Home Nature

Nature

Learn 100 Common Valley Birds: Species #69/100

Few things on earth fill us with as much delight as birds, and knowing them by name only adds to our pleasure. In California’s Central Valley, with only a little bit of effort, anyone can learn 100 local bird species. Valley residents almost daily come in contact with at least a dozen species that most […]

Learn 100 Common Valley Birds: Species #68/100

Few things on earth fill us with as much delight as birds, and knowing them by name only adds to our pleasure. In California’s Central Valley, with only a little bit of effort, anyone can learn 100 local bird species. Valley residents almost daily come in contact with at least a dozen species that most […]

“Birder’s Logic” Leads to a Rare Pair in Stanislaus County

Jim Gain’s tours through nature can be seen here. So it’s a hot day in the San Joaquin Valley, the chores are done, you’ve got a few hours to yourself and you choose to visit one of the most unlikely places the average person might think of. Maybe only a dedicated birder could figure out […]

Super Rare Visitor Wows Valley Birders

It was only fitting that Stanislaus Audubon Society Board member Jodi Smith found one the rarest birds ever to visit the San Joaquin Valley. Smith was enjoying the wetland and riparian habitat at the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge last Saturday when she peered through her binoculars and saw a stunning pink bird in […]

Posts #62-67 in Jim Gain’s “Learn 100 Common Valley Birds”

Jim Gain’s series, “Learn 100 Common Valley Birds” may be the best introduction anywhere to the common birds of the San Joaquin Valley. An accomplished naturalist and superb photographer, Jim offers the beginning birder quick and easy lessons for identifying and enjoying the common birds around us. We’ve previously published complete versions of each previous […]

Species #60 & 61 in “Learn 100 Common Valley Birds”

We’re proud to present another double feature of Jim Gain’s “Learn 100 Common Valley Birds.” Jim’s brief and informative texts help frame his spectacular photos and make learning the common birds around us a welcome opportunity to enjoy the eternal joys of living nature. ed Great Egret: Learn 100 Common Valley Birds  Species #60/100 In […]

Western Grebe: #36 in Learn 100 Valley Birds (Species 57/100)

We’re proud to publish Jim Gain’s series, “Learn 100 Common Valley Birds.” Below, Jim’s beautiful photos help distinguish between the common Western Grebe and the less seen Clark’s Grebe. Both can be found on bodies of water throughout the Valley. ed Few things on earth fill us with as much delight as birds, and knowing […]

A Woodpecker “Double Dip” in “Learn 100 Valley Birds”

We’re proud to publish Jim Gain’s “Learn 100 Common Valley Birds” series. Jim’s concise texts and spectacular photos may be the quickest and best way to learn the common birds around us. Below, find a “double dip” into local woodpeckers. ed. Few things on earth fill us with as much delight as birds, and knowing […]

Gulls in the Valley? “Yes,” says Jim Gain

The Valley Citizen is proud to feature Jim Gain’s series, “Learn 100 Common Valley Birds,” a guide to the most common birds in the San Joaquin Valley. Daunting as it may seem, most people can learn to recognize 100 species if they enjoy going outdoors and developing a closer relationship with nature. Even getting to […]

Valley Blackbirds: #29 in “Learn 100 Common Valley Birds” (49, 50, & 51 + 1)

For nature lovers, Jim Gain’s Reflections of the Natural World is like a field trip into   exotic regions where birds are revealed in all their glorious splendor. We’re proud to publish his series, “Learn 100 Common Valley Birds.” See more of Jim’s fine work here. ed.  Red-winged Blackbird #49 The Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is […]