California’s Wild Crusade

Sunset view of blooming Santa Cruz Island buckwheat (Eriogonum arborescens). Endemic to Santa Cruz Island. Channel Islands National Park. Coastal sage scrub habitat, also called chaparrel. Mediterrainan climate zone.
Botanist scales a giant redwood to check sensors at the tree’s crown.
Great bason bristlecone pines in the White Mountains, CA.
A volunteer released a red-shouldered hawk for a migration study.
A blizzard of Ross’s and snow geese flying over a marsh.
California sea lions rest in warm light of sunrise at Goldfish Point.
A patch of carnivorous cobra lilies growing in serpentine soil.
Candleholder live-forever plant (Dudleya candelabrum) on a canyon wall seem to beckon pollinators. Endemic species to California. Endemic to the Northern Channel Islands only. Channel Islands National Park.
A silhouetted duck landing at twilight in water near a seated duck.