Audible Mount Diablo

Biologist Malcolm Sproul explains how rare amphibians like the TIGER SALAMANDER and the RED-LEGGED FROG can survive on the dry east side of the Diablo Range.

From a series featuring Seth Adams, Mike Moran, Marguerite Patil, Adrian Praetzellis, Malcolm Sproul. Sponsored by Save Mount Diablo, Thomas J. Long Foundation, and Contra Costa Water District. Photos by Scott Hein and Bob Walker. Music by Phil Heywood. Production by Joan Hamilton, Audible Mount Diablo.

ORDWAY BARN The valley in this part of Los Vaqueros is not only rich in plants and animals; it contains reminders of the humans who once lived here, including (going backwards in history) a rich, brash"cowgirl" from San Francisco named Edith Ordway, the three Mexican cowboys for whom the watershed is named, and many, many generations of Indigenous people.

GRASSLAND Seth Adams and Malcolm Sproul suggest what to look for in Los Vaqueros Watershed's sprawling grasslands. Golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, Say's phoebes, grasshopper sparrows, ferruginous hawks—it's got them all.

From a series featuring Seth Adams, Mike Moran, Marguerite Patil, Adrian Praetzellis, Malcolm Sproul. Sponsored by Save Mount Diablo, Thomas J. Long Foundation, and Contra Costa Water District. Photos by Scott Hein and Bob Walker. Music by Phil Heywood. Production by Joan Hamilton, Audible Mount Diablo.

OAKS Valley, coast, and blue—learn all about them! And discover what sort of oak was most beloved by wildlife expert Gary Bogue.

From a series featuring Seth Adams, Mike Moran, Marguerite Patil, Adrian Praetzellis, Malcolm Sproul. Sponsored by Save Mount Diablo, Thomas J. Long Foundation, and Contra Costa Water District. Photos by Scott Hein and Bob Walker. Music by Phil Heywood. Production by Joan Hamilton, Audible Mount Diablo.

WILDLIFE We've lost a lot. The region no longer hosts what was possibly the densest population of grizzlies in North America. But places like Los Vaqueros are still big and well-connected enough to host a rich array of wildlife, including eagles, pelicans, and osprey.

From a series featuring Seth Adams, Mike Moran, Marguerite Patil, Adrian Praetzellis, Malcolm Sproul. Sponsored by Save Mount Diablo, Thomas J. Long Foundation, and Contra Costa Water District. Photos by Scott Hein and Bob Walker. Music by Phil Heywood. Production by Joan Hamilton, Audible Mount Diablo.

BEFORE THE DAM A new story of the region's history emerged when archaeologists found human artifacts that were almost 10,000 years old.

Featuring Seth Adams, Mike Moran, Marguerite Patil, Adrian Praetzellis, Malcolm Sproul. Sponsored by Save Mount Diablo, Thomas J. Long Foundation, and Contra Costa Water District. Photos by Scott Hein and Bob Walker. Music by Phil Heywood. Production by Joan Hamilton, Audible Mount Diablo.

Tired of hiking the same old places? Head out to the rugged hills and glorious views of Los Vaqueros Watershed—where the Central Valley, the Delta, and the Coast Range come together. It's a reservoir of plants, animals, and history (as well as a source of water for Contra Costa County).

Featuring Seth Adams, Mike Moran, Marguerite Patil, Adrian Praetzellis, Malcolm Sproul. Sponsored by Save Mount Diablo, Thomas J. Long Foundation, and Contra Costa Water District. Photos by Scott Hein and Bob Walker. Music by Phil Heywood. Production by Joan Hamilton, Audible Mount Diablo.

TESLA PARK A new law protecting a wildlife corridor near Livermore represents a BIG WIN for wildlife and climate. Presented by Save Mount Diablo. Photos by Al Johnson, Scott Hein, Joseph Belli, and Connolly Ranch. Music by Phil Heywood. Production by Joan Hamilton. Special thanks to Connolly Ranch and Rodrigue Molyneaux Estate Vineyard and Winery.

The BEACON on top of Mount Diablo began in the 1920s as part of a system of "lighthouses for aircraft." Charles Lindbergh was involved in turning them on for the first time. Diablo's beacon was turned off during World War II, and rendered obsolete by radar. But it was later re-ignited by Pacific Fleet Commander Chester Nimitz for ceremonial purposes and still burns brightly every year on December 7.

This episode is part of a series featuring Ken Lavin, Seth Adams, Robert Doyle, Michael Marchiano, Vincent Medina, and Cameron Morrison. Presented by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association in partnership with Save Mount Diablo and Mount Diablo State Park. Photography and video by Kendall Oei, Scott Hein, and Wally de Young, among others. Music by Phil Heywood. Production by Joan Hamilton.