Sonoma Land Trust

Ever wanted to see your name spelled out across the Earth? Thanks to the Landsat satellites, you can! Just type your name into the free interactive “Your Name in Landsat” tool and watch as letters formed from real satellite imagery of Earth’s surface spell it out in full.

Did you know you’re more likely to be bitten by a dog or be involved in a car accident than seeing a mountain lion, let alone being attacked by one? Learn more surprising facts from Dr. Quinton Martins in our latest Language of the Land webinar. youtube.com/@sonomalandtrust

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are like underwater nature preserves, where ocean life gets a fighting chance to recover. MPAs are central to the 30×30 conservation goal. Why are they so effective, and what do they actually look like? Read more: sonomalandtrust.org/enews/october-2025
NRDC

Fall’s raptor migration is in full flight! Unlike most birds, raptors soar by day making this migration one we can actually see. The Jenner Headlands is one of the best places in Sonoma County to witness it. Join a Hawkwatch by signing up for one of our outings or check out westcountyhawkwatch.com

On a calm October day, volunteer John Hibbard surveyed butterflies at Laufenburg Ranch. With coyote brush in bloom, the ranch was buzzing again—this late-season nectar is a lifeline for pollinators.

Photos: John Hibbard

California just took a big step for wildlife! 🦉🌱

With AB 1319, threatened and endangered species will stay protected—even if federal safeguards are rolled back. A powerful win for biodiversity and for the people who fought to give nature a voice. Thank you Nick Schultz for authoring AB 1319!

Cute coyote alert! We caught these playful pups on our wildlife camera at Little Black Mountain Preserve. Coyotes live in close-knit family groups, working together to hunt, defend their territory, and teach pups survival skills. Coyotes keep small rodent populations in check and clean up carrion.

Today, we pause to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Jane Goodall. Her courage, compassion, and unshakable hope showed the world that one person can spark a global movement for nature. Her voice lives on in every effort to protect wildlife, restore habitats, and care for our planet.

A new record night of migration for BirdCast! Migration intensity goes off the charts, again, with a new record night of migration intensity for BirdCast!

We’ve only crossed the “billion” threshold 1X before, in Oct. 23'. Last night, we rejoined the Billion Bird Night Club in spectacular fashion. Migration soared past 1.2 billion, marking the largest single night of bird migration ever recorded by BirdCast. Learn more: birdcast.info/news/a-new-r...

Across Sonoma County, water is on the move—and we’re working to keep it that way. Dive into the full story of how we’re restoring flow to Sonoma’s creeks, rivers, and wetlands—and why it matters for every living thing that depends on water (yes, that includes us). sonomalandtrust.org/enews/septem...

Today’s Autumnal Equinox marks the start of Fall! Shorter days, cooler temps & fuller streams cue creatures great and small to start their migration journeys. In Sonoma County, watch raptors over Jenner Headlands, whales and shorebirds along the Bodega coast & Chinook salmon throughout Sonoma Creek.

Earlier this month, our team headed to Cleveland for Land Trust Alliance’s Rally, the national land trust conference. It was great to engage with and learn from fellow land conservation orgs, Indigenous community leaders, scientists, policymakers, and more.

Our wildlife camera at Estero Americano Preserve recently captured a happy sight: a North American river otter. Once thought gone from much of the region, otters' presence in our waterways is a conservation success story and proof that conservation works!

How do we make barefoot-friendly beaches? By keeping our waterways and coastlines clean. Get out in nature this Saturday (9/20) at local Coastal Cleanup Day events:
🌊 41st Coastal Cleanup Day ow.ly/ob4a50WXOIN
🐟 Santa Rosa Creek Week ow.ly/PJUT50WXOIM
🦆 Fall Petaluma River Cleanup
ow.ly/bMGG50WXOIO

Thank you @asmdamonconnolly.bsky.social for helping us secure voter-approved Prop. 4 funds! Your continued commitment to nature will enable us to work on projects reducing the impacts of climate change! We're also grateful to you & Senator Blakespear for supporting AB 1083 addressing CEQA rollbacks

For beekeeper and nature lover Tom von Tersch, bees are more than honey-makers—they’re teachers. Supporting land conservation, he believes, is one of the most powerful ways we can protect pollinators and ourselves. Read more: ow.ly/gs7250WKz7K

The creek at the Sonoma Developmental Center is teeming with life again—minnows, critters, and native Coast Range Roach 🐟. A hopeful sign of recovery and a reminder of why we restore our streams and wetlands.

How do fuel reduction methods impact forest health and bird populations? Find out what a multi-year study revealed during our free Language of the Land webinar on Wed, Sept 16 at 7pm with ecologists Ryan DiGaudio, @pointblue.bsky.social and Ryan Berger, The Wildlands Conservancy. ow.ly/4Qg150WQx0p

@asmnickschultz.bsky.social
@ib2real.bsky.social
@asmmarkgonzalez.bsky.social
@carolinemenjivar.bsky.social
@senatorsrp.bsky.social
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SB 131 exempts highly polluting industries defined as “advanced manufacturing” from environmental review and mitigation. It'll have a devastating impact if the bill is not immediately fixed. Contact state leaders Sen. McGuire and Assembly Speaker Rivas, and your local reps to demand they #FixSB131.

Wildlife in Sonoma County faces growing challenges, yet hope remains. Acting together, we can make all the difference by protecting these wild beings and ensuring they thrive for generations to come. By joining us, you help protect their habitats, safeguard their future, and keep the wild alive.

Late-blooming wildflowers are making their grand appearance! In the dry oak woodlands, the Denseflower Rein Orchid can be found. Hooded Ladies’ Tresses sports bright white orchid blossoms that might be found at the Estero Ranch Preserve managed by our friends at The Wildlands Conservancy.

Please join us in welcoming Matthew Cadigan, our new Philanthropy Operations Associate at Sonoma Land Trust! He combines nonprofit experience with a strong background in database administration and a passion for mission-driven work.
Welcome, Matthew!

Every 4th Sat. of the month, our bilingual Familias al Aire Libre outing explores parks and open spaces for a fun day in nature. We recently explored Pinnacle Beach where kids cooled off, explored tidepools, and created a mini “aquarium.” It’s a joy to connect families with each other—and nature.

It’s that time of year: the summer migration of humpback whales along the Sonoma Coast! A group of volunteer naturalists recently counted more than 150 at Bodega Head! The whales are on the move, so if you want to see them this year, now's your chance!

🎉 Happy 109th birthday to the National Park Service! Our parks are part of what makes us American—places of beauty, history, and inspiration for all generations. Next time you visit, honor our parks by:
🌿 Packing out trash
🦉 Respecting wildlife
🚶 Staying on trails
🐾 Bringing dogs only where allowed

Calling all data scientists, cartographers, and map makers! Sonoma Land Trust is hiring a GIS Program Manager! This person will use cartographic and data analysis to produce maps for conservation planning, property research, communication materials, and more. Learn more or apply at ow.ly/AIEt50WJT7U

🔥 Wildfire season won’t wait. Why should Prop 4 funds?
CA voters approved Prop 4 to protect communities, reduce wildfire risk, and safeguard our lands. Now the Legislature is blocking those dollars.

📢 Call & email your Assemblymember: Tell them to push the Speaker+Budget Sub 4 to release the funds.

Word of the day: aposematic

Pipevine swallowtail caterpillars flaunt bright orange spots indicating they're not safe to eat. This vivid warning strategy is called aposematism. They make themselves poisonous by storing the alkaloid chemicals from the toxic pipevine plants in their bodies.

Did you know we have our own local raspberry in Sonoma County? Meet the blackcap raspberry, (Rubus leucodermis), a native cousin of the red raspberry, with dark, sweet-tart fruit that ripens in summer and provides a feast for birds, wildlife, and lucky hikers who find them.