One of the first tell-tale signs that you may be near a bird nest or nesting grounds is witnessing a mating display, which can be difficult to spot or hard to miss depending on the bird. For instance, a potential pair of red-tailed hawks will circle each other way up in the sky, making their iconic hawk screech (which you may recognize whenever there’s a bald eagle on TV), before the male does a series of showy dives, flight maneuvers, or even handing off prey to the female mid-flight, finally letting down his legs and touching her briefly from above. It’s less likely you’ll see smaller birds doing their displays, but it’s always a possibility!

It’s breeding season and with that comes birds searching for a place to nest and raise their hatchlings. If they’re a bird of prey or raptor, it will have to be a spot high up, close to the heavens, that they will call home for at least a month. The go-to tree would most likely be the eucalyptus tree, as they are abundant and are some of the tallest trees reaching up to 300 feet in height, and that can be found in canyons and open spaces. However, Eucalyptus trees are an invasive tree species, so where else could these San Diego raptors call home?

In celebration of Women's History Month a special highlight on the first female ecologist in California whose research in vernal pools still influences us today. 
(photo from Californiachapparal.org)

Dig a bit deeper into local ecology, and you’ll start to understand just what’s going on and why, over the course of a single day, upwards of three hundred palms needed to be airlifted out. 

In celebration of Women's History Month a special highlight on the first female ecologist in California whose research in vernal pools still influences us today. 

Nature is a resource, and like any must-have resource can be abundant in certain communities and scarce in another.

Mushrooms display a spectrum of characteristics standing tall above the lush painted moss below them, while delicate lichen adds texture and even more detail.

Moss is an ancient plant that has proof of its existence dating as far back as 450 million years ago.

With 2023 in the rearview, we also say farewell to our apprentices from the Fall 2023 Environmental Career Opportunity (ECO) Initiative program.

San Diegos homeless and at risk population to help restore San Diegos most valuable land.