Plug in to the Point Reyes National Seashore with new podcasts, videos, and more

Posted by admin on Mar 6, 2009

Whether you’re a natural science nut or just looking to learn a little more about your next weekend destination, the Point Reyes National Seashore’s online collection of podcasts, streaming videos, and other media will both fascinate and educate you.

The Natural Laboratory is a podcast series — created in partnership with the Pacific Coast Science and Learning Center  — exploring the biology, ecology, and geology of Bay Area National Parks.

Each four- to seven-minute episode explores how researchers are solving mysteries of the natural world in the Point Reyes National Seashore, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and Muir Woods National Monument, with topics including "White Sharks of the Northern Pacific," "Tracking the Coho Salmon," and coverage of "Park Science Day."

Also on the website are two- to eight-minute segments from the center’s 2004 DVD Science Behind the Scenery, available as medium- or low-resolution streaming Quicktime videos. Learn about the life cycle of northern elephant seals, the restoration of the Tule elk population, or the research being done at the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, off the Point Reyes coast.

Visitors to the site can also find links to a podcast detailing the Giacomini Wetland Restoration Project, as well as "Wild Sound Stories," six-minute streaming slideshows featuring the sights and sounds of wild Marin county.

After a little listening and learning, you’re bound to feel ready to hit the trails and see these sights for yourself. Load up your MP3 player, pack your hiking gear, and head out to the Point Reyes Hostel in the Point Reyes National Seashore for a peaceful weekend among rolling hills and rugged seashores.