Today's California Native of the Week is the California Sea Lion!
weareecosystemengineers.substack.com/p/california...

Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus - California Native of the Week

This week the California Native is the very pervasive Mule Deer. I'm also switching the schedules to posting on Saturdays and Sundays, because I got a new job!

I'm also trying out a poll, so be sure to vote what species you'd like to learn about next week.

open.substack.com/pub/weareeco...

ICYMI: Trans people's IDs in Kansas were revoked overnight. They are:
- Unable to drive
- Unable to fly
- Unable to leave the state on their own
- Unable to apply for work
- Unable to vote (Kansas has voter ID)
- Unable to apply for driver's licenses in *any other state* /1

This week's California Native of the Week is the Western Columbine. A little late this week, but glad to share their weird looking wildflower.

open.substack.com/pub/weareeco...

This week's California Native is the Sculpted Puffball! Read more about it below and I hope you enjoy my illustration!

open.substack.com/pub/weareeco...

A watercolor painting of a Turkey vulture. The painting has no background and is focused on the animal. It is perched with wings held out as if sun bathing. Its body is facing away with its head turned to face the viewer.

I've been hired by @birdsoftheworld.bsky.social as an illustrator through the Bartels program and I couldn't be more excited to start! This has been a dream of mine for years.

My Turkey vulture has been finished for a while so I am finally sharing that too! 🐡🪶🎨 #BirdArt

Trans people are welcome & safe with me.

I mean, yeah. Yes. Of course. Sometimes this image has felt a little ineffectual, but I’m not necessarily the one who needs to see it. 🏳️‍⚧️

A collection of six ominous bird valentines set against a background of pink hearts. In the first one, a Canada Goose looks angry and hisses and the text says "Baby, I'll make you fall head over heels if you approach within 10m of my nest." In the second, an American white pelican opens its mouth to eat the reader and the text says "There are plenty of fish in the sea, but I want this one." In the third valentine, a Black Vulture looks suspiciously at the reader and the text says "I will love you until you die. And after that, I'll love you even more." A Southern Cassowary stands proudly against the heart-covered background. The text says "My wattles are red. My head is blue. My deadly reputation has been somewhat overblown, but I'd kill for you." In the fifth valentine, a Northern Giant-Petrel stands open-billed next to a large brown furry object, and the text says "Let's seal the deal by sharing a 3000 kg elephant seal carcass." In panel 6, a happy-looking Bearded Vulture holds a bone in its beak, and the text says "I love every part of you, especially your bones."

Ominous bird valentines.

Going back to the fundamentals to improve my skills

A rabbit in overalls and a goat in pants are sitting on the ground drawing pictures. The rabbit is saying “ART POSES A THREAT TO CORPORATOLRATIC SYSTEMS BECAUSE A PURPOSE OF ART IS TO REMIND THE INDIVIDUAL OF THEIR INHERENT AUTONOMY.”, the goat adds “THEIR HUMANITY.”

Make Art (1/4)

Poster to fight against ai. Visualized is a cave painting inspired horse, with text that reads "art has always been accessible"

I hear a lot of people saying that ai makes art accessible.. well I personally think that's bullshit- so I made this to drive my point home.
#regalsart #illustration #fuckai #digitalart

Sticky Monkey Flower California Native of the Week

Haven't posted on Bluesky very consistently, but I want to more. For today here is the California Native of the week, my fifth post in a series where I talk about California Natives, where I've seen them, where you can find them, and some art:

open.substack.com/pub/weareeco...

I've been doing a lot of independent study on plant, bird and insect ID and it's mesmerizing being able to see that a field is a community of forbs and grasses. I was excited just last week for being able to distinguish between Oxalis and Trifolium. At the same time bird calls keep my ego in check.

What worries me with ice is that the public has no way of knowing if they are really ice. They have unmarked vehicles, wear masks, show no warrants or legal paperwork, no identification, and appear very unprofessional and violent. Anyone could be impersonating ice to terrorize our communities.

“Hope is often misunderstood. People tend to think that it is simply passive wishful thinking: I hope something will happen but I’m not going to do anything about it. This is indeed the opposite of real hope, which requires action and engagement.”

- Jane Goodall

Lately I've had increasingly growing feelings of loss and envy about the parts of the environment that have been stolen for the sake of "progress." Today I'm thinking about the sky. How do I connect with my ancestors who followed the stars to freedom, when I can't see them myself?

I started something new on my Substack: "California Native of the Week," where I'm highlighting amazing plant, animal, and fungal species native to California and where you might be able to find them. Each is paired with a drawing. This last week it was the Snow Plant. Stay tuned for next week.

The Roadless Rule is at Risk of being overturned. This is my Public Comment The 2001 Roadless Rule is at risk of being overturned, a policy that currently protects over 44 million acres public land from logging, fossil fuel extraction and development.

My public Comment:
open.substack.com/pub/weareeco...

#Savetheroadlessrule

Trump seeks to end Roadless Rule The GOP has sought to destroy the rule since its inception. Comment by September 19 to keep the rule intact and protect our national forests.

Great article by Paul Hormick: open.substack.com/pub/greendis... r=19t43g&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

The 2001 Roadless Rule is in trouble. Currently, it protects more than 50 million acres of US Wilderness from development and resource extraction. I’m encouraging anyone who sees this to write a public comment- due September 19th.

Learn more and comment here: morethanjustparks.com/save-the-roa...

Been reading Crossings by Ben Goldfarb and its perfect for this moment: morethanjustparks.com/save-the-roa...

Someone already mentioned it, but just wanted to add. This is AI generated. The chick's eyes are too close. The mouth shape of the adult is off, and the chick's beak tapers too much even for a baby.

I think you're right, among many other things, the baby's eyes are too close together and the bill tapers too much even for a chick.

Today's post debuted a new illustration of mine and the process I used to make it. Next week is the article!
open.substack.com/pub/weareeco...

Tansy Mustard Sweat Bee (Lasioglossum sisymbrii) - 07.29.2025 - San Jose, CA

Butterflies and Bug Catching Tuesdays Last Tuesday, I had a doggy playdate with one of my coworkers, and he let me drag him into my budding hobby: bug catching.

weareecosystemengineers.substack.com/p/butterflie...

Sandhill Skipper (Polites sabuleti) - 07.29.2025 - San Jose, CA

Grey Buckeye (Junonia grisea) - 07.29.2025 - San Jose, CA

San Jose, CA

Bermudagrass Stem Maggot (Atherigona reversura) - 07.07.2025