Blog
Notes from the field, rare sightings, and other fun or useful information.
A Burrowing Owl? by William Roberts
A burrowing owl? Sort of. It is a useful misnomer since something more accurate like ‘the burrow-inhabiting owl’ doesn’t have quite the same ring. These animals, with their seemingly paradoxical name, could be mistaken for a character in a Dr. Seuss book but can be...
Rain, Rain, Don’t Go Away!
Fall is here, and it is the beginning of two converging seasons in San Diego; the not-so-rainy season and the increasingly intense fire season. The official water year ranges from October 1 to September 30 and in 2017 the Lindbergh Field station received 3.34 inches...
We Saved the World with 2 Minutes and 12 Seconds to Spare!
The San Diego Natural History Museum has a new experience called Botanic Panic. It is a botany themed room escape in which the participants must find and follow the clues to a plant discovery that will save the world from an eminent threat. Our team took on the...
Winter is coming… By Amy Trexler
Ok, maybe that title is a little pre-emptive and I’ve just been spending too much time catching up on Game of Thrones. September does; however, mark the end of “bird season” and, as a result, I can’t help but think that winter really is just around the corner. San...
A Tale of Two Gnatcatcher Pairs: The Trials and Tribulations of a Threatened Species By Brynne Mulrooney w/contributions from Brian Lohstroh
Living in southern California certainly has its ups and downs. We have beautiful weather (most of the year), gorgeous scenery, and the unique ability to experience a variety of ecosystems all within a day’s drive. We also have way too many people leading to gridlocked...
Rare Plant Sighting
Spring is of course the best time to see so many of San Diego’s best annual herbs. Rare plant surveys are always one of my favorite tasks on the job because I am sure to learn a new species or visit an unexplored site! Prior to a survey, I prepare by researching the...
Red-Tailed Hawk Nest-Sitting By William Roberts
The ability to observe animals at leisure is not common in nature. Very few animals spend a large portion of their time in view of an interested observer. Nesting birds are a conspicuous counterpoint to this fact. By being able to see an animal at all times, its...
Biologists/Environmental Compliance Monitors Wanted
Full-time positions available for junior to mid-level biologists or environmental compliance monitors to work mainly in the San Diego County area. For junior-level positions, at least one year of experience in biological consulting preferred but not essential. For...
Bat Expedition #1– Mission Trails Regional Park
Well as luck would have it, I managed to convince Drew to let me tag along with him on more bat expeditions. On January 29th, we met at Mission Gorge Regional Park for a roost exit survey at an old quarry. The area was known in the past to function as a roost for...
The Elusive Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Finally, after combing the neighborhood for several days, I at last got to see the elusive scissor-tailed flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus) which had been reported near my neighborhood in Encinitas. It was a good thing too, because I was becoming well-known in the...