If you hear an especially rich, sweet warble coming from the trees next spring, take a closer look. You may be hearing one of our colorful seasonal visitors: the Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus). Black-headed Grosbeaks are substantial songbirds, with chunky bodies, relatively short tails, and enormous triangular bills built for cracking seeds and nuts. Breeding…
July Bird of the Month: The Scaly-breasted Munia
Sea & Sage Audubon’s July Bird of the Month is the Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata), a tiny songbird that has become a familiar sight in Orange County over the past three decades. Native to South and Southeast Asia, the Scaly-breasted Munia is not native to California. It is believed to have become established in Southern…
ENC and CNHF Launch New Collaboration
ENC and the California Native Horticultural Foundation are partnering to expand native plant education at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary. Planting the Seeds for Something Special The Environmental Nature Center is excited to announce a new partnership with the California Native Horticultural Foundation (CNHF), creating new opportunities for education, conservation, and community engagement centered around California native…
A Remarkable Visitor: The Pin-tailed Whydah and the Importance of Habitat
A Remarkable Visitor: The Pin-tailed Whydah and the Importance of Habitat One of the joys of spending time at the Environmental Nature Center is that there is always something new to discover. Recently, ENC staff observed a breeding male Pin-tailed Whydah on the grounds. While this striking bird is not native to California, its presence…
Full Circle: From Student Volunteer to Expert Birder
On a quiet June morning, before the Environmental Nature Center opened to visitors, three experienced birders gathered at the gate. Their task was to conduct a breeding bird survey — documenting the species present on the property, noting evidence of nesting activity, and creating a baseline record of the birds that call the ENC home….
Why I’ll be there Tomorrow
I’ve spent more than 30 years at the Environmental Nature Center. I’ve watched children who once attended programs here return years later to share the ENC with families of their own. I’ve seen volunteers become staff, students become educators, and generations of families make the ENC part of their lives and their memories. The ENC…
Finding a Path Through Plants: A Horticulture Intern’s Journey at the ENC
When Dylan Mitchell applied for the Environmental Nature Center’s Horticulture Internship, he was standing at a crossroads. A recent college graduate who had just returned home to Orange County, Dylan knew he loved plants. He had grown up in a family of dedicated gardeners who instilled in him a deep respect for the natural world,…
Mike Evans on What’s at Stake for the ENC
A Newport Beach native, educator, and longtime advocate for California’s native landscapes, Mike Evans – President and Founder of the California Native Horticultural Foundation and President and Co-Founder of Tree of Life Nursery – has dedicated much of his life to helping people understand the landscapes they inhabit and the value of preserving a meaningful…
What I Want My Daughters to Learn
I’d like to introduce you to my daughters. If you’ve spent any time around the ENC, you’ve probably seen children like them. Mud on their shoes. Sticks in their pockets. Completely convinced that a few acres of nature can become an entire world. My youngest, Evie, loves passing out flyers. Not because she fully understands…
Growing Knowledge Rooted in Place: A Horticulture Intern’s Experience at the ENC
When Alexis Hernandez applied for the Environmental Nature Center’s Horticulture Internship, she already knew she loved plants. “The Horticulture Intern role aligns with what I’m most passionate about…plants!” she wrote in her application. “I have always had a deep connection with nature and plant behavior.” She hoped the internship would deepen her understanding of native…
Understanding Non-Native Plants: Ecological & Sustainability Impacts in Orange County
Landscaping decisions shape biodiversity, water use, fire behavior, and climate resilience — whether we realize it or not. Most non-native plants are not “bad.” Many are beautiful. Some are well-behaved in garden settings. But plant choices are not neutral. When we introduce plants from other regions, we change ecological relationships that have developed over thousands…
California Native Plants: Biodiversity, Water Savings & Climate Benefits
Biodiversity & Ecology California hosts approximately 6,500 species, subspecies, and varieties of native plants that occur naturally in the state. Many of these are found nowhere else on Earth. (California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife) Of these native plants, more than 2,000 taxa are endemic — meaning they evolved here and occur nowhere else on…