Joseph Belli

My book is out! It’s a monthly account of a year inside the condor program at Pinnacles NP. If you’re curious about what it’s like to restore California condors, this book is for you. Wonderfully illustrated, 40+ photos, all proceeds go to the Pinnacles Condor Fund!

bellij.substack.com/p/be-free?r=... Latest Substack: Latest Condor Release at Pinnacles, New Album Update, Song of the Week: “Dead Flowers,” Townes Van Zandt.

bellij.substack.com/p/bobcats-at... Latest Substack: California’s Bobcat Policy, Monster Tacos, Song of the Week: “Champaign Illinois,” Old 97s.

bellij.substack.com/p/the-big-po... Latest Substack: My old pond friend, the Renaissance Faire comes to Pacheco Pass, Music Update, Song of the Week: “When the Truth Comes Out,” Kathleen Edwards.

bellij.substack.com/p/bear-minim... Latest Substack: California Whiffs on Grizzlies, Capital Punishment Snafu, Song of the Week: Bright Eyes “Laura Laurent”

Mantis on the side of the house today.

substack.com/@josephbelli... Latest Substack: A rant against my birthplace, Of birds and bats, Song of the Week: “Total Entertainment Forever,” Father John Misty

The Confluence bellij.substack.com/p/the-conflu... Latest Substack: Revisiting childhood memories of frogs, Song of the Week, "Carl Perkins' Cadillac," Drive By Truckers

bellij.substack.com/p/newt-and-s... Latest Substack: Newts & garter snakes: a toxic relationship; Mountain Lions in the news; Song of the Week: “Song for You,” Gram Parsons.

substack.com/@josephbelli... Latest Substack: A Monarch Sighting, New Scrooge Movie, Song of the Week: “If it Makes You Happy,” Sheryl Crow.

Interesting encounter at a nearby pond. Saw a snake with a California newt in its jaws. Newts are highly toxic, but garter snakes have evolved some immunity. That said, the snake released the newt after 10 minutes and the newt appeared in good condition. Fascinating!

bellij.substack.com/p/psycho-kil... Latest Substack: The Psycho Killer Era, Running Robots, Goodbye Dolly, Song of the Week: “Hurdy Gurdy Man,” Donovan.

substack.com/@josephbelli... Latest Substack: A Condor Homecoming, The Neighbor From Hell Moves On, Song of the Week: “L.A. Freeway” Guy Clark.

bellij.substack.com/p/feeding-fr... My latest Substack: A Condor Feast, Men’s Hands vs Women’s, Song of the Week: “House of the Rising Sun,” Victor Demange

California condors feed on a coyote alongside Pacheco Pass Highway. I counted 26, including one (1217) we hadn’t located in over two weeks.

substack.com/@josephbelli... Latest Substack: A Sick Bat, Headlight Conundrums, Song of the Week: “One Headlight” Wallflowers

substack.com/@josephbelli... My latest Substack: Fire Season, The man who invented Corn Flakes, Song of the Week: “Cornflake Girl,” Tori Amos

substack.com/@josephbelli... My latest Substack: An ant invasion, Stop Messing with the ESA, Song of the Week- “Buddy Holly,” Weezer

substack.com/@josephbelli... My latest Substack: A Frog on the Porch, Frankenberry Stool, Song of the Week: Linda Ronstadt, “You’re No Good”

open.substack.com/pub/bellij/p... My latest Substack: Condors in San Martin, RIP David Clayton-Thomas, Song of the Week: “Wichita Lineman” (live), Jimmy Webb

substack.com/@josephbelli... Latest Substack: A surprise visitor, Rebutting the Shut Up and Sing crowd, Song of the Week: The Ghost of Tom Joad, Bruce Springsteen with Tom Morello (Live)

Two year old condor #1301 perched on a snag in Harvey Bear County Park east of San Martin. There were three wild pigs carcasses nearby that condors had been feeding on.

substack.com/@josephbelli... My latest Substack: In praise of the Blenheim Apricot, a most undeserving trillionaire, Song of the Week: “Rockefeller Drug Law Blues,” Felice Brothers

Foothill yellow-legged frog, San Benito River above Hernandez Reservoir.

substack.com/@josephbelli... My latest Substack: Tule elk, Peanut Butter cup consternation, Song of the Week: Pretenders “I Think About You Daily “

open.substack.com/pub/bellij/p... My latest Substack: the joy of cover boards, Richard Dawkins’ leap of faith, song of the week “Blues for Baby and Me” Elton John.

substack.com/@josephbelli... Latest Substack: Goodbye to an amazing condor, Scooby Don’t, Song of the Week: Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show

substack.com/@josephbelli... My latest Substack: Bison get screwed, an update on the new album, and James McMurty with the song of the week.

open.substack.com/pub/bellij/p... My latest Substack: A look at Old Pacheco Pass Highway, Rebuking AI, and The Delines with the Song of the Week. Check it out!

substack.com/@josephbelli... My latest Substack: San Joaquin Coachwhips, You Say Poop I Say Shit, Song of the Week: Paolo Nutini

substack.com/@josephbelli... My latest Substack: To love the land, The downfall of Cap’n Crunch, Oreo psychology, Hayes Carll & Bonnie Whitmore, Song of the Week.

substack.com/@josephbelli... My latest Substack: A prominent peak, Oreos, and the Wallflowers Song of the Week Check it out!

Young condor 1262 launches himself from the ground to the top of the observation blind at Pinnacles, my second home. Note the sound as he lands! Also, this window is one-way glass: I can see him but he doesn’t see me inside.

substack.com/@josephbelli... My latest Substack: A hermit for the ages, Trump steps in it, Makin’ Records part 3, Song of the Week: Eleanor Rigby

open.substack.com/pub/bellij/p... A haven for red-legged frogs, Looking for condor #1308, Makin’ records part two, Song of the Week: Richard & Linda Thompson’s “Wall of Death.” Follow/Subscribe! (No MAGA, please)

substack.com/@josephbelli... My latest Substack! Read the April Fools post written by an OCD-adjacent biologist who’s spent a little too much time in the observation blind at Pinnacles…..

California condor #943 perches atop the flight pen in Pinnacles National Park, dwarfing the turkey vulture beside him.

Long-nosed snake, Pinnacles National Park

substack.com/@josephbelli... My latest Substack: Getting scammed twice (!), A reflection on the world’s most obsessive art thief, The Monkees revisited.

open.substack.com/pub/bellij/p...

open.substack.com/pub/bellij/p... My latest Substack: Where did all the swallows go/ The ShamWow guy resurfaces/ RIP Neil Sedaka/ Crushing on Suzanne Vega/ Mavis Staples Song of the Week

Two condors mating atop a boulder in Pinnacles National Park. Both are female and are part of a trio involving a male.

Four condors circling overhead at Pinnacles National Park.

Hello- I am running this 5K tomorrow and I’m soooo close to my goal of raising $5K for @hofoco.org. Even if you can’t donate a repost would be 😍. We rescue millions of pounds of good food about to be wasted each year and get it to those who need it. Help the environment and help fight hunger 🤝

substack.com/@josephbelli... My latest Substack: thoughts on California wolves, SOTU speech, a Road Trip to Redding (Part 1) and a live version of Suzanne Vega’s “Luka.”

open.substack.com/pub/bellij/p... I’m on Substack! My first post includes a tribute to condor #330, Trump’s gift to the coal industry, farewell to Chuck Negron, and a listen to Father John Misty.

Southern alligator lizard beneath a cover board on a cold winter day.

So cool to see Warrior’s Plume blooming on the property; the only ones I’ve ever seen have been in this patch of dense chamise. Note the soon-to-bloom Hound’s Tongue in the background.

Gorgeous mix of clouds and sunshine looking towards the Balconies in Pinnacles National Park.

Bush lupine already in bloom, Pinnacles National Park.

Milkmaids in bloom above some miner’s lettuce, Pacheco Pass.