Journal archives for February 2021

February 5, 2021

February 4, 2021 - South Side

February 4, 2021 (Thursday), 9:55 am - 1:15 am
Coverage: Aldercroft Road to stop sign

154 dead newts.
1 teeny (30 mm) live juvenile, right on the double yellow stripe. Video: https://www.facebook.com/100002287230089/videos/3610263519059854/

No other roadkill.
Nothing in the pit traps. Had a nice chat with HTH Emily.
Weather: Sunny, low/mid 50s, no rain for several days.
Traffic: 21 vehicles, no pedestrians.

Posted on February 5, 2021 02:20 AM by anudibranchmom anudibranchmom | 1 comment | Leave a comment

February 11, 2021

Obscuring my tidepool observations in SF Bay Area counties

A sad decision. It may not help as much as other more tangible measures to stop the widespread taking/destruction of the local reefs that began in early 2020, but I don't want my personal iNat observations to assist tech-saavy foragers in any way. For now, this means Mollusks in San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties only and genus Cancer crabs statewide.

Yes, it will now look like some tidepool creatures were seen miles inland. Sorry about that... If this affects your conservation project, and you need the precise locations of my observations, please message me privately, I'm happy to help.

:-(

Posted on February 11, 2021 11:58 PM by anudibranchmom anudibranchmom | 12 comments | Leave a comment

February 15, 2021

Massacre in Another Santa Clara County Location - Sunday, 2/14/2021

Some of you might be interested to know that today I discovered another high-newt mortality area in Santa Clara County. I went there for birding, but after the first few bodies, I thought I'd better document it instead. I walked up and back along the ~1.5 mile stretch of Gilroy Hot Springs Road between the Henry Coe SP parking lot at Hunting Hollow north to the bridge where the road ends. It is very similar to Alma Bridge Road in that there's a steep cliff on one side and a body of water (Upper Coyote Creek) on the other, but the road is flatter and there are fewer vehicles, even on a Sunday. And yes there are squashed Buckeyes and many piles of fox scat on this road too! The reward at the bridge is seeing a bunch of live newts swimming around.

128 dead newts, many fresh, left in place in case someone else is studying them
3 live newts helped across
4 dead Western Toads
Only 8 vehicles
36 bicycles

Posted on February 15, 2021 05:43 AM by anudibranchmom anudibranchmom | 7 comments | Leave a comment

February 18, 2021