Bay Area Naturalist Events Calendar
Your one-stop guide to bird walks, fungus forays, work parties, wildflower hikes, beach cleanups, exhibit openings, garden tours, wildlife festivals, star parties, ecology classes, science symposia, employment opportunities, and natural history lectures. Compiled by Patrick Schlemmer. If you have an event to list on the calendar, please submit it to jkodiak@earthlink.net. This calendar is updated every day, so check back often!
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Wed., April 11 Peregrine falcon nestcam from downtown San Francisco. See this year's chicks!
Mon., May 14 New Entomophagy Site. Eating bugs has captured the popular imagination lately, with increasing news coverage by the mainstream media. A new website dedicated to entomophagy has been launched out of Athens, Georgia. The site's goal is to become the definitive source of information on insect ingestion. They plan to eventually publish a peer-reviewed journal and are currently seeking all manner of contributions from the bug-eating community. Some basic articles they'd like to see from contributors include such topics as "What is Entomophagy?," "Entomophagy and Allergy Concerns," "Wine Pairings and Insects," and "Preparing Insects for Cooking." They would also like submissions of general recipes. The site will focus primarily on the cultural and international aspects of entomophagy. They will also create a collection of cross-referenced captioned images as well as documentation on edible insects from around the world. If you'd like to contribute content or just check out their website, go to: www.worldento.com.
Thurs., May 17 Saving San Bruno Mountain: Past, Present and Future with David Schooley. David Schooley has been leading hikes focusing on the nature, history and native culture of San Bruno Mountain for thirty years. He is the founder of San Bruno Mountain Watch, an environmental activist group dedicated to saving the mountain from development and environmental degradation. Randall Museum Theater, 7:30 pm. Free.
Fri., May 18 The Pacific Coast Entomological Society will meet at 8 pm at the California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. John Hafernik, Professor of Biology at San Francisco State University, will present his talk "Are Honey Bees on the Verge of a Zom-Bee Apocalypse?" Free.
Sat., May 19 Edible and Medicinal Weeds of the Bay Area. Non-native invasive plant species are the bane to many gardeners, landscapers, and other such plant enthusiasts...but not to those who know better! In fact, many so called “weeds” are actually quite useful as either wild foods or medicines. Because they thrive on disturbed soils, these plants abound in areas of high population density and can be found in great abundance in and around the cities of the San Francisco Bay Area. Due to their damaging effects on native plant habitats, their harvest and use makes practical sense and should always be encouraged over the use of our own native species. In this way, we help to restore and preserve our native plant communities at the same time as restoring and preserving our own health! Come join us as we learn how to better utilize these vilified urban renegades that are so often needlessly wasted. This class includes a lecture/slideshow, a large selection of live plant samples, edible/medicinal plant tasting, and botanical I.D lessons at a nearby urban garden. Blue Wind Botancal Medicine Clinic & Education Center. Oakland, CA, 10 am-5 pm. For more information, email bluewindbmc@gmail.com. $50.
Sat., May 19 Join Brent Plater of the Wild Equity Institute and Tim Sullivan of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission for a leisurely walk into the usually inaccessible Crystal Springs watershed to search for the endangered San Mateo woolly sunflower. 10 am-noon. Park in the small parking lot slightly east of the Crystal Springs Road and Tartan Trail Road intersection in San Mateo, CA. RSVP required: please RSVP at wildequity.org.
Sat., May 19 Join Save the Frogs! to Tailgate & Drum for Endangered Species, & Occupy Sharp Park(ing lot)! Golf purists have announced they intend to celebrate the endangered species-killing, money-losing Sharp Park Golf Course with a $150 golf tournament. That's right: they intend to celebrate a golf course that robs resources from San Francisco's neighborhood parks and has brought two endangered species to the brink of localized extinction. If that's the most absurd celebration you've ever heard of, you aren't alone: and that's why we want you to join Save the Frogs! on May 19 at 4:30 p.m. at Sharp Park Golf Course's parking lot. Save the Frogs! will be leading a tailgate and drumming event during this high-priced golf tournament to make sure everyone there knows that killing endangered species to play a game is the wrong way to spend our limited recreation dollars. This will be a fun, free event. There will be food and drink, drums to play, and outdoor education activities for you and your family to enjoy at the nearby Mori Point National Park: which will one day expand to include Sharp Park, creating a more accessible and sustainable public park that everyone can enjoy! Bring some food and drink to share if you can. And if you're able to get there early, we're looking for 5-10 people to join Save the Frogs! to prepare for the event. Contact us today if you can be there on the early side.
RSVP for the tailgate at Save the Frogs! website.
Sat., May 19 Heron Watch from 10 am to 1 pm. Come and see Great Blue Herons and their chicks! Follow the sign at Stow Lake boathouse to the program site. Observation using spotting scopes: free. Interns and volunteers will be there to answer questions and explain heron behavior. Donations welcome. Adult walk: 10:30 to noon. Adults: $10. All walks will be led by volunteers or interns. Family walk: 10:30 am. Each family: $10. Children will be given a Stow Lake field journal to color at home. For more information, call (415) 387-9160.
Sat., May 19 Botanical Art from the Estate of Barbara and Roland Pitschel. May through August, 2012. Barbara Pitschel was Head Librarian of the Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture. During her tenure, 1981-2010, the Library grew to become the most comprehensive horticultural library in northern California. She was a long-standing member of the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries (CBHL), receiving the Charles Robert Long Award of Merit in 2006 for her outstanding dedication to CBHL and her many contributions to the field of horticultural literature and information service and research. Barbara and her husband Roland were also passionate about preserving our native flora and were founding and lifetime members of the Yerba Buena Chapter of the California Native Plant Society. Barbara and Roland were leaders in the restoration work and planning that became the Bernal Hilltop Native Grassland Restoration Project, and were honored by the Trust for Public Land for their thirty years of volunteer park stewardship. The largest part of Barbara's time, however, was spent overseeing the operation and growth of the Library. One of the many areas of the library program that she nurtured and guided was the changing displays of botanical art.
Barbara and Roland's art collection of over 100 pieces reflects the focus and dedication that was evident in their lives. The works were purchased mostly from artists they knew or who exhibited at the library and though some may be quite rare and valuable now, they were collected solely for their enjoyment, as encouragement for the art, and nearly always for their depiction of our native flora. The collection includes works by well-known botanical artists and represents many different styles. A special reception hosted by the Helen Crocker Russell Library will be held Saturday, May 19, 3-6 pm.
Sat., May 19 Microphone Mysteries Revealed At the Nature Sounds Society's Tech Talk. Learn the basics of recording technology in preparation for our annual field recording workshop. This class also provides an opportunity to try out different types of microphones and recorders for the sounds you want to capture. Dan Dugan will teach and the NSS will host the event at Dan's laboratory. 290 Napoleon St., Studio E, San Francisco, CA 94124, 9:30 am-3:30 pm. Contact Dan Dugan at (415) 821-9776 or events@naturesounds.org for further information. Advance registration is requested but not required—you can just show up! $30.
May 19-20 10th Triennial U.S. Geological Survey Open House--only happens once every 3 years. For more information, go to USGS Open House 2012.
Sun., May 20 Green Hairstreak Butterfly: A Walk Through an Ecosystem Corridor with Deidre Martin and Melanie Trelles. Meet at the Bottom of Hawk Hill (14th and Rivera). Noon-2 pm. Bring a bag lunch and a pen.
Tues., May 22 On Safari in Kenya, with Gerald Corsi. The Kippings invite you to Potluck/Slideshows on the 4th Tuesday of the Month. San Francisco County Fair Building (Golden Gate Park), 7 pm. Please bring a dish & beverage to serve 8 people. For more information, call (415) 753-7090.
Wed., May 23 Save May 23, 2012, for a TALK at Counterpulse, organized by the SF Planning Department and hosted by Shaping San Francisco. As part of the Green Connections program, the panel will explore the intersection of restoring biodiversity and sustainable transportation to our City's streets. SFBC, WalkSF and Nature in the City will be on hand to delve deeply into truly transforming our urban landscape.
Thurs., May 24 Restoration and Revegetation with Grasses and Graminoids. Sedgewick Reserve, Santa Ynez. California Native Grasslands Association Workshop. Register at www.cnga.org.
Fri., May 25 Open Ranch Day at Rancho de las Flores. Location: Los Alamos. California Native Grasslands Association Workshop. Register at www.cnga.org.
May 25-28 Edible & Medicinal Plants of Sespe Hot Springs: A Backpacking Field Exploration. Situated just outside the southwest border of the Mojave Desert, this remote, rugged, and arid landscape is part of a vast mountainous wilderness complex (the 4th largest roadless region in the continental U.S) with elevation ranges from 2500' to 7500'. The area is best known for its magnificent colored sandstone canyons and the wild and scenic Sespe River (the last remaining undammed river in Southern California). The area is also home to some of the HOTTEST and most isolated hot springs to be found in the state! Sespe is rich in botanical diversity, many useful plants being found in the region, such as: White Sage, Yerba Santa, Flannel Bush, Lobelia, Stream Orchid, Prince's Plume, Matilija Poppy, and many others! Topics to be covered during our journey include: field botany/ID, plant family characteristics, medicinal/edible/utilitarian uses, regional ethnobotany, medicine making techniques, ethical harvesting practices, safety issues, natural history, and more. Days will be spent hiking and exploring trails which wind through the various plant communities in the area. Nights will include campfire conversation, relaxing with friends, and soaking in the springs. The round-trip backpack is approximately 14 miles (7.5 miles each way) on steep terrain. To register, email bluewindbmc@gmail.com or call (510) 428-1810. $175.
Sat., May 26 Holly Park to Alemany Farm Butterfly Walk with Liam O'Brien. Noon-3 pm. Bring a bag lunch. Meet at Bocana Street and Holly Park Circle.
through June 3 Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve in Redwood City is famous for its spectacular spring wildflower displays. Friends of Edgewood docents offer free wildflower walks every Saturday and Sunday starting at 10 am from mid-March through the first weekend in June.
Tues., June 5 California Invasive Plant Council Wildland Weed Field Courses. Our upcoming field courses train natural resource managers and restoration volunteers on all aspects of invasive weed management. Registration and course details at www.cal-ipc.org/fieldcourses/index.php.
through June 16 Jellyfish Gallery is pleased to present Monoculture, a series of inspired new works by San Francisco artist Marta Solomianko. Dipped in beeswax, these drawings on canvas are sculptural and invite closer inspection of the intricate lines. Opening Reception May 4, 7-11 pm; on view through June 16, 2012. Jellyfish Gallery, 1286 Folsom Street, San Francisco. For more information, call (415) 608-7932 or email juniper@jellyfishgallery.com.
Sun., June 17 The Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco currently has a fabulous exhibition all about trees and the need for conservation (www.thecjm.org/index.php?option=com_ccevents&scope=exbt&task=detail&oid=58). In conjunction with the exhibit, we are offering 2 stand-alone Family Art Studios in which children and parents will construct birdhouses. Nancy DeStefanis, Executive Director of San Francisco Nature Education, will be giving short hands-on presentations. 736 Mission Street, San Francisco. The programs are from 2-4 pm. Members $10 (children free); General $15 (Children $5 each). Advance registration recommended (Includes Museum admission). Call (415) 655-7881 or email families@thecjm.org.
Fri,, June 22 Naturalist Society Campout at Rob Hill in the Presidio! Celebrate summer under the stars. Space is limited. Contact Patrick Schlemmer to reserve your spot. $5 per person.
July 4-8 Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Eastern Sierra and Great Basin Region. The Eastern Sierra/Great Basin region is a land of extremes; with the highest peak in the continental U.S (Mt. Whitney 14,494') towering over the lowest point (Badwater Basin -282'). The convergence ...of high mountain peaks which abruptly descend down to the Great Basin and Mohave Deserts makes for one of the most visually stunning and botanically diverse landscapes to be found in the Western U.S. Sub-alpine meadows, riparian woodlands, pinyon-juniper woodlands, sagebrush scrub, and desert marshlands are a few of the habitats to expect on our outings as we search for Yerba Manza, American Licorice, Fireweed, Stream Orchid, Arnica, and many other notable medicinals. We'll spend our days hiking and botanizing while reserving evenings for interactive hands-on workshops, relaxing with friends, not to mention camping under a blanket of stars. Keep in mind that hot springs and cool mountain streams/lakes will be worked into the curriculum as well! This full immersion field outing should prove to be insightful and rewarding for anyone interested in knowing more about the unique flora of the region. For more information, contact instructor Tellur Fenner at bluewindbmc@gmail.com. $200/ entire session $150/ 3 days $100/ 2 days.
July 9-13 Golden Gate Audubon is excited to announce a weeklong nature day camp, Wildlife Discoverers, that will take place from July 9-13. Kids aged 7 through 12 are invited to join in a week of Bay Area wildlife exploration filled with fun and games. Led by our award-winning Eco-Education staff, they¹ll learn to identify local birds, animals and plants; collect marine life like plankton and crabs; explore beautiful local parks; build animal kites and puppets; make art, sing songs and more. Sites include MLK Jr. Shoreline Park, Wildcat Canyon, Point Pinole Shoreline, and Lake Merritt (all in the East Bay). Cost is $225. Space is limited to fifteen participants and may fill up fast. Sign up early! For more information, contact ggaseducation@gmail.com or (510) 508-1388.
Thurs., July 12 Marine Debris on Your Beach - Where did it come from and why care? Marine debris and plastic pollution sources, oceanographic transport, wildlife impacts (local seabirds, marine mammals, sea turtles), and what you can do to help reduce ocean pollution. Dr. Chris Pincetich, of the Sea Turtle Restoration Project studies shoreline marine debris at Point Reyes National Seashore and into SF Bay, collecting detailed density data on plastic pollution and discovering treasures along the way! This research dovetails into a habitat assessment for leatherback feeding areas offshore (plastic is deadly!) and will be a great baseline dataset for Japan tsunami debris and America's Cup waste pulses. Randall Museum Theater, 199 Museum Way, San Francisco CA 94114. 7:30-9 pm. For more information, contact Patrick Schlemmer at JKodiak@earthlink.net or (415) 225-3830. Free and open to everyone.
through mid-July From Weekend Sherpa: Every spring two things reliably return to Audubon Canyon Ranch's Martin Griffin Preserve: great egrets and wildflowers. The annual nesting and mating season for egrets typically gets underway during late March to early April. Toss in a colorful array of hundreds of wildflowers, and this 1,000-acre preserve by Stinson Beach really gets wild! Hike a 3.5-mile loop into the less-traveled back reaches of the park via the Zumie and Griffin loop trails. The Zumie Loop Trail brings you past bright purple patches of Douglas irises on a 600-foot climb. Views of the Bolinas Lagoon and Stinson Beach get broader with each step. At the top, take a break on the large wooden chaise bench. The trail continues through a beautiful redwood forest in Garden Club Canyon, where recent rains have the creek churning. Returning on the Griffin Loop Trail, stop at the newly constructed Henderson Overlook. This offers an ideal vantage for spotting the great egrets. You might even see them in action…that's courting dances, nest-building, and, later on, egg-hatching. Bloomiful! Audubon Canyon Ranch's Martin Griffin Preserve is located about 4 miles north of Stinson Beach on Hwy. 1. The preserve is open weekends and holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. until mid-July. A monetary donation is requested upon visiting. Pick up a map at the entrance and follow the Zumie and Griffin Loop trails. No dogs.
Nov. 9-11 Whales and Humans: A Conflicted Relationship. 13th International Conference. The American Cetacean Society invites you to join a unique gathering of scientists, policy makers, and conservationists from all over the world as we share current status and research, the historically conflicted relationship between whales and humans, and the shaping of this relationship in the future. San Diego, CA. Register at: http://acsconference2012.eventbrite.com. If you need assistance with registration or have questions, please contact the ACS National Office at kreznick@acsonline.org or (310) 548-6279.