蒙特雷湾上空的双冠鸬鹚，加利福尼亚州，美国 Double-crested cormorants over Monterey Bay, California, USA (© Hiroya Minakuchi/Minden Pictures)

迁飞路线上的生命 Life along the flyway

世界候鸟日

世界候鸟日旨在庆祝大自然最壮观的旅程之一。这项全球性活动于每年5月和10月举行，反映世界各地的迁徙模式，并强调保护鸟类赖以生存的栖息地和迁飞路线的重要性。“每一只鸟都很重要——您的观察至关重要！”是2026年的主题，着重说明个人和社区的观察可以如何为鸟类研究、监测和保护贡献力量，帮助科学家更好地了解迁徙。

今天的图片捕捉到了双冠鸬鹚飞越加利福尼亚州蒙特雷湾海浪上空的景象。这些适应力强的海鸟广泛分布于北美洲，可能迁徙，也可能全年留在原地，具体取决于种群。沿着加利福尼亚州海岸，海湾、湿地和河口为沿太平洋迁飞路线飞行的鸟类提供了重要栖息地。对许多物种而言，这些生态系统为跨越漫长距离的旅程提供支持。每一次目击都有助于揭示这些迁徙，并提醒我们，即使只是一只鸟，也可能是一个宏大得多的故事的一部分。

World Migratory Bird Day

World Migratory Bird Day celebrates one of nature's greatest journeys. Observed each year in May and October, the global campaign reflects migration patterns around the world and highlights the importance of protecting the habitats and flyways that birds depend on. 'Every Bird Counts—Your Observations Matter!' is the 2026 theme, emphasizing how observations by individuals and communities can contribute to bird research, monitoring, and conservation, helping scientists better understand migration.

Today's image captures double-crested cormorants flying above the waves of Monterey Bay, California. Widespread across North America, these adaptable seabirds may migrate or remain year-round, depending on the population. Along California's coast, bays, wetlands, and estuaries provide important habitat for birds traveling the Pacific Flyway. For many species, these ecosystems support journeys spanning vast distances. Each sighting helps reveal these migrations and reminds us that even a single bird can be part of a much larger story.

奥姆斯特德观景点的日落，优胜美地国家公园，加利福尼亚州，美国 Sunset from Olmsted Point, Yosemite National Park, California, USA (© Robb Hirsch/Tandem Stills + Motion)

在花岗岩中读懂时间 Reading time in granite

优胜美地国家公园纪念日

从这里望去，优胜美地一些最著名的地标也呈现出截然不同的一面。通常所见的半穹顶从优胜美地山谷上方拔地而起，而在这里，它露出陡峭的北壁，让这个熟悉的标志性景观看起来几乎令人感到陌生。远处还有特纳亚峡谷、云歇峰、特纳亚湖，以及记录着数百万年隆升、侵蚀与冰川作用的浅色岩石。奥姆斯特德观景点得名于景观设计师弗雷德里克·劳·奥姆斯特德及其子小弗雷德里克·劳·奥姆斯特德；父子二人的自然保护工作推动了美国国家公园运动的发展。这里提醒着人们：优胜美地不仅景色壮美，还是一片仍在以岩石讲述自身故事的土地。

Yosemite National Park anniversary

On October 1, 1890, Yosemite became the nation's third national park. More than a century later, it still feels like a place that operates on geological time rather than human schedules. From Olmsted Point, the overlook in today's image, that timescale is impossible to miss. The smooth granite underfoot was sculpted by glaciers, while scattered boulders known as glacial erratics were carried here by ice and abandoned when it melted.

The view also turns some of Yosemite's most famous landmarks inside out. Half Dome, usually seen rising above Yosemite Valley, reveals its sheer north face from here, making the familiar icon look almost unfamiliar. Beyond it lie Tenaya Canyon, Clouds Rest, Tenaya Lake, and pale stone that records millions of years of uplift, erosion, and ice. Named for landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and his son, Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., whose conservation work helped shape America's park movement, Olmsted Point offers a reminder that Yosemite is not just scenic; it is a landscape still telling its story in stone.

红木国家与州立公园的日出，加利福尼亚州，美国 Sunrise in Redwood National and State Parks, California, USA (© HadelProductions/Getty Images)

守护美国瑰宝 Protecting America's treasures

红杉国家公园与州立公园

110年来，美国最杰出的户外课堂始终向人们开放，供大家探索。8月25日，美国国家公园管理局迎来其守护美国自然与文化瑰宝一个多世纪的纪念日。1916年，伍德罗·威尔逊总统签署《组织法》使其成为法律，该机构由此成立；如今，它负责管理全美数百座公园、纪念地、海滨和历史遗址。由护林员带领的项目、家庭活动和教育活动邀请游客亲近那些塑造了国家公园体系的景观与故事。

今天的图片展示了加利福尼亚州北部的红木国家与州立公园，阳光照亮了一条蜿蜒穿行于地球上一些最高树木之间的小径。高耸的海岸红杉矗立在由蕨类植物和苔藓组成的葱郁林下植被之上，营造出一片既古老又充满生机的森林。这些林地是一个支撑着多种野生动物和数百年古树的生态系统的一部分，展现了美国国家公园管理局世世代代协助保护的自然奇观，也让游客有机会漫步于这些活着的巨树之下，体验一片独一无二的景观。

Anniversary of National Park Service

For 110 years, America's greatest outdoor classroom has been open for exploration. On August 25, the National Park Service marks over a century of protecting the nation's natural and cultural treasures. Established in 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Organic Act into law, the agency now cares for hundreds of parks, monuments, seashores, and historic sites across the country. Ranger-led programs, family activities, and educational events invite visitors to connect with the landscapes and stories that define the national park system.

Today's image shows Redwood National and State Parks in northern California, where sunlight illuminates a trail winding among some of the tallest trees on Earth. Towering coast redwoods rise above a lush understory of ferns and mosses, creating a forest that feels both ancient and alive. Part of an ecosystem supporting diverse wildlife and centuries-old trees, these groves showcase the natural wonders the National Park Service has helped protect for generations, offering visitors the chance to walk beneath living giants and experience a landscape unlike any other.

约书亚树国家公园，加利福尼亚州，美国 Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA (© JJ Landscapes/Getty Images)

两片沙漠交汇之地 Where two deserts collide

加利福尼亚州约书亚树国家公园

两片大沙漠交汇之处，约书亚树国家公园展现出由风、时间和极端环境塑造的冷峻迷人景观。在南加利福尼亚州，海拔较高的莫哈韦沙漠与更炎热、地势更低的科罗拉多沙漠相融，形成独特的生态系统组合与非凡的生物多样性。

在近80万英亩的土地上，满身尖刺的约书亚树——其实是一种丝兰——从沙质平原拔地而起，扭曲的轮廓点缀着遍布风化花岗岩巨石的旷野。巨大的岩层在数百万年间开裂、受蚀成形，吸引攀岩者和徒步者在崎岖地形中寻找路线。

生命以非凡方式在这里延续。沙漠大角羊、爬行动物和数百种鸟类在水源稀少、烈日炙烤的环境中繁衍。春天可能带来野花盛放，澄澈夜空则展现出全美最幽暗的星空之一，是观星佳地。1936年的今天，这片广袤景观被指定为国家纪念地，1994年成为国家公园。它邀人探索，令人难忘地领略美国沙漠原始的美与坚韧。

Joshua Tree National Park, California

Where two great deserts meet, Joshua Tree National Park reveals a stark, mesmerizing landscape shaped by wind, time, and extremes. In Southern California, the higher Mojave Desert merges with the hotter, lower Colorado Desert, creating a unique blend of ecosystems and remarkable biodiversity.

Across nearly 800,000 acres, spiky Joshua trees—actually a species of yucca—rise from sandy plains, their twisting silhouettes punctuating fields of weathered granite boulders. Massive rock formations, cracked and sculpted over millions of years, attract climbers and hikers seeking routes through this rugged terrain. Life persists here in remarkable ways. Desert bighorn sheep, reptiles, and hundreds of bird species thrive in an environment defined by scarce water and intense sun. Spring may bring bursts of wildflowers, while crystal-clear nights reveal some of the darkest skies in the country—ideal for stargazing.

Designated as a national monument on this day in 1936, the vast landscape became a national park in 1994. It invites exploration, offering an unforgettable encounter with the raw beauty and resilience of the American desert.

玛丽湖，约翰·缪尔荒野（毕晓普附近），加利福尼亚州，美国 Marie Lake, John Muir Wilderness near Bishop, California, USA (© Steve Dunleavy/Getty Images)

攀登后的奖励 The reward after the climb

玛丽湖，加利福尼亚州，美国

如果山脉能够记录过去，那么位于加利福尼亚州毕晓普附近的约翰·缪尔荒野保护区将拥有丰富的历史资料可供分享。这里的山谷、湖泊和花岗岩地貌诉说着数百万年来的演变历程。这片广袤的保护区成立于1964年，横跨内华达山脉超过65万英亩的土地，并以博物学家约翰·缪尔的名字命名。如今，太平洋山脊步道和约翰·缪尔步道的部分路段穿过这里，吸引着徒步旅行者来到美国本土最大的高海拔荒野地区之一。

玛丽湖距离毕夏普不远，海拔约10550英尺（3200米），是背包客穿越塞尔登山口的必经之地。清澈的湖水倒映着周围的花岗岩，使其成为这条徒步路线上最热门的摄影景点之一。生活在如此高海拔地区的生物适应了短暂的生长季。白皮松和扭叶松遍布大地，而土拨鼠、金鳟、克拉克星鸦、黑熊、鼠兔和加州大角羊等动物也依然是这片生态系统的重要组成部分。

Marie Lake, John Muir Wilderness near Bishop, California

If mountains could keep a record of the past, the John Muir Wilderness near Bishop, California, would have plenty to share. Its valleys, lakes, and granite formations reveal a history shaped over millions of years. Established in 1964, this vast protected area spans more than 650,000 acres of the Sierra Nevada and is named after naturalist John Muir. Today, parts of the Pacific Crest Trail and John Muir Trail pass through the area, drawing hikers into one of the largest high-elevation wilderness regions in the contiguous United States.

Not far from Bishop, Marie Lake sits at an elevation of about 10,550 feet and is often reached by backpackers crossing Selden Pass. Its clear water reflects the surrounding granite, creating one of the most photographed spots along the trail. Life at these elevations is adapted to a brief growing season. Whitebark and lodgepole pines grow across the landscape, while marmots, golden trout, Clark's nutcrackers, black bears, pikas, and California bighorn sheep remain part of the ecosystem.

盛开的羽扇豆，北加利福尼亚州，美国 Lupine flowers in bloom, Northern California, USA (© Jeffrey Lewis/Tandem Stills + Motion)

羽扇豆书写的季节 A season written in lupine

盛开的羽扇豆，北加利福尼亚州，美国

随着春季席卷北加利福尼亚州，大地在蓝色、紫色与白色交织的羽扇豆花海中焕然一新。这些野生物种在当地的地中海气候下生长繁茂，为蜜蜂、蝴蝶及甲虫等授粉媒介提供了至关重要的花蜜来源。羽扇豆在全球拥有200多个物种，其分布极其广泛，涵盖了从沿海地带到高山草甸的多种生境。除了显著的观赏价值外，羽扇豆在生态系统中亦发挥着关键作用：通过地下的固氮作用，它们能够显著提高土壤肥力，即便是在贫瘠的环境中也能支持周边植物的生长。

在特定文化中，经过特殊加工的羽扇豆种子被当作零食食用。然而，必须谨慎处理——未经脱苦处理的种子含有极高的生物碱，滋味极苦且具有潜在毒性。时至暮春，繁茂的花期结束，取而代之的是发育中的荚果，这标志着生命周期的循环往复。见证这一季节性的更迭，让人静静领悟大地每年色彩重塑与生命回归的自然律动。

Lupine flowers in bloom, Northern California

As spring sweeps across Northern California, the landscape is transformed by the vibrant displays of lupine flowers in shades of blue, purple, and white. Flourishing in the region's Mediterranean climate, these wildflowers provide a vital source of nectar for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and beetles. With over 200 species found worldwide, lupines range from coastal varieties to those that thrive in mountain meadows. Beyond their striking beauty, lupines are essential to the ecosystem: by fixing nitrogen underground, they enrich soil fertility and support the growth of surrounding plants, even in nutrient-poor environments.

In some cultures, specially prepared lupine seeds are enjoyed as a snack. However, caution is necessary—untreated seeds are extremely bitter and potentially toxic. By late spring, the vibrant blooms give way to seed pods, continuing the cycle of life for another year. Witnessing this seasonal transformation offers a quiet reminder of how color and life return to the land each year.

拱门与银河, 阿拉巴马山, 内华达山脉, 加利福尼亚州, 美国 Arch and Milky Way, Alabama Hills, Sierra Nevada, California, USA (© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures)

银河系，摇滚吧！ Rock on, Milky Way!

拱门与银河, 阿拉巴马山, 内华达山脉, 加利福尼亚州

在今天这张照片中，阿拉巴马山的花岗岩拱门将银河框入加州东部内华达山脉崎岖的地貌之中。这片区域以其圆润的巨石和风化的岩层而闻名，大约在1亿年前由火山活动形成。水和风逐渐将岩石塑造成如今光滑的形状。游客可以探索天然拱门，在岩石间徒步，拍摄独特的景观，骑马或骑山地自行车，并欣赏季节性的野花盛开。

由于光污染极少，这些山丘是观星和夜间摄影的热门地点。在晴朗的夜晚，构成我们银河系的密集星带肉眼可见。虽然如今这里看起来像一片宁静的沙漠，但这片地形却在银幕上扮演过许多角色。自20世纪20年代以来，数百部电影和电视剧都曾以这些山丘为背景，拍摄西部片和科幻冒险片，其中包括格里高利·派克主演的《黄沙》、昆汀·塔伦蒂诺执导的《被解救的姜戈》以及乔恩·费儒执导的漫威经典之作《钢铁侠》。

Arch and Milky Way, Alabama Hills, Sierra Nevada, California

In today's image, the granite arches of the Alabama Hills frame the Milky Way over a rugged landscape in California's eastern Sierra Nevada. Famous for its rounded boulders and weathered rock formations, this area formed when molten rock cooled deep underground around 100 million years ago. Water and wind gradually shaped the stone into the smooth shapes seen today. Visitors can explore the natural arches, hike among the rocks, capture photographs of the unique landscape, ride horses or mountain bikes, and enjoy seasonal displays of wildflowers.

With minimal light pollution, the hills are popular for stargazing and night photography. On a clear night, the dense band of stars that forms our galaxy is visible to the naked eye. While it might look like a peaceful desert today, this terrain has played many roles on screen. Since the 1920s, hundreds of movies and television shows have used these hills as a backdrop for westerns and sci-fi adventures, including 'Yellow Sky' with Gregory Peck, 'Django Unchained' by Quentin Tarantino, and the Marvel classic 'Iron Man' by Jon Favreau.

安扎-博雷戈沙漠州立公园上空的银河, 加利福尼亚州, 美国 Milky Way over Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California, USA (© Kevin Key/Slworking)/Getty Images)

当灯光熄灭之后 After the lights go down

银河

当夜幕降临，宇宙便开始上演一场壮丽的“光影秀”。每年四月举行的国际暗夜周，邀请人们重新发现夜晚的魅力，并了解为什么黑暗同样值得被保护。这项活动始于2003年，旨在提醒公众关注过度的人造光照对野生动物、人类健康、能源消耗以及我们观测星空能力所带来的影响。减少不必要的灯光并不意味着降低安全性——通过科学、合理的照明设计，完全可以在保证安全的同时减少光污染。

这张银河高悬在安扎-博雷戈沙漠州立公园上空的照片，正好诠释了这一理念。作为加利福尼亚州最大的州立公园**，这里同时也是被正式认定的国际暗夜公园，因此拥有全美一流的观星条件。在晴朗的夜晚，天空中会出现行星、星团以及我们所在星系——银河系那条明亮的星带。这样的壮丽景象，在许多城市地区由于光污染已经很难看到了。

国际暗夜周鼓励人们从一些简单的行动做起，例如为门廊灯加装遮光罩，或参加当地的观星活动。抬头仰望夜空，保持好奇心，也一起努力，让夜晚继续保有自然的璀璨星光。

International Dark Sky Week

When the lights go down, the universe puts on a show. International Dark Sky Week, celebrated each April, invites everyone to rediscover the night and learn why darkness is worth protecting. Launched in 2003, the week highlights how excessive artificial light affects wildlife, human health, energy use, and our ability to see the stars. Fewer lights don't mean less safety—smart, well-designed lighting can do both.

The image of the Milky Way glowing above Anza-Borrego Desert State Park captures this idea perfectly. As California's largest state park and an officially designated International Dark-Sky Park, Anza-Borrego offers some of the best stargazing in the country. On a clear night, the sky fills with planets, star clusters, and the bright band of our home galaxy—views that have vanished from many urban areas.

International Dark Sky Week encourages simple actions, from shielding porch lights to joining a local star party. Look up, get curious, and help keep nights naturally brilliant.

野花绽放, 中央谷地, 加利福尼亚州, 美国 Wildflower bloom, Central Valley, California, USA (© Jeff Lewis/Tandem Stills + Motion)

春天的图案 Patterns of spring

野花绽放, 中央谷地, 加利福尼亚州

春意盎然的加州中央谷地在冬雨过后，野花竞相绽放，宣告着春天的到来。这片南北绵延约450英里、面积约2万平方英里的山谷，是世界上农业生产力最高的地区之一。然而，在早春时节，这里又会短暂地展现出一种古老的景象。从三月到四月，当气温和土壤湿度达到适宜水平时，金盏花、整齐叶草和猫头鹰三叶草等本地一年生植物便会迅速发芽。它们争分夺秒地完成生命周期，以迎接漫长旱季的到来。

这些物种大多是加州原始草原生态系统的遗存。如今，它们主要栖息在自然保护区、未开垦的土地以及田野间的狭长地带。它们的种子可以保持活力数十年，只有在特定条件下才会发芽。降雨模式会影响花期的强度和分布。土壤质地和排水情况的差异造就了每年春天出现在山谷底部的条带状和斑块状花海。在短短几周内，农业历史和生态历史交织在同一片土地上。

Wildflower bloom, Central Valley, California

Spring announces itself across California's Central Valley with the first bursts of wildflowers following the winter rains. Stretching roughly 450 miles from north to south and covering about 20,000 square miles, the valley is one of the world's most productive agricultural regions. In early spring, however, an older identity briefly resurfaces. From March through April, native annuals such as goldfields, tidy tips, and owl's clover quickly germinate once temperature and soil moisture are optimal. They race to complete their life cycles before the long dry season begins.

Many of these species are remnants of California's original grassland ecosystem. Today, they persist mainly in nature reserves, on uncultivated land, and in strips between fields. Their seeds can remain viable for decades, germinating only when conditions meet specific thresholds. Rainfall patterns influence both the strength and the distribution of the bloom. Differences in soil texture and drainage create the bands and patches that appear across the valley floor each spring. For a few weeks, agricultural and ecological history share the same landscape.

约塞米蒂国家公园里的火瀑布，加利福尼亚州，美国 Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park, California, USA (© Jorge Villalba/Getty Images)

光照之处 Where light falls

约塞米蒂国家公园里的火瀑布，加利福尼亚州

今天，是安塞尔·亚当斯的诞辰。正是他的镜头，塑造了世人心中优胜美地的形象。这座国家公园以雄伟的花岗岩岩壁、壮观的瀑布和变幻莫测的光线闻名，持续激发着一代又一代艺术家的创作灵感。而其中最令人着迷的景象，是被称作“火瀑”的奇观。这一名称，其实源自优胜美地历史中的两种不同景象。在过去，人们曾聚集在冰川点，观看一种人工制造的奇观：炽热的余烬被推下悬崖，在夜幕中倾泻而下，宛如一条燃烧的火流。

相比之下，真正令人着迷的，是埃尔卡皮坦山马尾瀑布上出现的自然火瀑。在二月中下旬的少数几个黄昏，落日以恰到好处的角度照亮瀑布，使水流染上一层炽亮的橙色，仿佛熔岩顺着山体缓缓倾泻。这一奇观并非年年可见，它依赖于晴朗的天空、充沛的水量，以及分秒不差的时机。1973年，摄影师盖伦·罗威尔首次捕捉到这一罕见瞬间，并拍下广为流传的影像，让这一天然奇观走入公众视野，成为优胜美地最令人惊叹的景象之一。

Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park, California

Today we celebrate the birthday of Ansel Adams, a photographer whose vision helped shape the world's perception of Yosemite National Park. Yosemite is renowned for its granite walls, dramatic waterfalls, and striking light, all of which have inspired generations of artists. One of its most intriguing sights is the Firefall, a term that refers to two distinct events in the park's history. For decades, visitors gathered at Glacier Point to watch an artificial Firefall, in which embers were pushed off the cliff in a glowing stream of fire.

Far more mysterious is the natural Firefall at Horsetail Fall on El Capitan. On a few evenings in mid- to late February, the sunset hits the waterfall at just the right angle, turning it bright orange, as if molten lava were sliding down the mountain. Clear skies, sufficient water, and perfect timing are all essential for this effect to occur. In 1973, Galen Rowell observed this rare phenomenon and took the first widely known photograph of the natural Firefall—bringing widespread attention to one of Yosemite's most remarkable sights.