Natural History Journal

With Easter, perhaps my favorite holiday, on the way and new life bursting out in bud and bloom all around us, I wanted to share a piece written last year, in celebration of spring and the offer of New Life made available to us all! When first composing this piece, I considered titling it "The Gospel  of  Nature."  But I want to be clear from the beginning: If the Gospel is defined as the Good News about the offer of salvation from sin and death, by grace through faith in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,  there is no gospel apart from that which is revealed in God's Word, the Bible.   The Bible, God's inspired Word, is his Special Revelation to us: words written by humans, through the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, with the purpose of giving the clear message of salvation to the world.  Without the words of God and the work of Jesus as revealed to us in Scripture, there is no knowing of our need for repentance and God's a...

When first composing this piece, I considered titling it "The Gospel of Nature."  But I want to be clear from the beginning: If the Gospel is defined as the Good News about the offer of salvation from sin and death, by grace through faith in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is no gospel apart from that which is revealed in God's Word, the Bible.   The Bible, God's inspired Word, is his Special Revelation to us: words written by humans, through the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, with the purpose of giving the clear message of salvation to the world.  Without the words of God and the work of Jesus as revealed to us in Scripture, there is no knowing of our need for repentance and God's amazing grace. In this way, there is no additional or alternative "gospel" taught to us only through nature.  No "gospel" of living good, kind lives; no "gospel" of spiritual experiences on mountaintops or worshipping ...

Spring is upon us, and for most birders and naturalists in North America that means one very special thing: Nesting season has arrived!  Wildflowers are blooming, trees are leafing out and mammals are raising young as well, making this one of the most exciting and beautiful seasons for nature study. And if there is one nature find that brings delight to young and old alike, it is the discovery of a bird nest! Bird nests are endlessly fascinating creations, varying widely in size, shape, style, placement and construction materials.  Some birds weave elaborate structures, while others build very little in the way of a nest at all.  Coming across nests while exploring nature is one of the most rewarding discoveries, and it is an immense privilege to watch the progress of a nest, from its construction, to egg-laying and incubation, all the way through to the hatching and fledging of young. Great-horned Owl on a stick nest.    Great-horned Owls don't build their...

You've heard about our state bird, the California Quail . You know about our state flower, the California Poppy , and perhaps you're aware that we have not one but two state trees, the Coast Redwood and Giant Sequoia.  Maybe you even know that our state rock, Serpentine, is green (not gold - that's the state mineral) and that our state mammal, the Grizzly Bear, has been extinct in California since the 1920's.   But have you heard about California's state amphibian?? Meet the California Red-legged Frog ( Rana draytonii ). California Red-legged Frog, Pinnacles National Park Once common in California, red-legged frogs are now listed as federally threatened. California Red-legged Frogs are the largest frog native to the western U.S., coming in at up to five inches long.  Apparently, many were eaten by miners during the Gold Rush, and this is the species immortalized by Mark Twain in his "Celebrated Jumping Frogs of Calaveras County" (possibly).   Today, ...

Mammals are among the most exciting types of wildlife to see, but also some of the most difficult.  Far less numerous than birds and often exhibiting secretive or nocturnal habits, many groups of mammals are rarely encountered in the wild.  Observant naturalists are far more likely to encounter signs of a mammal's presence than the mammal itself, the most obvious of which are tracks, scat and fur.  But more subtle clues may be discovered as well, such as dens, nests, burrows or bedding areas, as well as evidence of feeding, like chewed bark, twigs or pinecones.  All of these are forms of mammal "sign" and are good indicators that the mammal which left the sign is or has recently been present in the area.   I like to think of mammal signs as similar to bird songs and calls : proof of a species' presence in the area, and valuable for research purposes, even when I'm unable to get a look at the animal itself! Sure, seeing the animals is always more exciting, ...

Tree Swallows are, in my opinion, one of our most beautiful birds, with their pure white undersides and iridescent blue heads and backs.  As aerial insectivores that feed almost exclusively on flying insects, Tree Swallows are a great boon to have in the neighborhood.  Unfortunately, like many other aerial insectivores, their numbers are in decline .  As secondary cavity nesters, Tree Swallows' struggle for survival is exacerbated not only by a decline in the insects they feed on, but a lack of the natural cavities they require for nesting as well.  Secondary cavity nesters rely on nest cavities excavated by other species (usually woodpeckers), often in standing dead trees.  The widespread practice of removing such trees in recent decades has led to a sharp decline in available nesting sites.  And Tree Swallows aren't the only species that depend on these increasingly rare nesting sites.  Western Bluebirds, Ash-throated Flycatchers, House Wrens, White-...