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nature

Portrait of birder Daniela Sánchez with binoculars on a birding trip.
How to find birds 'slowly' in national parks

Many people flock to birding because they love birds' beautiful plumage, their intricate songs, or their entertaining antics. For Daniela Sánchez, it was serendipity.

Parks Conservancy Identifying Native Plants
Membership Event: Native Plant Identification Hike
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Come join the Parks Nursery Staff for a spring wildflower walk. 

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A person collects seeds from bright pink wildflowers along a bluff with mountains in the background.
The great ‘treasure hunt’: Scouting seeds in the GGNRA

For Martine Glaros, it’s “like hiking and going on a treasure hunt at the same time.” Desmond Murray called it “needle in a haystack stuff.” 

Imagine finding a bloom in the park and going back weeks later when it’s no longer flowering, grasses and shrubs growing up around it, and…

Portrait of Khafre Jay, Founder and Executive Director of Hip Hop for Change.
Khafre Jay of Hip Hop for Change speaks on parks, nature, and inclusion

We connected with Khafre Jay, Founder and Executive Director of Hip Hop for Change and one of 13 individuals invited by the Parks Conservancy, NPS, and the Presidio Trust to join the Activator Council, to learn about his work and the importance of parks in his life.

Tamalpais Bee Lab macrophotography. Shown is a blue and yellow Osmia coloradensis.
Mt. Tam bees: We need you to 'bee' a park hero!

Thanks in part to the work of Tamalpais Bee Lab volunteers, we now know there are HUNDREDS of different bees on Mt. Tam. As these photos indicate, you never know what amazing, colorful bees you'll see!

Visitors examine information about incarceration on red and black panels around the new 'Big Lockup' exhibit.
'The Big Lockup' and more: New experiences at Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island is full of doors that lead to the past, and right now there are several unique and new experiences on the island to check out.

Western Pond Turtle Release
California’s only native freshwater turtle returns to Rodeo Valley Watershed

The western pond turtle hasn’t been observed in the Rodeo Valley Watershed since 1998. This year, the fourth year of a five-year reintroduction plan, biologists reintroduced 20 turtles to Rodeo Valley and 14 to Redwood Creek Watershed.

A monarch butterfly in nature.
Backyard BioBlitz: See the parks from wherever you are

In times of great uncertainty, reconnecting to nature and grounding yourself in the outdoors can be a calming practice. Here are a couple of suggestions on how to get started.

A teacher connected with her students via video for their trout release.
Teacher releases trout on video for students: Good news from the parks

A teacher connecting with her students virtually. Young people comforting each other through poetry and photography. Even some hilarious 1-star Yelp reviews can help comfort us all during these times. 

A volunteer uses plant shears to trim a bush along a trail
How do outdoor spaces influence mental health?

Ever wonder why you feel calmer, more focused, and happier when you take a hike outside?