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Upcoming Butterfly Walks
Butterflies of San Francisco Walk with Liam O'Brien at the Potrero Community Garden
Sunday OCTOBER 4
11 am - 1 pm
Probably the last chance this season to see several varieties of San Francisco butterflies hill-topping and nectaring. Learn about the butterfly life-cycle, to identify various species of our local lepidoptera, and how to plant for butterflies in your garden! $10-15 donation. Spaces are limited, please RSVP.
Butterflies of San Francisco guides will be available for purchase, to benefit Nature in the City!
Alemany Farm
Saturday OCTOBER 10
11 am - 1 pm
Alemany Farm has been called one of San Francisco's top 5 butterfly hotspots, by San Francisco Lepidopterist Liam O'Brien, who says, "I recorded half the butterfly fauna known from the county within two hours; many things come together to draw butterflies to certain places: topography, host plants, nectar and water sources -- Alemany Farm seems to have them all."
Butterflies of San Francisco guides will be available for purchase, to benefit Nature in the City!
Habitat Restoration in the Rain!
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Photo by Iris Clearwater |
Josiah Clark's first Golden Gate Park habitat restoration workparty, last Saturday, was met with unexpected rain showers, that aided the plants in taking root at their new home!
From Nature in the City Stewardship Coordinator, Iris Clearwater:
"We started the day off with a walk along Golden Gate park's chain of lakes, scouting for birds with Josiah Clark and several distinguished San Francisco birders. Then we met more volunteers on the green slope, alongside the buffalo paddock for an impassioned day working side by side to remove the invasive grasses, and replace them with native scrub and flowering plants that would both beautify the hillside, and help to increase habitat for San Francisco resident white-crowned sparrows, butterflies, and pollinators. We met great people and got a LOT done! Stay tuned for more opportunities to participate in increasing the habitat value for birds and butterflies at Golden Gate park!"
From Nature in the City Steering Committee member, Josiah Clark:
"White-crowned Sparrows, birders and even rain clouds appeared early Saturday morning and joined forces to create a new birding area along JFK at the Bison Paddock in Golden Gate Park. A huge and humble thank you to all of the volunteers who got up early and braved the rain and lightning to show up for this project...
We planted about three hundred native plants of more than a dozen species in two separate planting clusters that already get water. This relatively small planting will mean more breeding habitat for Nutall's White-crowned Sparrows in years to come...
More birding stewardship events to come next month so stay tuned and get involved!"
Urbia Adventure #2 Debuts at the Randall Museum!
Autumn commences with URBIA Adventure No. 2: Wayfinding at Rocky Mountain (a.k.a. Corona Heights!)
Special event
September 26th
Randall Museum
10 am - 1 pm
Please join the URBIA team and fellow explorers for a kick-off event in collaboration with the Randall Museum (with a special wildlife demonstration).
Check out this article published in the SF Examiner, all about Urbia!
Read more about Urbia on their website!
Twain's Frog & the Beautiful Serpent
Twain's Frog & the Beautiful Serpent
w/ Brent Plater & Dr Carlos Davidson
Friday OCTOBER 2
7 - 9 pm
Pacifica Community Center, 540 Crespi Drive, Pacifica
Join Brent Plater, Director of restoresharppark.org, and Dr. Carlos Davidson, Director of the Environmental Studies Program at San Francisco State University, to learn about the biology and ecology of the restoration proposal, and how Sharp Park can become a community-centered model for outdoor recreation and endangered species recovery including native plant habitat. More information available from Restore Sharp Park.
And check out this article, recently published in Terrain Magazine:
"As record budget cuts and layoffs hit home in San Francisco, there’s one constituency Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi and local environmental activists say has not been asked to sacrifice much: golfers. Now they may be asked to step aside for the sake of other critters who share the Sharp Park putting green."
State Park Closures - Not Definite?
SFGate
For the first time in the 108-year history of the California State Parks system, the governor still plans to close parks to balance the budget! Where are our priorities? - Nature in the City
"Neighborhood watch-style groups will have to do the work of rangers to prevent illegal activity in closed state parks unless voters approve a vehicle license fee or some other method is found to save the beleaguered park system, officials and park supporters said Tuesday.
California State Parks officials - who had planned to tell the public this week which state parks were going to be closed this year due to budget cuts - admitted Tuesday that the job of determining which parks to shutter is more complicated than they thought it would be."
There is still time to stop the closure list from ever happening, according to the California State Parks Foundation:
"Senate Bill 679 by Senator Lois Wolk (D-Linden) and Senate Bill 372 by Senator Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) are now awaiting signatures from the Governor before they can officially become law. Together, these two bills establish a new policy in state law - that there shall be no net loss of state park lands in California.
The Governor has until October 11 to sign or veto the bills, and is actively considering these among hundreds of other pieces of legislation sent to him in the last days of the legislative session. It is important that thousands of park advocates take the time to urge the Governor to sign these bills. Given all the budget actions this year that are undermining the state park system, these bills offer a critical opportunity to maintain the integrity of our world-class state park system.
Please take a moment TODAY to contact the Governor and urge him to sign SB 372 and SB 679."
Bill Securing Ongoing Revenue for Candlestick Point
SRA Approved by State Assembly
"Legislation that provides a stable funding source for the future operation and maintenance of San Francisco's Candlestick Point Recreation Area passed the California Assembly today. Senate Bill 792, authored by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) reconfigures the boundaries of the state park in exchange for tens of millions of dollars for the future operation of the park, which due to lack of funding could be one of 100 state parks proposed for closure next week. "
Read the full press release here!
Public Comments Needed for Alcatraz Energy Infrastructure Improvements
"The National Park Service (NPS) is soliciting public comments on a proposed project that
would replace Alcatraz Island’s diesel generators with renewable and grid-tied energy sources.
Proposed improvements include re-installing a submarine power cable that would connect
to the mainland electricity grid; and installing solar photovoltaic panels on the island that would generate renewable energy. Solar photovoltaic panels are being considered for both the Cellhouse and the New Industries Building roofs. A successful project would provide renewable and reliable energy to the island, substantially reduce Green House Gas (GHG) and other emissions, and meet current and future energy demands of operations and services on Alcatraz.
NPS is inviting the public to provide input regarding this project. Issues and concerns from the public, government agencies, and organizations will assist NPS in preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA). Public comments will be accepted until October 19, 2009.
Comments may be submitted:
• Online at GOGA's website,
• In writing at the public meeting,
• By e-mail to goga_planning@nps.gov,
• Or by mail to:
Superintendent
Fort Mason, Building 201
San Francisco, CA 94123-1307
Attn: Energy Infrastructure Improvements on Alcatraz Island/EA"
Consider Alcatraz's native bird breeding colonies when making your comments!
Read more about the project here.
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Volunteer Opportunities |
| Wednesday September 23 |
| Alcatraz Gardens Presidio Park Stewards California Native Plant Society @ Twin Peaks Redwood Creek Presidio Nursery |
| Thursday September 24 |
| Crissy Field Landscape Lands End Stewards |
| Friday September 25 |
| Alcatraz Gardens Presidio Plant Patrol |
| Saturday September 26 |
| Quail at Harding Park Alvord Lake Beautification Area A Landscape & Maintenance Presidio Park Stewards Fort Funston Corona Heights Grassland Lands End Stewards Presidio Nursery Redwood Creek Colma Creek |
| Sunday September 27 |
| Haight-Ashbury Native Plant Nursery |
For more information, contact info, and directions to natural areas go to the Community Calendar on the Nature in the City website.
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More Local Nature News |
Ken Burns Film Inspires Support for National (& State!) Parks
Ken Burns' new documentary, "America's Best Idea" (Sept. 27 to Oct. 2 on KQED), shares the stories of people who have protected our national parks. Learn how you can carry on this legacy. Visit ForOurParks.org for insider tips on enjoying the parks, free e-cards and downloadable wallpapers for your desktop or cell phone, details on volunteer opportunities, and ways to bring your loved ones into our family of supporters. And get a sneak preview of the film!
Support Fishing Regulation Changes for Alameda Creek
Alameda Creek Alliance
"The California Fish and Game Commission is proposing to change fishing regulations in Alameda Creek below the major dams (Calaveras, San Antonio and Del Valle) to protect anadromous steelhead and native trout. The new regulations would provide year-round closure of all fishing for areas downstream of these reservoirs, while continuing to allow catch-and-release fly-fishing (artificial lures, barbless hooks) in tributaries upstream of these reservoirs from the end of April through November 15.
Please consider signing your organization on to our letter supporting the regulation changes or send your own letter of support.
View the proposed regulations here.
The proposed adoption date is December 11 - there will be public hearings at the FGC meetings in Woodland on October 1 and November 5. Comments are due by November 5."