The Real Dirt

Not all birds commonly seen in Chico live here year-round. Some appear for just a few weeks during their spring or fall migration. Others may stay for the summer. Yellow-rumped Warblers and Dark-eyed Juncos are two species of birds that are quite often seen in the Central Valley during the winter, when they…

Loss of natural habitat is a serious threat to wildlife. How game birds have managed to recover after the wildfires that have roared through and incinerated our neck of the woods is a mystery, but they are again thriving in Paradise and other areas previously devastated by wildfires. Quail, too, are again…

Magpies are amazing birds! They are strikingly handsome, intelligent, and bold. They build nests with domed roofs and side entrances and decorate these homes with the bright shiny objects they collect. They hold funeral services for their dead. They can mimic human speech. A cartoon pair, the yellow-billed…

If we want to instill in our children a love of nature and raise a generation that will want to protect and preserve natural places, we need to get them hooked on birds. This is the wisdom behind many of the programs at Altacal Audubon, our local chapter of the non-profit Audubon Society. Altacal was formed…

Dogs in our gardens can present many challenges. Dogs usually want to please their humans, but the very nature of the beast does not always coincide with our gardening desires and expectations. Dogs can wear paths through yards in unexpected and unplanned places. They might dig unsightly holes, which can…