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Events Click on image for more event information. You can also browse Webinar recordings here . Reservation Required How I Learned To Love Tarantulas/Evening Nature Walk-10 Saturday, October 19, 2024 Hike is FULL! Hike: Halloween on Devil Mountain Saturday, October 26, 2024 Reservation Required BioBlitz Hike 12- All Things That Begin with B and Beyond Wednesday, December 18, 2024 Reservation Required How I Learned To Love Tarantulas/Evening Nature Walk-11 Sunday, October 20, 2024 Reservation Required BioBlitz Hike 11- All Things That Begin with B and Beyond Wednesday, November 20, 2024 Reservation Required BioBlitz Hike 10 - All Things That Begin with B and Beyond Wednesday, October 23, 2024 Registration Required Webinar: Citizen Coyotes of San Francisco Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Reservation Required BioBlitz Hike 11- All Things That Begin with B and Beyond Wednesday, November 20, 2024 Debbie McKeown 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Location: Meet in front of the Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center (96 Mitchell Canyon Road, Clayton ) Join us in Mount Diablo State Park’s stunning Mitchell Canyon on an exploration for All That Begin with B and Beyond – birds, butterflies, blooms and more! We'll hike for about 3 to 4 miles with little elevation gain and enjoy nature's beautiful display along the way. Bring water, snacks, and binoculars if you have them. We ask participants who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 to please wear a mask. Presented by California State Parks Limited to 15 participants. Contact for information/reservations at onesuperhiker@aol.com Fee: $6 per vehicle/$5 for seniors - exact change only. Payable at the entrance to the Park by the stop sign. Contact: onesuperhiker@aol.com Leader(s): Daniel Fitzgerald, Naturalist

Reservation Required BioBlitz Hike 12- All Things That Begin with B and Beyond Wednesday, December 18, 2024 Daniel Fitzgerald 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Location: Meet in front of the Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center (96 Mitchell Canyon Road, Clayton ) Join us in Mount Diablo State Park’s stunning Mitchell Canyon on an exploration for All That Begin with B and Beyond – birds, butterflies, blooms and more! We'll hike for about 3 to 4 miles with little elevation gain and enjoy nature's beautiful display along the way. Bring water, snacks, and binoculars if you have them. We ask participants who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 to please wear a mask. Presented by California State Parks Limited to 15 participants. Contact for information/reservations at onesuperhiker@aol.com Fee: $6 per vehicle/$5 for seniors - exact change only. Payable at the entrance to the Park by the stop sign. Contact: onesuperhiker@aol.com Leader(s): Daniel Fitzgerald, Naturalist

Reservation Required BioBlitz Hike 10 - All Things That Begin with B and Beyond Wednesday, October 23, 2024 Daniel Fitzgerald 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Location: Meet in front of the Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center (96 Mitchell Canyon Road, Clayton ) Join us in Mount Diablo State Park’s stunning Mitchell Canyon on an exploration for All That Begin with B and Beyond – birds, butterflies, blooms and more! We'll hike for about 3 to 4 miles with little elevation gain and enjoy nature's beautiful display along the way. Bring water, snacks, and binoculars if you have them. We ask participants who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 to please wear a mask. Presented by California State Parks Limited to 15 participants. Contact for information/reservations at onesuperhiker@aol.com Fee: $6 per vehicle/$5 for seniors - exact change only. Payable at the entrance to the Park by the stop sign. Contact: onesuperhiker@aol.com Leader(s): Daniel Fitzgerald, Naturalist

Webinar Recordings listed by topic ( or see most recent ) A Natural Combination: Hunting, Conservation & the Choices We Make Webinar Recording Artist, writer, hunter and naturalist Christopher Reiger makes the case that, while not all hunters are environmentalists and not all environmentalists are hunters, there is a natural overlap that needs to be better understood and appreciated by both hunters and anti-hunters. To see more of Christopher’s artwork: https://www.christopherreiger.art . His work has appeared many times in Bay Nature magazine. Art: The In-Between: Ash-colored Silver Dog Tail, 2023 All About Lichen Webinar Recording Mount Diablo is a bio-diversity hotspot for all kinds of animal and plant life, but what about lichens? Cat Chang will share her interest in the tiny world of these fascinating partnerships of fungi and photobionts. We’ll take a look at what is found in the State Park and the surrounding areas. Bring your lichen questions! American Kestrel Webinar Recording Learn about North America’s smallest falcon, the American Kestrel . This colorful and intelligent raptor can be seen hunting in the open spaces around Mount Diablo. Researchers struggle to explain the steady decline of kestrel populations over the years, thus rallying the help of citizen scientists to raise nest boxes and contribute breeding data for national studies. Brian Richardson will share a deep dive review of this treasured bird of prey, along with nesting activity of local nest boxes. Annual Meeting of the Members - 2020 Webinar Recording This is a brief 30-minute meeting of the membership! We will update you on the current status of the park, what's open and what isn't. You'll get to hear about some of the great things MDIA has been able to do during the pandemic and what our plans are for the coming year including the 100th birthday of Mount Diablo State Park. We'll vote in some new board members and say goodbye to retiring ones. As a special thank-you for attending, we will tell you how you can get 30% off anything in our online store! Backcountry First Aid: What to do When You Must Act Now Webinar Recording In 2013, Terrie Arnold, a backcountry hiker extraordinaire, was swept downslope by a rockfall in the Eastern Sierra. Being a registered nurse with 25 years as a specialist in spinal cord injuries, she diagnosed her injury instantly: a lower leg fracture. With the aid of her three hiking companions, she extricated herself from the unstable, steep terrain and now makes it her mission to teach hikers at all levels about backcountry first aid. In this presentation, she inspires us all to learn how to respond when an emergency situation occurs in the backcountry. Birds of Mount Diablo Webinar Recording Birding and bird photography enthusiast Jerry Britten will present a slideshow of Birds of Mount Diablo. Far from an exhaustive overview, he will focus instead on a subset of birds including hummingbirds, spring warblers, some uncommon birds and some ID challenges. His presentation will feature sound recordings as well as photographs. Jerry is the President of Mount Diablo Audubon Society, and a volunteer property monitoring steward and hike leader for Save Mount Diablo. He has seen over 1500 species of birds, and photographed over 1100, on travels in the Americas, Africa, Europe and Asia. Butterflies of Mount Diablo Webinar Recording Join MDIA naturalist Michael Marchiano to view a cross-section of butterflies found on Mount Diablo winter through fall. View the photographs of outstanding nature photographer and naturalist Dan Fitzgerald and be surprised by the number of species that can be seen on the mountain, for those that take the time to stop and look. Learn interesting facts about butterflies from the "giant" Tiger Swallowtail to the "tiny" Pygmy Blue. Find out about our MDIA Butterfly Guide and (in the future when COVID restrictions permit) join MDIA leaders on a butterfly hike. California Naturalist Graduate Projects Webinar Recording This is a symposium showcasing Cal Nat graduates as they share their capstone projects. Dan Sandri, Harry York, Linda Kwong, and Tere Dixon completed some amazing projects for their class. Their projects cover a wide range of naturalist topics including the new wildflower guide, biking highlights up the mountain, a native bee guide, and a template for outdoor science education. Watch and enjoy the creativity and passion each person brought to their project. For more information about the California Naturalist Course for the Mount Diablo Region go to: https://calnat.ucanr.edu/Take_a_class/Las_Positas_College/ California’s Iconic Oaks and Their Many Relations Webinar Recording Oaks support more life forms than any other tree in North America, and California’s oaks are no exception. In a presentation filled with woodpeckers, woodrats, wood ducks, and many other organisms, author and naturalist Kate Marianchild will explain why oaks play such an important role in oak woodland food webs. She will talk about animals that rely on oaks for food, shelter, foraging substrate, and more, and oak mistletoe as a keystone genus. We’ll hear about the eleven functions of a gray squirrel’s tail, and we’ll marvel at the tiny wasps who bend oaks to their bidding. We will crawl with Kate through woodrat mansions, fight for breeding opportunities with acorn woodpeckers, and navigate through an oak with the third eye of the western fence lizard. Who could stay away? Cattle's Role in Conservation Webinar Recording Cattle's Role in Conservation: You will hear from Cari Koopman, Tim's daughter, about the role grazing plays in conservation. She will share the commitment ranchers have to being stewards of the land. This two part series will give you a good understanding of current ranching practices and help you to interpret the role cattle play within Mount Diablo State Park, on both private land and State Park land. Common Spiders of Mount Diablo Webinar Recording Step inside the world of spiders with Dr. Jack Fraser through his pictures and stories in this webinar from Mount Diablo Interpretive Association. You'll be amazed by the widely varied locations, eating habits, and defense mechanisms of these fascinating creatures, giving you a new appreciation for spiders and how to find them—not always where you expected! Coyote Behavior in the Urban Interface Webinar recording With local human/coyote interactions fresh in the news of late, this is a timely discussion. We will address urban coyote behavior and management and the delicate interface between humans and the most persecuted keystone species in North America. How education and understanding is the only way forward. Dinosaurs of Diablo (sort of) Webinar Recording Ancient mastodons, horses, camels, saber tooth tigers, bone crushing dogs on Mount Diablo….who knew? Lisa White, the Director of Education and Outreach at the UC Museum of Paleontology will share the amazing discoveries that have been uncovered in the Blackhawk Ranch Quarry on Mount Diablo. You will learn about the paleontological digs on this site and the amazing array of plants and animals that have been found on this unique locality since research began in the 1950’s. Discover Mary Bowerman Trail Webinar Recording Join MDIA board member and California Naturalist graduate Dan Fitzgerald as he takes you on a virtual tour around the Mary Bowerman Trail at the summit of Mount Diablo. There are over 125 wildflowers that bloom on the Mary Bowerman Trail! Dan will show you some of the ones he has photographed along the trail and the butterflies he has found using them. Fire on Mount Diablo Webinar Recording Join us for a fascinating discussion about controlled burns on Mount Diablo. You will hear about the history of controlled burns, the objective, how they manage them, what are the plans for the future, and how sites are selected. This is a timely topic as there is much discussion locally and nationally about this strategy for resource management. Presented by Mason Hyland, Senior Environmental Scientist and Christina Lew, Environmental Scientist at Mount Diablo State Park. Forgotten Landscapes of California Webinar Recording Laura Cunningham, an accomplished artist and author, presents this webinar. Cunningham’s life's work is at once a celebration of California’s past – its natural legacy of abundance and diversity – and of change. In A State of Change: Forgotten Landscapes of California Cunningham imagines what a prehistoric California must have looked like using research from history, prehistory, field work, and scientific illustration. Geology of Mount Diablo Webinar Recording John Karachewski, a geologist, hiker, bike rider and photographer will take you on a ride up Northgate and Summit Roads to see over 200 million years of geological history. Your front-seat journey takes you from ancient lava flows erupted on the seafloor thousands of miles away to modern landslides as you learn how Mount Diablo became the prominent natural landmark of Northern California. Geology of Mount Diablo: 2 New Publications Webinar Recording Highlights from Two New Publications on the Geology of Mount Diablo is presented by Greg Bartow. Greg discusses some brand new resources to help you understand the geology of the mountain. The first is an expansive book titled Regional Geology of Mount Diablo, California: Its Tectonic Evolution on the North America Plate Boundary. A second publication is Geologic Guide to Mount Diablo , a simplified guide in the form of a geologic trail map on one side and interpretive information suitable for the layperson on the back. Greg is Water Infrastructure Advisor, California State Parks and the editor of our new full color geologic map. Gray Foxes and Extinctions, Local & Global Webinar Recording In studying gray foxes for more almost two decades on the Bay near Palo Alto, Bill Leikam, known as "the fox guy," has good reason for his gentle but implacable statements about relentless urban development and the fast-paced loss of species across the globe. Foxes need wild lands, and so do humans. We know that, but not all humans see it that way. When Bill talks about fragmentation of habitat, we need only to think of all the hacked trails on and around the mountain to see exactly what he means. Where can the wildlife go to get away from us? Hidden Gems of Mount Diablo Webinar Recording Ever wondered why the top of Mount Diablo is inside a building? Have you seen the goldfish on one of our steepest trails? Ever visited the rock dam in Perkins Canyon? Steve Smith, President of the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association, will present The Hidden Gems of Mount Diablo, directing you to the stories and locations of some of the treasures on the mountain that might be a little less known but no less fascinating. Hiking Apps Introduction Webinar Recording Hiking applications for cell phones promise to navigate while hiking, suggest trails to get to a specific location, post reviews by prior hikers, and/or record a hiker’s actual route. These programs, when properly used, can be helpful navigation aids, but they also have limitations. The webinar includes live displays of the features of each of these applications and present hints when using hiking apps in the Mount Diablo State Park. Insects of Mount Diablo: Spring and Summer Webinar Recording This webinar covers some of the amazing lifecycles of the insects you can look out for on and around Mount Diablo. As we enter the beautiful season of Spring we look forward to seeing a burst of wildflowers and plant life, as well as witnessing the return of migrating birds and re-emerging reptiles. Much of the Spring activity we see on the mountain is based on the boom in numbers of insects. What are the colorful, fascinating insects we might encounter as we walk the trails of Mount Diablo in Spring and early Summer, and how do they interact with each other? Migration Cut Short: Local Trout and Salmon with Nowhere to Go Webinar Recording For millennia, the first rains of autumn have signaled the start of the annual run of Chinook salmon, also known as king salmon, in the Walnut Creek watershed. Steelhead and resident rainbow trout begin later, in the fall, winter, and on into spring. But since the 1950's, flood control concerns of fast-developing cities have spelled doomsday for these native fishes. In Mitchell Creek, for instance, the last sightings were in the late 1980's. The good news: restoration of Pine Creek, for instance, on MDSP's western edge, would be "relatively easy" according to our speaker, James Hale, known as Doc, a vertebrate zoologist who has spent 50 years studying the wildlife of the East Bay. Can we recover other creeks, and what would it take? Mitchell Canyon Birding Hotspot – Spring Migration Webinar Recording Spring in the East Bay outdoors means enjoying comfortable weather, looking at beautiful wildflowers, and greeting the colorful migratory birds flying up from further south that either settle here to find mates and nest, or stop briefly before continuing up north. Mitchell Canyon, on the north slope of Mount Diablo and lying within Mount Diablo State Park, is known by birders as perhaps the best place around to see this annual rush of feathered color and song. In this presentation you will see some beautiful birds, fascinating migratory maps and learn what we all must do to help Mitchell Canyon’s beautiful birds survive. Presented by Juan Pablo Galván Martínez (Mount Diablo State Park volunteer, Mount Diablo Audubon Society Conservation Chair, and Senior Land Use Manager for Save Mount Diablo). Mount Diablo State Park 100th Anniversary Webinar Recording This year marks the 100th anniversary of Mount Diablo State Park. To celebrate, we've created a film about the mountain's natural heritage and human history, featuring naturalists Ken Lavin and Michael Marchiano, Save Mount Diablo land conservation director Seth Adams, former East Bay Regional Park general manager Robert Doyle, East Bay Ohlone and co-founder of Cafe Ohlone Vincent Medina, and Mount Diablo State Park supervising ranger Cameron Morrison. Join an inspiring journey through the lands that sustain us close to home. Presented by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association in partnership with Save Mount Diablo and Mount Diablo State Park. Photography and video by Kendall Oei, Scott Hein, Wally de Young, Dan Fitzgerald, and Floyd McCluhan. Music by Phil Heywood. Writing, narration, and production by Joan Hamilton. Mount Diablo Survey Markers Webinar Recording The history of property mapping in California after it became a state in 1850 begins at the summit of Mount Diablo. The mountain’s prominence on the landscape made the summit the perfect location for early land surveyors to mark the starting point for a grid of lines that would be used to define property boundaries throughout most of northern California and all of Nevada. Surveying expert John Pettley will discuss the history and significance of the survey marks on top of Mount Diablo which are still in use by land surveyors today. Native Bee Guide to Mount Diablo Webinar Recording Join us for this webinar to celebrate the release of a new pocket guide, Native Bees of Mount Diablo. Author Dan Sandri, who is an avid naturalist and entomologist, has created this new carry-with-you book. Dan will share with you the development of the guide as he presents an interesting and lively webinar about the many species that make Mount Diablo their home. Native Bees of Mount Diablo Webinar Recording It is Springtime and native bees can be seen all over Mount Diablo: on the wildflowers, blooming shrubs and trees, and patrolling the trails of the mountain. Join entomology enthusiast and MDIA Board member Dan Sandri for a presentation about the native bees of Mount Diablo, and learn what these bees are doing. See tips on how to identify some of the most-common native bees found on the mountain, and hear about their life cycles and habits. How long do they live? What are the threats they face from predators, parasites and the changing environment, and what can you do to help them? Native Trees of Mount Diablo Webinar Recording Wildflowers are the divas of springtime, but the allure of our native trees extends through every season. Join us for a virtual stroll up Mitchell Canyon and indulge your inner druid as we share fascinating tidbits about Diablo’s dendritic darlings. How is climate change and habitat loss impacting our native trees? What tree was the original source of aspirin? Which is the “gasoline tree”? And which tree offers a goodly but inedible crop of “California pears”? We'll also share tales of early day botanical explorers who risked life and limb to learn the secrets of the trees. Native to Right Here: the plants, animals, and people of Tuushtak Webinar Recording In this 25-minute film premiere, Cafe Ohlone founders Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino lead a walk in the hills below their most sacred peak, Tuushtak, aka Mount Diablo. As they point out plants and animals along the way, they discuss Ohlone history, culture, and cuisine—and how we can all celebrate what is "native to right here." Vincent and Louis have graciously agreed to answer your questions following the premier. Sponsored by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association. Videography by Wally De Young. Music by Phil Heywood. Photos by Scott Hein, Arnold Joe, Cindy Roessler, Wally De Young. Production by Joan Hamilton. Newt and other Amphibians of Contra Costa County Webinar Recording With Winter rains come the filling of ponds and streams and the emergence of our local frogs, salamanders, and toads returning to their seasonal mating grounds. Find out which Amphibians live in our county and their role in the environment. Learn about the endangered species that live on Mount Diablo and how they survive our long hot summers. Maybe one or two live specimens will appear on your screen. Night Sky Above Mount Diablo on the Winter Solstice Webinar Recording Please join MDIA in looking upward to the skies. We will have an amazing presentation by Steve Jacobs, president of the Mount Diablo Astronomical Society (MDAS) and colleagues talking about the programs they conduct at the summit, and about how the winter solstice (December 21) will have an effect on humans, animals, and plants as we change the seasons. Join us for this fascinating program to learn about the sky above Mount Diablo and see some of the beautiful images of the night sky their members have produced. On Track for Excellence: Animal Tracking Webinar Recording Meghan Walla-Murphy is an expert tracker who lives in Northern California. In this presentation, her focus "is a blend of writing and environmental conservation with an emphasis on wildlife corridors and linkages," a core interest for all of us around Mount Diablo. We'll learn how to be fully present on the trail, open to all detail by walking slowly to note even the faintest tracks. She'll show us how to judge the number of individuals (pigs or deer, for instance), the weight, and, potentially, the gender. That'll take some practice, and February -- if we get more rain -- is a good time to put new tracking skills to the test. See her website here: http://www.meghanwallamurphy.com . Opossums: Misunderstood Webinar Recording Opossums are a small non-native mammal. It is North America's only marsupial and has an interesting physiology, such as a pouch to hold developing young, and a gestation period of 13 days. Opossums can be seen in both urban and rural environments, and have adapted new behaviors to live in an urban environment. Didelphis virginiana is considered a 'generalist' and has a loose set of cultural requirements that adapt to different habitats. These animals are generally misunderstood and viewed as aggressive. One reason for this view is because they hiss when threatened. Aggression is not an accurate depiction of it's behavior. Opossums are a part of our world, as we are a part of theirs. There is much to learn! Peregrine Falcons of Pine Canyon Webinar Recording Join Peregrine Team leader Staci Hobbet and Wally De Young for an up close and personal look at the Peregrine Falcons of Pine Canyon. You'll learn about this incredible apex predator and the remarkable success story of their reintroduction after local extinction; the mission of the volunteers known as the Peregrine Team; as well as a look at the struggles the Peregrine encountered this very season. Ranching History Webinar Recording Ranching History: This ranch has been run by the Koopman family since 1918 and has continually evolved practices to become a model of conservation ranching. You will hear stories of this ranching history from where it started, to what it has become today. Rare Plants on Mount Diablo Webinar Recording Join our experienced naturalist Dan Fitzgerald, as he takes you on a virtual hike from Mount Diablo's lower elevation to its summit and see what are some of the rarer and less observed blooming plants on the mountain. You will be treated to some stunning photos and a lot of insight about these plants as Dan travels the mountain in search of these rarer plants. Rat Poison Kills More Than Rats Webinar Recording Is rat poison our “new DDT”? Raptors are the Solution (RATS) will discuss the impacts on wildlife being caused by anticoagulant rodenticides in the food web. RATS will explain the effects of these poisons on birds of prey as well as on bobcats, mountain lions, foxes, and Pacific fishers, among many other animals, including domestic pets. We will discuss AB 1788, which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2021, and RATS’ legal efforts to better regulate these poisons, as well as alternatives to rodenticides, and what individuals and municipalities can do to help beneficial predators thrive and continue to provide us with their free, natural, pest control services. Rattlesnake vs Ground Squirrel: The Predator Doesn’t Always Win Webinar Recording Do you root for the underdog ground squirrel or the hungry snake? Armed with potent venom, a rattlesnake is not guaranteed to come away with the prey. Join Park Interpreter Sharon Peterson to explore surprising details of the relationship between rattlesnakes and ground squirrels. Reptilian Mount Diablo Webinar Recording What reptiles inhabit our open spaces? Snakes, Lizards and even a Turtle are found on Mount Diablo. Learn to recognize these fascinating creatures on the sky-island in the middle of Contra Costa County. Join us and find out about the unusual and rare reptiles that inhabit this natural wonderland. What are the true facts about the only venomous snake found in Northern California, the Northern Pacific Rattlesnake? Find out about, "Blue Bellies, Horned Toads, and Whiptails." Join Contra Costa Native, naturalist Michael Marchiano, who has studied and photographed these amazing animals since childhood as he shares his enthusiasm for these often maligned creatures. River Otters Webinar Recording River Otter Ecology Project is a research, education, and conservation organization founded in 2012 to support healthy watersheds for otters and all the rest of us. Please join us for Supporting Conservation, Otter by Otter , a deep dive into our Otter Spotter program, what it accomplished, to whom it matters, and where we’re headed. It is a fun, educational and interactive presentation filled with photos and video of those entertaining and important predators living and thriving in the San Francisco Bay Area. We’ll also talk about the importance of the very cool Contra Costa County otters, and how they’re supporting education and conservation. Rooted In Relationship: Art and Illustration Webinar Recording Artist, writer, and illustrator Christopher Reiger presents a survey of his artwork and illustration. Christopher is fascinated with natural history, conservation, and ecology, and his visual art and writing projects wrestle particularly with the human relationship to nonhuman animal species. Christopher lives in Santa Rosa with his wife and two young sons. STILL COOKING AT 90: The Rehab of the Mount Diablo Stoves Webinar Recording Mount Diablo's rustic stone grills are viewed as part of the landscape, but they are celebrities, the enduring product of a unique effort to improve the nation's parks during the Great Depression by President Franklin Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps, 1933-1942. On Mount Diablo, guided by expert stonemasons, the CCC used native stone to construct these monumental stoves, echoing the rocky beauty of the mountain. A talented and dedicated group of park volunteers are now rebuilding them with the tender loving care they deserve. The team members will tell us about their work as detectives and masons, and the characteristics of these historic monuments that are still cooking in their eighties and ninties. Sky Island Adventures Webinar Recording What do you get when you mix 3 experienced local Naturalists with Southeast Arizona and Southwest New Mexico in the height of monsoon season? Seriously Soggy Science Guys? Actually, yes… and much more: over 50 species of butterflies, 70+ species of birds, 100+ plants, 6 different toads, rattlesnakes, tarantulas, strange insects, a bear and much more. Join Dan Fitzgerald and Dan Sandri as they share their favorite photos from their adventures on the flooded roads with Michael Marchiano in 4 different mountain ranges and the lowlands that surround them. Spiders in Your Neighborhood Webinar Recording Spiders! Scary? Maybe. Cool? Definitely. Author Pat Stadille used to be terribly afraid of these eight-legged daddies, until he started learning more about them. Now spiders are his best friends. Once you hear about their silky skills, hunting habits, and generally shy and gentle nature, you might feel the same way. Learn about jumpers, wolf spiders, tarantulas, the “bird turd spider,” and, of course, the black widow. This much-expanded edition is bursting with new species and new spider science. Spiders in Your Neighborhood features detailed drawings and photos of the critters you’ll find, and sections on types of webs, how and where to discover spiders, spider anatomy, and common relatives. This edition also features guided science experiments for budding naturalists; and nature journalists will love Pat’s observation tips and drawing lessons. Grab a flashlight, your sleuthing kit, and join Pat “Spiderman” Stadille on a journey around your backyard that will leave you spinning with excitement. Tarantula Hawk Wasp Webinar Recording Lia Keener, Bay Nature’s events coordinator and contributor, will share a presentation about tarantula hawk wasps, their unique ecology, and their parasitism of tarantulas. This talk will provide an overview of the life cycle of these wasps, which are known to duel with tarantulas in the Bay Area and beyond. You’ve likely heard their characteristic weed-whacker-like buzz, on warm days during Bay Area summers, so tune in to learn more about these colorful and charismatic wasps. Tarantula Time on the Mountain Webinar Recording Michael Marchiano shares his deep knowledge of the tarantulas, why we mostly see them during these few months, which ones we see and what life is like for these gentle giants of the spider world. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about these fascinating spiders. The Fascinating World of Bats on Mount Diablo Webinar Recording Join Corky Quirk from NorCal Bats to learn more about the amazing flying mammals of your neighborhood. Topics include flight, echolocation, their importance to agriculture and other fascinating information. As a highlight of the program, you will view three species of bats native to the Mount Diablo area. Presented by Corky Quirk, founder of NorCal Bats, who has been working extensively with bats for almost 20 years. The Mystery of Masting in California Oaks Webinar Recording Masting—highly variable, synchronized seed production within a population of plants—is well known among oaks. How and why oaks mast, however, is poorly understood, despite the strong ecosystem effects that acorn crops have on populations of animals, both here in California and elsewhere. In this talk Walt Koenig, Visiting Senior Scientist at Cornell University, will discuss our attempts, by means of the statewide California Acorn Survey, to quantify patterns of acorn production by California oaks with the goals of understanding how trees synchronize their reproductive efforts and the interactions between acorn production and other life-history traits, both of the trees and the animals that depend on them. Tick Talk Webinar Recording One Bite Can Change Your Life Lyme disease is prevalent in Northern California, yet most practicing physicians don’t recognize the signs and symptoms of the disease. You have to be your own best warrior. Learn how to prevent tick bites, recognize the ticks that are prevalent in Contra Costa County and the disease they carry, and what to do if you are bitten. Carolyn Degnan, COO of LymeDisease.org will talk about the steps you need to know to protect yourself, your family and your pets from this debilitating disease. Carolyn is a longtime resident of CCC and has two daughters who were bitten in the San Ramon Valley. Both daughters contracted Lyme disease and multiple co-infections while hiking and trail riding. She has been a Lyme advocate since 2002 giving Lyme prevention talks to The US Forest Service, EBMUD, PG&E, Boy and Girls Scout troops, Fire Fighters, local service clubs, etc. Any question you would like to have answered during the hour can be directed to Carolyn at cdegnan@lymedisease.org .

Poison Oak Toxicodendron diversilobum A Plant to Avoid by Robert Smith Mountain News, January 1999 Daniel Fitzgerald This uncherished native plant of California, the botanical name of which is Toxicodendron diversilobum (an older botanical designation being Rhus diversiloba) , is a close relative of poison ivy, which is widespread in the eastern and central United States. The sap oil (urushiol) produces an allergic reaction in most persons who touch it. Regarding Califomia's poison oak, Dr. Glenn Keator writes in his Plants of the East Bay Parks (published by MDIA in cooperation with Roberts Rinehart Publishers, 1994): ​ "Poison Oak has earned for itself an indelible reputation; approach it always with care. Even those who have immunity may later lose it; better to be safe than sorry. Should you touch the twigs (even the bare twigs in winter) or leaves, rinse your hands immediately and wash with mild soap; this should remove oils. Remember to wash your dog if it has accompanied you, and wash your clothes as well." ​ "Despite the consequences of its toxicity, poison oak is an interesting -- even attractive -- deciduous shrub. Thriving on disturbance, it has ventured into a wide range of different plant communities, behaving in each one according to circumstances: near the coast it lies prostrate next to the ground; in bright light it forms a dense shrub; in shade it climbs toward the sun, often ascending thirty to forty feet up a tree." ​ "New growth is signaled in early spring by a flush of glossy reddish new leaves. By mid-spring, dangling chains of whitish-green flowers perfume the air, attracting bees for pollination. This perfume is harmless to humans and actually enhances many a spring outing. By summer, there are whitish berries the birds consume, and in fall the foliage turns brilliant red before falling. When leaves color up in summer, it's a sign that the dry period has stressed the shrubs, telling them it's time to lose leaves before they lose too much water. Out of leaf, poison oak may be identified by the long upright main branches with short, stubby side branches." ​ Since allergic reactions to poison oak are unpredictable, one should avoid contact with the plant, both leaves and branches. Anyone with known sensitivity who is hiking in infested areas may with to apply the preparation Ivy Block (which prevents the oil from being absorbed by the skin) before starting a hike, but usually long-sleeve shirts and trousers-plus due wariness on the trail are sufficient precautions. Urushiol is absorbed into the skin within minutes after contact, hence the recommended washing of affected skin after contact apparently has limited benefit. Redness and blisters appear after about 24 hours, and can linger for two weeks. Calamine lotion applied to itching, inflamed skin can have a soothing effect. ​ For more information, here are books (available in paperback) related to Poison Oak/Ivy: ​ Nature's Revenge: The Secrets of Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac, and Their Remedies , by Susan C. Hauser (Lyons Press, 1996) Gives a very reader-friendly presentation of relevant topics. ​ Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac, and Their Relatives , by Edward Frankel (Boxwood Press, 1991). Frankel discusses where the plant grows, its characteristics, and remedies for persons afflicted by it. ​ The Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac Book: A Short Natural History and Cautionary Account , by Thomas E. Anderson (Acton Circle Publish Co., 1995). Lots of scholarly research with sometimes surprising information about the plants and human allergic reactions. ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. BACK TO LIST

Cowell Cement Industry ​ Cowell and Its Cement Industry Author: Craig Lyon (Compiled from several references - 1997) Large Smokestack As one drives easterly on Ygnacio Valley Road across Lime Ridge northwest of Mount Diablo, scars from open pit quarry operations can be seen to the right of the road. To the left is a tall smokestack in an area that in past years was called Cowell but which is now part of Concord. This was the site of the Cowell Lime and Cement Company that produced Portland cement from 1905 to 1946. The cement plant was one of the largest employers in the area in the early 1900's. The rock was quarried in the Lime Ridge area and carried on a narrow gauge railroad, or by truck, to the Cowell plant where it was crushed, mixed with clay, and then converted to cement in roasting kilns. Sacked cement, which was marketed as "Mount Diablo Cement", left Cowell daily on the company's standard gauge Bay Point and Clayton Railroad, At Bay Point, the cars went on their way to other areas via Southern Pacific, Western Pacific, or Santa Fe railroads. Through the years farmers threatened to sue the Cowell plant over the air pollution which coated their vines and orchards with fine cement dust. The cement company built a 235-foot-high smokestack in 1934 in an effort to dissipate the dust into the atmosphere. Labor problems forced the plant to close in 1946. The plant was later torn down and the smokestack and quarries are all that remain of this once-thriving industry. ​ The rock quarried at Lime Ridge and used to make cement is called travertine, It is the same composition as limestone - almost pure calcium carbonate. The rock is hard, sometimes shows banding, and is colored a light tan by the inclusion of a small amount of iron oxide. Cave formations are formed from the same kind of material. The travertine at Lime Ridge formed, probably in fairly recent geologic time, from circulating waters carrying calcium carbonate in solution which came to the surface through a very porous sandstone called, by geologists, the Domengine formation of Eocene age (about 50 million years old). The water evaporated, leaving behind the travertine which formed a layer on top of the sandstone that originally covered an area 2.5 miles long and 0.5 miles wide and varied in thickness up to a maximum of 20 feet. The Domengine sandstone is exposed in the light-colored quarry faces and can also be seen in the large roadcut just east of the entrance to Cal. State Hayward. ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. BACK TO LIST

The Amphitheater ​ Frank's Favorite Hikes by Frank Valle-Riestra Reprinted from Mountain News, Spring/Summer 2009 ​ All of us who enjoy walking in Mount Diablo State Park have our own favorite destination, perhaps a secret spot which we visit now and then, where we find peace of mind and nature at its best. The topographic complexity of Mount Diablo shelters quite an array of such spots—possibly a hidden cascade on the Falls Trail, a favorite formation on China Wall, or the perennial display of JohnnyJump-Ups on the Bruce Lee Road. My own favorite secret spot is “The Amphitheater”. “The Amphitheater” is a unique phenomenon in Mount Diablo State Park. It is a large bowl formed by the vertical cliffs of Highland Ridge, with sides of enveloping sandstone strata tilted and eroded into picturesque outcrops, not unlike those in Rock City. The bowl bottom is a level area of deep soil supporting a growth of lush grasses and magnificent, centuries-old oak trees, scattered like isolated giant sentinels across the green sward. It is a pastoral scene of unmatched beauty, and on a quiet sunny day you can imagine ghostly images of dancing nymphs in the mottled shade of the huge overhanging limbs, a vision from Greek mythology. The magic of this secret spot is enhanced by its location, in the southeastern-most part of the Park bordering Morgan Territory Regional Preserve, an area much less often visited than the main peak. Chances are you will have “The Amphitheater” all to yourself. A relatively easy way to reach “The Amphitheater” is from the Red Corral trailhead. Red Corral is on Morgan Territory Road, just one half mile beyond the twin narrow bridges, in the direction of Morgan Territory Regional Preserve, or south. You cannot miss the corral on your left, as it is indeed painted red. There is very limited parking at the edge of the road; be sure not to block access to the two gates across the road from the corral. Start your walk at the left of the two gates, and follow the road straight ahead; posted “Morgan Creek Road”. The route takes you upward through a mature stream-side deciduous forest. Soon you penetrate a more open oak savanna where the road veers to the left. Here be on the lookout for a single-track trail on your right, Jeremiah Creek Trail. It is a delightful path that wends its way at the side of Jeremiah Creek, through an open forest typical of our coastal ranges. The gently rising route ends in a saddle of Highland Ridge, on the Old Finley Road. Take a left on Old Finley Road, and after a few steps, at another junction, follow the road as it veers off to the right and downhill. You will be treated to fine views of the Jackass Canyon wilderness below you and imposing Oyster Point beyond. After just a few minutes of easy walking, you will reach the first single-track trail on your left, the beginning of the posted Amphitheatre Trail. A short jaunt will deposit you in the middle of “The Amphitheater”, such a welcoming environment, to let you rest from your exertions so far. Find a sheltered spot for a picnic lunch, and afterward do a bit of exploring to discover any number of surprises. You might even scramble up one of the gentler sandstone formations for a bird’s-eye overlook. Photographic opportunities abound—if you find those nymphs, bring me a picture! The easiest way to return to your car is by retracing your steps. Should you prefer to see new things on the way back, however, why not complete a loop that will not take you all that much longer? Continue on the Amphitheatre Trail to its end at Crestview Road. This trail meanders below Highland Ridge, and its final climb to meet Crestview Road is quite steep, but not long. At Crestview Road turn left. Notice the spectacular views of Mount Diablo in profile and the distant delta region. Shortly you will reach the Highland Ridge Trail. Here make a sharp left and continue until you reach the posted “Morgan Creek Road” on your right, which you descend back to Red Corral. The loop is less than five miles, and your total climb is just under 1,000 feet. Figure on two-and-one-half hours of walking plus an hour in “The Amphitheater”. ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. BACK TO LIST

Mount Diablo Summit Building ​ ​ by Linda Sanford Reprinted from the Mount Diablo Review Summit Building | Ruth Ann Kishi The idea of having a museum or visitor center on the summit of Mount Diablo has been around for a very long time. In fact, even before Mount Diablo became one of California’s original State Parks those that visited the mountain top by stage, wagon and horseback commented on how great it would be to have a facility at the top of the mountain to interpret the spectacular view as well as the natural history of the mountain. Mount Diablo became a park in 1921. Administered by its own Mount Diablo State Park Commission, it was one of seven state parks created before the establishment of the California State Park System. The first State Park Bond Act passed in 1928. It was primarily through local interest and extensive lobbying by local groups that 1500 acres came into State ownership as Mount Diablo State Park in 1931. Many of the local interest groups that had been formed to support the acquisition of the park continued to be active supporters of additional expansion of the park and construction of facilities. One common interest shared by all of the groups was the construction of an interpretive facility on the summit of the mountain. Although there was strong support from the Department of Parks and Recreation, the entire country was in the midst of the Great Depression, so little, if any, chance for public funds existed for such a facility. However, while the Great Depression eliminated the possibility that the State would construct a mountain top visitor center, it also offered a unique alternative in the form of the federally funded Work Program Administration (W.P.A.) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (C.C.C.). Both of these programs put people to work and both programs were interested in constructing public projects such as parks, museums, roads, and public buildings. In the mid 1930s the Department of Parks and Recreation entered into an agreement with the W.P.A. to complete sketches, drawings and paintings for pictorial histories of several State Parks for use in visitor centers and museums. Although Mount Diablo State Park did not have a visitor center of a museum at the time, it was included in the project. The plan was to complete the exhibits first and construct the facility to house them at a later date. Exhibits planned for Mount Diablo included the “scientific series” and “historic series”; each exhibit consisted of small panels in watercolor, gouache, pen and ink, or pastels. The artists and support personnel for the project worked in studios at the federal art project in the old Agricultural Department building, a converted school on Potrero Avenue in San Francisco. An advisory committee was set up to assist the artists working on the projects. The committee consisted of a group of seven university professors to provide technical assistance and twelve local citizens from Contra Costa and Alameda Counties whose interest and influence in community affairs provided the necessary community support for the project. Dr. Bruce L. Clark, Professor of Paleontology at the University of California served as chair of the Mount Diablo Museum Project. By 1938 enough displays had been finished to furnish the old single-story stucco building at the summit. The stucco structure was on the summit site at the time the park acquisition took place in 1931. In the meantime, plans for a permanent facility at the mountaintop were being developed. The new building was to be constructed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) personnel living at the CCC camp on the south side of the mountain. Company 2932-V (World War I veterans) started work on the summit building in 1938. While plans for the new observation building were being finalized, a number of older structures were demolished and the area prepared for the new building that would house not only a viewing deck but also an aircraft beacon, a fire lookout, and the museum exhibits. The new building was constructed from sandstone quarried at Fossil Ridge on the mountain. Standard Oil of California donated money for the mortar, steel, and other materials need to complete the structure. Work on the new summit building came to a halt in 1940. The exterior of the building was completed, however, a serious problem with water leaks during storms developed during the winter months. Water would run through the mortar and sandstone into the interior of the building. Several attempts were made to solve the problem over the next several years. Although each solution helped, none seemed to totally resolve the problem. In the early 1950s, the Department of Parks and Recreation obtained several contracts to seal and complete the exterior of the building. The mortar joints were sealed and pointed, the observation deck roof was resealed, Gunite was applied to the interior of the building and the exterior of the building was sealed. However, even this did not make the building entirely waterproof. The work on the exhibits was completed by the W.P.A. in 1942 and the finished panels and displays were transferred to Contra Costa County’s Hall of Records for safe storage until the summit building was completed. When it became apparent that the leaks in the summit building would not be easily resolved, the displays were transferred to Mount Diablo State Park and stored at the recently abandoned Civilian Conservation Corps camp at Live Oak Campground. In 1951, after completion of additional efforts to seal the summit building, park employees discovered that many of the displays and paintings had been damaged beyond salvage by water, rodents, and dust. Those displays that could be salvaged were shipped to Sacramento where they were repaired and sent to other park units for use. The final blow for the summit museum came in 1956 when the temporary museum caught fire and burned to the ground. The displays were lost as well. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s interest in a summit building visitor center continued to come to the forefront; however, without the necessary leadership nothing happened. Then, in 1974, Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA) formed to promote public awareness of the cultural and natural history of Mount Diablo. The members developed a temporary visitor center in a portion of the old summit building, staffing it with volunteers and docents. As MDIA’s interpretive efforts grew they searched for ways in which the 40-year old dream of a museum and visitor center at the summit could be realized. In 1982, the California State Park Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding California’s parks and recreational opportunities, joined forces with MDIA to help raise the necessary funding for the summit building project. The next year, the Department of Parks and Recreation agreed to correct the water intrusion problem and prepare the structure for exhibits and displays. Daniel Quan Design of San Francisco developed the plans for the museum and visitor center. Installation of the exhibits was completed in 1984. Today, the museum and visitor center house exhibits including a topographic model of the mountain. Rotating displays of art and photography complement the permanent exhibits. In addition to the exhibits, there is a small gift center within the building. Outside the summit building, telescopes are mounted on the Mary Bowerman Interpretive Trail, a short walk away. On a clear day, the Sierra Nevada can be seen with the naked eye. If you look carefully, ancient marine fossils embedded in the sandstone walls can be seen along the stairway walls leading to the observation deck. The rotunda on top of the summit building is a reminder of Mount Diablo’s importance as a survey point. Sitting atop the rotunda is the old navigation beacon, lighted once a year on December 7 in memory of Pearl Harbor. ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. BACK TO LIST

Purple Spot Gilia, Grassland Gilia ​ Scientific Name: Gilia clivorum Family: Polemoniaceae (Phlox Familiy) Blooms: Mar - Apr Color: Blue-Purple Annual herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Mike Woodring ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Grasslands ​ Plant Communities of Mount Diablo State Park by Glenn Keator, Ph. D. (excerpted from MDIA's book, Plants of the East Bay Parks) Mike Woodring Few of California's grasslands and open places have been untouched by humans. Many were, before settlement, quite different communities that were altered deliberately or accidentally, in many cases by removal of shrubs and trees. The most altered open places are where western "civilization" has deliberately created agricultural lands for grazing, production of hay, and nonnative vegetables and fruits, and also for housing tracts. Although few such altered lands are directly considered, many parklands have areas whose past histories often reflect such treatment. Many of these are in the process of being reclaimed by native species yet retain an unnatural appearance. Such open places are what we call "disturbed", meaning there is little natural vegetation. Plowing, tilling, grazing, and burning have so altered the original vegetation that few native plants have survived. Instead these areas are home to plants we call weeds, escapes, and aliens. Weeds are natural here because they're designed to be opportunists, waiting for the chance to move in when land has been cleared. Our original grassland communities were dominated by perennial, native bunchgrasses -- clumped grasses that go dormant in summer but do not die. Hundreds of different kinds of annual, perennial, and bulb-bearing wildflowers occur between bunchgrasses, providing a magic carpet of ever-changing color from March through early June. Today, only a few such areas remain to remind us of the original splendor of these grasslands. The changes that most grasslands have undergone are dramatic. Whether grazed or ungrazed, managed or unmanaged, the majority of grasslands show the effects of the introduction of weedy, nonnative grasses and forbs. Some of these alien grasses and flowers were brought in by design, and others were introduced by accident -- often as contaminants of crop seeds (wild oats with cultivated oats, for example); as useful hay crops (alfalfa; sweet clover; red clover), as possible food plants (cardoon, chicory, fennel), or in ballast or bricks. Native bunchgrasses were generally more palatable than nonnative grasses; so as overgrazing progressed, the demise of these bunchgrasses was inevitable. Bunchgrasses were quickly replaced by annual European and Mid-Eastern grasses, including wild oats (Avena spp. ), foxtails (Hordeum spp. ), Italian rye (Lolium perenne ), bromes (bromus spp. ), and fescue (Festuca spp. ). Meanwhile, flowers with weedy characteristics and long-range dispersal strategies began to fill the spaces between grasses. The greater the grazing pressure, the more the "armed" weeds such as cardoons and thistles took over. Today, much rangeland has been degraded by pernicious, spiny plants like star thistle (Cantaurea solstialis ) and milk thistle (Silybum marianum ) or by poisonous plants like Klamath weed (Hypericum perforatum ). Most grasslands in our parks are at some stage between the extremes of weedlots and natural meadow; many are recovering to bunchgrasses and native wildflowers. But few will ever be completely free of the interlopers. New evidence suggests that light grazing may actually promote better wildflower displays by removing overshadowing grasses at the time of year when wildflowers are actively growing. Much remains to be discovered. One exception to our grassland story is grasslands on serpentine soils. Serpentine rock -- California's slick, soft, shiny bluish-green rock of metamorphic origin -- is notorious for its barren, nutrient-poor soils. Serpentine soils are low in essential calcium, high in toxic heavy metals such as molybdenum and nickel, and overly rich in magnesium, a needed nutrient that is nonetheless toxic in large quantities. Consequently, only certain specialized native flowers and grasses evolving over the eons, have managed to adapt to serpentine soils. Alien weeds and grasses are unable to grow here, so serpentine grasslands give us fine examples of bunchgrasslands in their near-original state. Meanwhile myriad species of wildflowers, including annuals, summer-dormant perennials, and bulbs, light up our grasslands in spring. Following abundant winter rains and the long, warm days of spring, floral displays explode upon the scene,wherever wildflowers can find a space between grasses. Some years the nonnative grasses get a head start, and wildflowers end up stunted; other years, wildflowers begin growth with or before the grasses and appear in vividly colored masses. Annuals adapt to California's summer-dry regime by dying when soils dry. Before this, however, they leave behind thousands of summer-dormant seeds. Perennials and bulbs use another ploy; they simply put their extra food and water into safe, underground roots or bulbs until the rains return. Since these subterranean structures are often several inches below the soil surface, they remain cool even during the hottest summers. Wildflowers belong to numerous families and come in many shapes and sizes, but most are white, blue, purple, or yellow: "bee" colors. (Bee eyes do not perceive orange and red.). Bees are our most abundant, prolific pollinators of open space. ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. BACK TO LIST

Creeping Snowberry ​ Scientific Name: Symphoricarpus mollis Family: Caprifoliaceae Blooms: Apr-Jul Color: Red-Pink Shrub Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​