Oct-Dec 2010
This issue features the inhabitants of the fascinating subtidal ecosystem under the surface of the Bay, the feral pigs and wild turkeys that are multiplying and invading our terrestrial wildlands, the raucous and wily gulls that have learned to live in both our wild areas and our garbage dumps, and the diversity of life—from condors to wildflowers—that flourishes in the ancient volcanic landscape at Pinnacles National Monument. Cover photo by William Dreskin, dreskinfineart.com.
Issue Contents
Not all print articles and images appear online immediately.
Photo by Kevin Nibur.
East Bay Parks Feature
by Daniel McGlynn
Heading out before dawn to trap wild pigs is one of the more unpleasant responsibilities of open space management in the Bay Area. But across the East Bay and much of the Bay Area, these descendants of farm animals and introduced wild boars have proliferated and become a force whose impact on native plants and animals can’t be ignored. Wild turkeys, also brought in for hunting, aren’t far behind.
From the Oct-Dec 2010 issue
Published October 01, 2010
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Feature
by Ariel Rubissow-Okamoto
San Francisco Bay is both familiar and mysterious. Millions see it every day, yet we almost never glimpse beneath the steely surface. From eelgrass and oyster beds to mudflats and sand waves, there’s a lot to learn about. An innovative coalition is working to set an agenda for 50 years of research and restoration that will illuminate and resuscitate the vast wilderness below the lowest tides.
From the Oct-Dec 2010 issue
Published October 01, 2010
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Feature
by Joe Eaton
Gulls don’t inspire the awe that a golden eagle or red-tailed hawk does. Or the affection we feel for hummingbirds. But the Bay Area’s dozen gull species are true survivors: Adaptable, voracious predators, they breed by the thousands in the South Bay and at the Farallones, and it takes some determined biologists to keep an eye on them.
From the Oct-Dec 2010 issue
Published October 01, 2010
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On the Trail
by Paul McHugh
Volcanic drama, bat caves, diverse wildlife, roadless vistas: Pinnacles National Monument is definitely worth the trip. Where else can you see half a volcano, an endangered condor, and a record number of bee species in one day?
From the Oct-Dec 2010 issue
Published October 01, 2010
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On the Trail
by Rob Lehman
At Windy Hill, the dense woodlands and forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains take a breather, so you can come here to drink in the unparalleled views or even fly a kite and (with a permit) ride the park’s namesake winds on a hang glider.
From the Oct-Dec 2010 issue
Published October 01, 2010
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Photo by Jessica Taekman
On the Trail
by Jessica Taekman
Even though the Bay Area has a tremendous variety of open spaces, many people find themselves drawn again and again to one particular park. For lots of folks in Marin, that's Terra Linda/Sleepy Hollow Ridge, northwest of San Rafael.
From the Oct-Dec 2010 issue
Published October 01, 2010
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On the Trail
by Dan Rademacher
The newest addition to the East Bay Regional Park District rides high on the Calaveras Ridge, with views from San Francisco and the Bay all the way around to Sunol, Brushy Peak, and Mount Diablo.
From the Oct-Dec 2010 issue
Published October 01, 2010
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DFG photo by Debra Hamilton.
Signs of the Season
by Joseph Kinyon
If the chef at your local cafe listed fresh triceratops or plesiosaur on the menu, it would surely get your attention as being out of place--and time. But sturgeon, whose flesh or eggs (caviar) might appear on that same menu, are equally ancient. Now, thanks to us, they face some of their biggest challenges ever.
From the Oct-Dec 2010 issue
Published October 01, 2010
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Photo by Andy LaCasse, courtesy PLAN.
Conservation in Action
by Jacoba Charles
Where suburban houses give way to grassy fields on the outskirts of Petaluma, a dedicated group of neighbors has spent ten years working to preserve habitat for the elusive American badger. Now, the efforts of the all-volunteer Paula Lane Action Network (PLAN) may pay off in a big way.
From the Oct-Dec 2010 issue
Published October 01, 2010
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Photo by Charles Kennard.
Families Afield
by Donna Whitmarsh
They say California is the land of fruits and nuts, which wouldn't be so funny if it weren't also partly true. But our native nuts--acorns, hazelnuts, and more--are central to life for both plants and wildlife, and they deserve some respect.
From the Oct-Dec 2010 issue
Published October 01, 2010
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Ask the Naturalist
by Michael Ellis
We don’t have fireflies in the Bay Area, but we do have glowworms. What are they and why the heck do they light up?
From the Oct-Dec 2010 issue
Published October 01, 2010
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Naturalist's Notebook
by John Muir Laws
The town of Martinez has learned to love its beavers, who've become famous and opened a whole community to the idea that downtown is even better with a bit of biodiversity.
From the Oct-Dec 2010 issue
Published October 01, 2010
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Photo by Diane Poslosky
Letter from the Publisher
by David Loeb
We’re looking forward to celebrating Bay Nature’s 10th anniversary in January, while wondering what happened to summer--and what’s in store for our climate.
From the Oct-Dec 2010 issue
Published October 01, 2010
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Photo by George Phillips/Save Mount Diablo
by Aleta George
A better future for state parks, development and preservation on the line in San Ramon and elsewhere, unraveling the mystery of toxic algae bloom that kills sea lions and birds, watching hawks.
From the Oct-Dec 2010 issue
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