Through my lens and prose I hope to instill a greater sense of awe, compassion and inspiration as I discover new creatures, explore interesting habitats, and gain wisdom about the natural world that’s all around us. It is my hope that readers are motivated to learn more about our environment and its inhabitants, and become passionate advocates for conservation.
– Jim Gain
Each blog series below has it’s own unique look at the birds encountered at different locations that I have visited around the world:
- Chronicles of a Birders Life List
- Saskatchewan Birds – Oiseaux in the Land of Living Skies (15 posts);
- Sierra Nevada Birds – Feathers in the Range of Light (7 posts);
- Beautiful Birds of Belize (67 posts);
- Learn 100 Common Valley Birds (51 posts);
- Yucatan Bird Wallpapers (54 posts);
- Operation PhotoTrogon (11 posts);
- Rosy-Finch Rendezvous (9 posts);
- Adventures in Arkansas – The Natural State (4 posts)
- Great South Texas Birding Adventure (7 posts);
- Seabirds and Shorebirds of the Central California Coast ; (5 posts)
- Arizona’s Amazing Aves – Birding the Sky Islands (4 posts)
And Coming Soon: - Birding the Salton Sink
- Great Britain Birding – Twitching the Day Away
- Birding Costa Rica – La Pura Vida Tropical
Three most recent Reflections of the Natural World Blog Posts
- Lifer 684 – Yucatan Flycatcher
Sixty Seconds of Science – Lifer #684 Yucatan Flycatcher - Lifer 683 – Lesson’s Motmot
Sixty Seconds of Science – Lifer #683 Lesson’s Motmot - Lifer 680 – Squirrel Cuckoo
Sixty Seconds of Science – Lifer #680 Squirrel Cuckoo
Saskatchewan Birds – Oiseaux in the Land of Living Skies
Saskatchewan’s slogan, “The Land of Living Skies” could refer as much to its magnificent birdlife as it does to its awe-inspiring Northern Lights and spectacular thunderstorms experienced there. This centrally located Canadian Province’s “Land of Living Skies” is home to over 400 recorded oiseaux (Fr. bird) species.
Adventures in Arkansas – The Natural State
When it comes to its avian life, Arkansas is a state with a rich and diversified natural heritage. The state’s location in the south-central United States, along with its varied habitats, such as forests, fields, wetlands, and mountains, make it a hotspot for birdwatching and conservation.
Sierra Nevada Birds – Feathers in the Range of Light
California’s “Range of Light” is home to a diverse array of both colorful and cryptic birds (the feathers). It is my intent to use my passion for birds and photography to paint a story about 120 of the most common or most sought-after Sierra Nevada (Range of Light) birds by most nature enthusiasts.
Beautiful Birds of Belize
Whether you’re a seasoned birder or a casual observer, Belize offers an unparalleled opportunity to witness the beauty and diversity of the avian world. Belize is home to over 500 species of birds, making it a premier birding destination. The country’s diverse habitats support an abundance of bird life.
Learn 100 Common Valley Birds
Whether you’re a seasoned birder or a casual observer, Belize offers an unparalleled opportunity to witness the beauty and diversity of the avian world. Belize is home to over 500 species of birds, making it a premier birding destination. The country’s diverse habitats support an abundance of bird life.
Yucatan Bird Wallpapers
Costa Rica’s national motto and tourism slogan, “La Pura Vida” loosely translates to Live Life or Enjoy Life. With over 900 bird species recorded, there is certainly lots to enjoy! Its varied topography results in a nice diversity of tropical and subtropical bird species . The birds of Costa Rica incite passion in budding and experienced birders alike and provide endless discovery.
Operation PhotoTrogon
Costa Rica’s national motto and tourism slogan, “La Pura Vida” loosely translates to Live Life or Enjoy Life. With over 900 bird species recorded, there is certainly lots to enjoy! Its varied topography results in a nice diversity of tropical and subtropical bird species . The birds of Costa Rica incite passion in budding and experienced birders alike and provide endless discovery.
Rosy-Finch Rendezvous
Costa Rica’s national motto and tourism slogan, “La Pura Vida” loosely translates to Live Life or Enjoy Life. With over 900 bird species recorded, there is certainly lots to enjoy! Its varied topography results in a nice diversity of tropical and subtropical bird species . The birds of Costa Rica incite passion in budding and experienced birders alike and provide endless discovery.
Great South Texas Birding Adventure
Costa Rica’s national motto and tourism slogan, “La Pura Vida” loosely translates to Live Life or Enjoy Life. With over 900 bird species recorded, there is certainly lots to enjoy! Its varied topography results in a nice diversity of tropical and subtropical bird species . The birds of Costa Rica incite passion in budding and experienced birders alike and provide endless discovery.
Seabirds and Shorebirds of the Central California Coast
From its rocky and sandy shoreline to the depths of the Monterey Canyon, the Central California coastline and its offshore waters are home to a diverse array of colorful and interesting birds. Although none of the hundreds of bird species that breed, winter, or migrate along the coastline are endemic only to this zone, its habitat diversity and famous coastal cold-water up-welling currents are the secret to its exceptional avian diversity. In each blog post followers will enjoy high-quality photographs while learning about the natural history and conservation status of these interesting birds.
Arizona’s Amazing Aves – Birding the Sky Islands
The birdlife of Southeast Arizona is legendary. Many seasoned birders believe Southeast Arizona to be one of the best birding locations in the nation since it is one of the regions with the greatest biological diversity in the United States. Habitats include the Sonoran Desert with spectacular saguaro cactus, grasslands and desert scrub; lush riparian oases; and oak woodlands and pine forests of the dramatic “sky islands.” These 6,000- to 8,000-foot-high mountain ranges rise suddenly from the desert floor and provide respite from the heat of the desert below, and habitat for an astounding variety of birdlife.
COMING SOON…
In October of 2023, Richard Bown and I visited the unique environment that is known as the Salton Sink. For the past century, the Salton Sea has served as a major nesting, wintering, and stopover site for millions of birds of approximately 400 species. Recently, its water level dropped to the point that colonial seabirds began abandoning nesting sites en masse and shallow, marshy habitat areas at the sea’s edge have begun to rapidly vanish. This Blog Series looks at the birds we encountered and at the unusual geologic forces and human influences that have impacted the wildlife there.
Coming November 2023
Birding Costa Rica – La Pura Vida Tropical
Costa Rica’s national motto and tourism slogan, “La Pura Vida” loosely translates to Live Life or Enjoy Life. With over 900 bird species recorded, there is certainly lots to enjoy! Its varied topography results in a nice diversity of tropical and subtropical bird species . The birds of Costa Rica incite passion in budding and experienced birders alike and provide endless discovery.
Coming February 2024
Great Britain Birding – Twitching the Day Away
From the Fen and Heathland of Southern England to the Highland Willow Scrub of Scotland, Great Britain has hosted well over 600 different species of birds. From songbirds to gamebirds and from waterfowl to raptors, you can find birds virtually in every nook and cranny of this beautiful land.
Coming April 2024
Reflections of the Natural World 