Monumental Questions - Even Better Birding in the Monument?!

Kristie Ehrhardt • February 11, 2026

You might already know that the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument (Monument) is a wonderland for birdwatchers. With a range of habitat types from aquatic, riparian, native grassland, oak woodlands, conifer forests to subalpine the range of species found in the Monument is staggering. If you prefer to break it down by county rather than habitat, western Colusa County boasts a birders paradise in Bear Valley and Lake County offers the shores of Clear Lake. Napa County showcases Quail Ridge Reserve and Lake Hennessey. Yolo County puts forth a plethora of hot spots including Putah Creek, Lake Solano, and the Cache Creek preserve which is home to Bald and Golden Eagles, Osprey and others! And, this is just a smattering of the treasure trove for bird nerds to enjoy in the nearly 345,000 publicly accessible acres of Monument.


But, how do you know where and when to go to see what? Even if you’re an experienced birder, it can be overwhelming to know where and when to begin. I know people that travel to different states to check birds off of their “life list”. I also know people, some of them are those same people, that travel all over the globe to get a glimpse of a rare bird - or maybe it’s just rare to someone from Sacramento. Either way it’s enticing and rewarding to be part of a community with a common interest. There’s almost a secret code between birders. There’s definitely a code to name abbreviations and a spiffy way to keep count if you’re recording them. There’s also a way to estimate the number of birds in a flock but if you’re just wanting to sneak up on a feathered friend near or far, how do you know where to start? 


Try downloading the Cornell Lab eBird app. The app lets you input your own findings as well as investigate other people’s observations. You can base your search on your location or use a near or far location that you’d like to go explore. Or, you can browse by species and see exactly where to go to find them.  The eBird app uses citizen science and operates similarly to the iNaturalist app, a favorite among biologists, naturalists and other interested folks. With the eBird app, you can contribute your sightings or even sound recordings to the community platform making it the largest birding community in the world. You can also create your own lists and have the app track them for you. 


The app not only makes birding more inclusive and interesting for individual birders but it is beneficial for the network of scientists as well. The combined data from the app helps conservationists understand how numbers of birds shift as well as aiding in developing genetic species distribution models that show where and when birds are in the region. This information helps develop and establish better conservation strategies for individual species and collective populations of birds.


The app is easy, fun and rewarding for novice and veteran birders, conservationists, scientists and ultimately the birds themselves. 

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Policy Corner: California's 30x30 Initiative

By Bryan Pride • February 11, 2026
In 2020, Governor Newsom committed California to an ambitious goal: conserve 30% of our lands and coastal waters by 2030. This “30x30” initiative isn’t just about setting aside more protected areas; it’s a comprehensive strategy to protect biodiversity, expand equitable access to nature, and build resilience to climate change across California’s diverse landscapes and waters. California has made meaningful progress towards the 30x30 goal. Currently, 24.4% of our lands and 16.2% of coastal waters meet the 30x30 conservation criteria, defined as areas that are durably protected and managed to sustain functional ecosystems and the diversity of life they support. But with less than five years remaining, we still need to conserve millions of additional acres to reach this critical goal. The Power In Nature Coalition No single organization can achieve 30x30 alone. That’s why Tuleyome is a proud member of the Power In Nature Coalition; a network made powerful by the collective work of over 250 community groups, conservation organizations, land trusts, and Indigenous organizations working together to conserve and protect the diverse landscapes of California. This statewide network coordinates advocacy, identifies priority conservation projects , and ensures that 30x30 implementation protects biodiversity, fosters meaningful relationships, and partners with state agencies and diverse communities. Power In Nature works on multiple fronts: defending conservation funding in state budgets, identifying potential 30x30 projects across California, and advocating for policies that support rather than undermine conservation progress. Power In Nature has multiple regional groups to elevate geographical priorities and empower local organizations to connect state-level policy to on-the-ground conservation work in their communities. Tuleyome’s Role in Advancing 30x30 At Tuleyome, our work protecting the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument directly contributes to California’s 30x30 goals. We’re actively engaged with Power In Nature’s Sacramento Valley regional group, as well as the Far North and Bay Area regional groups, helping coordinate conservation efforts across our region and connecting local priorities to statewide advocacy. Tuleyome has also participated in Power In Nature Advocacy Days, where we met with state elected officials to discuss policies and legislation that further or hinder the 30x30 conservation goals. How You Can Support 30x30 Whether you’re a landowner, community member, or fellow conservation advocate, there are many ways you can support 30x30 progress. There are multiple qualifying conservation lands that have not been added to the Conserved Areas Explorer and this is one of the many ways people can get involved to help track areas protected. If you’re interested in learning more about 30x30 activities in your region, check out the Power In Nature regional groups and sign up to attend monthly regional meetings or gain access to Power In Nature’s newsletter. Most importantly, through Power In Nature, you can make your voice heard by participating in local advocacy days or contacting your state legislators to encourage their support for full funding to conservation agencies and protection of environmental review processes. California’s commitment to conserve 30% of our lands and waters by 2030 is achievable, but only if we work together to make it a reality. If you have questions about how to get involved with 30x30 or Power In Nature, don’t hesitate to reach out! Bryan Pride Tuleyome Policy Director

Enjoying Outside! - Visit the Capay Valley Almond Festival!

By Kristie Ehrhardt • February 11, 2026
The Capay Valley Almond Festival has been a regional tradition since 1915. It showcases the Esparto/Capay Valley region and was originally held in the fall after the almond harvest was complete. Years later it was rescheduled to occur on the last Sunday in February to celebrate the almond trees while in blossom. The Almond Festival is the only local celebration that not only incorporates the dazzling landscape but it also honors five Capay Valley towns: Esparto, Capay, Brooks, Guinda and Rumsey. The 21-mile route along Highway 16 covers each town, offering their own unique ambiance and activities all while celebrating the almond bloom in Yolo County. You will also find local crafts, family fun, delicious food and other entertainment at each location. A bit about California’s almond history! Much like the European Starling’s initial introduction into the United States, the first attempt at almond production in California was not as glorious as anticipated. Almond trees were first planted in California as early as 1853 using European varieties that were not adapted for our climate conditions. Most of these subpar trees were either converted into other fruit trees or used for firewood. Even though the inaugural attempt wasn’t fruitful (haha, get it?), lessons were learned about cross pollination and where to plant the next go-around. Science happened and by the 1880’s other varieties were being cultivated and during the Citrus Fair in 1886, the two varieties that are still grown today were introduced. By the 1900’s cross pollination tactics advanced and were in place and our commercial production was on its way. This combined with the fact that almond trees were productive in soils that were too sandy for other fruit trees and could be prolific without the use of much artificial water, the crop finally seemed to be destined for success. During the twenty year span between the mid 1960’s and the mid 1980’s, irrigation methods advanced and became more available to land in the San Joaquin Valley, which held ideal conditions for almond production, creating a booming industry that still remains today. In 2020, 1.25 million acres of California were in almond production. We yield 2.8 BILLION (!) pounds of almonds which provides 100% of the United States commercial supply and over 80% of the world’s demand. Almonds are in the top five most valuable California exports bringing in almost five billion dollars.

Science Corner - Tule fog, what is it?

By Kristie Ehrhardt • February 11, 2026
Well, I can tell you what it isn’t. I recently watched the movie “The Mist”. It came from Stephen King’s brain which, not surprisingly, makes it a horror film. In the movie, a dense fog overtakes a small town in Maine following a violent thunderstorm. Inside the fog are icky, man-eating creatures. Several people end up trapped inside a supermarket as the fog surrounds the parking lot outside the glass doors. The film ends up being more about how people relate to each other and to their conditions while under duress, rather than what to do about the things inside the fog that’s keeping them held captive in a store filled with food, water and other essential items (doesn’t really seem so bad). The ending was very unsatisfying so if you’ve never seen it, maybe don’t bother. Anywho, back to our Tule Fog that doesn’t contain man-eating creatures but can still be a source of hazardous driving conditions and emotional strain if you like sunshine like I do. Did you know that there are several types of fog? They include: radiation, precipitation, advection, steam, upslope, valley, freezing and snow fog. Based on that list, you might have guessed that our Tule Fog is also sometimes called Valley fog. Tule Fog is a dense form of radiation fog that is caused when waterlogged air and the rapid cooling of ground surfaces intermingle; moisture condenses and clings to tiny particles like dust and pollutants and creates a dense, seemingly relentless layer of fog. Because the Central Valley is surrounded by two different mountain ranges, the Sierra Nevada on the east and the Coastal Range to the west, the fog blanket becomes trapped in the valley. The perfect storm for Tule Fog includes damp ground, cold temperatures, clear skies and little to no wind - pretty characteristic of our Mediterranean climate. This recipe allows the fog to dawdle, smothering the valley for days on end sometimes stretching into two or three wet and gray weeks. Can you tell I don’t like it very much? You know how California has many endemic species, meaning those things only occur here in California? Tule Fog is one of those things! In fact, it’s unique only to California’s Central Valley - that big, foot-print down the center of California, that extends about 400 miles from Redding to south of Bakersfield. Tule Fog is named for tules, also called bullrush ( Schoenoplectus sp.), the native aquatic vegetation that co-dominated the long since gone marshes of California’s Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys. Radiation fog occurs throughout the world but Tule Fog is considered a remarkable weather phenomenon with unique circumstances including intensity, distribution and geographic setting. Tule Fog can create near-zero visibility conditions by appearing rapidly and causing a sudden wall of white, reducing visibility to just a few feet, sometimes less than even ten. I once drove from Bakersfield to Sacramento on Christmas Eve enveloped by tule fog the entire 300 mile drive. It made a normally four hour drive into a stressful, soggy and cold eight hour drive following absolutely nothing but the white line on the shoulder of the road and white knuckles on the steering wheel. Recently there was a 43 vehicle pileup on Highway 58 near Bakersfield due to the Tule Fog and in January of this year there was a 150 vehicle chain-reaction pileup near Earlimart on Highway 99. The National Weather Service has published safety tips for driving in the fog : Slow down and allow extra time Only use your low-beam headlights, high-beams causes glare and makes it more difficult to see Use your fog lights if you have them Leave extra space between you and other vehicles to allow for sudden changes Follow the lines on the road if visibility is reduced to ensure you stay in your lane In extremely dense fog pull off into a parking lot and turn on your hazard lights. If there is no parking lot, pull as far off the road as possible, set your parking brake, turn on your hazard lights and turn off your headlights and take your foot off the brake so other cars do not mistake your position for the road and run into you. As much as I don’t like Tule Fog, there are benefits to it. It is an important part of our agricultural industry and seasonal climate. The presence of Tule Fog ensures that deciduous fruit and nut trees go through proper dormancy by providing the correct duration of cold temperatures at night (also called “chill hours”). Tule Fog also prevents frost damage by keeping the tree and ambient air temperature similar. Fog during daylight hours can shield a newly budding tree from the sun causing it to overheat and break dormancy. Fog also provides moisture keeping the ground moist, aids in orchard maintenance and regulates the climate by trapping heat at night and blocking the sun’s radiation during the day. All in all, thanks to California’s stringent air quality regulations and a reduction in pollution, episodes of Tule Fog haven’t been as intense or as frequent as in past decades. This is a good thing for people that prefer sunshine but less so for farmers.