Euonymus occidentalis), uncommon to rare in our area. Soft, understated colors--pinks, grays, sage greens--are everywhere, woven into a botanical wonderland that changes with every step. And the blotched-leaved slinkpod (Scoliopus bigelovii), with its odd maroon flowers and seed capsules that .slink. along the ground as they mature, is seen in large numbers along the edges of the trail. Light rain won't stop us, but sustained, heavy rain will postpone the trip to February 26, same time. Meet at the visitor's center at San Pedro Valley County Park. Contact Jake at jakesigg@earthlink.net or (415) 731-3028 for more information.
Sat., Feb. 25 The western Mohave, with Steve Edwards. Wayne Roderick Lecture Series. Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park, 10:30 am. For more information, go to www.ebparks.org/parks/vc/botanic_garden or call (510) 544-3169. Free.
Feb. 25-26 Jepson Herbarium Workshop: Introduction to Bryophytes at UC Berkeley. Please join us for the first workshop in our 2012
season! This special two-day workshop with Brent Mishler and Daniel Norris will offer an introduction to mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. The first morning, participants will learn about basic bryophyte biology,some simple but necessary microtechniques in the lab, and the basic structure of bryophytes along with taxonomically useful characteristics. In the
afternoon, we will begin with group keying exercises to get everyone familiar with the keys. The second day, we will continue group keying in the morning and discuss more advanced identification techniques, then switch to individually-paced keying with help of the instructors in the afternoon. Experience using a microscope will be helpful, but is not necessary. Workshop fee: $260 ($235 for members of the Friends of the Jepson Herbarium) Registration information is available at
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/workshops/2012/regform_2012.html,
Mon., Feb. 27 International Polar Bear Day.
Tues., Feb. 28 Botanising the North Woods, with Bob Case. The Kippings invite you to Potluck/Slideshows on the 4th Tuesday of the Month. San Francisco County Fair Building (Golden Gate Park), 7 pm. Please bring a dish & beverage to serve 8 people. For more information, call (415) 753-7090.
Fri., March 2 Marine Ecology of Monterey Bay with Neil Robertson. Neil Robertson has been diving, taking pictures, and giving lectures on the Marine Ecology of Monterey Bay for over 20 years. This presentation will use some of his best shots to illustrate the lives, loves, and longings of our aquatic neighbors in Monterey Bay and beyond. Neil Robertson is a software developer with an avocation for diving and underwater photography. His wry observations of the life aquatic have lead to numerous guest lecture slots, including CCSF's Marine Biology course. City College of San Francisco Biology Seminar Series. Seminars are held at the Ocean campus and are co-sponsored by the City College Concert and Lecture Series. The lectures are free and open to the public. Seating is limited. Late arrivals may be turned away out of courtesy to speakers. Science Building room 300, noon-1 pm. Information about the seminars is available at www.ccsf.edu/Departments/Biology.
Fri., March 2 WildCare's Gala 2012: Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, Wildlife Ambassador live animal presentations, Glittering Silent Auction, Sumptuous dinner catered by McCall and Associates, Dancing to Dick Bright, Fine wines by Newlin Associates. Contact Jan Armstrong at (415) 453-1000 x13 or janarmstrong@wildcarebayarea.org for more information and sponsorship opportunities.
Sat., March 3 Researching and Conserving Bay Area Pumas. Zara McDonald, Executive Director, Felidae Conservation Fund. A ground-breaking study of pumas in the Santa Cruz Mountains is generating unprecedented insights into the behaviors of one of the region's top predators. Can a combination of pioneering scientific research, education, and public outreach provide a new model for human-puma coexistence? Ms. McDonald will delve into puma research and conservation, revealing the visuals, stories and science of the Bay Area Puma Project. Please join us for Science Saturday, part of the Wild Places, Wild Things! Conservation Lecture Series. Osher Great Hall of the Lurie Education Center, San Francisco Zoo, noon-1:30 pm. Recommended for ages 12 and above. Free admission to lecture. For more information, go to www.sfzoo.org or call (415) 753-7073. Free.
Thurs., March 8 Film showing: "Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time." Sponsored by the U. S. Forest Service. Aldo Leopold was the first influential forest naturalist to recognize the value of large predators in the environment. A professor at the University of Wisconsin, he developed the first comprehensive management plan for the Grand Canyon and wrote the Forest Service's first fish and game management handbook. He fought hard for the protection of wilderness, asking in one essay, "of what avail are forty freedoms without a blank spot on the map?" This film talks about how Leopold shaped the conservation movement in the 20th century. Randall Museum Theater, 199 Museum Way, San Francisco CA 94114. 7:30-9:30 pm. For more information, go to www.sfns.org or contact Patrick Schlemmer at JKodiak@earthlink.net or (415) 225-3830. $5-$100 sliding scale suggested donation goes to support the conservation efforts at SaveNature.Org.
Thurs., March 8 The Presidio Trust has begun a Section 106 consultation on the proposed removal of two buildings within the Baker Beach neighborhood, located near the 25th Avenue Gate. The buildings will be removed in order to fulfill habitat restoration and endangered species recovery commitments made by the Trust for this area of the Presidio. Comments from the public on this proposal will be welcomed for a 45-day period, ending on March 16, 2012. On site public information sessions will take place on Thursday, March 8. Details on these events and additional information about the project can be found on the website.
Fri., March 9 The Glorious Journey of the Monarch Butterfly through San Francisco and Beyond. Liam O'Brien: Naturalist, Illustrator. Our city has had an interesting relationship with the Monarch: historically, with the absence of Milkweed plant from the dune ecosystem, it's never bred here. But this most-celebrated lepidopteran has shown a glorious ability to adapt to the rapid ways humans change things. Do our Monarchs go to Mexico? How many overwinter here? Why are we so drawn to this majestic glider? Come listen to Liam O'Brien -- San Francisco's very busy and enthusiastic lepidopterist -- who has monitored this species for the Xerces Society since 2007. His illustrated trail signs for San Francisco Rec & Parks can be seen throughout the city at Grandview Terrace, Pine Lake and Strawberry Hill in Golden Gate Park. He is the founder of The Green Hairstreak Project, an effort to restore a disappearing butterfly's eco-system out in the Sunset District. Liam's illustrations have been seen in many major magazines, including Bay Nature, and he is currently finishing up a book on the Butterflies of the Presidio for the Presidio Trust. City College of San Francisco Biology Seminar Series. Seminars are held at the Ocean campus and are co-sponsored by the City College Concert and Lecture Series. The lectures are free and open to the public. Seating is limited. Late arrivals may be turned away out of courtesy to speakers. Science Building room 300, noon-1 pm. Information about the seminars is available at www.ccsf.edu/Departments/Biology.
March 9-11 Jepson Herbarium Workshop: Wetland Restoration with Instructor John Callaway. Wetland ecosystems provide important ecosystem functions, from supporting endangered species to improving water quality. Although California has lost an enormous percentage of its wetlands, recently there has been an explosion of interest in wetland restoration, in particular around the San Francisco Bay. This short course will consider a range of issues related to basic wetland ecology (with a focus on plants, soils, and hydrology), as well as wetland restoration issues. We will discuss site assessment, the restoration of natural processes, wetland plant recruitment and plant diversity, and potential effects of climate change on local wetlands. We will meet for four hours on Friday afternoon on the UC Berkeley campus and will spend Saturday and Sunday in the field visiting a range of wetland restoration projects around San Francisco Bay. Participants should be prepared to hike up to five miles over wet, uneven terrain and drive up to forty miles each field day. Workshop fee: $385 ($360 for members of the Friends of the Jepson Herbarium) Registration information is available at http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/workshops/2012/regform_2012.html.
Sat., March 10 Winter Birding at Heron's Head Park. San Francisco Nature Education (SFNE) sponsors these annual birding tours at Heron's Head Park, led by High School interns. Equipped with powerful spotting scopes, the interns will lead tours beginning at 10 am, 10:30, 11 am and 11:30. Tours last about one hour. We are seeing incredible waterfowl including Eurasian Wigeon, Clapper Rail and Harlequin Duck. Come out and see for yourself and learn the natural history of this beautifully restored wetlands. Jennings Street and Cargo Way. Free parking at the park, or plan your trip via MUNI's website: www.sfmta.com/cms/mroutes/tripplan.htm. For more information, contact SFNE at info.@sfnature or (415) 387-9160. Free.
Sat., March 10 18th Annual Bowl-the-Planet Party & Silent Auction at Serra Bowl, 5-8 pm. Help fundraise for environmental education and vital habitat conservation by:
-creating a personal or group fundraising profile
-encouraging your friends and coworkers to donate on your behalf
- bowling with us and bidding on the 100+ items at the silent auction
- bidding online for the best silent auction items
- donating a silent auction item
Top fundraisers over $250 can win awesome vacations and these prizes. For every $150 donated, we can give one class scholarship for the Insect Discovery Lab or protect 3 acres of threatened rainforest.
Registration includes glow bowling, bowling shoes, pizza, prizes and admission to the silent auction. Please help us raise more funds by creating an easy personal fundraising profile .
Thurs., March 15 Return of the Harbor Porpoises . Join Bill Keener, cofounder of Golden Gate Cetacean Research, for a presentation on the Return of the Harbor Porpoises. Harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) had been missing from San Francisco Bay since Word War II, but they've returned in increasing numbers in recent years. Keener will discuss the disappearance of porpoises, the mystery of their unexpected return, and how you can help by reporting your porpoise sightings. Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, SF, CA, 7:30 pm. Geared for adults; All ages welcome. For more information, go to www.randallmuseum.org or call (415) 554-9600. Free, donations encouraged.
Fri., March 16 Current and Future Microorganisms That Make Renewable, Sustainable, Green Chemicals. Gregg Whited, PhD. Senior Staff Scientist, Genencor, Dupont Industrial Biosciences. Metabolic pathway engineering and synthetic biology are currently being used to design microorganisms that convert renewable feedstocks into commodity chemicals that are traditionally made from petroleum. Some of these processes are already commercialized and operate at large scale producing 100's of millions of pounds of green products annually. Many more such processes are in R&D now with the aim of making a serious shift away from petroleum sourced carbon to a greener, more sustainable future. Some of these processes will be discussed including ongoing research to make renewable polymers. City College of San Francisco Biology Seminar Series. Seminars are held at the Ocean campus and are co-sponsored by the City College Concert and Lecture Series. The lectures are free and open to the public. Seating is limited. Late arrivals may be turned away out of courtesy to speakers. Science Building room 300, noon-1 pm. Information about the seminars is available at www.ccsf.edu/Departments/Biology.
Wed., March 21 Worlds in Collision: The Hazard & Promise of Near-Earth Asteroids. Join Jeffrey Van Cleve, NASA Ames Research Center astronomer and support scientist, for a presentation on Worlds in Collision: The Hazard & Promise of Near-Earth Asteroids. Van Cleve will discuss his work on the Yarkovksy Effect and how thermal properties affect the probability that a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) will hit Earth. Concepts for finding and deflecting NEAs will be explained, as well as the prospects for mining NEAs for water and other resources. Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, SF, 7:30 pm. Geared for adults; All ages welcome. For more information, go to www.randallmuseum.org. Free.
Wed., May 23 Save May 23, 2012, for a TALK at Counterpulse, organized by the SF Planning Department and hosted by Shaping San Francisco. As part of the Green Connections program, the panel will explore the intersection of restoring biodiversity and sustainable transportation to our City's streets. SFBC, WalkSF and Nature in the City will be on hand to delve deeply into truly transforming our urban landscape.
Tues., March 27 Ancient Trees of England and Wales, with Alma Hecht. The Kippings invite you to Potluck/Slideshows on the 4th Tuesday of the Month. San Francisco County Fair Building (Golden Gate Park), 7 pm. Please bring a dish & beverage to serve 8 people. For more information, call (415) 753-7090.
Fri., April 6 Probiotics in Foods and Beverages: Fact, Fiction and Fantasy. Maria Marco, PhD, Assistant Professor, Food Science and Technology, UC Davis. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium bacteria are currently provided in a variety of foods, beverages, and nutritional supplements. Upon consumption, these bacteria enter into the intestine where they are intended to result in health benefits either locally or at other sites in the human body. Although there is considerable potential for these organisms to promote well-being, many questions about the function of probiotics in the digestive tract remain unanswered. By studying of the adaptations of probiotics for growth in foods and the gut and deciphering the interactions of these bacteria with the intestinal epithelium and the >100 trillion other bacterial intestinal residents, probiotic bacteria are providing new insight into the mechanisms by which certain microorganisms can promote rather than diminish human health. City College of San Francisco Biology Seminar Series. Seminars are held at the Ocean campus and are co-sponsored by the City College Concert and Lecture Series. The lectures are free and open to the public. Seating is limited. Late arrivals may be turned away out of courtesy to speakers. Science Building room 300, noon-1 pm. Information about the seminars is available at www.ccsf.edu/Departments/Biology.
Fri., April 20 Snakes and Frogs and Parks: Oh My! The Race to Save Two Endangered Species in our Own Backyard. Speakers: Christina Crooker, Restoration Manager; and Sue Gardner, Director of Park Stewardship, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. Did you know that there is a national park right here in your back yard? No need to go to Yosemite to learn all about nature and restoration… there are lots of projects and programs right here at home in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area which stretches through San Mateo, San Francisco and Marin Counties. This talk will highlight our project at Mori Point in Pacifica - the restoration of habitat for the endangered San Francisco garter snake and the threatened California red legged frog. Come and learn about the challenges in planning, the obstacles in implementation and the ultimate success in expanding vital habitat for these two species. City College of San Francisco Biology Seminar Series. Seminars are held at the Ocean campus and are co-sponsored by the City College Concert and Lecture Series. The lectures are free and open to the public. Seating is limited. Late arrivals may be turned away out of courtesy to speakers. Science Building room 300, noon-1 pm. Information about the seminars is available at www.ccsf.edu/Departments/Biology .
Tues., April 24 Exploring Coastal Alaska, with John Kipping. The Kippings invite you to Potluck/Slideshows on the 4th Tuesday of the Month. San Francisco County Fair Building (Golden Gate Park), 7 pm. Please bring a dish & beverage to serve 8 people. For more information, call (415) 753-7090.
Tues., April 24 Nature Deficit Disorder: Richard Louv in Conversation with Dawn Scott. Richard Louv is a journalist & author of eight books about the connections between family, nature and community. His newest book The Nature Principle, offers a vision of the future where lives are as immersed in nature as they are in technology in order to promote better physical, psychological and spiritual health. Read more …. San Francisco War Memorial Opera House: Herbst Theatre, San Francisco, 8-9:30 pm.
May 4-8 Full Moon Vision Quest. Vision Quests are wonderful ways to Find Inner Peace, Answers from the Heart while Connecting Deeply with Nature. The Northern California Quest will be held in the largest remaining protected area of wilderness in California, with over 87,000 acres of beautiful wild open spaces. $495 by February 15, $545 Thereafter. For more information, email banwait81@gmail.com.
May 5-6 Native Plant Sale Extravaganza.
Sun., May 6 Registration for the Eighth Annual Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour, which will take place on Sunday, May 6 from 10 am-5 pm, is now open. This free, award-winning tour features 45 Alameda and Contra Costa county gardens that are pesticide-free, conserve water, provide habitat for wildlife, and contain 60% or more native plants. This self-drive tour showcases a variety of gardens, from large parcels in the hills to small lots in the flats. Native plant sales and talks are offered at select gardens. Space is limited and registration is required. This tour will fill; register early to ensure a place. Volunteers are needed. Please register or volunteer at www.bringingbackthenatives.net/
Tues., May 22 On Safari in Kenya, with Gerald Corsi. The Kippings invite you to Potluck/Slideshows on the 4th Tuesday of the Month. San Francisco County Fair Building (Golden Gate Park), 7 pm. Please bring a dish & beverage to serve 8 people. For more information, call (415) 753-7090.
Thurs., July 12 Marine Debris on Your Beach - Where did it come from and why care? Marine debris and plastic pollution sources, oceanographic transport, wildlife impacts (local seabirds, marine mammals, sea turtles), and what you can do to help reduce ocean pollution. Dr. Chris Pincetich, of the Sea Turtle Restoration Project studies shoreline marine debris at Point Reyes National Seashore and into SF Bay, collecting detailed density data on plastic pollution and discovering treasures along the way! This research dovetails into a habitat assessment for leatherback feeding areas offshore (plastic is deadly!) and will be a great baseline dataset for Japan tsunami debris and America's Cup waste pulses. Randall Museum Theater, 199 Museum Way, San Francisco CA 94114. 7:30-9 pm. For more information, contact Patrick Schlemmer at JKodiak@earthlink.net or (415) 225-3830. Free and open to everyone.