The Natural History Journal

Broad-Winged Hawk

Usually a secretive eastern forest species, at least three Broad-winged Hawks were observed the first week of October on Chico Basin Ranch.

Double-Crested Cormorants

Named for head feathers appearing during breeding season, Double-crested Cormorants were adversely affected after WWII when the use of DDT was permissible as a pesticide.

Circumpolar Species

Of the four species of longspur, Lapland Longspur is the most abundant with a worldwide population estimated at 150,000,000 breeding over a large circumpolar range.  On the Chico, they are...

Lynx Rufa

Bobcats are not rare on Chico Basin Ranch and although they are not tame they usually don’t run away if you stand still.

Second Annual Grasshopper Walk

One of the most important food items for nesting birds is grasshoppers. Last year the Chico grasshopper field trip tallied […]

Mourning Doves

Mourning Doves nest on the Chico and nest in 48 of our 50 states. Their common name comes from their […]

Grasshopper Walk

Twelve people joined Saturday’s grasshopper field trip sponsored by Chico Basin Ranch and the Mile High Bug Club. Participants were […]

Playa Lakes

Ephemeral lakes are full and attracting birds.

Mimicry

Queen and Viceroys mimic Monarch butterflies to escape predators.

Insect Bird Food

The majority of the over 10,000 bird species on planet Earth feed their young insects.  The flush of insects in […]momilebee

Nesting Season

Since the majority of Chico is a prairie, most of the breeding birds here are species that nest on or […]

Polygyny

In the species called Great-tailed Grackle (perfect name), neither the male or the female is usually faithful = it is […]

Welcome Back

The Mimid Family is composed of mockingbirds and thrashers, birds whose songs imitate other bird songs.

Polyandry and Phalaropes

If a male shorebird is going to incubate eggs then he will be less brightly colored than the female.  In […]

Who’s the Most Colorful

Male Bullock’s Orioles are loud and brightly colored yet are surprisingly difficult to see well except when they first arrive […]

One of our Dullest Sparrows

The dull sparrow named for John Cassin, a Philadelphia ornithologist,  is far more often heard than seen.  That is until […]

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