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Category Archives: animals
academy roof garden hosts diverse species
At a symposium last weekend at the Academy of Sciences, Alana Hysert, Academy Naturalist, reported some interesting preliminary data on the living roof. Recognizing the research and education potential of the new green roof, Hysert has been overseeing a citizen science … Continue reading
hunting wild animals in golden gate park in 1905
A full page, illustrated article in the Sunday, August 27, 1905 edition of the San Francisco Call celebrated the many animals housed in the park at that time. The “head keeper,” William Leland was in charge, and his duties including birthing … Continue reading
Posted in "lost" golden gate park, history, people, wildlife
Tagged golden gate park, urban wildlife
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mystery bird identified: western gull, Larus occidentalis
Mystery bird: western gull, Larus occidentalis This leucistic individual is difficult to ID, but after staring at this bird through a magnifying glass for 3 hours and comparing it with a hundred or so photographs, I think I’ve got it! … Continue reading
mystery bird in the park | Science | guardian.co.uk
Here’s a fun challenge from the UK! The bird is in Golden Gate Park: “This beautiful North American mystery bird is quite special when compared to its brothers and sisters — how? Complaints about yesterday’s mystery bird being ‘too easy’ … Continue reading
a wildlife photographer shares twilight adventure in golden gate park
Janet Kessler took this delightful photograph of a raccoon in Golden Gate Park for an exhibit at the main San Francisco library last summer. The following is her description of capturing these elusive animals on film . . . “I … Continue reading
Posted in people, wildlife
Tagged golden gate park, urban parks, urban wildlife, wildlife photography
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golden gate park after dark?
golden gate park at night (by photographer Chris MacArthur, SF Weekly) Marie Winn’s delightful book, Central Park in the Dark: More Mysteries of Urban Wildlife (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 2008) begins: “The first time I walked through … Continue reading
Posted in arts, wildlife
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a grizzly story: bear pit long gone!
This bear pit was formerly located at the west end of what is now the National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park. It’s one of the more colorful “lost” sites in the park; one that lives on in civic … Continue reading
Posted in "lost" golden gate park, history, wildlife
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herons return to stow lake
The herons are returning to nest in the stand of trees on the little island in Stow Lake, in front of the boat house. Last weekend I saw five of them, seemingly inspecting their nests and assessing necessary repairs. With … Continue reading
great horned owl
“The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) was first seen in the Virginia colonies, so its species name was created from the Latinised form of the name of this territory (originally named for Queen Elizabeth I, the “Virgin Queen”). The first published … Continue reading
Posted in wildlife
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owl sighting on strawberry hill
Last night, arriving at the top of Strawberry Hill in Stow Lake at dusk, just in time to catch the last pink and orange of the sunset, I heard a characteristic, throaty “who-whoooooo.” Several people were standing around, under a … Continue reading
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golden gate park: views from the thicket 