As I left McKinley Library around 2pm today, my eyes were drawn to the backlighting of the inland seagulls as they flitted here and there around the pond. As I was snapping away more people gathered around tossing food to the fowl, which was a good thing. I ended up catching the backlighting effect in a few of the shots. Here's the best out of 360 shots: After awhile it became monotonous!

  California’s predators come in many shapes and sizes. The mountain lion hunts the forests of the Sierras and the coyote stalks the grasslands and the foothills, but the clear California skies are the domain of a wide variety of predators large and small, the magnificent raptors. On Saturday afternoon, several dozen people packed the small auditorium at the Splash Education Center at Mather Field to learn about these amazing birds. The Raptor Rapture program was facilitated by special guests Bill Corbett and David Haro, falconers and raptor rehabilitation specialists. Falconry is the ancient sport of training raptors to hunt from a human’s hand, usually hawks and falcons. In the Unit

Sacramento goes to the backyard birds on Wednesday May 11th. Dr. Ed Pandolfino will present information and photography to help urban dwellers understand the diversity and bird ecosystems of Sacramento. He will discuss how to attract birds to your backyard and give basic tips on how to identify the most common species likely to visit. He also has suggestions for neighborhood walks that showcase the variety of birds in our canopy. Dr. Pandolfino is Vice-president of Western Field Ornithologists and is on the board of Sierra Foothills Audubon Society. He is a Northern California editor for the magazine North American Birds and is on the editorial committee of the Central Valley Bird Club

One mourning dove dines while another flies away after enjoying a snack in my East Sac backyard. The feeder is for smaller birds, like the House Finch, but these big guys were able to partake in a nice snack of Nyjer Seed, no problem. The Mourning Dove diet consists of mainly small dry seeds, forcing a dependance on drinking water throughout the year. However, with their strong ability to fly they do not need to stay near waterholes. Doves drink continuously, by sucking and swallowing, up to six times faster than other birds, reducing the time required at available water. This is important as most predators are known to ambush their prey  while drinking. SacPress Photo | Kati Garner

Local gardeners face many challenges, not the least of which are hot days and no precipitation between May and late September. Soon we will have water meters and thirsty yards will run up the water bill. The local area has also seen a decrease in a number of beneficial native insects, such as bees, butterflies and many of the native flies that aid pollination. Many gardeners have been complaining that their vegetables and fruits aren’t setting, and even though they had lots of blossoms they had few zucchinis, tomatoes, apples etc. Many of these problems can be remedied by re-introducing local California natives to your yard. The natives from this area tend to be very drought tolerant and

Charming birdhouses add so much character to a home’s outdoor landscape. I noticed this firsthand early June while touring the Yolo County Red Cross Heart of the Home Kitchen Tour and the Pence Gallery of Davis Garden Tour. The homeowners created focal points in their yards using their birdhouse designs. Birdhouses serve as garden art and lodging. Creating shelter for our feathered visitors supports the songbird population so that they may thrive and reproduce. Even a novice bird-watcher like me can appreciate a bird’s place in nature – its plumage and flight fascinate. My favorites are the hummingbirds and bluebirds. At this moment, however, switching gears from the hustle and bustle of m

In my previous article, I introduced the annual Martin Luther King, Jr, Day of Service. This year, people all over the country took part in more than 12,000 service projects that were organized locally by your friends and neighbors. As for my part, I spent the day the way I'd like to spend any holiday: outside in nature. Only this time I did it with a trash bag in hand. I joined a great group of people and cleaned up the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area wetlands. You know, that area next to the causeway that’s flooded with water and teeming with migratory birds during the winter months. I often see the birds from the freeway, but was unaware of how accessible the area is to visitors. All you hav

In the wake of the near air-disaster in New York on Thursday, we are reminded that Sacramento lies in the Pacific Flyway for bird migration and experiences more bird strikes than any other part of the west. Regional airports in and around Sacramento usually try to track birds and control them by frightening them away. The Sacramento Bee has reported that officials at Sacramento International are seeking legal authority to kill the birds that don't scare easy.  More on the story here.