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Diane Shader Smith
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Feisty hummingbirds prioritize fencing over feeding
- Hummingbirds are fierce fighters, but also efficient feeders with tongues and bills well adapted to extracting every bit of nectar from a flower. Why, then, do the males of some tropical species have bizarre hooks, serrations and hard tips that defeat efficient nectar extraction? Using high-speed video, researchers have documented how these males use their weaponized bills to fight rivals for food and mates, and the trade-offs in choosing fighting prowess over feeding.
California’s Pet Stores To Only Sell Rescue Cats, Dogs And Rabbits
A new law requires all pet stores to identify the public agency, shelter or rescue group that the animals came from.
Easy ways families can use less plastic in the new year
You and your kids can make a difference in the fight against global plastic pollution. And it can be fun.
The real dirt: Choose fire resistant plants in ‘firewise’ lanscaping
In the wake of the devastating Camp Fire, thousands of Butte County residents are facing the daunting task of rebuilding their homes and landscaping their yards from scratch. They may be re-evaluating their landscapes and wondering if there are more fire resistant plants that can be substituted for those that burned.
The most gorgeous wildlife photos of 2018 shine a light on nature’s bizarre and wonderful beauty
Marsel van Oosten slipped and stumbled over logs, struggling to lug his camera gear through the verdant mountain forests of China. Undeterred, he pressed on, finally capturing a stunning photo of a pair of golden snub-nosed monkeys, an eye-catching shot that would win him £10,000.
A 4-inch salamander might stop Northern California dam project
A trio of tiny salamander species could mean big trouble for federal officials spearheading a controversial $1.4 billion project to raise the Shasta Dam in Northern California.
California Native Plant Society works to remove invasive iceplant on Sonoma Coast
The invasive plant carpets a significant swath of the landscape, choking out and killing native species and marring what otherwise is a gorgeous setting.
Ocean advocates, La Mer Maids, scour the sea for marine life and debris
A group of ocean enthusiasts would depart from Marina del Rey looking for whales, dolphins and other marine creatures commonly found along the coast in the Santa Monica Bay.
Big Bear Lake is home to a growing tourist economy and a small band of bald eagles. But for how long?
Tourists driving bumper-to-bumper up the mountain for a weekend in the snow. Bald eagles perching in scraggly pines and swooping down to feed on fish. Both are staples of Big Bear Lake — for now.
California Urged to Weigh Costs of Push for Clean Cars
Over the last two decades, California lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have teamed up to create some of the strictest clean air and energy standards in the world.