Contributed by Len McKenzie — Wolves hold a prominent place in both human history and the human psyche. Integral to that history were the ecological relationships they evolved over time on the earth’s continental land masses. American and Eurasian folklore and literature are replete with characterizations and imagery of wolves, usually negative (remember “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Three Little ...

Contributed by Len McKenzie — Brazil evokes many images among Americans–Rio de Janeiro, the Amazon, tropical rainforests and abundant, exotic animals, especially its stunningly colorful birds. Occupying almost half of South America (geographically the fifth largest country in the world), Brazil is home to an immensely rich diversity of avifauna—upward of 1,800 species of birds, more than 200 of them ...

Contributed by Len McKenzie, YAAS — Australia, the land “Down Under,” is an island, a country (the world’s sixth largest geographically), and a continent (the world’s smallest). Having no land borders, the Australian mainland —“the lowest, flattest and oldest continental landmass on Earth”— and its satellite islands collectively boast more than 37,000 miles of coastline, embracing an impressive diversity of ...

Contributed by Len McKenzie, YAAS — The arrival of December heralds a number of holiday traditions and festive celebrations. Among the traditions for birding enthusiasts is the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count, when thousands of intrepid observers throughout the western hemisphere take to the field for one day to make a record of all the birds they see and hear. ...

Contributed by Len McKenzie — One of the pleasures of living in the western United States is our proximity to a rich abundance and diversity of wildlife, both large and small. While sharing outdoor space with some species can sometimes be challenging, and occasionally even threatening, for people, particularly in urban and suburban neighborhoods, opportunities to view wildlife in natural, ...

Written by Len McKenzie — MARIPOSA — California is blessed with a number of national forests, along with national and state parks and other open-space areas, that offer a multitude of activities and benefits to its residents and visitors. Those benefits are among the primary reasons many people have chosen to live in Mariposa, Oakhurst and the other communities that ...

AHWAHNEE — Ahwahnee Hills Regional Park supports more than a dozen species of odonates, aka dragonflies and damselflies, and most of these will be easily visible at the lake when the annual Yosemite Area Audubon Society (YAAS) dragonfly field trip takes place on Saturday, June 10. The park is located on Hwy 49, just north of Wasuma School. Participants will ...

Contributed by Len McKenzie, YAAS — The arrival of spring each year heralds a time of rebirth, renewal and the emergence of new life forms. Among the myriad plants and wildlife species that ornament, refresh and animate the spring landscape are the “odes” of the insect world, members of the order Odonata (“toothed ones”), more commonly known people as dragonflies ...

Contributed by Len McKenzie, YAAS — The rolling foothills of the western Sierra Nevada encompass a richly diverse and scenic natural and cultural heritage. The Sierra Foothill Conservancy (SFC), a local land trust founded in 1996 in Fresno County, now plays a significant role in protecting the natural resources, working lands, cultural traditions and rural character of this area’s expansive ...

Contributed by Len McKenzie — Californians, particularly in rural areas such as the Sierra foothills, are generally familiar with the pleasures and the challenges of living with wildlife. While viewing animals at close range, especially species not commonly seen, is usually exciting, some critters who live or venture close to our homes can become “problem” animals or nuisances, and occasional ...