Palo Alto Open Space

Don’t let this Cooper’s Hawk take you by surprise! This magnificent bird of prey uses the element of surprise while hunting. They quietly watch and listen, then will suddenly dash through dense vegetation to capture their next meal. Zipping though vegetation to catch their prey makes for a very dangerous lifestyle. A study conducted on more than 300 Cooper’s Hawk skeletons found that 23% showed old, healed fractures of the chest. ... Keep your eyes peeled for this warrior bird while hiking at your local preserve! #coopershawk #birdofprey #baylandsbirds #birdingwithsfbbo #paloaltoopenspace

The sunsets this time of the year are

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May your senses beware of the Red Cage Fungus This fungus doesn't need to rely on its eye catching color for it to be noticed. It belongs to the Stinkhorn family which explains its foul odor similar to rotting meat. The smell helps attract flies and other insects to disperse its spores. Aside from its bizarre appearance and awful smell, this fungus come out from what looks like an egg! ... Make sure to plug your nose if you dare to come close to the Red Cage Fungus. #redcagefungus #stinkhorn #fungi #mycology #naturaldecomposition #paloaltoopenspace

Here’s our turkey photo! Every morning we see dozens of turkeys feasting on the turf, and every evening they fly up into the same stand of oak trees to roost. What interesting creatures! Fun Fact: Turkeys are not native to California. They were brought here by folks that wanted to hunt them. #wildturkeys #cawildlife #wildlife #uplandgame #centralcoastcalifornia #bayarea #paloaltoopenspace #turkeyday