The astronomical start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere begins on Sept. 22 with the autumnal equinox. With the sun directly over the equator, we will have equal hours of night and day. A full harvest moon follows on Sept. 26. The full moon closest to the equinox is always called the harvest moon, as it allows extra light for farmers to work in the fields.
What an incredible year for summer whale watching. Humpbacks seem to be lingering near the peninsula, where food remains abundant. They typically don’t feed in winter, instead living off their blubber. The species is also known for its musicality; males use song to attract females and inform other males of their presence. Their songs, which travel many miles through the water, are specific to populations and are modified over time.
Many species are feasting and adding weight to survive the coming winter. Black-tailed deer are scouting oak woodlands for this year’s acorn crop, and squirrels are gnawing down pine and fir cones to bulk up on the nuts.
The handcrafted nudibranchs created by Celeste Woo have returned to the Bear Valley Visitor Center for the winter.