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White-crown sparrows herald coming of fall
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When I was a kid I was excited about September because that’s when school started — and it also meant a reprieve from farm labor.  My dad was an almond farmer and back in those days the whole family helped with the harvest.

Now I look forward to September because of the fall bird migration and especially the return to the Valley of the white-crowned sparrows. These birds come here to spend the winter and their arrival coincides with the beginning of autumn — sometimes to the exact day.  I think this is rather amazing.  In some parts of the country, robins signal the arrival of spring.  In the San Joaquin Valley, white-crowns announce the coming of fall.

White- crowns are one of my favorite birds. They are mostly brown and gray, with the adults having black and white stripes on their heads. I love their distinctive song and sometimes I will hear one before I see one. This song has been described as a series of clear, plaintive notes followed by a trill. I would say it is melodious! They are ground feeders, often perching in a tree or bush, then hopping down to the ground to look for seeds.

It is often said that birds fly south for the winter. But as I would tell kids during classroom bird talks, we are south for a great number of bird species. Central California in the winter is a great place for bird watching. So keep your eyes and ears open and enjoy the arrival of autumn and the birds that come with it!

Ash Ruder relishes return to Turlock with fair concert
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Ash Ruder performs in front of hundreds of family, friends and fans (CHRISTOPHER CORREA/The Journal).
Saturday night at the Stanislaus County Fair certainly didn’t feel like it was Ash Ruder’s first-ever headlining performance.
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