Visiting an Old Friend in Red Bluff, California - Listen to Wisdom

An Old Friend!

Sycamore Grove Campground, right off of the Sacramento River is a great place to camp and take a walk early in the morning or at sunset.

An ancient oak tree stand sentinel to the passage of time and cycles of drought.   HD

Listen to the voices of birds and others who visit this old friend.

Red Bluff Diversion Dam Recreation Area

Red Bluff, CA 96080

For more California Adventures with other oaks!

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Stroll Rocky Oaks Park

Under Young Oaks (coastal live oak, manroot) 

 

See Common Dolphins and Brown Pelicans Fishing!

Crossing back to Ventura Harbor from visiting Santa Cruz Island, we came upon a wide feeding group of brown pelicans Pelecanus occidentalis and common dolphins.

 

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See the common dolphins and the Brown Pelicans diving for fish in their own way!

 

For more videos of Santa Cruz Island..

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Visit Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park, CA
Summer Visit to Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park, CA (island fox, common long-beaked dolphins)
 

Plunge Into a California Tide Pool

Take minute to cool off and unwind with the creatures of a California tide pool. 

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California's kelp forests and tide pools are filled with biodiversity, color and patterns. Look for the bat star, ochre sea star, the sea star's tube-shaped relative the sea cucumber, California's state saltwater fish–the garibaldi (it's the same color as our state flower the golden poppy), a small swell shark and more.

These creatures represent the vibrant community of life found in California's tide pools and kelp forests. See them up close at the Channel Island National Park Visitor Center.

some fish hide in plain site

For more Earth Minutes on sea life:

Visit a Kelp Forest at CA Science Center
Birds and Marine Mammals of CA Channel Islands
Swim Australia's Great Barrier Reef
Sea birds of the Great Barrier Reef
Meet the Dugong

Float back each week for a new Earth Minute.

Anise Swallowtail Butterfly

Butterflies are part of a yard with biodiversity. An anise swallowtail butterfly (Papilo zelicaon) is one of the larger butterflies that we see in Southern California.

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The solid black shoulders identify this as an anise rather than a tiger swallowtail. While the 'desert' black swallowtail looks very similar, it is typically not found in the Los Angeles area. 

This female anise swallowtail is laying eggs on lemon tree leaves. While anise swallowtails can be citrus pests, the large population of birds in our yard makes it a challenge for a caterpillar to reach butterfly-hood. California towhee parents. The Bewick's wrens are constantly hunting caterpillars this time of year.

Mourning cloaks, skippers, tiger swallowtails, painted ladies, even monarchs frequent an oasis in the city. 

For ideas on creating your own butterfly garden see the Hidden Gardens of Pierce College's Botanical Garden and Orcutt Ranch Park.

More butterflies - Mourning Cloak & Butterflies of Illinois

Tiny creatures are always creating Earth Minutes