Bobcat by Cleve Nash

Bobcat by Cleve Nash

Snowy Egrets by Alan Schmierer

Goats and Dogs at Point Buchon
by Jeanie Greensfelder

Peregrine Falcon Image on Banner by Cleve Nash

A Bird's Eye View by Mike Stiles

It should come as no surprise when beginning birders lament that "the bird did not look like anything in the field guide." The amount of variation in a bird due to age, gender, or feather wear, or even where they live is incredible, and impossible to show completely in any one field guide. Then throw in the mix the fact that most birds change every feather at least once a year —  some twice a year — and some take several years to finally look like they "should."  Read More

California State Parks

The microscope people are at it again! A docent team has set up a series of “hands on” programs from February to June. Each Saturday program will offer a short introduction followed by free time exploring materials through the dissecting and compound microscopes.

February 9, Close up of Estuary Organisms
March 23, Let’s Look at Lichens
April 27th, Dockside Organisms
May 4, Explore Spring Flowers
June 8, Scope Out Insects  Read More

Coastland Contemplations by Michele Oksen

Have you ever agreed to take in a feathered or furred critter, especially one who screeches, mooches, tracks in mud, and leaves tripping hazards (dead mice, seeds, sticks, pinecones, deer bones) all over the floor?  If so, you understand how much time, patience, and tolerance it takes to reap the benefits of animal companionship. Put people and pets in the same living quarters, it's also helpful to muster acceptance of each other's idiosyncrasies – people bathe, dogs and cats lick themselves – get over it. Read More

Elfin Forest by Jean Wheeler

It's March, so March! -- around the Boardwalk to enjoy lingering floral beauties of our mild-winter climate as the flowers of early spring open to join them. Lilac to white clusters of flowers continue to surround the boardwalk on the buckbrush ceanothus (aka California lilac) shrubs. The scenic photo shows them from the Boardwalk, framing the distant Morros. White and pink bell flowers of Morro manzanita shrubs are ripening into the miniature red apples that give this shrub its Spanish name. Prickly-thorned bushes of red fuchsia-flowered gooseberries are at the peak of their bloom, providing a feast for Anna's hummingbirds. Yellow to orange flowers that can be seen include seaside fiddleneck, golden yarrow, seaside golden yarrow, and California poppies. All of these winter blooms and fruits should continue at least into April.  Read More

Marine Sanctuaries by Carol Georgi & Karl Kempton

Low Energy Seismic Surveys (LESS) are blasting at high decibel levels nearshore and offshore California's coast, including within National Marine Sanctuaries and State Marine Protected Areas. These surveys do not warn the public or initiate the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process because California State Lands Commission (CSLC) continues to use their inadequate and outdated 1984 CEQA for LESS. Read More

Female Elephant Seals in
Dispute Over Space by Kevin Cole

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