A lot of times I receive appreciation for the "cute" photos. These photos are good just because you can't help but smile when you look at them. The Internet is filled with these overpopulated "cute" images from cats, kids and cuddly things. The picture we presented for our Mother's Day news featured a mother duck and her ducklings. It has cute pretty much written all over it.
A mother duck and her 14 ducklings tread through the Donnie Brook drainage ditch Thursday, May 10, 2012 in Chico, Calif.
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.
Thirty wild horses and 10 burros arrived for a viewing prior to an adoption event April 17 at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds Friday, April 15, 2011 in Chico, Calif. Most of the animals the U.S. Bureau of Land Management is bringing to Chico were captured last summer from the Twin Peaks Herd Management area along the California-Nevada border northeast of Susanville. The BLM removed the animals to maintain the wild population at a designated level.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
JR Payne (left) and Leah Janowski (right) take a look at some of the thirty wild horses and 10 burros arrived for a viewing prior to an adoption event April 17 at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds Friday, April 15, 2011 in Chico, Calif. Most of the animals the U.S. Bureau of Land Management is bringing to Chico were captured last summer from the Twin Peaks Herd Management area along the California-Nevada border northeast of Susanville. The BLM removed the animals to maintain the wild population at a designated level.
Bee boxes are popping up all through the area and trying to get a closeup of such a small insect can be challenging. But with a little effort and time I was able to snap a photo of a bee in flight. Luckily, there was also another bee buzzing by in the background. I think it makes for a little more interesting picture than the bee not in motion. What do you think?
A group of bees fly around in a field along Durham-Pentz road Friday, April 15, 2011 in Butte Valley, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
A bee pollinates a flower along Durham-Dayton Rd. in a field Friday, April 15, 2011 in Durham, Calif.
Every winter, hundreds of waterfowl fly into the Sacramento valley. Snow Geese, swans, ducks, and cranes crowd the wetlands and create a visually stunning sight. It is always exciting to head out to see where the birds are. It is interesting for me to go people watching as the people are bird watching.
I was lucky enough to spend some time shooting video of the annual Snow Goose Festival. I hung out with a group that was on a field trip at the Llano Seco viewing platform. It was great to have video to use the sounds of the birds to add to the experience.
A group of snow geese (white with black tip wings) and other waterfowl take flight as bird watchers look to the to see waterfowl at the Llano Seco Unit of the Sacramento River NWR during the Snow Goose Festival Saturday, January 29, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Bird watchers Maribeth Growdon, Karin Lilienbecker, and Suzanne Steel (left to right) look to the sky to see snow goose and other waterfowl at the Llano Seco Unit of the Sacramento River NWR during the Snow Goose Festival Saturday, January 29, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Bird watchers look to the sky to see snow goose and other waterfowl at the Llano Seco Unit of the Sacramento River NWR during the Snow Goose Festival Saturday, January 29, 2011 in Chico, Calif.
How do you photograph a black dog in a dark black charred burned building? Just like everything else. You just won't be able to see the dog camouflaged in the ashes.
The other day a fire broke out at an apartment complex in Oroville. One unit was burned entirely and the investigation to the cause began. Fire investigator Marnie Gedney used her accelerant detection canine Roxy to sniff out any accelerants that might have been around to speed up the fire's destruction. Roxy is a black lab and pretty much camouflages completely within the charred ashes of the fire. It is an interesting image that was taken because you can see the destruction very easily, but the true investigator, Roxy is very hard to see.
Oroville Fire department fire engineer/fire investigator Marnie Gedney (left) uses her accelerant detection canine Roxy to sniff for any accelerants inside a unit that was destroyed by a fire in the Bunny's Leisure Apartment at 790 Montgomery St. Wednesday, January 19, 2011 in Oroville, Calif.
I headed out to Oroville in search of some "wild art" on a slow news day. With all the bad rap that Oroville gets, I find the town to be a great place for those who love the outdoors. There are many hidden trails, and many spots along river and waterway areas. It might not be right in front of your face like Bidwell Park in Chico, but spend enough time getting lost and you'll stumble across something beautiful. That's exactly what I did. I walked along the Feather River when I noticed a bird take flight. Having a long shutter speed I panned with the bird as it flew just inches above the water.
A merganser bird takes flight along the Feather River Wednesday, January 5, 2011 in Oroville, Calif.
The Fair Season has begun! Get your corn dogs and cotton candy ready, the fairs are hitting towns near you. And the Glenn County Fair was the first to start. I didn't have much time to devote to the coverage of fair life. I did try to get to aspects of fair that people enjoy, the rides and the animals.
People ride around on the Yo-Yo Swings as the community came out to enjoy the Glenn County Fair Saturday, May 22, 2010 in Orland, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Judy Mendes, 17, of Willows FFA dries her cow "Emmitt" as she prepares for show as the community came out to enjoy the Glenn County Fair Saturday, May 22, 2010 in Orland, Calif.
The weather this time of year is a photographer's paradise. Dark full clouds are always passing through creating a real dynamic sky. The ground is saturated from the winter rain and the skies are deep blues. This is why I was excited to head out to Upper Bidwell Park to see what type of weather art I could get. I didn't have much time, but I decided to take a shot of the clouds hanging over these cows in a field. A simple shot, but intriguing to me.
A cow stands in a field as dark clouds loom over Upper Bidwell Park just east of Wildwood Park on Friday, May 21, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
I love when I get a little free time to roam. Probably my most favorite spot to room is through Upper Bidwell Park. I especially love to roam in the spring time when the wildflowers are in full bloom. I headed up to Horseshoe Lake and came across a family with their dog. They were sitting in a bed of wildflowers. I laid down flat on the ground to get close to the wildflowers for the shot. Yeah, I know, what a hard job I have. I have to lay down and relax... er, work hard, to get photos everyday.
Tami Woodbeck (left) and Dain Thomas, 9 (right), with their black lab dog Jada find a nice place to sit amongst the wildflowers along Horseshoe Lake in Upper Bidwell Park on Friday, April 16, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
While exploring the area I also managed to spot a hawk who just scooped up a meal for himself. I heard a screech behind me and turned around pointing the camera in the air. I managed to snap a quick shot as the hawk flew past.
A hawk snags a meal near Horseshoe Lake in Upper Bidwell Park on Friday, April 16, 2010 in Chico, Calif.
Jojo is a therapy dog who celebrated his birthday with the residence of Roseleaf nursing home and assisted living facility on St. Patrick's Day. Can't say much about the amount of "adorable" with this one. Jojo did enjoy a little sing along, but quickly tired out looking for a treat.
Roseleaf's activity coordinator, Kim Vickers, sings with Jojo, a therapy dog, for the St. Patrick's Day and Jojo's bday celebration at Roseleaf, an assisted living center, on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Jojo is a rescue dog believed to be a cross between a ShihTzu and Maltese. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
