Thursday, May 19, 2011

Flightless Humming Bird

Ok, not really flightless, but I managed to capture a hummingbird sitting on a fountain, not flying. I've never seen a hummingbird not fluttering its wings at super fast speeds. I didn't even know what type of bird it was until it took flight again. It managed to stick around bathing itself as I captured some cool pictures of the bird not in flight.

A hummingbird bathes in a fountain at Chico Racquet Club Saturday, May 6, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

A hummingbird flies near a fountain at Chico Racquet Club Saturday, May 6, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Tennis Tension

Pleasant Valley High's Max Littlejohn battles against Drew Silva (not seen) in their boys tennis match in the EAL tennis championship at Chico Racquet Club Saturday, May 6, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico High's Matt Weeber battles against Zach McMahon (not seen) in their boys tennis match in the EAL tennis championship at Chico Racquet Club Saturday, May 6, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico High's Chris Presnell battles against Aneesh Chandramonli (not seen) in their boys tennis match in the EAL tennis championship at Chico Racquet Club Saturday, May 6, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Close Plays in Baseball

Chico High's #7 Gavin Marasti (right) avoids the tag by Red Bluff High's #15 Modesto Ramirez (left) to score at home plate after being caught in a pickle in the bottom of the fifth inning during their baseball game at Skip McDonald Field Friday, May 5, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico High's #2 Stefano Disano (right) slides safely back to first base in a pickoff attempt against Red Bluff High's #17 Joel Duggins (left) in the bottom of the third inning during their baseball game at Skip McDonald Field Friday, May 5, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Bee Careful

I had the great opportunity to photograph bees hives the other week. Dan Cummings is a bee keeper who suited me up so I could get close to the bees. Dan is in the business of mating queen bees and gave us an close look at what goes into the business. Even though you have a bee suit, a swarm of bees flying around you can still be intimidating. Although I wasn't scared, it doesn't mean I wasn't nervous. I've never been stung by a bee and don't even know if I am allergic to bee stings. As it turned out, I still don't know. And I am perfectly ok with that.

Bee keeper Ray Olivarez Jr. opens up a bee box in Bee operator Dan Cummings facility to grow queen bees at a property along Hwy 32 Friday, May 5, 2011 in Hamilton City, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

A queen bee is seen in a bee colony at a property along Hwy 32 Friday, May 5, 2011 in Hamilton City, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Bee larva are seen in a bee colony at a property along Hwy 32 Friday, May 5, 2011 in Hamilton City, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Pollen is seen in pockets of the cells of the colony as Bee operator Dan Cummings shows his facility to grow queen bees at a property along Hwy 32 Friday, May 5, 2011 in Hamilton City, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Bees fight another bee as it tried to enter the wrong colony as bee operator Dan Cummings shows his facility to grow queen bees at a property along Hwy 32 Friday, May 5, 2011 in Hamilton City, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Bees fly around a property along Hwy 32 Friday, May 5, 2011 in Hamilton City, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Specialized queen bee colony boxes, that have variations of color and location were created by Bee operator Dan Cummings to grow queen bees as he shows his facility to grow queen bees at a property along Hwy 32 Friday, May 5, 2011 in Hamilton City, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Bee keeper Ray Olivarez Jr. uses the smoker in Bee operator Dan Cummings facility to grow queen bees at a property along Hwy 32 Friday, May 5, 2011 in Hamilton City, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Going Golfing

Chico High's Kurt Kitayama tees of the third hole against Pleasant Valley High as they compete in boys golf game at Bidwell Park Golf Course Thursday, May 5, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Pleasant Valley High's Cole Chavez gestures for a curve of the ball after tees off the fifth hole as he competes against Chico High in boys golf game at Bidwell Park Golf Course Thursday, May 5, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Pleasant Valley High's Cole Chavez (left) and Chico High's Kurt Kitayama (right) stand of the green of the second hole as they compete in boys golf game at Bidwell Park Golf Course Thursday, May 5, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Pleasant Valley High's Andy Lazos tees off from the fifth hole against Chico High as he competes in boys golf game at Bidwell Park Golf Course Thursday, May 5, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico High's Tyler Collier tees off from the fifth hole as he competes against Pleasant Valley High in boys golf game at Bidwell Park Golf Course Thursday, May 5, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Play At Home

Chico State's #9 Jackson Evans (right) slides late into home plate to be tagged out against UC San Diego' #25 Kellen Lee (left) in the bottom of the first inning during the second game of their doubleheader baseball game at CSUC Nettleton Stadium Saturday, April 30, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Major Motorcycle Accident

Chico Police sergeant Billy Aldridge (left) walks the helmet back to the motorcycle as they investigate the scene of a motorcycle vs vehicle accident in front of Scrubbs Car Wash along the Skyway on Saturday, April 30, 2011 in Chico, Calif. A BMW pulled out of the parking lot into the path of a eastbound motorcycle causing a collision that sent the motorcyclist in the air hitting his head and sustaining major injuries around 12:45pm.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Gold Nugget Days

Cameron Hill-Cortez, 11 (left) and Nia Ferguson, 6 (right) wave to the people that celebrate Gold Nugget Days in a parade along the Skyway on Saturday, April 30, 2011 in Paradise, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Childrens Community Charter School kindergartener Ashlee Harper, 5 hands out candy as she rides a "horse" as people celebrate Gold Nugget Days in a parade along the Skyway on Saturday, April 30, 2011 in Paradise, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Charles Forbes (left) watches Kevin McCain (right) pan for gold at the Gold Nugget Museum as people celebrate Gold Nugget Days on Saturday, April 30, 2011 in Paradise, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico Green School 9th grader, Arian Brazendood uses a bellow to heat metal that he plans to forge into a treble clef as people celebrate Gold Nugget Days in a parade along the Skyway on Saturday, April 30, 2011 in Paradise, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Kids Round Up Ag Learning

Jen Clark (left) helps Keira Maguire, 5 1/2 (right), rope a steer as kids learn about agriculture during the 19th Annual Chico State Ag Day at the CSUC University Farm Friday, April 29, 2011 in Chico Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Softball Kicks Up The Dirt

Durham High's #2 Erica Larson steals second base against Biggs High in the bottom of the first inning during their girls softball game at DHS Thursday, April 28, 2011 in Durham Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Durham High's #2 Erica Larson (left) places the tag at third base against Biggs High's #22 Kate Roles (right) in the top of the fourth inning during their girls softball game at DHS Thursday, April 28, 2011 in Durham Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Beauty in Ballet

Emily Merkley, 11, and other kids practice in ballet class at Northern California Ballet Wednesday, April 27, 2011 in Paradise Calif. Northern California Ballet is one of the recipients of funding from the Chocolate Festival for scholarships and other items.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Cloud Rainbow...What Does It Mean?

I noticed in the clouds a while ago, a coloration similar to a rainbow, but wasn't an actually rainbow. It was a little humid that day, and I assume that it is caused by the moisture in the air. I guess I should ask my old physics teacher who took to joyful mystery away from the idea of how rainbows are made, but actually gave me an answer that made me smarter. Either way, it was really interesting to see in the sky.

Higher humidity in the air creates a rainbow in the clouds from the sun Wednesday, April 27, 2011 in Chico Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Higher humidity in the air creates a rainbow in the clouds from the sun Wednesday, April 27, 2011 in Chico Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Labor Rally

California United Homecare Workers Buzz Orr (left) Tami Orr (center) and Clarissa Reser (right) stand with Tom Hayden (bottom) as they attend a rally of unions and community organizations occurred at Downtown City Plaza Saturday, April 23, 2011 in Chico Calif. The event is billed as a demonstration of solidarity with state workers in Wisconsin, Ohio and Illinois whose bargaining rights and benefits are being targeted in budget-cutting moves.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)




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Spring Jamboree!

Amira Herrera, 4, Jaslene Garcia, 4, and Ayianna Herrera 4, walk hand in hand with their eggs in their basket as children ages 5 and younger hunt for easter eggs in the Chico Area Recreation and Park District's annual Spring Jamboree Easter egg hunt at Caper Acres in Bidwell Park’s One-Mile Recreation Area Saturday, April 23, 2011 in Chico Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Jessica Fox, 4, and other children ages 5 and younger hunt for easter eggs in the Chico Area Recreation and Park District's annual Spring Jamboree Easter egg hunt at Caper Acres in Bidwell Park’s One-Mile Recreation Area Saturday, April 23, 2011 in Chico Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Khloe Carrier, 2 1/2 (left) and Syenna Pollard, 3 (right) show their bounty as other children ages 5 and younger hunt for easter eggs in the Chico Area Recreation and Park District's annual Spring Jamboree Easter egg hunt at Caper Acres in Bidwell Park’s One-Mile Recreation Area Saturday, April 23, 2011 in Chico Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Youths in kindergarten and first grade hunt for easter eggs in the Chico Area Recreation and Park District's annual Spring Jamboree Easter egg hunt at Caper Acres in Bidwell Park’s One-Mile Recreation Area Saturday, April 23, 2011 in Chico Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Tyler McDonald, 8, and other youngsters in second and third grade hunt for easter eggs in the Chico Area Recreation and Park District's annual Spring Jamboree Easter egg hunt at Caper Acres in Bidwell Park’s One-Mile Recreation Area Saturday, April 23, 2011 in Chico Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)




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Stanky and Stinky Butts

Chico does have its characters, but two new characters are hitting the streets to tell people to get them off the street. Meet Stanky and Stinky, two cigarette mascots that are telling the public not to throw their cigarettes in the street, which are washed into drains and into the creeks. I followed them out walking around downtown telling their message. I also shot a video of the event.

Costume characters "Stanky" and "Stinky" give out portable ashtrays to Carlos Cuellar, 25 (right) who was smoking while sitting outside the Naked Lounge as they walk around downtown educating the public about not throwing cigarette butts in the street Friday, April 22, 2011 in Chico Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Costume characters "Stanky" and "Stinky" give out portable ashtrays to Brenda Bergland, as they walk around downtown educating the public about not throwing cigarette butts in the street Friday, April 22, 2011 in Chico Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)





Track Toss

Pleasant Valley High's Rachel Tice, 17, competes in the girls shotput in the West Valley/Chico Invitational prep track and field meet at CSUC University Stadium Friday, April 22, 2011 in Chico Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Nashon's Other Talent

Nashon Garret is an incredible wrestler. As it turns out he is also an incredible dancer. I took an oppoutunity to shoot a video of Nashon breakdancing and talking about how he went from dancer to wrestler.








High-Five for the Easter Bunny

Jordan Graves, 2 (left) high fives the easter bunny Mike Griffith (right) as meals are served to the needy during the Easter meal at the Jesus Center Thursday, April 21, 2011 in Chico Calif. The Jesus Center served 103,000 meals in 2010 and already by the middle of April they have served over 30,000 meals.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Bees and Beauty


Allie Enyart, 4 (left) and Mike Enyart (right) ride past wildflowers that bloom near the entrance to Wildwood Park in Upper Bidwell Park Thursday, April 21, 2011 in Chico Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

A bee pollinates wildflowers that bloom near the entrance to Wildwood Park in Upper Bidwell Park Thursday, April 21, 2011 in Chico Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Wildflowers bloom near the entrance to Wildwood Park in Upper Bidwell Park Thursday, April 21, 2011 in Chico Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Sycamore Tree Cut Down After Fire

A sycamore tree in Lower Bidwell Park caught on fire a while ago and tree crews were sent out the next day to cut the tree down. It was a tree that I had past by many times as I walked through the park and was sad to see it go. Another tree had fallen recently in a storm. These two trees were dominant structures that have recently left the scenery of the park. It is interesting to see the changes that occur over the years. I was able to shoot a short video of the tree cutting too.

Chico Firefighter Gina Osburn hoses down hotspots in a sycamore tree that caught on fire in Lower Bidwell Park Wednesday, April 20, 2011 in Chico Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Etchings on the side on the trunk as a tree crew from Richards Tree Service cut down a sycamore tree in Lower Bidwell Park Wednesday, April 27, 2011 in Chico Calif. Due to public safety concerns, the tree was taken down after the interior was burned in a fire the previous week.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Arborist Andrew Boger chainsaws the trunk as a tree crew from Richards Tree Service cut down a sycamore tree in Lower Bidwell Park Wednesday, April 27, 2011 in Chico Calif. Due to public safety concerns, the tree was taken down after the interior was burned in a fire the previous week.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Arborist Andrew Boger looks over the fallen tree as a tree crew from Richards Tree Service cut down a sycamore tree in Lower Bidwell Park Wednesday, April 27, 2011 in Chico Calif. Due to public safety concerns, the tree was taken down after the interior was burned in a fire the previous week.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Titian Trombetti (left) and Michael Beckmann (right) wrap a cable around a tree limb as a tree crew from Richards Tree Service cut down a sycamore tree in Lower Bidwell Park Wednesday, April 27, 2011 in Chico Calif. Due to public safety concerns, the tree was taken down after the interior was burned in a fire the previous week.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Arborist Andrew Boger chainsaws the trunk as a tree crew from Richards Tree Service cut down a sycamore tree in Lower Bidwell Park Wednesday, April 27, 2011 in Chico Calif. Due to public safety concerns, the tree was taken down after the interior was burned in a fire the previous week.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)