Nature Notes

If you would like to learn more about the plants, animals, ecology and other wonderful facets of Palo Alto's open space preserves, here are short articles explaining them. 

Learn about Beach Hoppers
Revision Date: 6/12/2007divider

Learn about the seven types of birds found at the Baylands
Revision Date: 6/12/2007
Learn about the Black Rail and the Black-Necked Stilt
Revision Date: 6/12/2007divider

Learn about the California Clapper Rail
Revision Date: 6/12/2007

On the Bay Trail in the Palo Alto Baylands - Discover where you can find Clapper rails, black rails and other rare birds and animals among the marshes near the Nature Center.
Revision Date: 6/7/2007

Learn about Diatoms, a type of algae
Revision Date: 6/12/2007

Learn about fishes common to the South San Francisco Bay
Revision Date: 7/13/2006

Learn about the plants and animals found within the sloughs, salt marshes, mud flats and shallow waters of the Baylands
Revision Date: 6/12/2007

A snapshot of the Baylands from Ohlone roots to the present.
Revision Date: 7/13/2006

dividerHarbor Seals
Learn about Harbor Seals found in the San Francisco Bay
Revision Date: 6/12/2007

Learn about microscopic crustaceans
Revision Date: 6/12/2007

Learn about Peregrine Falcons
Revision Date: 6/12/2007

Learn about preserving the Baylands habitat for wildlife
Revision Date: 6/12/2007

Learn about the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse
Revision Date: 6/12/2007

Learn about sharks of the South Bay
Revision Date: 6/12/2007

Learn about swallows
Revision Date: 6/12/2007

Learn about how tides affect the Baylands
Revision Date: 6/12/2007

Learn about the Water Boatmen, aquatic insects
Revision Date: 6/12/2007

Learn about the White-tailed Kite
Revision Date: 6/12/2007divider

Learn about pollution in the bay
Revision Date: 6/12/2007
Learn about wild ducks of the Baylands
Revision Date: 6/12/2007

Learn about Willets
Revision Date: 6/12/2007
divider
Learn about marine worms and nematodes
Revision Date: 6/13/2007
divider

 

Learn about birds of prey in Palo Alto foothills
Revision Date: 9/23/2010divider

Learn about bobcats
Revision Date: 9/23/2010

Learn about the Columbian black-tailed deer
Revision Date: 9/23/2010divider

Learn about the coyote
Revision Date: 9/23/2010

Learn about creeping creatures of the woodland floor
Revision Date: 6/12/2007

Learn about migratory ducks and other birds
Revision Date: 9/23/2010divider

Learn about ferns of the foothills
Revision Date: 9/23/2010

Learn about the role of fire in the foothills of Palo Alto.
Revision Date: 7/18/2012

Learn about fish in Boronda Lake
Revision Date: 9/23/2010

A list of the most common birds found in the Palo Alto foothills.
Revision Date: 11/26/2016

History of land that became Foothills Park
Revision Date: 9/23/2010divider

Geology of the Santa Cruz mountains and Foothills Park
Revision Date: 12/2/2016

Learn about the Grizzly Bear and its history in Palo Alto foothills
Revision Date: 9/23/2010

Learn about some of the food plants used by native people
Revision Date: 9/23/2010

Learn why some trees lose their leaves
Revision Date: 9/23/2010
Learn about lizards in Palo Alto foothills
Revision Date: 9/23/2010

Learn about mammals in Palo Alto foothills
Revision Date: 9/23/2010

Learn about mountain lions in Palo Alto foothills
Revision Date: 9/12/2014

Learn about many of the "Wildland Jewels" or mushrooms of the foothills
Revision Date: 9/23/2010

Learn about the California Oak Moth
Revision Date: 9/23/2010

Learn about pests found in Foothills Parks and other locations in Palo Alto
Revision Date: 9/23/2010

Three plant communities of Palo Alto foothills
Revision Date: 9/23/2010

Learn about rattlesnakes
Revision Date: 9/23/2010

Learn how World War I came to the foothills
Revision Date: 9/23/2010

Learn about shrubs of the foothills, includes a partial list of the most common found
Revision Date: 9/23/2010

Spring wildflowers of the foothills
Revision Date: 4/11/2015

Summer flowering plants, includes a partial list of common summering flowering plants in Palo Alto foothills
Revision Date: 9/23/2010

Learn about swallows in Foothills Park
Revision Date: 9/23/2010

Learn about the tarantula
Revision Date: 9/23/2010

Learn about the native people of area
Revision Date: 9/13/2014

Learn about ten common trees of the foothills
Revision Date: 9/23/2010

Life zone information on the three plant communities of Palo Alto foothills
Revision Date: 9/23/2010

Learn about the effects of weather on living things in Palo Alto foothills
Revision Date: 9/23/2010

Learn about wild pigs in Foothills Park
Revision Date: 9/23/2010divider

What happen to all they leaves, limbs and trees that fall?
Revision Date: 9/23/2010

Learn about the Dusky-Footed Woodrat an its nests you see in the foothills
Revision Date: 9/23/2010