Essays by Rex Burress: Naturalist, Artist and Photographer
The "River Watcher" is a spin-off of my fondness for rivers in general, and especially for Grand River, near where I grew up in Missouri. It has spun off also from a lifetime of taking notes, journal-keeping, the pursuit of art, being a professional naturalist, and writing for several publications.
"Nature I Loved--and Next to Nature, Art." --Walter Savage Langor
The Keys to Understanding: As I rummaged in my pocket to find the magic key to open the Feather River Nature Center, it occurred to me that the sliver of flat steel, when turned in the lock, opened the door to a vast amount of nature information. <<More>
The Future of Camping: The word 'camp' has been a big joy in my life, as it denotes a connection with nature and a specific piece of ground quite often in a snug spot in a scenic setting. <<More>>
Grasshopper Invasions: Grasshoppers are often as noticeable as butterflies in the good old summertime when insects have their chance to dance in the heat! <<More>>
The Trees Must Fall: I was out again before sunrise watering plants in expectation of another near 100+ July day. Plants have power but first they must have water. Power springs loose a certain savvy that some call intelligence! <<More>>
Surge of the Sturgeon: A fishing item in the M-R paper indicates “Sturgeon, America's forgotten dinosaurs,” are increasing in the Northeast U.S after nearly being depleted for their caviar eggs. <<More>>
On Loving Our Neighbors: Most people are inclined to love our neighbors...as long as the neighbor is a nice little friendly family, or quiet retirees, who go to bed at a reasonable hour, and don't have noisy animals, but when it comes to loving our insect neighbors, a line is usually drawn! <<More>>
The Power of Plants: I was out again before sunrise watering plants in expectation of another near 100+ July day. Plants have power but first they must have water. Power springs loose a certain savvy that some call intelligence! <<More>>
A Time To Be a Parent: Spring is the time for the resurgence of all wild animals as they go about the steps of raising a family. Thus there is a certain season for reproduction, except for mankind, who seems to indulge in sex all year long! <<More>>
The Color of Nature: Something new has appeared in my woodsy backyard and made itself right at home! <<More>>
Invaders from the East: “Giant African Snails seized at Los Angeles airport.” Thus stated a news item telling about 67 prohibited African snails being confiscated at the L.A. Airport. They are banned because they are eight inches long and will eat any kind of crop, and possibly spread disease. <<More>>
Imperfect Webs: Although I'm usually watching the river, one day I was in the bathroom watching a long-legged spider trying to climb up a slick tile. <<More>>
The Curse of the Chigger: A conversation was occurring in the Feather River Nature Center about tiny insects and things that bite. That's the first question asked about practically any animal by the uninformed! “Can it bite?” Well, if its got a mouth, it can bite! <<More>>
The Wonder of Watching a Bird: One of the wonders of the world is to see a wild bird flying. Although mankind has been able to take to the air with metal devices, birds attained the wild freedom of the skies with body and feathers long ago, and gave us an inspiring facet of nature to love and admire. <<More>>
Life in a Cemetery: I was reminded of life in a cemetery by a photograph of a bald eagle perched on a headstone in a military uniformity of headstones. The eagle's choice must have been random, and then again was there a spiritual reason? However, ground squirrels were abundant around the stones. <<More>>
The Return of the Red-Legged Frog: The Threatened Red-legged frog under the Endangered Species Act has returned to Yosemite Valley after an absence of ten years, so states a news item!
This is especially good news for Batrachophiles or Frogophiles [ frog lovers] to hear about California's largest and endemic frog that's in a stage of recovery. Most everyone enjoys the presence of Rana aurora draytonii, but the introduction of the much larger Bullfrog [Rana catesbeiana] almost wiped them out until the bullfrogs were controlled. It's like “reduce one predator species to save another species!” <<More>
A Time to Rise and Shine: The May meeting at the Feather River Nature Center adjourned at six o'clock—and as I departed I saw shiny white blossoms breaking out of the long branch-stems of the Wavey-leafed Soap Plant along the road! <<More>>
What's in a Pill? When I see a robin, or a cedar waxwing, swallow a pyracantha berry, I think of a person swallowing a pill. Yet, that bird knows what it's getting, which is not always the case with human pill swallowers. <<More>>
The Matter of Moths: Alongside my chair, I had left a sealed plastic container with a couple leftover Cheerios, and to my surprise a few weeks later, I noticed half a dozen trapped food moths fluttering inside! <<More>>
The Coming of Conservation: In reviewing a conservation article, it occurred to me that conserving America's natural resources was long in coming for the four centuries after Columbus's arrival in 1492. <<More>>
Winners and Losers: Another irony of life is that in nearly every activity or game there is a winner and a loser. All the million-dollar ball games—baseball, football, basketball—all the horse races, car races—all depend on a winner. The winner wins because there was a loser. Ironic! <<More>>
A Black Widow Under the Lid: When I lifted the garbage can lid, I was startled by a big black spider with a red hour-glass marking, most obviously a black widow! <<More>>The Other Side: Writers will be gleaning stories from the Paradise fire for years, but of course, that's no justification for having the fire. Like wars, those gruesome, historical affairs make books and movies that go on forever, but we could definitely do without wars and wildfires that destroy Earth. <<More>>
Killing in the Forest: After wide spread fire-destruction in western forests in the summer of 2018, the debate started about thinning the woods to help prevent rampant wildfires. <<More>>
The Hunter Decline: The flower-lovers of Butte County. who traditionally go up on Table Mountain to see the local spring wildflower spectacle, were surprised this year when they encountered a big sign just inside the turnstile informing visitors that a $4.31 pass was required for entrance!
What is Biodiversity? To some people outside the 'defenders of wildlife' circle, the term 'biodiversity' might not be understood, and it is a relatively new word. It's not in my 1981 Collegiate Websters, but Google defines it as “The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.” It was first used by wildlife scientist Raymond F. Dasmann in 1968, and by the 1980's was in common usage as a shortened phase for 'Biological diversity.' <<More>>
We're All In This Together: Imagine me, a defender of birds against cats, starting out this story with a cat! That shows you I love cats in general. <<More>>
Whose Woods These Are: Around Oroville, CA, there are a few accessible wooded plots, mostly in parks and places along the river where trees have protection. Without constant scrutiny, it's remarkable how quickly and quietly trees disappear and most often they are not replaced, or replaced with the right species, especially around cities. I always think of the premature loss of Oroville's Graveyard Sycamores. <<More>>
The Age of Things: Senior citizens are naturally interested in the age of things, especially in the age of other seniors! Naturally, there would be some interest in how long other animals live, including dinosaurs, a symbol of antiquity. <<More>>
The Black Walnut: The regrettable western wildfires are blackening forests, damaging many species, primarily conifers, but including hardwoods, black oaks, black walnuts, and everything woody...and alive! <<More>>
Making Connections: How difficult it must have been for the U.S. Mail to make delivery connections in the Redding, CA area during the Carr Fire and other fire areas. Think of the difficulty the living wild animals had in finding food!
A Time for Tea Water: The subject of growing tea is a rather welcome relief from all the marijuana-growing issues that non-smoking residents have been burdened with in recent times, but the overall consideration about any kind of planting is the amount of total water it will consume on its way to maturity. That especially applies to drought conditions in spite of a politician's denial of a drought in California! Resident people and plants know better! <<More>>
The Last Feather: The one feather rested on the ground under my bird bath like a screaming indication of what had happened. <<More>>
Fish Bait Is a Fool's Game: The first step for a fisherman to catch a fish is to have the proper bait. The entire endeavor is to fool the fish into grabbing your hook disguised with a food enticement or deceitful imitation.
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Dreamwers Are Searching: In this day and age, dreamers are not merely thinkers planning inventions and trips into the great unknown, but includes various illegal foreign kids trapped in America by unfortunate political circumstances and dreaming about what their future could be. <<More>>
How Do They Drink the Water? With water much on the mind of every living thing during these torrid days of summer, I thought about how animals utilize the precious fluid . <<More>>
Separate Solutions: There are many types of separation, even beyond the 2018 Mexican border conflict involving separation of children and parents. <<More>>
Fireflies Don't Start Fires: Back in my homeland of Missouri, sometime in the sultry summer, sparkling lights will decorate the meadows in the evening time. <<More>>
When is a Locust a Grasshopper? Certain grasshopper species in Africa, Asia, Australia, and some other continents are called locust when they go into a swarming stage, flying in great masses of a million or more for long distances to reach vegetated areas, literally stripping the landscape of plants. In biblical times such attacks were associated with plagues, and the farmers had no efficient way of stopping them. <<More>>
The Faraway Deployment: I have a show-piece military khaki cap worn by my nephew Joe Henry when he was deployed in Afghanistan. I prize that symbol of his dedication and effort for America, and I also think of it as a symbol of the way things are spread around the world. <<More>>
Magic in the Woodland: Up in the mountain woodlands, near the shore of Spanish Creek, nestled in a brushy clearing and surrounded by a circle of towering pine trees, there is a magical place where the Lady Slipper orchid rises from the forest floor each year along in May. <<More>>
Three Deer Cornered: Jutting out into the river above Bedrock Park is a long finger of a rocky peninsula anchored by ravaged shrubs and small trees. The twisted tangles that repel people, fashions nice habitat for thicket critters, and my attention was taken by three deer and one little stray dog. <<More>>
The Mystery of Emergence: We think we know about the European emergence in America, but what about the other settlers that were present thousands of years before that time? <<More>>
A Locust Tree Along the River: Down by the riverside, near Bedrock Park, snuggled along the shore, is a grove of locust trees that stand stark and somber during the winter, but burst to life come spring with fragrant white blossoms and new deciduous leaves.
Is It Love? If You have watched those nest-site videos of eagles feeding their tiny babies with their massive beaks, you'll marvel at how tenderly the parent offers a tidbit of meat to the gaping baby mouth.
Running On Two Legs: I was sympathetic to read of the students running from the pint-sized killer at the Parkland, Florida school shooting. I can imagine the feeling of fear--that total hopeless nightmarish fear like when you can't run fast enough to escape the pursuing devil-monster of death in a dream! More>>
The Quest for Gold Goes On: Suction dredge-miners want to get the CA ban removed as bad as marijuana growers want full reign to grow their weed! When money is involved, mankind makes extraordinary effort to reach paydirt! Presently, the courts have left the suction mining ban stand. More>>
What is a Botanical Garden? Since botany concerns the biology of plants, it should seem obvious that a garden of botanical species is about plants. Yet, there are various specializations in gardens, with maintenance and knowledge being common features of dealing with the vegetative kingdom thus collected. More>>
Pay for Nature? In a time when every organization seems to be jumping on the “fee” bandwagon, it came as a surprise to many outdoor lovers that a “Lands Pass” would need to be purchased for walking onto the wildflower fields of Table Mountain this spring. More>>
Powder to Guns: My study on gun powder and guns was heightened with the showing of “Frontiersman” on the History channel, featuring Daniel Boone and the establishment of Fort Boonesborough in Kentucky in 1775. More>>
The Thing About Guns: The thing about guns is that they're useless for shooting bullets without gun powder! More>>
Coverings for the Body: Did it ever strike you as strange that mankind is the only animal finding the need to wear clothing over their skin? More>>
Broken But Not Beaten: I was hiking once in Sunol's Sycamore Gulch when I found a gallant old sycamore broken in half with the wind-blown section sprawled in the rocky stream bed. The rooted snag was continuing to support leaves, and the story of “broken but not beaten” was so dramatic that I did an oil painting of the scene. Since then I have found numerous examples of that gallant resurgence and the will to hold on to life under less than ideal conditions. More>>
The Surge of the Spring Season: Animals and plants are eager to start the new year, even in January when freezing cold covers the Midwest and winter fights to hold on a little longer against the advancing heat of the sun. Pictures of a pair of bald eagles on a gigantic stick nest appeared from a site in Missouri in mid-January this year, and like penguins tending an egg in the blizzards of Antarctica, they, too, appeared ready to lay the egg whatever the weather. Great-Horned Owls also begin brooding eggs in winter. Feathers seem inadequate against ice, but birds do it. More>>
Egg Watch: My breakfast egg had a thin shell and broke before I got it fully in the pan! Amid the mumbling about the mess, I started thinking about the great DDT dilemma we had in the mid-1900's when Rachel Carson sounded the alarm with her book, “Silent Spring.” More>>
The Bear Experience: The stories of big animals, as with stories of big fish, are prone to be enhanced in the excitement of the recall. First it was big elk that inspired me, then big moose, and now comes the third major North American monstrosity, the bear. Big records, however, must be verified to be official. More>>
A New Year: The dawning of 2018 appeared much like the entire month of December 2017—dry and calm for Oroville, CA! But elsewhere in the East a winter ice-storm convened.
For years it became my ritual to climb to Lone Tree in the Las Trampas Wilderness Park across the valley from Mt. Diablo on New Years Day. My family and I lived at and maintained Westminister Retreat at the base of those “Corduroy Hills” near Alamo, CA, which made access handy, and the large, lone live oak was a landmark and objective. More>>
Life Can Be Messy Business: The “Dirty Jobs” TV program has stressed a number of jobs as dirty, depending on what you think 'dirt' is, but some might call it 'messy,' as are most biological activities of a mucus nature. More>>
Big Cat Week: After a skirmish with the bird-eating neighborhood housecat recently, I discovered that there is an official “Big-Cat Week” most years, sponsored by National Geographic, and a new series of cat programs are forth-coming, including Big Cat Initiatives that put emphasis on protection. More>>
The Elk Are Coming! The Elk Are Coming! ...Therein lies the major problem of all wildlife, especially something as big as a 700 pound, two-toed ungulate elk. It 's about habitat space. Since the colonization and settlement of America, nearly every available plot of land has been claimed and occupied by agriculturalists or cities. Only parks and public lands offer protected habitat, and even that is imperiled by profit seekers. More>>
The Personal Touch: It is evident that certain people have a certain understanding with certain animals at certain times. More>>
Bushtits are Birds: In front of the Feather River Nature Center, I was watching the train rumble along up on the tracks above the Center, and at the same time, flying through the thickets along the river was a string of thirty birds, weaving from one shrub to another like a game of follow the leader, pausing just long enough to fleece some insects from the branches. Their social circle seemed unbroken, as in the song, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” At least they were sticking together for some reason. More>>
Pipelines and Rivers: The 2016 pipeline protest incident in North Dakota, involving a plan to move oil from the Dakota's to Illinois via a pipeline located near Native American reservation land and rivers, has made people aware of the peril to the environment, as well as the immense multitude of pipes strung all over earth. The effort is precarious as metal pipes can rust or break, and even plastic is not forever. More>>
Sounds of the Season: Now it is autumn and as colder weather approaches, the insects will go into winter dormancy, not to toot their shrieks until the warmth of the springtime. Winter sounds will be mostly the Sound of Silence! But go to the marshes and hear the call of the wild goose! Know them by their signs of the seasons. More>>
Gypsy Lives Matter: In a time when many races of people are seeking recognition, Gypsies in America, also the Sikh communities, and the Amish, have quietly endured, although long subjected to repression. More>>
Coming of the Wolves: The reentry of wolves into California and their new protective listing as endangered in the state has created quite a stir, especially between those who fear their presence, and those who admire and favor their protection. More>>
Where Will Lightning Strike Next? There are those who believe in predestiny with fate being determined previously by some power in a vague dimension of control. More>>
For the Love of Birds: Any bird lovers out there? The change into the autumn season awakens the wonder of migratory birds on the wing once again, and with expectations we watch the sky for the first arrivals from the north. More>>
The Business of Banding: The word “band” is usually connected with a musical performance, or a group of people banding together to achieve a goal, or a bunch of tree-lovers banded together to try and save a group of cherished trees (Save Oroville's Trees!). More>>
Deep in September: In the lengthening shadows of September, when finally it seemed there was relief from the 40 days over 100 degrees for 2017 around Oroville, CA, I noticed that the national low temperature for 9-16-17 was 17 Degrees F at Bodie California State Park! More>>
Wind Across the Glades: When the hurricane winds and water were blowing across Florida, I thought of the everglades and wondered what damage was being wrought on those spacious marsh lands. More>>
Bambi Again: One of the most distressing pictures of the 2017 fire season around Oroville, was of a shabby deer inspecting its burnt-out habitat.
The well-timed photograph shows the deer with its mouth open as if calling out in dismay at the sight of nothing green to browse on amid the charred branches. Photographer Bill Husa of the M-R made the descriptive shot up along Lumpkin Road after the Ponderosa Fire swept through the woods. The deer's hair is singed, the antler looks damaged, and the hind quarters are coated with a red-brown color probably from the fire-retardant. More>>
Harvesting Life on Earth: Every time I read about overruns in harvesting natural resources on earth, I wince, as it brings out the conservationist in me. People around me may wince, too, as my criticism of overkill might seem annoying and too sternly expressed. More>>
The MIghty Seed: There are about 10,000 species of Poa's in the world, and some are drifters, sending their hopes to the wind, while others hitchhike their way to some anchorage conductive to growth. More>>
Support From Supporters: During the February Flood of 2017, I noticed a small cottonwood tree had fallen into the woody embrace of a larger cottonwood down by the riverside. The smaller tree still had part of its roots anchored, and the two would probably be intertwined for life! More>>
A Hole in the Wall: Along Yard Street in Oroville, there is a concrete retaining wall, and in a drain hole I could see a spider had set up shop. Webs were wound around the opening such as a funnel-web spider would make, except the funnel was a man-made steel pipe.
Certain animals are quick to take advantage of making holes a home, whether ready-made like a birdhouse, or a bat house, or whether made by a den-digger such as a badger, or chiseled into a tree by a woodpecker. Accidental homes like the drain pipe seem designed for hole-loving animals. Ultimately, natural hollows and crevices in trees are in great demand. More>>
The Housecat Syndrome: While sitting in my patio swing early one morning, I saw the neighbor's cat walking through my garden jungle. Previously, I have chased that cat out of my mini-wildlife refuge, especially in the spring when fledgling birds are on the ground.
But by summer the chances of a cat catching an adult bird is slimmer, and I tolerate 'Spotty' on a pass-through presence. Maybe it could visit at night and catch a rat, although in the day it is more apt to catch a lizard--and definitely discourage birds from drinking at my bird bath. It even jumps onto the bird bath for a drink, and not so acceptable is the “pee-U-spray” on a flower container it uses for a toilet. But I compassionately condone the cute cat to where it sometimes pauses for a cautious petting. More>>
On The Importance of Museums and Nature Centers: In case anyone has forgotten, while in the pursuit of domestic business, or traumatized by anxieties caused by flood and fire around Oroville, what the importance of museums and nature centers is all about. Maybe we need some fresh reminders. More>>
Dear of the Wild: She was there early in the morning, wearing only buckskin with reddish blond hair, and her legs were slim but strong. More>>
What Is There That Loves a Cave? Over-heated people could certainly love a 57 F cave during the string of 100-plus degree days in Oroville July 2017! Early mankind loved caves when they could be found. Caves in Europe were a big attraction for Cavemen, not only to provide shelter, but the walls promoted a place for some pioneering art work. More>>
Walls of Fire and Stone: Aside from the ominous “Wall Fire” near Oroville July 2017, various walls have been erected throughout the world ever since civilization brought different groups of people together, and now there is talk of a wall to cut us off from the beautiful country of Mexico. A man-made wall, or a fence, generally indicates a certain concern about keeping something in or something out. Robert Frost spoke of this in his poem, “Mending Wall; ...Before I built a wall I'd ask to know/What I was walling in or walling out...” More>>
The Wish List: Nearly everyone has a wish list, or as some say, a bucket list, of fond objectives and adventure desires of all kinds all over the world. More>>
Imperfect Webs: Although I'm usually watching the river, one day I was in the bathroom watching a long-legged spider trying to climb up a slick tile.
When it lost its grip and fell to the floor, I thought of those climbers in Yosemite scaling El Capitan and saved from a fall only by safety ropes. “Imperfection exists in everything,” I thought. But the inspired contestants of life get up and try again. So it was with the spider. It connected with a web it was weaving in the corner-- a fruitless endeavor unless a rare fly enters the house. More>>
The Joy of Discovery: The river had finally settled down during a calm break after a riotous winter of dam spillway spills of high water, and I could actually see the gravel bars and mangled trees at Bedrock Park. More>>
From Whence Cometh the Wind? The westerly winds blew most of March and into early May, sending mixed weather across California and on to places eastward. The 2017 wind was blowing clouds across the sky again on June 11th. Who knows where the wind comes from, or where it goes? It blows as if with a mind of its own. More>>
The Right Place: One of the keys of life is being in the right place, at the right time, with the right stuff. Think Teddy; “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” Or think real estate; “Location, location, location!” More>>
What's Flying Over the River? I paused by the river in mid-May, and blowing upstream, bourne by a brisk breeze, were thousands of tiny white fluffs of cottonwood seeds in the air, traveling like little ambassadors of the trees, hoping to spread their species. More>>
"The Watchers": I hadn't intended to watch much of the TV History channel's program on “Ancient Aliens,” as some of that script verges on dubious UFO lore, but as things come to things, I was drawn in by the theme of “Watchers.” More>>
The Future of the Riversides: A recent news item featured the effectiveness of a redesigned levee system where more flood plain was provided to allow for water to spread through a series of small levees. Good idea!
What happened to the original flood plain that also acted as wildlife habitat? The short answer is that people have occupied the riversides wherever possible with their projects without allowing the flood plain setback to absorb floods— building and farming right up to the edge in many cases! More>>
Bigfoot Lives On? Although the Bigfoot legend has pretty well been laid to rest after 50 years of watching and searching, there will always be believers in monsters and the supernatural.
People love their monster-mysteries as it stirs certain juices and lifts the imagination out of routine living that is often prone to produce problems and dread. It doesn't take much to distort truthful imagery into the realms of fantasy, hence we have Godzilla, Star Wars, UFO's, Picasso's, Yeti's, Fairies, Bigfeet, abstracts, and aliens, which is not all bad as the stimulation stirs creative passions that adds to the fun and joy of life. More>>
Tales of Fox Tails: Suddenly it seemed that spring was almost gone on April 6, 2017! Cool rain started falling in the morning as if the season was reverting to winter. But summer was indicated by the quick development of grass stems loaded with seeds that were waving in the wind after several days of heat as if they feared loss of surface moisture.
Suddenly the wild oats and foxtail grasses were ready to go! “Go” means to disperse to greener fields by sticking sharp spiny seedpod-barbs into animal fur or human clothing and riding along to new growing grounds! More>>
How Are Your Foundations? When is a skull like the foundation of a house? The cranium rather holds a blobby brain together, just as about anything is dependent on the firmness of a foundation, whether it is concrete supporting a building, or bones stabilizing a human body. More>>
Making Tracks on Earth: The thing about gravity is that it pulls everything down to earth, pulling footsteps into soft dirt, sand, or mud and leaving a sign of anything passing that way. Like a shadow, you can't escape it.
Tracks are a simple deduction, but often with our eyes looking straight ahead we overlook signs on the soil or things in the sky. Unless you're a habitual rockhound you may miss that coin in the dust or the rattlesnake at the side of the path! Fossils are part of the ground scene, too, and those mineralized remnants of the past have been eagerly sought in order to shed some light on what happened long ago. Fossils cling to the earth like a child to its mother. More>>
Collectors Are Not Always Tax Collectors: It seems that everyone collects something, whether it's nature's curios or art or buttons or many other tangible things considered beautiful and important by the collector. Society thrives on the human characteristic to collect and accumulate objects considered as something of value. More>>
Harvesting Life on Earth: Every time I read about overruns in harvesting natural resources on earth, I wince, as it brings out the conservationist in me. People around me may wince, too, as my criticism of overkill might seem annoying and too sternly expressed. More>>
The Shape of Things: It seems to me...the shape of things could be compared to the state of things, as in the State of the Union annual message, or the physical state of a human body when trying to get in a healthier shape. The shape of things defines our visible world! More>>
Serpentine at the Spillway? The front-page comment recently about the dam spillway was that asbestos had appeared in the earth mix. Asbestos, the widespread mineral sometimes associated with our official state rock, serpentine, has been detected, the news item stated. More>>
A Time To Watch the Earth: I've been watching earth-things since March 9, 1933, when I was born on my Grandfather's farm in Grundy County, Missouri. More>>
Is Oroville Safe? Since the Oroville Dam spillway failure and the evacuation scare, there is various degrees of apprehension for those living downstream from the reservoir. Is Oroville safe? More>>
The Flowers That Bloom in the Spring: Blossoming flowers usually means pollination and various kinds of pollinators are involved, which is the main motive of the blooming crowd on Table Mountain in the springtime. At the same time, you know all of those exposed attractions of the female body underlies human reproduction,too! More>>
Watch the River for Observations: At a bird-watching time just before the January 25-29 Snow Goose Festival, I stopped along the Feather River and looked out over the flowing water. From a thicket a few feet away, a tiny ruby-crowned kinglet dashed upward to catch an insect, inspiring me to pause and stare for a moment. More>>
Search for Still Water: The rowdy winter of 2016-17 has stirred up some high, fast river water! Before the break in the dam spillway, levels were already reaching 'road closure' status along the river through Oroville, and effectively scattering the winter waterfowl bunch and leaving few still pools for leisurely lingering. There is no relaxing on turbulent waters that race downstream as if eager to wipe out everything in order to reach the ocean. More>>
What Is Your American Dream? When I read about sculptor-artist Kyle Campbell's art exhibit in Chico and his impressions of “the American Dream,” I wondered what The Dream represented for other people, especially those involved in the interpretation of nature. More>>
If a Bird Dies Does Anyone Care? Birds die everyday, usually not even noticed, but one bird that died on the Feather River a few days ago in January 2017, has created quite a stir for those who care! More>>
Cottonwood Along the Feather River: One by one I watched the last ten leaves disappear from the branches of a small cottonwood down by the riverside. It was rather poetic to see them twisting in the breeze until they all joined together on the ground, “to make one texture of faded brown,” as Robert Frost said. More>>
Atmospheric Rivers: A different kind of river has come into our midst during the “pineapple express-beginning” of new year 2017 around Oroville! Only this time it is called an “atmospheric river” of rain, much needed in the parched state...until it turns into an “earthly flood!” More>>
Road Maps Are Not For the Birds: With the anticipated coming of a new spring season, migratory birds that spent the winter with us in central California will take off for the north to the call of the wild. Unlike the human traveler, they are not burdened with road maps, GPS homing devices transferring signals from a satellite, or a car full of accessories.
From goose to gadwall to grebe, they all have what they need. Swallow, swift, shrike—birds have it right with all they need for flight! More>>