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The Nat Blog

Ten Great Hikes for Summer

Posted: June 8, 2021

Summer sun can be lovely, but it’s sometimes a scorcher across San Diego County. Our Canyoneers recommend their coolest, and coolest, trails for this sunny season. Read more.


Just how do you find out how many of these dinosaurs lived on our planet? Scientists used the fossil record of T. rex and the principles of population ecology to estimate dinosaur demographics and the chances of finding an extinct animal in the fossil record. Read more.


Our collections registrar and entomology collections manager recently returned to The Nat after a nine-year hiatus and spent time exploring our extensive collection of marine invertebrates. Learn about what she discovered—or rediscovered—and how we are working to make the collection more accessible to other scientists and the public.   Read more.


La construcción del muro fronterizo ha afectado las especies de la región, pero ¿qué tipo de impacto? Necesitamos tiempo y datos para comprenderlo. Ahí es donde entran en juego el BioBlitz de la frontera e investigadores como la Dra. Sula Vanderplank.  Read more.


Construction of the border wall has impacted species in the region—but what kind of impact? We need time and data to figure it out. That’s where the Border BioBlitz and researchers like Dr. Sula Vanderplank come in. Read more.


Ten Great Hikes for Spring

Posted: March 14, 2021

Colors bloom and wildlife sings for spring across San Diego County. Our Canyoneers recommend their favorite trails for this warming season, when there are plenty of opportunities to stop and smell the wildflowers. Read more.


Calling all birders and community scientists! Between now and the end of July, we need your help observing nesting raptors in and around the Batiquitos Lagoon Ecological Reserve. This is a great opportunity to observe wildlife while helping scientists with important research and conservation work.  Read more.


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.


Ten Great Hikes for Winter

Posted: December 16, 2020

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.