Recent Wildlife Sightings

I spend a great deal of time outdoors observing wildlife, and while I get to write about quite a bit of it, not every critter I encounter makes it into a blog post!

Check out everything I've been seeing in the field recently here:

Birds on eBird

All other wildlife on iNaturalist




Tips for watching wildlife safely and responsibly:

Keep your distance.

25 yards (75 feet) is typically the recommended distance to stay back from most species of wildlife (though for large predators, that distance quite understandably increases to 100 yards.)  A "rule of thumb" can be handy here: Hold out your arm and give a thumbs up; you should be able to completely cover or block the animal from your sight with your thumb.  If not, you're too close.

Use binoculars, spotting scopes and zoom lenses to get those amazing up-close looks and shots.  You're NOT going to be able to photograph wildlife well with a phone camera; if you can, you're way too close.

Keep quiet and still.  Move slowly and keep noise to a minimum.  If it's safe to do so, sit down and settle in to watch while making as little disturbance as possible.  These quiet moments are when the magic happens.

Don't disrupt the animal's normal activity.  The best sign of this is that the animal continues to go about its business, despite your presence.  Whether the animal knows you're there or not, a feeding animal is a content animal and we want them to stay this way.  If they look up and see you, but go back to grazing or foraging, the animal is not concerned.  Let them go about their business without your interference as you watch quietly from a safe distance.  It's in these settings that we get to observe animals behaving naturally, in their natural environment - and isn't that the whole point?

NEVER attempt to feed a wild animal, or entice them closer with food or any other means, even if it's their natural food.  This is dangerous for humans and animals in so many ways, and it's just plain foolish and irresponsible.  Pet dogs are for feeding and petting, not wildlife.   

Let them go.  Once the animal is ready to move on away from you, let them.  Don't block their retreat to safety or continue to pursue them once they're clearly ready to leave the area.  Don't make them run away from you!




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About Me

Named after the Sierra Nevada Mountains, I am a naturalist and avid birder based in Central California. Above all, I am a follower of Jesus Christ, our amazingly good Creator God whose magnificent creation is an unending source of awe and inspiration for me. I hope to inspire others to appreciate, respect and protect this beautiful earth we share, and invite you to come along with me as I explore the nature of California and beyond!
- Siera Nystrom -



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