Summer Natural History Courses at Merritt College
Almost every semester Merritt College of Oakland, California offers a couple of very informative natural history courses. These courses are mainly conducted in the field and give the student a very "hands-on" approach to learning. To anyone in the area that enjoys natural history of the Bay Area and would like to obtain some easy credits I highly recommend signing up for these courses. This Summer semester's line up includes:
Natural History of Mount Diablo: BIOL 60B
Class code: 31037
"An introduction to the natural history of Mt. Diablo: ecology, plants & animals, with special emphasis on plant communities and endemic wildlife."
Dates: 7/7 & 7/8 from 9AM - 6PM
Location: First meeting for lecture on July 7th at 9 AM : 860 Atlantic Avenue, Alameda, CA, Conference room. Then field trips to Mt. Diablo State Park.
Instructor: Dr. Hank Fabian
Natural History: Herpetology of the Bay Area BIOL 60C
Class Code: 31036
"An introduction to the natural history of the reptiles and amphibians of the Bay Area. Open to all who are interested."
Dates: Lecture 6/23 at 9:00AM. Field Dates: 6/23 & 6/24; 7/1 & 7/2
Location:Rendezvous and lecture: 860 Atlantic Avenue, Alameda, CA in the conference room. Field trips: (9AM - 6PM) TBA at lecture.
Instructor: Dr. Robert Macey & Dr. Hank Fabian
Natural History of the California State Parks: BIOL 60A
Class code: 31038
"An introduction to Bay Area ecosystems."
Dates: 7/14 & 7/15; 7/21 & 7/22
Lecture: 7/14/12 at 9AM
Field Trips: 7/14,7/15,7/21,7/22 (From 9AM - 6PM)
Location: Rendezvous at 860 Atlantic Avenue, Alameda, CA in the conference room. Field locations TBA at lecture.
Again, these classes are really cool and very informative. The fellow naturalists that sign up for these classes professional and amateur alike offer such a wonderful learning environment that it is an opportunity not to be missed.
To sign up for these classes please complete the application found at
www.peralta.edu
Click on "apply" and then "apply for admisisons."
Once you have submitted the application the next step would be to wait for the May 4th open enrollment, sign into your student account, and add the classes.
Contact information
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Hill Sun Cup (Tetrapteron graciliflorum)Observer
greenrosettasDescription
Not exactly sure on the location, but I am certain it was on Deer Flat Road.
Photos / Sounds
What
Northern Legless Lizard (Anniella pulchra)Observer
greenrosettasDescription
Yes, it is a lizard not a snake. These lizards sometimes referred to as glass lizards have come so accustomed to their sandy habitats that their legs have over the ages have evolved to indistinguishable nubs. Burrowing through the sand feeding on small invertebrates these lizards truly are an amazing feat of evolutionary specialization. What separates a legless lizard from a snake is their anatomy. Primarily snakes bone structures are differ from the legless lizard especially surrounding their skulls and jaws. to be continued...
Photos / Sounds
What
Northwestern Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata ssp. marmorata)Observer
greenrosettasDescription
BobPond @ Borges Ranch. An excellent place for herpetology.
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Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)Observer
greenrosettasDescription
I seen this bird at a wonderful nursery that I like to visit called the North Coast Native Nursery in Petaluma,CA. Operated by Dave Kaplan it's a wonderful place to find healthy, robust natives of all kinds different applications ( www.northcoastnativenursery.com ). The nursery is situated in the middle of a valley where during the spring the low grasslands become a sort of large vernal marsh. Driving up to the nursery there I found a pair of killdeers in the middle of the dirt road leading up to the greenhouses. Upon closer inspection I found that the pair of mating killdeers had built their nests smack dab in the middle of the dirt road. Eggs well hidden along side the gravel could be barely seen. I was astonished by the incredibly bold birds that would dare such a nest site. The pair would put on a broken wing display to draw the lumbering half ton vehicles up the driveway away from the nest. Each time tire treads coming within inches of crushing the ever fragile eggs. Either these birds were incredibly brave or stupid I could not tell. What I did notice that there was a mass of insects, tadpoles, small frogs and other tasty meals surrounding the nest site. Thankfully enough for the killdeer they are precocial meaning within a few moments from their birth they are walking around. A handy feature when you awake to the world in the middle of a road.
Photos / Sounds
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California Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis californica)Observer
greenrosettasDescription
California tortoiseshell on some poop most likely for the salts.
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Pacific Mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum ssp. tomentosum)Observer
greenrosettas
Photos / Sounds
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Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)Observer
greenrosettasDescription
Italian Honey Bee - Apis mellifera Ligustica
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Mount Diablo Jewelflower (Streptanthus hispidus)Observer
greenrosettasDescription
A beautiful little flower.
Comments
Natural history classes are critical as an approach to open understudies to the biological communities around us and the dangers that could devastate them. Finding out about nature assignment experts and seeing the excellence, all things considered, gives students a personal, enthusiastic association when they understand that our lives are reliant on the natural world.
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