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Category Archives: urban ecology
Solar Eclipse 2017: Life Responds | California Academy of Sciences
In case the clouds part and you want to experience the eclipse in Golden Gate Park, here’s a citizen science project that you can participate in, thanks to the California Academy of Science: “The next solar eclipse is crossing the … Continue reading
Getting To Know The Great Horned Owls Of Golden Gate Park | Hoodline
A great article about Great Horned Owls in Golden Gate Park: Living near Golden Gate Park means getting used to nocturnal wildlife encounters, whether it’s raccoons, skunks or the occasional coyote. But there’s another neighborhood animal that’s more often heard than seen: … Continue reading
Posted in animals, birds, urban ecology, wildlife
Tagged birds of golden gate park, great horned owl, urban ecology, urban wildlife
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Some Snags at Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park
As both an artist and a naturalist I’m drawn to the dead trees on the islands in Stow Lake. Their skeletal remains stand out dramatically against the sky and they exemplify the natural life cycles in the park. Heavy with ivy, nasturtium and other creeping … Continue reading
Posted in animals, arts, birds, insects, plants, trees/urban forest, urban ecology, wildlife
Tagged art in golden gate park, golden gate park, urban ecology, urban evolution, urban forest, urban wildlife
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zen in golden gate park: the art of nature journaling
Recently I spent a week in the Sierras “nature-journaling” with John Muir Laws: http://www.johnmuirlaws.com If you aren’t familiar with Jack Laws, I highly recommend getting to know him. Whenever I’m in the Sierras I depend on The Laws Field Guide … Continue reading
Last weekend, on the monthly bird walk in Golden Gate Park (meets at the main gate of the Botanical Garden at 8 a.m. on the first Sunday of every month), my favorite sighting was four ravens lined up sociably on a branch … Continue reading
weeds of golden gate park: nasturtium
A weed is “a wild plant growing where it is not wanted and in competition with cultivated plants.” Nasturtium is my favorite weed, of the many growing in golden gate park. Its gray-green, disk-shaped leaves and bright orange-red-yellow flowers are … Continue reading
Posted in blooming, plants, urban ecology, weeds
Tagged flowers in golden gate park, golden gate park, invasive plants, urban ecology, urban evolution, weeds, wildflowers
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A Birder Visits Golden Gate Park, April 2014
A birder and photographer who goes by the name Redgannet visited Golden Gate Park this week and posted some lovely photographs of birds sighted, including this one of a Cormorant at Stow Lake. “Bird list for Stow Lake: Canada Goose 12, … Continue reading
Golden Gate National Parks BioBlitz Reaches New Heights – National Geographic Society Press Room
I read this press release with delight and wondered how many species a BioBlitz would turn up in Golden Gate Park. Wouldn’t it be interesting to compare? “SAN FRANCISCO (March 31, 2014)—After two intensive days of exploration and documentation, the Golden … Continue reading
Posted in animals, birds, science, urban ecology, wildlife
Tagged birds of golden gate park, golden gate park, urban parks, urban wildlife
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native plant strikes again
“Three San Francisco cops remain on disability after suffering “severe” reactions to poison oak during a Sept. 9 scuffle with a tree-branch-wielding homeless man in Golden Gate Park, police said Thursday. The incident erupted about 9:15 a.m. when transient William … Continue reading
Tell the difference between honey bees and bumble bees
A reader has pointed out that the bee I photographed in Golden Gate Park was probably a bumble bee, not a honey bee. I posted the photo last week in a blog about Golden Gate Park honey. That started me wondering … Continue reading
Posted in urban ecology, wildlife
Tagged bumble bees, golden gate park, honey bees, nature photography, urban ecology, urban wildlife
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golden gate park: views from the thicket 