Outdoors Articles

In the sliver of morning before darkness meets light, I leaned against the stoop, bundled in my thick robe, cradling a second cup of steaming hot coffee. Frost lay heavy on the roof of the chicken coop and woodshed across the yard. The sky showed young pockmarks and scattered strips of light, while one proud star refused to budge from its fading...
Full Story 

Various Days — Guided Wetland Tours, By Reservation, at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, 3207 Rutherford Road, Gridley (95948). A wildlife naturalist will lead any group, school or organization on a half-mile route through the diverse wetlands of the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. General information includes wildlife identification, behavior patterns and conservation efforts. The experience can be customized to include requested information. The...
Full Story 

On most winter evenings, Kathy and I hike to the hilltop near our home in the oak woodlands of Northern California. We usually leave about 4:00, and if we don’t stop to talk to anyone or get sidetracked, return to the house before the sun goes down. One quiet evening late last December, we heard the whistling of wingbeats overhead...
Full Story