Photo by Cleve Nash:            Bobcat

Photo by Cleve Nash: Bobcat

Photo by Alan Schmierer: Snowy Egrets

Best Breakfast in Town!

A Bird's Eye View by Mike Stiles

For the last several months we have talked about beginning and advanced birding. On this first day of April, I thought I would share with you some of the secrets of the most advanced birders and other news from the birding world. I, like that WikiLeaks guy, am putting my reputation at great risk here, but it's time this information was made public.  Read More

Coastland Contemplations by Michele Oksen

Not only are wildflowers attractive to bees and butterflies, they appeal to bouquet makers as well. When it comes to a gift from—and for—the heart there's nothing like a handpicked mini wildflower arrangement to lift our spirits. I say, "mini" because my mom taught my brother, Eric, and me to be frugal with the wildflowers. She explained how they needed to stay rooted in order to come to fruition and cast their seeds. That way, nature's display was insured for generations to come. Read More

Elfin Forest by Jean Wheeler

Butterflies and Native Plants: In honor of California Native Plant Week, butterfly enthusiast Pat Brown will lead a walk from the point of view of a hungry butterfly.  As you tour the Elfin Forest with her, Pat will introduce you to several native plants and talk about the butterflies that sip their nectar and the caterpillars that eat their leaves.  Pat has taken many photos of butterflies in all stages of development from eggs to mature butterflies, and will share them along with fascinating butterfly facts.    Read More

Exploring the Coast by Ruth Ann Angus

One thing cannot be denied—life in California is definitely shaky. Sooner or later, if you live here long enough, you are going to experience an earthquake. Sometimes these occur far out in the depths of the sea where the earth moves up or down, causing a bulge or depression in the water surface. The result can be the birth of a tsunami. Read More 

Marine Sanctuaries by Carol Georgi

PG&E's Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant (DCNPP) is mankind's attempt to assume that engineering can eliminate any possibility of a seismically induced accident.  However, improbable is not impossible, as earthquakes are unpredictable.  "Now, as Japan struggles to contain four out-of-control reactors, all of us—whatever our views of nuclear energy—must focus not on assurances that it can't happen here, but rather on ensuring it never does," Joel R. Reynolds, senior attorney and director of the Southern California program of the Natural Resources Defense Council. Read More

Sweet Springs Reflections by Holly Sletteland

This is the time of year when Sweet Springs is awash in bloom.  By the time you read this, the Giant Coreopsis will probably have faded, but the wallflowers, poppies and phacelia should still be putting on quite a show. We even have a few tidy tips and baby blue eyes coming up from our seeding last fall.  We'll be hosting a stroll through Sweet Springs at 10:00 on April 20th, if you'd like to take a look for yourself.  The event is in honor of Native Plant Week, which was established last year by the state legislature to promote the conservation and appreciation of California's native plants.  Read More

Photo by Kevin Cole:      
Female Elephant Seals in
dispute over space .

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Peregrine Falcon image on banner by Cleve Nash