October 19, 2025

Ear to the Wild: The Sound of the Surf at Drakes Beach

With the busy-ness of one’s day to day life it’s easy to forget how the rhythms of nature can sooth us. It’s good to take a minute to tune into this place, and to all the other creatures who live here at Drakes Beach, in Point Reyes National Seashore.

September 28, 2025

Ear to the Wild: The Belted Kingfisher - Gustav’s “Mechanical Bird"

In memory of Gustav Hobel. My friend Gustav and I used to live next door to one another on Sonoma Creek. The Belted Kingfishers would fly by, calling, with that ratchety kind of sound that they have in their voice. That’s why he’d call them the “mechanical bird.”

September 22, 2025

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Helen Putnam Park Trail Petaluma	Brush Creek Trail Santa Rosa	Howarth Park / Spring Lake Santa Rosa
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Rohnert Park Trail Rohnert Park	Joe Rodota Trail Santa Rosa / Sebastopol	City of Sonoma Trail Sonoma
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West County Trail Sebastopol	Prince Memorial Greenway Santa Rosa	Sonoma Valley Regional Trail Glen Ellen
Thanks to the Sonoma County Land Trust for support of this site.

Sonoma County Bike Trails

Environmental News

Ear to the Wild: The Sound of the Surf at Drakes Beach

Ear to the Wild: The Belted Kingfisher - Gustav’s “Mechanical Bird"

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Ear to the Wild: Adult Female Elephant Seal Sounds

Ear to the Wild: Musical Geophony at Sugarloaf

Ear to the Wild: Elephant Seal Pups at Drakes Beach

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Minute with Matt: Bay Laurel