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The Real Dirt
The Real Dirt blog covers regional gardening issues from soil health to planting for pollinators; from fire resistant landscaping to attracting wildlife. Read all about it!
Raptors are birds of prey that hunt and feed on vertebrates. The term encompasses a group of birds consisting of hawks, owls, eagles, kites, falcons, and vultures. Because of their acute eyesight, strong beaks, and powerful feet with hooked talons, raptors are effective hunters. These birds are protected…
Recent scientific studies have confirmed that seeing and hearing birds makes people happy! Science is just beginning to back up something we humans have intuitively known for a very long time. A case in point is the bluebird, which has symbolized happiness in cultures around the globe for centuries.
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…
