Going Big for Species

It is time to go big for our local endangered species. Go Big Year to be exact, or go extinct. It turns out that the San Francisco Bay Area's Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is home to more endangered species than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Park combined. That is a lot of life that needs protecting!

Enter the GGNRA Endangered Species Big Year Competition launched this weekend by my friend Brent Plater, a biodiversity crusader in a suit. See all 33 endangered species in 2008 and win a big prize. There are 11 plants, 6 birds, 3 butterflies, 6 fish, 4 mammals, one frog, one snake and one crustacean (a shrimp).

The Brown Pelican is on the list, one of my favorite birds on the planet. So graceful, powerful, and mysterious. The Steller Sea Lion is pretty stellar, the Northern Spotted Owl is wisely cool, and the Mission Blue Butterfly is a beauty. See the full list of 33 species and help them recover.

Check off creatures on your list during one of the free group exploration trips or venture out on your own. Not content to be a species counter and voyeur? Take action too. There are 33 conservation actions available, one for every species, including habitat restoration, walking more in lieu of driving, switching to green cleaning products, and the always-fun weed pulling.

Want to go big for our local threatened plants and animals?  You can sign up for the contest here and also make a donation via Nature In The City in the name of Big Year. The rain has stopped for now. The California Red-Legged Frog is my first target. I'll race you to the trail.  www.ggnrabigyear.org