ABirdingNaturalist

The "Oregon" type Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) includes the smallest subspecies. This is something that I just read, and it is a reminder for all of us to keep learning!

What have you learned recently?

#birds #learning #knowledge #nature #photography

That's a really nice shot of a good looking bird!

Anna's Hummingbirds are very common in their range, but I think this means they get overshadowed easily. Check out the map from Cornell in the second image. This species is not widespread, so is a pretty special bird for those of us lucky enough to live along side them! #birds #photography #nature

They can be a suspicious lot!

The blue streaks on the forehead of this Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) mark it as a coastal bird. Interior birds have white streaks.

#birds #photography #nature #identification

In honor of Read Across America Day, I have a few suggestions! These are all books by wonderful local authors in Sacramento/SF Bay Area well worth the reads (and my book is in there, too)!

#Books #ReadAcrossAmerica #nature #naturewriting #reading #authors #California

Side-by-side versions of a Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) photo. It was a foggy morning, so the colors were never going to be great. Photo 1, I focused on details. Photo 2, shape. What do you think? #birds #photography #nature

Last week, I spent a day with the SLEWS program guiding high school as we planted native plants and learned about soils and water! #SLEWS #landbasedlearning #science #conservation #habitat #restoration #wildlifeconservationboard

I'm very pleased to report that all three of my projects were approved!!!

Today is the February meeting of the Wildlife Conservation Board! I'm presenting three projects (~$7.6 million) to restore streams and rivers across California! Check back in today to hear how things went! #California #wildlife #habitat #restoration #science

Marsh Wrens (Cistothorus palustris) are feisty denizens of the marshes they are named for across the contiguous US and Mexico. #birds #wetlands #nature #marsh #photography

California has about 20 species of native willow. I have no idea what this one is (ID help?), but it was fascinating to use a macro lens to get closer and closer to these blossoms! #tree #willow #blossoms #nature #California

I caught this action sequence through fog. A pair of Common Ravens (Corvus corax) harassed a Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) that passed through their territory. #hawk #Ravens #birds #action #photography

Completely understandable!

That's awesome! I hope finds some. This bird was just a bit west of the Bypass, so they are definitely around!

Ring-necked Pheasants, like this female, were introduced to North America from Asia in 1773 in Oregon, then Washington in 1883, and California in 1889. More were added eastward once it was seen that populations did well. Now they are found across much of the USA. #bird #nature #invasive #photography

Pied-billed Grebes (Podilymbus podiceps) get a silvery bill with a stark, black, vertical stripe on it. One member of this pair is starting to show this field mark, but the other is not yet. Breeding is interesting! #birds #science #nature #photography

I just had an adult Peregrine Falcon circle past my office windows!!! I'm on the 17th floor, so it was amazingly cool to be eye level with this bird!!! #raptor #urbanbirds #birding #Sacramento

Thanks very much!

Yellow-rumped Warblers (Setophaga coronata), like this female, will be heading back to thier breeding grounds in the next month or two, but for now we can still enjoy these birds! #birds #nature #photography #warbler #birding #ABirdingNaturalist

In keeping with the grey weather we are having in the Delta, here is a photo i took on a grey morning in Siskiyou County of a Juniper woodland. #California #tree #landscape #photography

Yeah, this project definitely has the potential to help us tell what is going on with many species!

100%!!!

California's First Breeding Bird Atlas YouTube video by A Birding Naturalist

youtu.be/cM8ea5RYIHA?...

The California Bird Atlas is an exciting new project that is just getting underway to record all the species of bird that breed in the state, where they breed, and when! To learn more, check out my new video (link in the first comment below). #birds #California #science #CaliforniaBirdAtlas

Yeah, and going to continue to make things better and better!

On the same trip as the baby salmon (see my last post) I saw this American Kestrel (Falco sparverius drop into the grasses. It came up with something that I first thought was some grass, but then realized was a Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)!!! #birds #photography #nature #snake

You bet!

These are the same species as the Silver Salmon.

Yes it is, and that is a tragedy! The ESA is a profoundly important and powerful law that we, as a society, should be lifting up and not tearing down.