Contributed by Len McKenzie — Generous rains this winter have spawned a luxuriant rebirth of plant life in the Sierra foothills and Central Valley, greening up the landscape and bringing renewed vigor to its ecosystems. Beneficiaries of this largesse include the picturesque and biologically rich vernal pools that are a distinctive hallmark of this remarkable setting. The Yosemite Area Audubon ...

CENTRAL SIERRA — Bird lovers, photographers and anyone interested in the enjoying the variety of bird species in the Central Sierra are invited to join the National Audubon Society’s 117th Christmas Bird Count (CBC). The CBC is an annual international bird census that began on Christmas Day in 1900, and now takes place in more than 1,500 locations throughout the ...