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Bird Nests: A Celebration of Diversity in Design

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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...

California's State Amphibian: The California Red-Legged Frog

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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 Among Us: California's Coast

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As a group, mammals are surprisingly diverse.  While all mammals breathe air, have fur or hair, and give birth to live young, they vary significantly in their habitats and modes of transportation.  While most walk or hop while moving about on land, some fly and others swim, some spending most or all of their lives in water!  While some of these aquatic mammals spend a good deal of time on land at the water's edge, like seals and sea lions, other mammals, such as whales and dolphins, never leave the marine environment they were exquisitely designed to inhabit. With 840 miles of coastline (ranking third in the nation behind Alaska and Florida), it is perhaps not surprising that marine mammals make up a significant portion of California's wildlife. Let's explore the variety of mammals that may be seen along California's beautiful coast and within its offshore waters. Sea Otter, Elkhorn Slough Sea Otters, the most aquatic members of the weasel family, only rarely come asho...

Tracking Mammals

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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, ...

A Peek into the Domestic Life of Tree Swallows

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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-...

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 -