It's official. The weather is perfect for getting outside. February's mixture of overcast and sunny skies, cool nights and warm days means the opportunities are endless! 

The desert is in bloom, the lagoons are full of birds, the fungi are fruiting, the mountains are crisp, and the beaches are (relatively) empty. Whether you explore on foot, by boat, from the comfort of your home, or from behind your binoculars, we hope your curiosity and love for nature grows.

If you want to know more about what you see, hear, or smell out there, you know where to find us.

Canyoneers Celebrate Their 50th Anniversary in 2023!
We are so proud of them (sniff).

It’s no secret hiking is one of San Diego’s favorite pastimes. Over 1,000 trails crisscross our county, and more than a dozen hiking books are dedicated to our region.

How did it come to this? We like to think the Canyoneers had something to do with it.

Originally named for Florida Canyon, the Canyoneers trail guide group formed in 1973 to connect city-dwellers with the native flora and fauna still thriving in Balboa Park. Fifty years later, the Canyoneers still offer something special and hard to find elsewhere in the United States: expert-led nature tours around the county completely free of charge.  

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Canyoneers by joining us on a guided hike this year.

See where they're hiking next

The Canyoneers program is made possible by a dedicated group of volunteer naturalists and program partner Subaru of America.

Nat Talk: The Secret World of Wildlife
Join us for a rare peek into wild animal research.

RSVP now

Where Did the ?? Symbol Come From?
Was it leaves, wings, flowers or shells?
In February, the symbol of the heart is everywhere. But heart organs aren't really "heart-shaped"... so what gives?

The origin of the ubiquitous heart symbol is cloaked in mystery—and the rest is natural history. Read about it on our blog!

Learn more

Looking to Get Some Fresh Air?
Here's some fun ideas from around town...

Now you can enjoy The Nat and spend time outside—on our rooftop patio! Nat at Night is back, every third Friday through May. See you this Friday, Feb. 17 after 5 PM for drinks, bites, galleries, and activities, all for half-price admission.

Got Fungi? On Saturday, Feb. 19, the annual Fungus Fair returns to Balboa Park. There will be live specimen displays, raffles, educational presentations, and art, fashion, culinary, and medicinal vendors. 

The Volcan Mountain Foundation is hosting an educational mushroom foray on Saturday, Feb. 25, a forest bathing event on Sunday, Feb. 26, and a forest feast with local edible plants on Saturday, Mar. 18.
The California Native Plant Society is hosting its annual Native Plant Garden Tour the weekend of April 1-2. Get inspired by over 30 homes, parks, and schools that are planting gorgeous native gardens. Tickets on sale now until Mar. 30. 

Robins are Rocking San Diego
Have you seen them yet?

American robins have invaded Southern California on a massive scale this winter! If you see a flock of birds flying overhead and hear this call—it's them.

In decades past, American robins reached San Diego as irregular visitors, but their numbers here have dwindled since 1985—until now.

Judging by the raw numbers from the annual San Diego Christmas Bird Count, this robin invasion is the third largest since we started counting in 1953!

Where are they coming from? —Likely the Great Basin and Rocky Mountain states. Why this year? —A lot of snow in those regions may be making life harder. Robins love to eat berries. Did some key plants back home fail to fruit?

Now that the robins are in San Diego, they are eagerly gobbling down fruits of ornamental trees and native shrubs like the toyon, which was probably their major winter food here before urbanization.

Before long, these nomads will move on, so enjoy them while they last! Learn more from the San Diego Union Tribune.

Learn more about robins