Open Space
What is That Turkey Vulture Doing?
Curious about turkey vultures overhead? This guide explains their kettling, feeding, and group behaviors seen across the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Wing-Spreading in Steller’s Jays
Wing-spreading is a type of social display by Steller's jays meant to ward off trespassers.
MeadowLarks Versus Horned Larks
The western meadowlark and horned lark look similar but belong to entirely different bird families and have distinct behaviors, songs, and appearances.
Interspecific Feeding: Why That Dark-eyed Junco is Raising a Cowbird
Dark-eyed juncos raising and feeding brown-headed cowbird juveniles are a common sight.
Blue Birds in the Santa Cruz Mountains
Here are the four bird species in the Santa Cruz Mountains that are predominately blue.
Western Fence Lizards
Western fence lizards are common in Silicon Valley, often seen basking in the sun. Their blue bellies and quick push-ups are signs of territorial display.
Plants That Don’t use Photosynthesis in the Bay Area
Some Bay Area plants survive without photosynthesis, relying on host roots or fungi for nutrients—including rare albino redwoods and striped coralroot.
Birds in Flight: Great Egret Versus American White Pelican
Learn how to tell the difference between a great egret and an American white pelican in flight by examining their size, beaks, wings, and flight patterns.
Identifying Poison Oak Through the Seasons: A Hiker’s Guide
Learn how poison oak changes seasonally, and distinguish it from Himalayan blackberry to hike safely year-round.
How to Tell Scrub Jays from Steller’s Jays
Scrub jays or Steller’s jays? Learn how to identify these birds along Silicon Valley’s trails by sight, habitat, and calls.
