News
San Francisco Tree Frog Update
Just below Bernal Heights the first higher elevation! Pacific Chorus frog was heard last week in a backyard where about 50 0r 60 tadpoles were planted last year. 
To highlight these conservation efforts, among others, and help address the amphibian extinction crisis (and because it's LEAP year) the San Francisco Zoo is holding a Year of the Leap Frog Celebration! For more information about the event, click here.
The Chorus frogs can now be heard online! During Saturday's lunar eclipse, Jim McKissock was able to make a video clip of what he calls "weird" frog calls in his El Cerrito pond, just as the moon was going into full eclipse.
"I've never heard this before and I don't know if this hasJim made a clip of normal mating calls the following night to compare with the previous night's odd intonations.
ever been recorded before. This is almost the entire
group making aggression or consternation calls at
once," Jim stated.
Click here to hear the frogs the night of the lunar eclipse.
Click here to hear the common frog calls, the following night.
First Ever Sustainable Gardening Award at San Francisco Flower and Garden Show
The first annual Sustainable Gardening Award was created by the San Francisco Botanical Garden Society (SFBGS) to recognize the finest in sustainable garden design at the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show. Judges will be considering the use of recycled, re-purposed, sustainably grown and sourced materials; the manner of assembly and climate-appropriateness; water usage; the educational message; and that maintenance can incorporate organic and sustainable methods.
Aerial Spraying for Light Brown Apple Moth
Ecology Center
Recently the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)
announced plans to conduct aerial spraying in the Bay Area to combat the Light Brown Apple Moth. Aerial spraying of the pheromone-based product Checkmate would begin in August.
Background information is given from the Pesticide Action Network as follows: "According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) "is an exotic pest that has recently been discovered in portions of the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. LBAM is a native pest to Australia and has been introduced into New Zealand, New Caledonia, Hawaii, the United Kingdom and Ireland. This moth can affect a wide variety of plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables." It was first identified in Berkeley, California in late 2006... In reaction, CDFA began by proposing use of chlorpyrifos and malathion -- two highly hazardous organophosphate pesticides -- to "eradicate" the moth. In September 2007, CDFA launched an additional measure: aerial application of pheromone-based products (two formulations of "Checkmate") over urban as well as rural areas of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, in an attempt to control the moth by disrupting mating patterns..."
To read the Pesticide Action Network's full statement, click here.
Click here to read the California Department of Food and Agriculture reports on the Light Brown Apple Moth.
Steelhead Get Annual Helping Hand
Alameda Creek Alliance
Two adult steelhead trout migrating through lower Alameda Creek in Fremont were netted and moved from below the BART weir, an impassable fish barrier, and moved upstream into Niles Canyon. This is the 11th consecutive winter the Alameda Creek Alliance has documented ocean-run steelhead in lower Alameda Creek. Alameda County has pledged to construct a fish ladder at the BART weir by 2010, so that steelhead and salmon can migrate past the barrier to more suitable cold water spawning and rearing habitat upstream.
To read the full article, go here.
Satyr Angelwing at Lobos Creek
Matt Zlatunich and Liam O'Brien spotted this Satyr Angelwing (Polygonia satyrus) during a butterfly survey February 11th, near the north reach of Lobos creek. Only the second recorded at the Presidio, the previous sighting was by Hillary Saunders at the Native Plant Nursery in June of last year.
Volunteer Opportunities
For more information, contact info, and
directions to natural areas go to the
Community Calendar on the Nature in the City website.
Wednesday February 27
Presidio Park Stewards
Presidio Nursery
Thursday February 28
Crissy Field Landscape
Lands End Stewardship
Friday February 29
Presidio Plant Patrol
Saturday March 1
Mt. Sutro Stewards
Buena Vista Restoration
Friends of Mt. Davidson
Presidio Park Stewards
Fort Funston Nursery
Friends of Lake Merced
Lands End Stewards
Presidio Nursery
San Bruno Mountain - Brisbane Acres
More Eco News and Events
ACT locally, ADVOCATE globally
Volunteer in an Eco-City this Fall!
Planet Drum Foundation is seeking volunteers for their Ecological City project in Bahia de Caraquez, Ecuador for anywhere from a month to five months during May-September 2008.
Work with their unique revegetation project, planting and maintaining native plants to reduce erosion and create habitats for birds and other animals. Join neighborhood efforts to learn and use ecological practices. Help in renewable energy development. Assist bioregional environmental education groups for children and adults.
Go to Planet Drum for background information and up-to-date reports on activities in Eco-Ciudad Bahia.
If you have questions or would like more information email Clay.
Biofuels: Energy, Food and People
Tuesday, March 13
7 pm - 10 pm
The Hillside Club
2286 Cedar Street
Berkeley, CA 94709
Through four speaker presentations and a dynamic Q&A session this upcoming free community event will explore the questions, concerns and myths of biofuels.
For more information, email info@econowusa.org call 888-326-6692.
Help for Salmon
SF Chronicle
The crown jewel of American rivers, the Smith River in Northern
California, has been given new luster with the purchase last week of the vast Goose Creek watershed. Goose Creek is one of the Smith's largest tributaries, a vital feeder to the Smith's pristine flows for salmon and steelhead. The Western Rivers Conservancy helped the U.S. Forest Service purchase a 9,483-acre parcel that encompasses the watershed and adds the land to the Smith River National Recreation Area....
Goose Creek is big enough to be called the Goose Fork of the Smith, and while the forest was logged virtually to water's edge in the
past, fishery scientists call it "an incredible fish stream" that will now be protected forever. "To bring back the state's salmon runs, the first priority is to protect the healthiest streams like the Smith," said Phil Wallin, conservancy president.
Click here for the full article.
2008 San Francisco Foundation Community Leadership Awards
The San Francisco Foundation 2008 Community Leadership Awards recognize individuals and organizations whose leadership has made a significant impact in their particular Bay Area communities. This work may confront societal or civic issues, address health or environmental concerns, or promote arts and humanities. Individuals and nonprofit organizations in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo Counties are eligible. Each year, they solicit nominations from across the Bay Area to recognize outstanding local leaders in the community. The deadline for nominations is 5 pm on Monday, March 3, 2008. Visit the Community Leadership Awards page to access the online nomination form.