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Pursuing truth toward justice

The Valley Citizen

Pursuing truth toward justice
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Jim Gain

Learn 100 Valley Birds #5: Dark-eyed Junco

August 20, 2022 By Jim Gain 3 Comments

Dark-eyed Junco by Jim Gain

Among the many joys of birding, the arrival of winter visitors is an ongoing thrill. With September looming, birders and nature lovers will be looking forward to the arrivals of White- and Golden-crowned Sparrows as well as the distinctive “little birds with the hoods.” Here, Jim Gain gives us his usual spectacular images and the proper name of our distinctive winter visitors, those, “little birds with the hoods.” They should […]

Filed Under: Nature Tagged With: Jim Gain nature photography, Learn Valley Birds, San Joaquin Valley birds

Learn 100 Valley Birds #4: Western Kingbird

August 13, 2022 By Jim Gain 1 Comment

Western Kingbird by Jim Gain

Number 4 in Jim Gain’s “Learn 100 Valley Birds” series is the Western Kingbird. Anyone who’s driven along the Valley’s many country roads during spring and summer has seen Western Kingbirds, whether or not they know the name. Below, Jim describes the field marks for these beautiful birds, and also alerts observers to watch for the far less common Cassin’s Kingbird. Western Kingbirds are Common Summer Visitors to the San Joaquin Valley […]

Filed Under: Nature

Learn 100 Valley Birds #3: Common Valley Owls

August 7, 2022 By Jim Gain 4 Comments

Great Horned Owl by Jim Gain

Today’s post is another three-fer offering that includes the three owls that most Valley Visitors are likely to encounter in an urban setting: Great Horned Owl, Barn Owl and Western Screech-Owl. There are other possible owl species that one might come across in the grasslands and foothill woodlands away from town. One of those, the Burrowing Owl, will have its own future post and the others are considerably less likely […]

Filed Under: Nature Tagged With: Jim Gain nature photography, Learn 100 Valley Birds

Learn 100 Valley Birds #2: Anna’s Hummingbird

July 31, 2022 By Jim Gain Leave a Comment

Male Anna's Hummingbird by Jim Gain

Jim Gain calls Anna’s Hummingbird, the second in the “Learn 100 Birds” series, a “three-fer” because it illustrates one of the basic tactics for building a local birding list. This tactic involves knowing a birding fundamental: Learn the most common bird and you will often also learn one or two other similar but less common birds. The Anna’s Hummingbird offers a classic case. In the San Joaquin Valley, if you […]

Filed Under: Nature Tagged With: Birder Jim Gain, Jim Gain nature photography, Learn 100 Valley Birds

Learn 100 Valley Birds with Jim Gain

July 26, 2022 By Jim Gain 2 Comments

Scrub Jay for slider

Jim Gain’s Reflections of the Natural World is one of the finest online explorations of nature anywhere. Jim has graciously permitted us to publish his new series, “Learn 100 Common Valley Birds.” While it may sound daunting, with Jim’s expert help and superb photos, learning to identify 100 common species is not only possible, it’s a great incentive to get outside and enjoy the Valley’s splendid natural history.  Here’s Jim’s […]

Filed Under: Nature

When One “Least” Bird Leads to Another — a Rare Find

June 12, 2020 By Jim Gain Leave a Comment

Least Bittern by Eric Begin

  Jim Gain’s Reflection’s of the Natural World offers a record of his experiences in nature, documented by beautiful photographs and exciting narratives. He is one of our best local naturalists and photographers. The following is adapted from his latest post; the original has a bit more detail. The Discovery It was 6:30 am and I found myself, once again, in a restricted area at the southern part of the […]

Filed Under: Nature

Ultra-rare Gull Visits Stanislaus County

February 23, 2019 By Jim Gain 1 Comment

Few experiences in birding match the thrill of finding a “first” record, which involves not just seeing a bird for its first occurrence in a given place, but documenting (recording) its presence. His impressive skill at photography has enabled Jim Gain to document many of our rarest visitors, including the ultra-rare gull he found a few days ago. More of Jim’s birding adventures and superb photos are at his website, […]

Filed Under: Nature Tagged With: San Joaquin Valley birding, Stanislaus County birding

The Raven

February 14, 2019 By Jim Gain 2 Comments

Jim Gain is one of the San Joaquin Valley’s most accomplished naturalists and photographers. We’re pleased to publish one of his most recent posts. Find more of Jim’s fine work here. “Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, …” This post was supposed to be about Short-eared Owls, not about the embodiment of a symbolic metaphor for never-ending remembrance. THE PLAN WAS… Early yesterday morning as […]

Filed Under: Nature Tagged With: Birding in Merced Counting, Central Valley birding

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Off The Wire

Biden restores roadless protection to the Tongass, North America's largest rainforest
Biden restores roadless protection to the Tongass, North America’s largest rainforest
The Tongass National Forest in Alaska, a focus of political battles over old-growth logging and road-building in forests for decades, has received new protection from the Biden administration.
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Activists sue to block Newsom's homeless mental illness treatment program
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ACLU sues Phoenix over homeless sweeps, citations
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San Francisco?s homeless sweeps are unlawful ? and the city will pay for it
San Francisco’s homeless sweeps are unlawful and the city will pay for it
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www.sfchronicle.com
A year after opening 600 rooms to L.A.'s unhoused, the Cecil Hotel is still mostly empty. Here's why
A year after opening 600 rooms to L.A.’s unhoused, the Cecil Hotel is still mostly empty. Here’s why
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news.yahoo.com
Fentanyl on campus: One Bay Area school saved a student?s life. Another missed the signs of an overdose. Is your school ready?
Fentanyl on campus: One Bay Area school saved a student’s life. Another missed the signs of an overdose. Is your school ready?
Suddenly, Bay Area schools are playing a critical role in combating the alarming rise of fentanyl that is spilling onto high school campuses. But a Bay Area News Group survey found most may not be….
www.mercurynews.com

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PO Box 156
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