The Natural History Journal

BIRD MIGRATION ROUTES

Every year, bird migrate north to south following traditional migration routes, many of which pass straight through the heart of our ranches.

NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE BEES ON THE COLORADO PRAIRIE

The first insect most kids learn about is the honey bee which is actually the introduced species, Eurasian Honey Bee (Apis mellifera). Mellifera is...

SIZE MATTERS

Comparing the bill lengths of the 30 species of shorebirds recorded on Chico Basin Ranch reveals an amazing difference in […]

CHICO SWALLOWS

Swallows are common throughout the world and often nest in close proximity to humans. At Chico Basin Ranch during spring, […]

MOUNTAIN PLOVER CHICKS

The Mountain Plover is one of only 12 bird species endemic to the western Great Plains. Does plover rhyme with […]

SWIFT FOX ON THE HUNT

While looking for summer birds on the prairie, I surprised a swift fox that was stalking young black-tailed prairie dogs in one of the Chico Basin ...

VELVET ANTS

Because of the dense hair on their bodies, these insects are called velvet ants and in some rural areas they […]

THE HUNT

The most recent addition to the Chico Basin Ranch Bird Checklist is Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicaria). There are only three […]

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

In 2014, during late fall, multiple Short-eared Owls were found in a weedy, formerly irrigated portion of Chico Basin Ranch. […]

CHICO’S NATIVE BEES

Although many other organisms besides bees are good at pollinating plants, bees are the only species that carry pollen from one flower to another, ...