From across a crowded pond...male frog calls give female frogs information about a potential mate. We’re continuing to study the California Red-legged Frog with the help of acoustic monitors that record their calls. Read more.
Climate change poses a serious threat to life in and around San Diego. Headline-grabbing natural disasters are obvious, but there are other more subtle—yet alarming—ways a warming climate is affecting wildlife in our region. Read more.
From open grasslands, desert views, urban terrains, and flowing rivers, there is plenty to enjoy on brisk winter hikes in San Diego—even without snow. Our Canyoneers recommend San Diego's top trails for winter, where you can find spectacular views, overwintering birds, and more as you stay socially distanced but get up close with nature. Read more.
A recent court ruling blocked the proposed listing of four species of extremely rare bumblebees from being protected under the California Endangered Species Act. We have a few things to say about that. Read more.
Winter finally brings “sweater weather”—even though one might need to shed their layers by noon once the day heats up. The temperature changes also bring about changes in our regional wildlife. Learn more about the natural phenomena that occur each winter. Read more.
The monarch butterfly is in severe decline. Recent studies show the Western Monarch population, which overwinters here in southern California, has decreased by 99% with less than 30,000 butterflies remaining. With such critically low numbers, now is the time to take action. Read on to learn how to support monarch butterflies right now. Read more.
Protecting our climate starts at home—our home. Infrastructure upgrades such as a state-of-the-art chiller, window inserts for better UV protection, and conversion of thousands of lights to LED are part of an energy and equipment overhaul outlined in our master plan. These efforts will help save precious resources and allow us to operate our building more efficiently. Read more.
We join many local and national organizations that aim to democratize the study of nature. That begins with how we talk about taking part in science. Read more.
Herpetology Collections Manager Frank Santana shares how his childhood experiences in nature led to a career studying reptiles and amphibians. This is the first in a series of blog posts focused on protecting the endangered California red-legged frog from extinction. Read more.
Specimens collected in Antarctica have allowed a team of scientists, including Dr. Ashley Poust of The Nat, to update the fossil record of giant birds. The 50 million-year-old fossils belong to an extinct group of ocean-going birds with large tooth-like spikes in their beaks. This discovery may be the oldest example of truly giant flying birds and adds to our understanding of the evolution of coastal ecosystems worldwide. Read more.