All across the country, fall migration is slowing to a trickle as each species seeks out its winter residence. No matter even if there is not a great variety of species or a spectacle of numbers, birding in a different landscape is always intriguing.

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/autumnal-birding-in-san-francisco,430390

The city of Davis, Calif., passed an ordinance allowing a trap-and-release program to remove up to 40 aggressive wild turkeys in the area. One turkey, known as "Downtown Tom." forced several frightened residents to call police for help.

http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2016/11/03/Aggressive-turkeys-terrorizing-residents-of-Davis-California/8251478184910/

Some species of seabirds, including blue petrels, are particularly vulnerable to eating plastic debris at sea.

https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/why-do-seabirds-eat-plastic-answer-stinks

The best Black Friday deal around might well be far outside the mall. You can snag a free pass to one of 116 California state parks if you want to hike rather than shop on Nov. 25.

http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-tr-black-friday-free-pass-california-state-parks-20161116-story.html

Do bluebirds nesting in California's vineyards help grape growers by eating agricultural pests, or hurt them by eating insects that are beneficial? The researchers behind a new study found that bluebirds' presence is likely a net positive--and they did it by analyzing DNA in bird poop.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161123141730.htm

Some of you may know that I sit on the Board-of-Directors (a non-paying position) for the Earth Discovery Institute. We are one of the smaller non-profits in San Diego but we do amazing work getting public k - 12 inner-city school children into the outdoors and feature education through environmental hands-on stewardship (see below). We are currently trying to fund our next fiscal year so if you feel like donating to a worthy cause today and you're glad Black Friday and Cyber Monday are over. . today, 'Giving Tuesday' . . . is that day! Think globally, act locally! We are also involved in environmental rehabilitation (like planting cacti for endangered cactus wrens), river clean-ups, and removing graffiti from national ecological reserves (people actually spray-paint on boulders!) to name a few. If you don't donate to our cause today, I urge you to donate to a similar local cause today; small local organizations like ours will be vital in maintaining habitat through this next presidency . . . but I hope you give to us! We're worth it!

GivingTuesday

https://www.generosity.com/education-fundraising/explore-discover-inspire

California science curriculum shifts to hands-on learning.

Los Angeles Times | on November 5, 2016

http://m.sfgate.com/science/article/California-science-curriculum-shifts-to-hands-on-10595821.php

A wet autumn should continue a trend this year of improving habitat for Swainson’s hawks, western sandpipers and other migratory birds that arrive in the Sacramento Valley via the Pacific Flyway, a major north-south migratory route, each winter.

http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article117407598.html