Red-crested Cardinal (Paroaria coronata)
posted in: Photo Sketch, Stories (Tags: birds, Hawaii) - 1 Comment »
02/08/09 7:55 pm
The Red-crested Cardinal (Paroaria coronata) is a bird species in the tanager family (Thraupidae). It was formerly placed in the Emberizidae and is not very closely related to the cardinals proper (Cardinalidae).
It is found in northern Argentina, Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Among others, it is found in southern regions of the Pantanal. It has also been introduced to Hawaii and Puerto Rico. In Brazil, it has been introduced to various places outside its historical range, as in the Tietê Ecological Park in São Paulo, alongside with its close relative, the Red-cowled Cardinal[1].
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and heavily degraded former forest.
(from Wikipedia)
Story about swallows in San Juan Capistrano Mission
posted in: Stories () - No Comments »
07/19/02 6:13 pm
Every year, at St Joseph’s Day, the wonder of Capistrano Swallows happens. Swallows come back to the Mission every year from Goya, Argentina and come back there every fall. John O’Sallivan (1911-1930), Mission San Juan Capistrano pastor, in his book “Capistrano Nights”, tells a story about swallows and why they found their home in the mission. Read more »
Rancho Santa Margarita, California
posted in: Stories (Tags: California) - No Comments »
07/15/02 6:03 pm
When Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola went through this placer in the late 1770s, he found Indian rancheros amidst the rocky hill slopes, dark canyons, old sycamores, ancient oaks, prickly pears and chaparral. Now, when we approaching Rancho by Alicia Parkway, we can see the picturesque valley with numerous tiled roofs between the hills. Read more »

