Springtime in the Western States heralds the welcome return of the sky-blue headed Lazuli Bunting and its bubbly springtime song. The Lazuli Bunting is named for a vibrant blue gemstone, lapis lazuli. During its breeding season, a male Lazuli Bunting has bright cerulean-blue head and back, white wing bars, a rusty breast, and white belly. [...]
For many years, the Bush Monkey Flower was classified within the genus Mimulus and was part of the figwort family however, in the approximately, past 10 years, DNA sequencing has caused this plant to be reclassified from the Scrophulariaceae family and relocated to the Phrymaceae family and more specifically into the Diplacus genus. Apparently, this [...]
Barn Swallows return! The diving and darting Barn Swallows overhead have returned to Orange County to breed after spending the winter in the tropics. Watch for their long streaming tail and rusty-orange breast and throat as they devour 60 insects per hour on the wing. The Barn Swallow is a long slender swallow with glittering [...]
Monthly Urban Forest bird survey. Variably cloudy and sunny skies with mid 60’s temperatures and light breezes gave a perfect opportunity for spring birding and a chance to check out the carefully tended nest boxes strategically placed throughout the expansive terrain. Spring migration brought a number of species that will move through the area fairly [...]
The Coastal Sage Ceanothus belongs to a Genus of 50-60 species of Ceanothus. It is native to North American but is found in highest concentrations along the North American western coast. It typically has a 10–15-year life span and the shrub itself can be found as creeping ground cover, a shrub or even a 10–12-foot [...]
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