Edwards Air Force Base Environmental Management

Dr. Kelsey Leonard writes, We need maps by Indigenous Peoples, for Indigenous Peoples. Moreover, existing GIS ecosystems need to be designed in ways that support Indigenous data sovereignty and visibilityfor the benefit of all.

Birders in the Southern California area will sometimes get excited when they see a large soaring bird with a tag on its wing - and for good reason! Most of the ...wild California condor population is wearing a wing tag for identification while the species is on the road to recovery. But condors aren't the only birds that have wing tags, their smaller cousins, the turkey vulture, have also been a part of studies that requires individual identification through wing tags. So if you can't use wing tags as a means to single out a condor sighting - what other tools are there? For today's #FunFactFriday we thought we'd share some of the more pronounced physical differences between condors and turkey vultures, to better help field identification! First and foremost the main difference is size, California condors have a nine and a half foot wingspan, while turkey vulture wingspans come in at around five to six feet. California condors also have a striking white triangle on the underside of its wings on the leading edge of the wing, while turkey vultures have light grey feathers on the trailing side of their wings. Condors have a pink/orange head, while turkey vultures have a bright red head with a bone-colored beak. Too far away to see these differences? Well, you can always tell the difference while they're in flight! Condors' flight style is flat and steady, while turkey vultures have a flight style that is V-shaped and rocking. Lastly, you can always use probability; while there are an amazing group of folks working to get the condor population up to a sustainable level, there are still a far greater number of turkey vultures in the world (about an estimated 17,000 times more!) than there are California condors in the world. So if you see a large soaring terrestrial bird with a wing tag, take a closer look and hone your birding skills to see if you can identify which awesome vulture species (or other raptorial species!) you may have seen! Image courtesy of Santa Barbara Zoo

As California experiences a second consecutive dry year, today the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced an adjustment to its initial State W...ater Project (SWP) allocation for the 2021 water year. The department now expects to deliver 5 percent of requested supplies this year, down from the initial allocation of 10 percent announced in December. Initial allocations are based on conservative assumptions regarding hydrology and factors such as reservoir storage. Allocations are reviewed monthly and may change based on snowpack and runoff information. They are typically finalized by May. We are now facing the reality that it will be a second dry year for California and that is having a significant impact on our water supply, said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. The Department of Water Resources is working with our federal and state partners to plan for the impacts of limited water supplies this summer for agriculture as well as urban and rural water users. We encourage everyone to look for ways to use water efficiently in their everyday lives. Ongoing drought conditions require the coordination of federal, state and local agencies. Today, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates the Central Valley Project, is also expected to adjust its initial CVP water supply allocation accordingly. Yesterday, the State Water Resources Control Board mailed early warning notices to approximately 40,000 water right holders urging them to plan for potential shortages by reducing water use and adopting practical conservation measures. As a result of the persistent drought conditions, and in accordance with its permit for the long-term operation of the State Water Project, DWR has submitted a revised Drought Contingency Plan to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The plan provides updated hydrologic conditions and outlines areas of concern for the joint operations of the State Water Project and the Central Valley Project, water quality, and environmental impacts. To read more about DWR adjusting State Water Project allocations following a dry winter, please visit: https://water.ca.gov//March/SWP-Allocation-Update-March-23 #california #water #cawater

Take a sip of precious water and consider the myriad factors that drive the availability and consumption of safe drinking water. On #WorldWaterDay, we're sharing the work of UC Agriculture & Natural Resources colleagues who use a socioecological lens to understand this complex issue.

Did you know that Joshua trees can reproduce in two ways? They are pollinated by the one and only Yucca moth, but they can reproduce asexually as well. What doe...s this mean? Joshua Trees are able to produce clones of themselves by rhizomes, branch sprouts, or basal sprouts, creating a large network of Joshua trees. This is a crucial adaptation since seed production is periodic and rare due to environmental conditions such as rainfall or snow, which are needed for reproductive flowers and fruits. Photo: NPS / Alessandra Puig-Santana

Oceanographer and E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation board member Dawn Wright, PhD has been selected to the EC50. The Explorers Club 50: Fifty People Changing ...the World that the World Needs to Know About (EC50) was established to reflect the diversity of exploration, and give a voice to trailblazing explorers, scientists, and activists. Dr. Wright is the Chief Scientist at ESRI, creator of ArcGIS, the world’s most powerful mapping and spatial analytics software, currently supporting the Half-Earth Project Map. Learn more about Dawn Wight's pioneering career and read her work here: https://www.esri.com/about/newsroom/author/dawnwright/ #ExplorersClub #EC50 #EOWilson #Biodiversity #Spatialmapping

We compared changes in species occupancy and site-level richness of small mammal and bird communities in protected areas of the Mojave Desert using surveys span...ning a century. Small mammal communities remained remarkably stable, whereas birds declined markedly in response to warming and drying. Simulations of heat flux identified different exposure to warming for birds and mammals, which we attribute to microhabitat use. Estimates from climate projections are unlikely to accurately reflect species’ exposure without accounting for the effects of microhabitat buffering on heat flux. They found little change in mammal richness or occupancy but large declines across birds. They attribute these differences to differences in microclimate opportunities: Specifically, mammals can mitigate temperature impacts through burrowing, whereas birds are generally more exposed.

It’s no surprise that in the light of the pandemic, people are seeking more solace in the great outdoors. In times of stress, Mother Nature is one thing we can ...unquestionably rely on to remind us of our place in the world and help replenish our mind, body and spirit. While you may feel that a long road trip to faraway places is the only way to reap these benefits, studies show that even taking a walk around your neighborhood or visiting a city park is a great way to reset and it’s a great way to feel more connected to your own community. This article from Medical News Today details some inspiring statistics on how Covid-19 has brought us closer to nature. See more

It’s time to re-write the history books again folks.

Maybe people and wildlife aren’t so different after all. Researchers found humans and animals in an area often had similar foraging, reproductive and social behaviors.

Happy 136th birthday to Alice Paul. Ms. Paul was a suffragist, feminist, and founder of the National Woman's Party. Her work, and the work of many others, led t...o the passing of the 19th amendment in 1920. See what the National Park Service is doing to mark the anniversary of the 19th at: https://arcg.is/1aqeWL See more

Go green or go home... with these easy ways to be eco-friendly!

Our hearts are heavy tonight. General Chuck Yeager was a key part of the Golden Age of flight test and remains one of the names most associated with Edwards and... the high desert. He was a former Trustee of the Flight Test Historical Foundation and truly had the 'Right Stuff'. He will be missed. See more

U.S. President Biden signed a new executive order focused on tackling climate change. The order calls for the conservation of 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 and places a temporary moratorium on new energy leases on federal lands and waters.

Meet Nosoderma diabolicum, the diabolical ironclad beetle that can withstand compression of about 39,000 times its own weight! This beetle's unique body may inform engineers that use biomimicry to inspire design.

In two different experiments, when Red-winged Blackbirds heard the Yellow Warbler's alarm call, the former became more alert and aggressive. This is the first t...ime scientists have documented one species recognizing another's warnings for brood parasites. Learn how this ability may help Red-winged Blackbirds. See more

A healthy environment is linked to human health. Take a look at the connection of natural insect control and the transmission of mosquito borne disease.