Natural History Journal

With Easter, perhaps my favorite holiday, on the way and new life bursting out in bud and bloom all around us, I wanted to share a piece written last year, in celebration of spring and the offer of New Life made available to us all!

Last year, Eric and I spent the month of June traveling through England and Scotland, visiting amazing historic sites, touring places connected with our favorite classic literature, rambling across the stunningly beautiful British countryside, and of cour…

While it's always fun to come across any indication of a beaver's presence in the landscape, without a doubt seeing one of these amazing creatures in the wild is much more exciting!

Instantly recognizable by its prickly appearance and known for its [mistaken] reputation of throwing dangerous barbed quills toward would-be attackers, porcupines are perhaps simultaneously one of North America's most and least well-known mammals.

Last June, Eric and I had the opportunity to spend the month in the UK, taking in its incredible natural beauty and rich history.

Earlier this January, we spent several days exploring the lush, ferny redwood groves and mossy Sitka spruce forests of northwestern California, and while hiking through this enchanting habitat, observing the plants, birds and other wildlife, it occurred to

While we began our trip across the UK last June in London, we certainly didn't stay there!

Worldwide, wetlands are among the most species-rich habitats on our planet, home to a wealth of birds and other wildlife.

This past summer, Eric and I spent the month of June traveling in England and Scotland.

One of my favorite groups of birds, and certainly one of the most entertaining to watch, is the woodpecker family.

Among all the wild critters likely to be encountered on any outdoor adventure in various habitats across North America, chipmunks and tree squirrels are surely among the most conspicuous.

Summer is upon us, and with any luck, that means vacation.

It would not be difficult to convince me that there is something beautiful about every bird, but in my opinion, a handful of species that arrive in or pass through California's Great Central Valley during spring migration are particularly gorgeous.

On the dry, desolate, rocky slopes of remote desert regions across the western U.S. there lives a bird known to some as... the "devil bird."

When first composing this piece, I considered titling it "The Gospel of Nature."

Tucked away in the southeastern corner of California is an ecosystem like no other: the vast Mojave Desert.

Spring is upon us, and for most birders and naturalists in North America that means one very special thing: Nesting season has arrived!

You've heard about our state bird, the California Quail.

As a group, mammals are surprisingly diverse.

Mammals are among the most exciting types of wildlife to see, but also some of the most difficult.

Tree Swallows are, in my opinion, one of our most beautiful birds, with their pure white undersides and iridescent blue heads and backs.

In a state known for its incredible biodiversity, one county stands above the rest in terms of sheer number of species: San Diego County.

The other day, while exploring one of the remaining patches of wetlands around my county, I came across a furry little critter that was a complete surprise for me: an American Mink!

Not all blackbirds are black birds.

American Robins are one of the most common and recognizable birds across the North American continent.