Natural History Journal

On the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada, the forests around 4,000 feet in elevation are excellent places to enjoy a wide variety of birds and other wildlife.  The mid-montane coniferous forests of this "lower conifer zone," as it is known, occur at elevations just above the oak woodlands and chaparral of the foothills, and just below the upper conifer zone.  Here, at this meeting place of plant communities, pockets of black oak and bigleaf maple mixed in among stands of ponderosa pines and other conifers add to the abundant species diversity.  Cooler, north-facing slopes hold stands of white fir, while live oak thrives in warmer, drier microclimates on south-facing slopes.  Sugar pine are common at this elevation as well, along with incense cedar and Douglas fir.   And, most importantly for birders, this zone of abundance offers an enticing mix of bird species from both lower and higher elevations. Trail from Twain Harte to Lyon's Reservoir In the Centra...

It's no secret that I love nature, in all of its incredible, intricate detail.  And it's also no secret that I believe the natural world around us was designed and created by our wise and loving God, for the ultimate purpose of drawing humanity to himself and revealing his divine nature to us through his marvelous handiwork. His glory is on display everywhere we look, from the starry night sky above, to the rocks beneath our feet; from the sheer magnitude of the ocean depths to the complexity of infinitesimally small cells and atoms.  Throughout the entire mind-blowingly amazing universe he has made for us, his great power and goodness are on display for all to experience. I'm reminded of one of my favorite hymns, "How Great Thou Art," which begins with the lyrics: "O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder Consider all the works thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed..." The picture pa...

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...

The Great Central Valley is a special place - once you learn where to look!  For years I have lived in the valley, and for nearly as many years believed that in order to experience the wonders of nature, one must drive up to the Sierra (or at least the foothills) or over to the coast.  As it would happen, I was entirely wrong. Yes, the Central Valley has been paved and plowed almost beyond recognition, nearly erasing all traces of its former greatness.  But thanks to several decades of herculean efforts on the part of conservationists in both private and government organizations, a handful of critical habitats have been salvaged from the wreckage of an otherwise decimated valley. Early spring view of the Sousa Marsh from the viewing platform at the end of a short trail, San Luis NWR. A few of these special places are favorite haunts of mine, places I return to year after year, season after season.  They are popular wit...

One year ago today, on the first of June, 2017, I awoke in the wee hours of the morning to the sound of Barred Owls caterwauling in the Coast Redwood tree directly above our tent.  That night, I drifted to sleep listening to the enchanting and ethereal melody of a Swainson's Thrush spiraling upwards into the canopy.    And in between those two idyllic bookends to our day, Eric and I managed to hike six miles along the Prairie Creek Trail before lunch, and nearly six more miles along the James Irvine Trail after lunch.  (Just a short hike, I know *winks*)    Hiking in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park   We saw an abundance of wildflowers and nearly every shade of green imaginable represented in the diverse plant life.  Forest birds serenaded us along the way: the energetic, effervescent song of the Pacific Wren, the single whistle of the Varied Thrush, the taunting two-part "hey you" cal...

Many people are familiar with our state bird, the California Quail ( Callipepla californica ).  Less well-known are North America's other quail species: Gambel's Quail ( C. gambelii ), Scaled Quail ( C. squamata ), Montezuma Quail ( Cyrtonyx montezumae ), and Mountain Quail ( Oreortyx pictus ).  Of the aforementioned species, three are found in California: California Quail, Gambel's Quail and Mountain Quail.  California Quail range across most of the state, as well as into Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Baja California.  But they are replaced in the desert portions of the state by Gambel's Quail, and in the Sierra Nevada by Mountain Quail.  (Scaled Quail and Montezuma Quail are found in the southwestern United States, including parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas; their ranges also extend south into Mexico.) Male Mountain Quail ( Oreortyx pictus ) Mountain Quail are found in the Coast Ranges and northern part of the state, as well as the ...

The hunt for California's spring wildflowers continues, but the seasons are rapidly shifting!  Recently, we hiked to the top of Table Mountain in search of vernal pools and any other lovely springtime surprises this fascinating place in the Sierra Nevada foothills might have to offer. Fields of lupine atop Table Mountain (Tuolumne County) Though wildflowers abound during the spring, the year round draw of Table Mountain is its geology.  Located in Tuolumne county, Table Mountain can be viewed while driving along highway 108, between Knight's Ferry and Jamestown.  (Heading east on highway 108, you will begin to see Table Mountain shortly after passing the Red Hills area .)  The formation is obvious: a dark, flat-topped mountain with nearly vertical sides, rising above the surrounding foothill landscape.  The mountain that seems to wind sinuously through the foothills is a lava flow, the cast of an ancient riverbed.  A...