Bay Nature Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Point Reyes National Seashore
June 25, 2012
What's so special about herds of tule elk, blooming carpets of goldfields, wide-open sandy beaches, colonies of breeding harbor seals, thick forests of bishop pine, and dramatic granitic headlands? They are several of the natural features at the Bay Area's most popular wilderness park, Point Reyes National Seashore, born 50 years ago with a signature from the pen of President John F. Kennedy.
Bay Nature Institute celebrates this milestone with the publication of Crowning Glories: Celebrating the Landscapes of Point Reyes, a 16-page insert in the July-September issue of Bay Nature magazine. The publication offers a unique introduction to the signature landscapes of this "island in time" on the western edge of the Bay Area, just an hour from downtown San Francisco.
Some of the Bay Area's most talented nature writers are assembled here, including award-winning natural science writer David Rains Wallace, Native American author Greg Sarris, naturalist (and Bay Nature blogger) Jules Evens, and naturalist and comedian Claire Peaslee. These writers pay homage to the biological richness of Drakes Estero and the raw beauty of the Outer Coast; share the tale of a Miwok outlaw whose ghost still haunts Tomales Point; and discover the subtle beauty of coastal scrub. Crowning Glories also features a centerfold map depicting the major habitats of Point Reyes, along with recommended hikes for exploring them.
"Crowning Glories" was produced with support from the Jiji Foundation and the Point Reyes National Seashore Association, and is being produced and distributed in partnership with the National Park Service. Other feature stories in the 72-page July-September issue of Bay Nature include:
Bohemia Ranch Goes Public—Sonoma's People-Powered Park: Read how a local landowner, two land trusts, and the local community came together over the course of two decades to preserve this beautiful and botanically significant Sonoma County gem.
Taming the Flames: Veteran Bay Area TV broadcaster (and park volunteer) Wendy Tokuda explores the East Bay Regional Park District's ambitious -- and controversial -- new plan to fight fire with fire to prevent a replay of the 1991 Oakland Fire.
The River Through Time: A tantalizing look at the past, present, and future of the Napa River, as unearthed by historical ecologist Robin Grossinger for his new book Napa River Historical Ecology Atlas.
Lessons From Mount Hamilton: New research done in the shadow of the highest peak around the Bay is teaching us how climate change is impacting our natural ecosystems and what we can do to help them adapt. Get the story from veteran environmental writer Glen Martin in the third in our "Dispatches from the Home Front" series on climate change in the Bay Area.
An Ecotopian Life: In one of the last interviews given before his death in April, noted Bay Area environmental pioneer and author Ernest "Chick" Callenbach talks about the genesis of his ecological worldview.
Cuckoo Wasps: The buzz on a gorgeous parasite.
Geometry in Nature: How to get kids excited about learning angles and shapes. Get them outside exploring the patterns in nature!
Launched in January 2001, Bay Nature is a full-color quarterly magazine dedicated to the informed and joyful exploration of the natural world of the Bay Area. It is available both by subscription and at bookstores, newsstands, and park visitor centers throughout the Bay Area. For more information, visit baynature.org.