Natural History Journal

It would not be difficult to convince me that there is something beautiful about every bird, but in my opinion, a handful of species that arrive in or pass through California's Great Central Valley during spring migration are particularly gorgeous.   May is the magical month in the calendar of every North American birder, when spring migration reaches its peak and brilliantly colored migratory birds return from a winter spent in the neotropics of Central and South America. Male Lazuli Bunting These "neotropical migrants," as they are known to birders and ornithologists, span a wide range of songbird families, but some of the most colorful (and thereby most beloved by birders) are members of the cardinal family, Cardinalidae, which includes New World buntings, grosbeaks and tanagers.    Male Lazuli Buntings are a brilliant, almost turquoise blue, with rusty-red chests and prominent white wingbars.  Females are more drab in color, but still easily recognizable by ...

On the dry, desolate, rocky slopes of remote desert regions across the western U.S. there lives a bird known to some as... the "devil bird."   To others, it is more properly known as the Chukar.  And aren't they cheeky little critters! If a Chukar could give cheek...  The Chukar's name derives from its unique call, a sort of clucking sound that suggests its near kinship to other game birds, including grouse, partridge, pheasant, turkey, and - you guessed it - Red Junglefowl, the original wild ancestor of the domestic chicken.   Peeky cheeky Chukar (the children's book that you didn't know needed to be written) While Chukars tend to be quite vocal, they can be difficult to find in the vastness of their arid, sandy habitats.  Their soft gray and tan coloration blends in beautifully with the surrounding desert, and these birds are surprisingly agile on their feet, quickly scrambling up rocky hillsides to evade predators - including those of the two-legged...

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 ...

Tucked away in the southeastern corner of California is an ecosystem like no other: the vast Mojave Desert. While it may not look like much to passing motorists, the arid Mojave Desert is brimming with wildlife.  Birds, mammals, reptiles, insects: It's all here, thriving against the odds in an undeniably harsh environment.  Cold winters bring snow flurries to high elevations as temperatures drop well below freezing, and summer highs can soar to more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit, baking the desert pavement.  The wind is fierce and rainfall is minimal all year, a scant three to nine inches annually.   Clearly, living conditions are tough. Yet despite the odds, here in these wide open spaces lives a very special suite of characters, all perfectly designed to make the most of life in this inhospitable place.   This is the wildlife of the Mojave Desert. Last week, we spent a couple of days exploring Mojave National Preserve, enjoying lovely desert scenery an...

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...