Natural History Journal

I was born into a world where wild California Condors were a thing of the past - and little more than a dim hope for the future.   But in the three decades since, California Condors have become the stars of one of the most amazing comeback stories in the history of wildlife conservation, a story filled with controversy, pitting doubt and uncertainty against unwavering hope and perseverance.   Today, thanks to years of painstaking effort on the part of hundreds, if not thousands, of wildlife biologists and conservationists, we can once again look up into Southwestern skies and see condors soaring above on majestic wings.   The story, like the birds themselves, inspires. Male condor 602 hatched at the Los Angeles Zoo in 2011 and was released at Pinnacles in 2013. During the late Pleistocene, California Condors ( Gymnogyps californianus ) were widespread across North America.  15,000 years ago, when megafauna like mammoths, mastodons and giant ground slot...

A few days ago, Eric and I spent a lovely spring day hiking with friends at Pinnacles National Park.  And of course, when I say "hiking," you know I mean birding also!  We hiked eight miles in total, from the visitor center along the Bench, Sycamore, and Moses Spring Trails to Bear Gulch Reservoir, encountering 47 species of birds along the way. A diversity of plant communities in Pinnacles National Park offers habitat for 160 species of birds.  While much of the steep mountainous terrain in the park is covered by chamise-dominated chaparral, pine and oak woodland, dominated by gray pine and blue oak, is well represented also.  Riparian corridors of sycamores and willows follow the paths of Bear Gulch and Chalone Creek, offering refuge in an otherwise often hot and arid landscape. From the moment we got out of the car near the visitor center, the sound of birds filled the air: most notably, the raucous calls and incessant chattering of a large flock of Acorn Woodpeck...

What began as a spring break birding trip to Marin County's Point Reyes National Seashore and Samuel P. Taylor State Park quickly shifted its focus to other wildlife and abundant blooming wildflowers .  High winds at Point Reyes made birding difficult, and searching for birds among the redwoods, where we camped at Samuel P. Taylor State Park, is notoriously difficult in the best of circumstances.  In the redwood forest, quite possibly my best birding was done from inside my cozy warm sleeping bag, as I listened to nighttime sounds and the dawn chorus. All told, however, we tallied up 74 different species of birds during our trip, so I would consider that a successful venture!  (For the record, the National Park Service has recorded a mind-blowing 490 species of birds at Point Reyes!) A male California Quail poses on a fence post at Point Reyes Point Reyes National Seashore is renowned for its variety of watchable wildlife.  Not only is it a world-class birding locati...

While renowned for its birds and wildlife, Point Reyes National Seashore is also a treasure trove of botanical wonders, a real playground for California botanists - and spring is the best time to visit, by far, for a wide variety of blooming wildflowers.  Eric and I recently spent an extremely windy day birding botanizing at Point Reyes and, between wiping the wind-induced tears out of my eyes and making sure I didn't blow away, I managed to snap a few photos of some of my favorite wildflowers. If you venture out in search of the best blooms, I recommend the Chimney Rock and Elephant Seal Overlook trails, the trail to Abbott's Lagoon, and, of course, the jaunt out to the iconic Point Reyes Lighthouse. Yellow bush lupine, intertwined with wild cucumber and fiddleneck (along the aforementioned jaunt out to the lighthouse). And without further ado, I give to you: a selection of the wildflowers of Point Reyes! Yellow bush lupine ( Lupinus arboreus ) Pussy ears ( Calochortus tolm...

 Life.   As a naturalist, it's what I study.  Biology, ecology, the environment, the entire natural world around us: it's all about life.  And there is no better season to celebrate new life than spring, as buds break open, wildflowers bloom, the hills turn green and adorable baby animals pop up all over the place!   Life is being resurrected, miraculously reborn, all over Creation! On Easter, Resurrection Sunday, it is appropriate to celebrate this new life.  But let's not forget the One who makes it all possible, the One who paid the penalty and defeated death, once and for all, so that those who believe in Him can experience both abundant life now and eternal life in the future. Jesus tells us, "I am the way and the truth and the life."  (John 14:6) This spring, this Easter, as you celebrate new life, remember our Creator and Savior, the One who gave us life, sustains life, and offers us the gift of eternal abundant life with Him and throu...