Creature Feature: California Quail

In California, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area encompasses 80,000 acres of land smattered along the north and south entrances of the San Francisco Bay and connected by the Golden Gate Bridge. To the south of the iconic bridge are 30,000 acres of steep, rolling hills of buildings, busy streets, snuggled Victorian era houses, and,…

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Field Frame Friday: Hot, Sweaty, Fieldwork Ready

Taking breaks and having fun is important in all professions, but especially in field work! Kirsten and Jon found that putting frozen Gatorade bottles on their foreheads and dubbing themselves ‘gatorade unicorns’ was the perfect way to take a break from looking for little fish in an urban waterway (above) and have a laugh in…

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Field Notes: Amped Amphibians

Growing up, I had a friend who was extremely outgoing, had boundless energy, and liked to take more risks than most other people I knew. I remember asking myself, “Where does all that energy come from? What gives this person such a confident personality?” Bold, confident personalities in people can make them seem like ‘go-getters,’…

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Field Frame Friday: Coming Out of Your Shell (Twice!)

Testudo marginata, the Marginated Tortoise, is the largest species of Mediterranean tortoise—although these tortoises start out tiny and humble! Like many other tortoise species the Marginated Tortoise is at risk of extinction in the wild. One component of this species’ conservation is the use of captive breeding programs. To provide the best conditions for new…

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