San Francisco Naturalist Society

The San Francisco Naturalist Society is dedicated to the enjoyment, study, and preservation of the natural world.

Upcoming Naturalist Society Events

Thursday, February 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 Bors 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. Margo's art and 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 CNPS 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.
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.

Thursday, March 8
Film showing: "Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time." Sponsored by the U. S. Forest Service.
Randall Museum Theater, 199 Museum Way, San Francisco CA 94114. 7:30-9:30 pm. For more information, contact Patrick Schlemmer at JKodiak@earthlink.net or (415) 225-3830. Sliding scale suggested donation of $5-$100 goes to support the conservation efforts at SaveNature.Org.

Thursday, April 12
The Green Hairstreak Corridor and The Hidden Garden Steps, with Liam O'Brien
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.

Thursday, May 10
Urban Tree Ecology, with Ted Kipping
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.

Friday, June 22
Naturalist Society Campout at Rob Hill in the Presidio! Celebrate summer under the stars. Space is limited. Contact Patrick Schlemmer to reserve your spot. $5 per person.

Thursday, July 12
The Amazing Leatherback Migration to California
Dr. Chris Pincetich, of the Sea Turtle Restoration Project, will tell us about leatherback biology, ecology, and conservation challenges. Come learn about the new 70,000 sq km protected critical habitat off California and the Leatherback Watch Program.
Dr. Pincetich also 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! His 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.

The San Francisco Naturalist Society is a free club for people who are interested in the natural world! If you would like to be added to the announcement list for upcoming Naturalist Society events, email club president Patrick Schlemmer.

weather hiking earthquake tide

Today's Naturalist Events

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...

Quote of the Day

"When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence."

-Ansel Adams

	Today's Naturalist Events 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...