Ano Nuevo State Reserve

Human Visits Raucous Beach Party

Northern Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas. Human visitors stand on a boardwalk that hovers only a few feet above seals. Photo credit to Madeleine Turner.

Cast of characters include Alpha males, handsome moms, and 'super-weaners.'

Año Nuevo Geology Walk, and Escaping Radioactive Death

Docent Jeff Phillips leads a Coastal Geology Tour at Año Nuevo State Park. To the south lies El Jarro Point, nearly the site of the largest nuclear power plant in California.

Geologic time, like climate change, is nearly impossible for us to get our heads around and really difficult to personalize. However, naturalist Jeff Phillips is giving it a shot.