Pick a pepper

(October 5, 2016) It may seem strange that peppers are grown on some of the Conservancy’s mitigation ground (see photo). But there is a reason. First is that the ground these papers were planted on normally supports alfalfa. And alfalfa is the preferre …

Long lines and leftovers

(September 20, 2016) That time of year again! Rice harvest is underway. Rice prices are at historic lows, but quality appears to be very good this year. This will be a nice harvest. The side benefit to rice harvest is rice that is lost to the harvester …

Floater

(September 12, 2016)  Here is a great shot that supports our contention that we now have Pacific pond turtles (formerly called Northwestern pond turtles) on all of the Conservancy’s managed marsh complexes. Photographed on one of the Conservancy’s pres …

Camo’d

(September 9, 2016)  Camouflage. These guys really know how to hide themselves. Today’s photos of Giant garter snakes on Conservancy preserves raise the thought about just how stealthy this aquatic animal can be. Here, one our stars weaves its way thro …

Hey you!

(August 31, 2016)  A handsome Red-shouldered hawk checks out Conservancy staff the other day. Fairly nice specimen, huh? I post this one not just to show the beauty of this creature, but rather, to simply say that this year more than ever, we are seein …

Snake-a-polooza

(August 2, 2016)  This year, we are seeing larger numbers of Giant garter snakes (Thamnophis gigas) than we’ve seen before in the Conservancy’s 17-year history. As one of the two “primary” Covered Species in the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan …