Natural History Journal

The Tundra Swan ( Cygnus columbianus ) just might be the bird that started it all for me, which would be an easy argument to make, considering its beauty alone.  Add to that the fact that they migrate all the way from the Arctic to spend the winter in California, and no one would question the inspirational powers of this swan. It's hard to say when I got started on the path of birding, since my dad gave me Peterson's First Guide to Birds when I was two years old.  Weekend trips to the Sierra Nevada mountains for hiking, the central coast for tide-pooling and local wildlife refuges for casual birding were frequent in our household.  In high school, I honestly thought everyone knew the difference between a Scrub Jay and a Steller's Jay; I mean, come on, how could you not?!  And I was annoyed anytime someone referred to one as a "Blue Jay," since these don't occur on the West Coast.  But it wasn't until ...

There comes a time in the life of every naturalist when an overnight adventure is in order!  And let's be honest with ourselves, camping is really the only way to go!  Thankfully, I was taught the art of camping at a young age and can think of no better way to spend a weekend (or a week, or longer...) than forgoing my bed and hot showers for a cozy tent, fluffy sleeping bag and the great outdoors.  And even more thankfully, I am married to a man who is willing to accompany me on these crazy incredible adventures! Eric & me, doing the tourist thing in Death Valley I typically write about the wildlife, plant life and rock life (geology) I come across, but wanted to set aside a few moments for a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a traveling naturalist: namely, the places we camp along the way, those beautiful little patches of ground where we sleep under the stars. As spring begins to unfold in California's desert regions,...

Mergansers are neat birds, with their fluffy feather crests and pointed bills, atypical for ducks.  This January, a small flock of female Common Mergansers ( Mergus merganser ) has been hanging out on the ponds at CSU Stanislaus; several stopped here last winter as well.  One foggy morning last week I stopped to get a few photos.    Common Mergansers are typically found on freshwater lakes and rivers, and occasionally in estuaries during the winter.  They spend the summer months in northern forests, from Northern California up to Washington and across the Rocky Mountains, as well as across much of Canada.  There they nest in tree cavities near water, most commonly in mature forests.  They winter over much of the United States, with the exception of the southeastern part of the country. Common Mergansers are diving ducks, perfectly suited for catching fish using their serrated pointed bill.  The...

I heard this bird before I saw it.  My husband and I had just finished our picnic lunch yesterday at the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge and were about to set out on our birding hike.  We weren't even out of the parking lot when I spotted a conspicuous bird, perched at the top of a large clump of Quailbush ( Atriplex lentiformis ) and singing its heart out: a California Thrasher ( Toxostoma redivivum ). These birds are typical of California's chaparral habitat, though they are not often seen in the open as their habit is to forage on the ground beneath shrubs, using their bills to uncover insects in the leaf litter.  The California Thrasher is the largest of the thrashers, and is endemic to California and Baja California.  There is nothing particularly striking about this thrasher's appearance, though their bills are certainly distinct.  But you will no longer think of them as plain after you've heard ...

The Great Central Valley has been experiencing much-needed rainstorms recently, but a break in the weather a few days ago provided the perfect opportunity to explore another local protected area, the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge.   It was good to see the river full and waterfowl enjoying the adjacent flooded areas.  But California's water woes are far from over.  So many people seem to be fairly short sighted: it's raining today, in fact it also rained yesterday and is supposed to rain tomorrow, therefore we have abundant water again!  Not quite so.  Water conservation and a massive shift toward wiser water use are still in order, for everyone from farmers and businesses to homeowners and to those insulated in the city.  If you're interested, check out  this article about factors influencing California's water crisis, why the rain won't really help that much, and why almond orchards are caus...

Winter is a beautiful time of year in the Great Central Valley: the grasses are green, the seasonal wetlands are full of water and teeming with birdlife, and the sun sets early at the end of crisp, bright days.  And this year, we've even had rain!  It's the perfect time of year to pay a visit to a nearby National Wildlife Refuge.  One of the best (in my opinion) is the Merced National Wildlife Refuge, with flocks of Snow Geese and Ross's Geese, as well as Sandhill Cranes, nearly as far as one can see.  And it's particularly lovely at sunset. The Great Central Valley was once a vast prairie, supporting abundant life: Salmon and Grizzly Bears, Pronghorn Antelope and Tule Elk, vernal pools and unchecked rivers feeding seasonal wetlands, stunning carpets of wildflowers and an abundance of small but wonderful creatures which have largely gone underappreciated and unnoticed as they have slipped away, like endangered Kangaroo Rats ( Dipodomys spp. ) and ...

Flocks of Canada Geese ( Branta canadensis ) are a commonplace sight around urban ponds in the Central Valley.  Ponds on the campus of California State University Stanislaus boast a substantial population of the large waterfowl year-round, augmented by overwintering birds this time of year.  While out for a walk a couple of days ago, I noticed something small and out of place as we passed a flock of Canada Geese: one of these geese was not like the others!  One of these geese was significantly smaller than the others; one was a Cackling Goose ( Branta hutchinsii )! Notice the small size of the Cackling Goose on the left, compared with much larger Canada Geese. I'm sure most people would have walked right by (perhaps even with some level of annoyance at the mess the geese leave behind and their habit of blocking traffic).  But not I!  I excitedly returned with my camera and discovered there was not just one, but four Cackling Geese...

In my previous post, I talked a little bit about some common winter birds of Sierra Nevada mid-mountain forests.  These are the birds you would expect to see riding out a mid-elevation snow storm: Steller's Jays, Juncos, Flickers and the like.  But let us not overlook one of the tiniest residents of this area, the Anna's Hummingbird ( Calypte anna ) .   You might be aware that hummingbirds are an entirely New World group of birds, and that the vast majority of hummingbird species are found south of California, in Central and South America.  You might even know that we as Californians are privileged with our lovely selection of these little humming jewels; seven species nest in or pass through our state, while the east coast hosts just one species, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird ( Archilochus colubris ).    But if you live in lower and mid-elevation areas of the Sierra, or visit developed areas there during the winter, you might b...

A few days ago, I had the privilege of watching a beautiful winter storm descend on the hills of the Sierra, around 3,300 feet in elevation, between the towns of Murphys and Arnold.  Blowing snowflakes created a winter wonderland outside, while I watched from behind a window, snug and warm indoors. The plant communities at this elevation are comprised of species typical of mid-mountain forests, found in the Sierra between 2,500 to 6,000 feet: Ponderosa Pine ( Pinus ponderosa ), Incense Cedar ( Calocedrus decurrens ) and Black Oak ( Quercus kelloggii ).  Gray Pine ( Pinus sabiniana ) and plants more typical of lower elevation foothill chaparral exist in this region on dry, warm south-facing slopes.  Manzanitas ( Archtostaphylos spp.) and Ceanothus ( Ceanothus spp.) make up most of the shrub component of the ecosystem. Looking out on a snowy forest, one would assume all of its resident fauna are curled up in warm dens, old woodpecker holes, burro...